Environmental Injustice Case Study Sarnia, Ontario, July 2021
Notes on "Everyday Exposure"
-denial of environmental heath issues, blaming the sick
-box ticking ans cover up, red tape bureaucracy
-"sensing policy": embodied, place-based,relational, responsible
Safe Side Off the Fence
EfeCengizThe documentary is missing because the documentary is as safe as the fence it mocks in its title.
In the beginning we are asked to bear witness to the construction and use of the most devastation weapon of indiscriminate death the world has ever seen, and all the harm the construction of such a tool, yet its construction and its use is justified near instantaneously by repeating the same old propaganda.
In continuation, we are asked to bear witness to the continuous production of similar weapons and the devastation caused by the mishandling of the waste that accumulated in their production, yet why such a production took place is not only left unquestioned, but simple hints of cold war propaganda is left in their places for safekeeping.
In the end, we are asked to bear witness to a sombre victory, same spectres of patriotism and nation-of-God watching over our shoulder, yet how the pitiful situation of being forced to celebrate even such a small victory is never explored.
To sum up, we are shown people, good people, who struggle against the symptoms of a disease, yet this disease itself never named, nor challenged. It could not have been challenged, as it would force a complete change in their discourse.
If we sincerely would like to critique how the bodies of these workers were made disposable; used, harmed, dislocated and discharged as deemed necessary; if we wish to explore this topic as the necropolitical issue it is, we cannot stop halfway through. This inability to stop chasing connections, relationalities wherever it fits our ideology, is not a call for “objectivism”, it’s a call to respect the term of Anthropocene with all its rhizomatic connections.
An investigation of nuclear waste, that does not factor the use of its product, the socio-political effects of said product, and the historical conditions that even led to the possibility of producing it in such ways and such quantities, are of no use for us. It cannot penetrate the barrier of capitalist realism. If it could, at least a single mention of workers unions would have existed. Instead, it has confessionals by atomic weapons lawyers whose heart goes out to these workers.
An America that refuse to face up to the fact that it is what it is by the great necropolitical project it led for hundreds of years, I struggle to accumulate sympathy for, what I can easily accumulate is rage however, which this documentary is missing..
Wish the documentary would have at least attempted to say something radical, instead of praising these disposable bodies for being patriotic about it. There are lives who never had false fences built as idols for safety, the collective idols of old America, the patriotic nation under God were built upon their broken bodies, what would you ask of them?
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ciera.williamsThe author used direct quotes from research papers, speeches, and other publications by experts in multiple fields from public health policy to medicine to government relations. These were discussed and examined against others to produce a discussion rather than just an article full of information.
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ciera.williamsThe article was written in a very "flowery" style typical of fictional and/or emotionally appealing narratives. That being said, the majority of the information used was requoted or cited from articles and books recounting the major events. The portion on 9/11/2001 is largely based on reports from the incident, first hand accounts, and the author's personal opinion.
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ciera.williamsThe author relied on a combination of resarch and personal experience to support his arguments. First hand experience during the time the policy was in effect also contributed to his knowledge on the subject.
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ciera.williamsEmergency Response isn't directly addressed in the article. However there is one mention of emergency responders and the debriefing typically held after a traumatic event/call. But, the article also says that this method is not actually effective in preventing psychopathology, and can actually hinder the healing process by promoting exposure to traumatic memories.
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ciera.williamsI tried all three apps:
I've-Been-Violated allows you to put in your name, phone number, and email, read instructions, and take a video recording in three steps.
We-Consent was confusing as I only got the camera screen and couldn't turn it off without exiting the app.
What-about-no wouldn't send me a confirmation email so I couldn't log in :(