After reading the first half of Lost Mountain, I have seen why mountaintop removal is such an intense issue. Eric Reece is using his firsthand accounts to inform people about what is really going on in Appalachia. He argues two major things: how valuable land is being destroyed and how people around the area are significantly endangering their health. I am going to explain both of these issues in more detail.
Reece talks about how removing this valuable land is hurting everyone in the long run. When bulldozers clear this land to extract the coal they are destroying thousands of animals homes. Reece puts in the book that the deforestation causes twelve percent of the world’s birds to be endangered, twenty four percent of mammals, and thirty percent of fish. People are affected by this land being cleared away because soil is being taken away and streams are being contaminated.
Eric Reece has many people that he talks to on his journey through Appalachia. Terri Blanton talks about the negative life surrounding coal mining. Blanton goes into great detail on how people live a shorter life because of the coal mining. Reece gives actual facts like how asthma as risen fifty percent since 2000. He also notes the high levels of CO2 in the air.
The other side of this argument is that we need the coal and jobs. Even though people know the affects of coal mining we still need it for energy. Most people like the cheap side of it as well. Also Appalachia is a very poor area and people need those jobs. They need these jobs to survive. Finally, by strip mining there can be more stores and businesses to bring in revenue for these poor towns.
After reading Lost Mountain, I now am aware of the horrible affects mountaintop removal has on people. I feel it needs to be put to an end. So many people are worried about cheap energy, but our health is more important. Our society is so advanced today that we have to be able to find a cheap and healthy way to support the world with energy.
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I 100 percent agree with you about finding a cheap and healthy way to support the world with energy, but coal mining is presenting use with many jobs that will take a hit if we decide against it.
ReplyDeleteAllison I could not agree with your blog more. You did an excellent job bringing out the facts Reece states about stopping mountaintop removal. I really enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was interesting that you included that people in this area are poor and without coal mining, many people would lose their jobs. However, you later argued that coal mining needs to be stopped because of the harm it causes to people. This made me wonder what if these people think that being poor is more harmful than having health problems? If people would rather have money than health, would this cause you to support coal mining? Overall really interesting blog!
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