Dear Pan People,
You are invited to participate in this research on Environmental Sustainability Education (ESE) for Steelpan. It is based on creating a new paradigm for the global steelpan community to address the environmental concerns that cause ill health for many steelpan builders. Many sad stories have been told about cases of steelpan builders experiencing ill health leading to death due to chemical contamination while making steelpans. I, Michael C. Joseph is spearheading this charge to save our most precious resource; our treasured steelpan builders, tuners, arrangers and players by producing knowledge through environmental research to verify if there is a link between the usage of toxic drums as raw materials and certain health conditions that harm the steelpan makers.
I embarked on a Masters of Environmental Studies (MES) at York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada with my area of concentration on the steelpan and the environmental effects it has on the people involved in making, playing and those residing near the panyards. My desire to investigate this phenomenon came from observing a steelpan builder’s negative environmental practices where he improperly dumped residual chemicals from a drum (raw material) onto the ground. Since then I have considered ways to mitigate polluting practices, but realized that research must be done to present the facts and potential consequences to those engaged in steelpan making.
I believe that there are environmental solutions for organizations and individuals engaged in steelpans, and after identifying the harmful practices I am prepared to provide two options; one for first world countries and the other for developing countries. An EnviroPan Green Seal curriculum and syllabi certification process would be the basis for environmental remediation to benefit the global steelpan community. I have founded the Steelpan Research and Development Institute of Toronto (SRDIT) to focus on related steelpan equipment.
To participate in changing to an environmentally sustainable practice, I am asking for your cooperation through collaboration for the advancement of steelpans and for improving the health of pan people. Therefore, for adherence to York University academic ethics board, contributors are asked to download the consent form below, print it and sign, then scan with your phone and email to michaelcwj@yahoo.com so that your comments and stories become part of the research.
Thanks in advance for reading and contributing to ESE for Steelpan,
Michael C. Joseph
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