Skip to main content

Search

Ecuador Acidification

This PECE essay details the quotidian anthropocene in Ecuador utilizing the Questioning Quotidian Anthropocenes analytic developed for the Open Seminar River School.

pece_annotation_1475604498

tamar.rogoszinski

The argument is supported through various anecdotes and testimonials. The authors use quotes from various victims in order to highlight the ways in which they were affected by Katrina. Notably, Sally, a 56-year-old woman from St. Bernard Parish who was still living in a FEMA trailer 50 miles from her original residence 2 1/2 years after the storm was interviewed. She talks about the living conditions post-Katrina. She describes families being torn apart, the National Guard using unnecessary force, and dead bodies floating in the water. The authors also use statistics and facts in order to back up their point about the horrendous conditions the survivors were in post-Katrina. A psychological and anthropological analysis also helps strengthen their argument regarding chronic disaster syndrome.

pece_annotation_1474496643

Sara.Till

Judge Batts: Deborah A Batts, sitting judge of the Manhattan Federal District Court at the time of these proceedings. She handed down the ruling that allowed the pursuit of the class action lawsuit.

Christie Whitman: Former EPA "leader" (chair) at the time of the 9/11 attacks. She and several other officials (unnamed in this article) are accused of misleading the public about air quality surrounding the tower site.

EPA: Environmental Protection Agency. Federal agency charged with matters pertaining to the environment, particularly those that concern public health. The EPA often aids in creating standards for environmental safety (including pollution and airborne particles).

pece_annotation_1477259848

tamar.rogoszinski
  1. "First, disasters threaten harm or death to a large group of people, regardless of the actual extent of lives lost (48). Second, they affect social processes, causing disruption of services and social networks and communal loss of resources (42, 50). Third, they involve secondary consequences, namely identifiable mental and physical health outcomes, among those affected"
  2. "Having the capacity to continue functioning after a traumatic event is common and characteristic of normal coping and adaptation"
  3. "The key functions of pre-disaster preparation efforts are to prevent or minimize exposure to potentially traumatic disaster-related events and reduce likelihood of additional post-disaster stressors, which are both associated with post-disaster mental disorders."

pece_annotation_1475421132

Sara.Till

The foundation originally began through a five-year federal grant. Primarily, the foundation receives continued funding from federal grants. The majority of these appear to come from the National Institute of Health and are considered research grants; the prison populations serve as a fantastic resource for observing long-term treatments and disease progression, including methadone usage. Funding also comes from the state level, as RI sees the benefit of continually treating offenders, as their health problems become public health problems upon release. Additionally, there appears to be some private donation and funding as well.

pece_annotation_1477262291

Sara.Till

As mentioned earlier, the bibliography provides several of the authors' own works as references/supporting works for the report. These include reports and specific studies. Additionally, there are several governmental and agency reports, giving credit to this report as an overarching review of the process and not being too narrowly scoped. It should be noted the bibliography also includes several psychological and psychiatric works, detailing nuances of mental illness and their respective prevalence. 

pece_annotation_1478466280

Sara.Till

The major actions from the film is the rise of a grassroots organization. The former residents of Camp Lejeune demand answers and action from the Marine Corps. In 2012, the organization saw the successful passing of legislation (called the Janey Ensminger act) authorizing medical care to families and service members who lived at Camp Lejeune from 1957-1987. As mentioned previously, the film highly emphasizes the power of public to have a hand in policy formation if they are willing to put in the time and effort.