Reece also starts to talk about how mountain top removal not only effects the wildlife but also affects the people living nearby the mountain. Some of the most compelling information that Reece gives was the firsthand account of Kentucky resident, Teri Blanton. Her testimony includes the story of a well that becomes so overwhelmed with toxic chemicals that anyone who comes into contact with it wont live past 55. To me, that is overwhelming evidence that there's a problem. Later, in the same chapter, Reece mentions his own sort of diagnosis of the situation. He starts to look politically at how the coal companies are 100% aware of the adverse affects of their strip mining practices, and yet they continue to turn a cheek and even go as far as to acknowledge that a more environmentally friendly alternative may exist but they make more of an effort to avoid the new alternative in favor of the more environmentally harmful option because it saves money. On page 50 Reece says "the White Star Cemetery is a collection of terminal facts." This was the perfect quote to end the chapter with and the one I found most captivating. I look forward to continuing my journey through Lost Mountain and I think it will be a very informative and eye opening book.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
pgs 1-85
In the first part of Erik Reece's book Lost Mountain, he begins to paint his picture of strip mining coal in the Appalachian Mountains. He tells his story through his observations of a mountain in Kentucky called Lost Mountain. He starts by describing the wildlife that typically inhabit the Appalachians. He talks about different birds and animals and how their habitats are being destroyed by the mountaintop removal practices of the coal industry. Along with completely demolishing Appalachian wildlife habitats, strip mining coal from mountaintops also releases toxic chemicals into the wilderness, and produces a toxic runoff called slurry making the areas inhabitable. Reece does a really nice job accounting his first hand individual experiences. Though I've never been to see the effects of Appalachian strip mining first hand, I have seen a few segments of a documentary depicting the same problem in West Virginia Appalachians. The footage I've seen its pretty captivating and it's really amazing the destruction that these coal mining practices cause.
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You're right. Reece has a way of finishing his chapters and paragraphs on very poignant notes. I liked that quote you used. I also liked the imagery of the cemetery in the middle of the devastation, so that the only green in the area was a place of death and mourning.
ReplyDeleteThe progression of the first part of the book is well thought out, too. He looks at the plant and animal species, then the humans, and then when the reader is thinking 'maybe the coal companies don't know what they're doing to the environment', he lets us know about the fact that the companies are ignoring the environmental and health issues surrounding their operations. In other words, I agree with you on the layout and power of his writing.
I agree with your blog when you talked about how Teri Blanton was the most compelling and informative person in the reading. Its unbelievable when you look through her eyes. The devastation and suffering she and her neighbors have gone through are ridiculous and nobody should have to live that way. I also thought the white star cemetery quote was a great quote. I found a pretty ironic part in the book when Blanton brought him to the Mountain Spur Coal Company and showed him the "nasty orange syrup called acid mine water" to show the chemicals they are forced to live with and he follows with saying "Blanton lit a cigarette."
ReplyDeleteI will have to agree with all of the statements people have posted about you blog. I feel that the first hand testimonies of people like Teri Blanton is the most captivating of all. It is easier to read statistics in a book and to take what the author is saying for truth. It seems much harder to be told people's real life stories about how their lives are effected by mountain top removal. I find myself looking through the eyes of people like Teri Blanton. I imagine the land the way it used to be and how everything has changed so quickly. It is very bothersome to imagine my home being destroyed. Home is a place that has a certain amount of security tied up with it, and these first hand accounts show the reader how security is beoing ripped away from everyday people like you and I.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I love that you pointed out the irony of "the cigarette". It gives you some more to think about. Good stuff.
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