In this last section, Reece begins exploring more of the story lines around him. He interviews many locals who are indeed as concerned and pissed off about strip mining as Teri Blanton in the previous section. One, Mickey McCoy, was a former mayor in a town in Martin County whose color adds a certain appeal to anyone who has ever had that crazy, yet wise, uncle. He also continues to look at indicator species such as the Southern flying squirrel who, like the cerulean warbler, needs cast amounts of contiguous forest in order.
As indicated by my previous, I was interested in, but unmoved by the stories of dying birdies and displaced, cancer-stricken people. I thought that business is business and sometimes the little guy gets screwed in order to provide a commodity for all. However, I was struck by the indifference of the EPA and the various supposed watchdog agencies who permit, and in some cases encourage, the criminal acts perpetrated by the coal industries. In "Acts of God" and "Whitewash in Martin County," Reece hammers home the point that freedom of speech is moot if you don't have the dollars to back up that talk.
In sections like the "Ecovillage" and his reflection on the Chinese poet, Wang Wei, Reece finds the brighter side of life. Even with odd juxtaposition of the smiling Professor Krupa saying, "Oh, we're all doomed," there is a certain amount of hope that as long as someone can see it, we still have time to turn the ship around. For me, this book continues to fascinate me. And yet, I wonder if by the end I, too, am a "goddamn... beatnik!"
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This was an interesting post, and far different than what I have found in other classmate's blog entries. I think that it is interesting that you explained that if the previous reading, you were unmoved by Reece's argument but in this argument you explain that you were struck by the indifference of the EPA and other watchdog agencies. I think that you should have included if this argument caused you to change your opinion or if it still remained the same after reading this second section.
ReplyDeleteI cant stand Professor Krupa. I feel like most of her quotes are rash conclusions that are simply more ignorant than they are informative. But anyways, now that that's out of my system, I enjoyed reading what you have to say...I too took significant note of the EPA's general lack of concern.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me about what we have been talking about in my sociology class about what constitutes as a social problem. For something to be a problem it must be recognized by not only the public and the media, but the politicians, the government, the head honchos, all otherwise known as the people who have the money and the power. Without their help, I think these people, and their land, are doomed.
ReplyDeleteTo Katey, call me cynical, but I am unsurprised by the shitty things that businesses do in the name of cheap labor and increasing profits. They, like children, create a world of single-minded and one-dimensional values and cut everyone else out. However, the government should act as a watchdog over the corrupt practices that businesses engage in order to protect "We, the people." So I was angered and outraged at the indifference of our leaders to come in and stop any illegal actions in order to get profit, but as far as the environmental side of the argument goes, I have yet to fully embrace the all the ideas Reece offers up.
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