We as citizens of the United States are told stories
everyday of our lives. Some stories are for our own protection while others are
flat out lies that do us harm rather than good. Is it our right to know every
single detail about this country? I believe that when it comes to environmental
atrocities such as Hurricane Katrina, the water crisis in Flint Michigan, the
Love Canal tragedy, the BP oil spill, and countless others who have not reached
the headlines we have every right to know what is going on. This act of lying
and betrayal is not only prevalent in the United States but worldwide. Why do certain governments and corporations fail
to bow their metaphoric heads and claim responsibility? Is it an inherent fear
of getting in trouble? Is it pure negligence? Or is it a combination of many different
variables? It seems that very few responsible parties ever come right out and
state that there is an issue. I think if these entities took responsibility for
their mishaps or actions it could be a hell of a lot better than lying for a
period of time until an environmental issue is discovered down the road and is subsequently
far worse than when it was originally discovered. Klein talks about the BP oil spill and how oil
leaked into the Gulf of Mexico for 3 months. The general public was told by BP
that the oil would never reach shore. We were also told that the oil would stay
at the bottom of the ocean and it would affect the organisms and natural processes of the area. We all
know what really happened. Klein suggests that we can no longer take what we
are told at face value. We must do our own investigation into these matters. Educate
yourself and get many different perspectives for many different news sources. Who
is to blame for the way these corporations and governments are? Is it the
economy or capitalism? Again it is a very complicated situation and these
questions that I pose will not be answered overnight. Treat each situation as singular
event because just like anything in this world we have to make individuals care
in order for something to get done in these situations. Certain people may not
care about one issue but care very deeply about another. This is due to a number
of different factors.
Mark Mason’s article entitled “You
probably know to ask yourself, “What do I want?” Here’s a better question”
poses some great questions that the reader should take to heart. One of these
questions is poised as people willing to struggle or suffer for the things they
care about most. If you are willing to pass through hell-fire to obtain a goal,
does that end goal make you happy? If so, Mason is suggesting that you should
go through these struggles, because what is life without struggle? When you
suffer to obtain something great (like we college students are doing to obtain
a degree) it gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment. I am willing to
fight for certain social and environmental justice causes because I believe it
is every persons right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, be treated as
equals regardless of race or gender or sexual preference, and to live a life
which makes them happy. Why should certain people use the backs of others in
order to achieve more power? Why should people destroy the environment in order
to gain more and more profit? Again, these questions are not easily solved. There is one major theme I am picking up from
reading Klein’s, “Blockadia” and it is that, “The climate movement has found it’s
nonnegotiables.” This means that the members who make up this movement have a
moral compass and intend to fight for what is right and just in regards to
environmental and social change which is so needed in the present. The planet does
not care if we live or die because it is going to be there regardless. We must
find a way to get along and save our own lives on earth, because the earth is
not in trouble, it will always find a way to fix itself. We are the ones who
are in trouble.
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