Looking Back...(reflection essay)

Throughout the quarter, I have written posts within my blog that encompassed what we were covering in class. Whether it a posting on the book Lost Mountain or Food. Inc., or various posts relating to my essays on pesticides, I have gained a lot of knowledge. After rereading over my posts, I feel as though my writing styles, as well as perceptions on ethos, logos, and pathos, has improved. I recalled certain issues within the books that I had forgotten about and reflected back on them. The issue of whether or not strip mining is an ethical decision for the environment and whether or not humans should have the right to destroy nature for their own personal gain angered me once again as well as the way animals are treated in factory farms.
When looking back at my Food Inc. posts, I found my third post to be most useful. I had written about the chapter “Eating made Simple,” by Marion Nestle and remembered that in this chapter, Marion discussed nutrition challenges, organics, and information that regarded diseases linked to obesity. I found this to be very informative and important since obesity is an ongoing epidemic here in the United States. Also, I wrote about how Marion had included a section about McDonald’s and how their cheese burger had a high fat content. I recalled how disgusted I had been upon reading this and continue to be glad that I chose to be vegetarian and eat mostly organic. I feel like this is a chapter that I will turn to if I ever need a quick fact on nutrition or organics. Also, after rereading all my posts on Food. Inc., It has inspired me to read the book again, and more specifically, the chapters we did not read for class. I used this book a lot for my essays, especially the chapter relating to pesticides, and feel as though I will use it again in the future. My Food Inc. posts I felt, were my strongest and that when reading this book, I looked more for the emotional cues and writing styles of the authors more so than in the book Lost Mountain.
With regards to my posts on Lost Mountain, I feel like these were some of my weaker posts. This may be due to that fact that these were some of my first blog posts. I was still unfamiliar with the blogs themselves, and did not really understand how to analyze an author writing styles. However, I feel like I improved on this throughout the quarter.
I felt that watching movies in class, and comparing them against the books, also helped to influence what and how I wrote my blog posts. Food Inc. especially impacted my writing styles. Through actually seeing the animals being harmed gave me motivation and inspiration to write out my feelings about this issue. I have never felt so compelled to stick to being vegetarian, and I was glad that after reading several posts made by my peers, that many felt inspired to change the way they eat and try and make a change in which America produces its food.
After revisiting my blog comments made on other’s posts and the comments others provided for me, I felt that this was a great way to really connect with classmates. Usually in classes, you don’t really get a chance to hear everyone’s opinions or the chance to get to know your peers. With the use of comments and also blog posts, I was able to really get a feel for my peer’s opinions, ideas, and personal writing styles. I really enjoyed reading other’s blogs and found them to be motivating in certain aspects. I also felt that comments from others helped me grow as a writer and their suggestions made a huge improvement in my writing. The fact that I knew others would be reading my posts, made me more motivated to write better posts than if they had been private.
Overall, I have never had to write blog posts for any other class. After having to complete them for this class, I wish more classes utilized them. I feel that they really made me think about readings, discussions, and films, and forced me to voice my opinions. I may have never thought about certain issues or viewpoints if it were not for writing blogs and reading peer’s posts. Also, when looking back over all my posts, I really feel like they helped me to grow as a writer and I enjoyed rereading over my work from the quarter and seeing how my writings changed.

Argument outline

The Dangers of Pesticides
Introduction:
Thesis: The use of Pesticides in conventional farming practices to produce large quanities of crops in order to meet consumer demands, is having a negative effect on the environment, water supply, and is taking a serious toll on human health.

1) Pesticide usage is a common practice used in intensive conventional faming used to produce large quantities of food.
a) Amount of pesticides used
b) Types of pesticides
c) Types of farming using pesticides
Transition
2). Scientists have conducted studies on the produce in supermarkets and found large amounts of pesticide residue still on the skins of food being sold.
a). Types of foods
b). Where foods are sold
c). Who is affected.
Transition
3). Many health problems are been linked to the use of pesticides caused from contaminated produce and foods that are being sold to consumers in supermarkets.
a). Health Concerns
b). Children and pesticides
c). Laws passed to protect Children ( mention EPA and CDC).
4). Contamination of water from pesticides in argicultureal runoff is causing health problems to those citizens living around farming communities
a). Ways of contamination
b). problems with contamination
c). future concerns with contamination
Transition
5). Alternatives to pesticides are available and starting to be utilized.
a). Organics
b). sustainable farming
c). Local farm markets
Transition
Future Problems ( release of pesticides and chemicals in the air)
Conclusion

Bibliography
"Harmful Pesticides in Everyday Food Products." Seattle PI Local. Hearst Newspaper, 30 Jan. 2008. Web. 21 Feb. 2010. .

"Pesticides." Sustainable Table. Sustainable Table, Sept. 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2010.
.
"PESTICIDES ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES." Consumer Health. CHOC, 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. .
Peterson, T.I. "Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water." Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water. T.I Peterson, June 1997. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. .
"Shoppers guide to pesticides." Shoppers guide to pesticides. Environmental Working Group, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. .
"The use of Pesticides in Farming." Health & Safety Executive. Health & Safety Executive, 2009. Web. 24 Jan. 2010. .

Weber, Karl. Food, Inc. First ed. New York: PublicAffairs, 2009. Print.

Food Inc #3

In the section we read, I really liked chapter eleven, called "Eating made Simple," by Marion Nestle. I found this chapter to be very informational and also intriguing. I liked the way in which Marion broke up the chapter into sections that included nutrition challenges, calories, organics, and also discussed supermarkets, dairy, and meat. He then followed with fish relating to heart disease and sodas and obesity. I found these sections to be very informative. I felt that Marion did a good job of presenting this information in a way that everyone could understand and relate to. The fact that obesity and the linkage to soda is such an issue here in the the US made this section very important to include. He also used facts and statistics to make the information he was presenting credible and also helped as sort of a shock factor. I felt as though Marion was talking to America as a whole, but on a personal level, making you reevaluate your own lifestyle and food choices. I found it very disturbing in the section "A meaty debate" when Marion said that the smallest McDonald's cheeseburger contained 6 grams of saturated fat and a Hardee's Monster Thickbuger contained forty-five. I was very disgusted by this and thought that this is exactly why Americans are overweight. This was one of the shock factors that I thought Marion used in order to capture the readers interests. After reading this chapter, I really want to reevaluate what I'm eating and continue to eat mostly organic, not just for the health benefits, but also for the environmental impacts.

Researched Argument Essay

After the completion of Pesticide essay, in which I looked at both the postive aspects of pesticide use and conventional forming and the negaitive effects and alternatives, I have decided to focus my attention on the negative aspects of this common farming practice and the harmful side effects it has on health and the environment. After completing the research for the previous essay, I was shocked at the amount of health problems pesticides cause and also exactly what is being put into our food. The chapter in the book Food Inc that disscussed pesticide use also helped to confirm my stance on this topic. I will be focusing most of my attention on the health effects caused by this type of farming, but will also be looking at environmental issues, water contaimination, and also the alternatives such as organic farming and will find resources and staticsitcs to support my main ideas.

Food Inc Post #2

After writing my research paper on pesticides, I chose to focus this blog on the chapter "Exposure to Pesticides", because I found this chapter to be really interesting but also shocking. I used several facts from this chapter to support some of my main points in my paper because I felt that the information provided within this chapter really showed the dangers of pesticide use. Among the most shocking statements made in this chapter that really stood out to me was that the FDA tested produce in grocery stores and more than half contained residues of pesticides and eight industry-leader baby foods contained 16 different pesticides, three of which were carcinogens. I found that very disturbing that baby foods contain cancer causing agents, and that they are even being used on food that will be consumed by children, when it is scientifically proven, that pesticides play a huge role in learning disabilities and developmental issues in young children. Also, I think its scary that when tested for OP's in blood samples, 95% of Americans tested positive for the OP's and those samples from children were twice as high as adults. The fact that OP's are linked to so many developmental issues really makes me wonder why they are still FDA approved and they they are still in half of the insecticides used. When there are alternatives such as organic farming being used currently that does not require the use of pesticides and has been scientifically proven to be dramatically healthier, why more farms are not converting over. Although it may be more costly to go organic, I feel like money put towards benefiting from healthy living is worth the price, and to have healthier kids would save money in medical bills and health care in the long run.

Food Inc

After watching the film Food Inc. in class, and reading several chapter's in the book Food Inc. itself, many things have stood out that I never knew, and almost wish I still didn't know about the food industry. After viewing the film especially, I look at my food differently and having been a vegetarian for the past several years, I now defiantly stand by my lifestyle choice. In the film, the scenes that involved conventional farming practices stood out the most. In particular, the scene in which the pigs are crushed to their death and the chickens are flipped upside down and hung by their necks got to me the most. I knew that animals were treated badly in these facilities and were forced to live in crammed filthy conditions because of an animal cruelty paper I had written in years past, but seeing it in the film was a completely different reaction. I had to look away several times during the film and felt sick watching it. Being as how that is how most would respond, would probably be why it was included in the film. It is one thing to hear about how the treatment of animals is, but to actually see it really makes you realize how corrupt the food industry truly is. The farmer that used the organic techniques in the film, at least showed compassion towards his livestock, and although he was raising them to be slaughter, he at least had the decency to treat them as living beings. I liked that the movie included personal interviews with farmers and allowed them to speak on how they felt about the food industry and its corrupt policies. Although they might have not agreed with how they had to treat the animals, they had to make a living, but at least they knew what they were doing was wrong and seemed to have a moral conscious.
Moving onto the book, I feel that what was shown in the film was further explained in detail in the interviews and chapters we read. Staying along the same lines as animal cruelty in conventional farms, I found the chapter “The Dirty Six” beginning on page 61, to be extremely disturbing. The top six worst animal practices were battery cages, fast growth for birds, forced feeding, gestation crates, long-distance transportation, and electric stunning of birds. These were all visually shown in the film, so reading about how horrible they were and actually seeing it made a huge impact on me. I found this chapter incredible hard to read and had trouble getting though it because it further explained in detail exactly how they hurt or killed the animals. I like that fact that at the end of the chapter, ways in which to help and stop these torturous practices were included. I really want to get involved and follow the three R’s ( refine diet, reduce consumption, replace animal products) more so then I already do and I feel like if more people read this book and saw the film, they would be more inclined to do so also.

Research Prospectus

For every acre of land planted in the United States, six pounds of harmful pesticides are sprayed in order to control, destroy, and repel pests and other organisms from harming crops. This brings the final number to 1.3 million tons of pesticides being used each year in several types of farming to “protect” human health my stopping the contamination of harmful microbes. The belief that pesticides could be used to control pest’s dates back to 2500 B.C, but it wasn’t until the past fifty years that their use has widely spread. Much of the produce bought by consumers in the U.S each day is doused in some form of pesticide while being grown on US soil. Many believe it is the imported produce from other countries that cause health problems for consumers. However, eleven out of twelve of the highest contaminated foods are US grown including sweet bell peppers, celery, kales, lettuce, carrots, peaches, apples, strawberries and cherries have been linked to causing infertility, cancer, learning disorders, neurological problems, and poisoning in many consumers who ingested the pesticides used with these products. Fetus’s and young children are most at risk for the harmful side effects caused from consumption of pesticides. However, consumption is not the only problem. Pesticides have also been linked to contaminated water in many rural areas after they have dissolved into those areas ground water. Since 50% of all Americans obtain drinking water from ground water sources, and 95% of the population living in farming communities use ground water for drinking water, this poses a serious issue. As important as keeping harmful microbes under control may seem, there are alternatives that can be used, as well as special types of farming that are already being utilized that pose no risk to human health. Organic eating is one of those alternatives and can be said to be better for your health. “Safe Soil” and no modifications made to the produce while being grown can vastly help save those who consume them to reek the benefits of a pesticide free lifestyle. Many consumers do not realize why pesticides are in use, how they are used, what exactly they are, and what types of food are being contaminated on a daily basis. The side effects and health concerns these pesticides and the contaminated ground water have been seen to go unnoticed, but have recently been linked more and more too serious health issues. In the paper, many of these issues will be disused in further detail as well as provide safe alternatives and listing of commonly contaminated foods in order to allow consumers to see where pesticides may be coming into their live and how they can protect themselves from developing health problems in the future. Also, Laws that have been passed in order to try and protect consumer’s health will also be recognized and discussed in greater detail. Pesticides are a commonly used substance that affects almost every individual, but is not a commonly recognized health concern, due to lack of information about them being presented to the public, but it needs to be addressed.

Bibliography

"Pesticides." Sustainable Table. Sustainable Table, Sept. 2009. Web. 25 Jan. 2010.
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/pesticides/.

"PESTICIDES ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES." Consumer Health. CHOC, 2009.

Web. 25 Jan. 2010. .

Peterson, T.I. "Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water." Pesticide Residuesin Drinking Water. T.I

Peterson, June 1997. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/safedrink/pest.htm.

"Shoppers guide to pesticides." Shoppers guide to pesticides. Environmental Working Group, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010. http://www.foodnews.org/.

"The use of Pesticides in Farming." Health & Safety Executive. Health & Safety Executive, 2009. Web. 24 Jan. 2010. .

"A Forest Returns"

I found the movie that we viewed in class, A Forest Returns, to be very informative and also intreging. I had no previous knowledge of anything involving the Wayne National Forest, and to be honest, probably never would if I hadn't watched this movie. The narrator of the movie had a passion for this issue that held your attention and his first hand account made it memorable. The fact that he had seen the forest in it's various stages and had pictures from each stage made it that much more interesting. I found it shocking that the Forest had once been clear cut for farm land and that the government had bought the land back from those farmers to return it to its natural state of forest. I found it very interesting that people were getting paid to not maintain their land and to let mother nature take over. I also found it interesting that when they were clear cutting the land, they would stack the wood into large piles and burn it and use the charcoal remains in the industrial industry. The fact that the government also employed many men during this time to help replant the trees in order to provide them with jobs during the great depression was very touching. Now that I have seen this movie, and have learned about the forests history, I would like to go visit the Wayne and see what it looks like now. I have driven though the Wayne to get here to school, but never really took the time to truly look at it.

Further Research

After continuing my research, on my topic of pesticides used in farming and how they effect the health of those who eat produce, or drink the water around these chemically using farms, I have found many interesting facts that have led me to narrow down my research mostly on the health problems caused by those who eat contaminated vegetables and fruits, and what the most commonly contaminated produce is. Although livestock farming that uses pesticides is also a major issues in this type of farming, I don't wish to include it in my research. Also, I found many health concerns related to the pesticides used, and that many of the chemicals used to treat the crops in farming are not even tested tested before use, or are used even when they have been scientifically proven to be linked to disease such as cancer. I have also looked into alternatives to pesticides, (not to be confused with fertilizers), and want to include that in my paper as well. I also intend to look more into organic produce and organic farming as well as farmers markets and see if there is a significant difference in the health of those who choose to eat organic produce verses those who eat produce from pesticide using farms. I have not yet looked into the effects of the ground water in these farming communities being contaminated and its health effects, however, it was included on some of the sites I have read so I intend to include that. Many of the health issues I looked at related to diseases starting at a young age or during fetal development. Also, I have found charts, graphs, and statistics that had alarming numbers that I want to ensure I include in my paper.

Forest Presentation

After listening to David Maywhoor's presentation about forest issues, I felt very much informed on problems with deforestion, logging, and burning of forests. Before, I never really even thought about these issues or realized how many acres of forest are destroyed each year in order to make products for consumer use. Also, I found it very interesting that Forty percent of the trees cut down are used for mulch. That just seemed very odd to me and a strange thing to be using that many trees for. Also, I never knew that they destroy maple trees because they are not as widely sought after as oak. I found David to be very well informed on all the issues regaurding forests and thought that he presented the infromation in a very easy to understand manner. I also liked that he involved us in his presentation by relating these issues back to our majors. I think that we as consumers do need to cut back or limit the amount of paper products we use and try to do a better job of protecting our forests and wildlife living in these areas.

Research Topic

After looking over several different environmental issues and branching off on several different areas, I narrowed my choice down to toxins, specifically pesticides from farming. More specifically, I want to look at the effects that pesticides used in farming have on consumers health who eat the produce that is treated with the pesticides verses those that are organic or grown without any added pesticides or chemicals. By choosing this topic, it will allow me to research the various chemicals used, the application of these pesticides, any known issues that have risin due to this type of preservation. Since most fruits and vegetables that are purchased in grocery stores are treated with some sort of chemical in order to extend their shelf life, I feel that this is a topic that many can relate to and that many are personally effect by. I eating a diet of mostly fruits and vegetables want to see if the pesticides that these types of produce are treated with, will have an effect on my health in the long run. Also, when researching this topic, I will also see if eating organically is truly better for your health. Besides just food, I will also be looking at the effects that the chemicals used in farming have on the water systems around those areas.

Part 3 of Lost Mountain

Wendell Berry describes two different types of mind sets. That of a rational mind and that of a sympathetic mind. When comparing the two, you see that they are very different in the way one thinks. A rational mind, tends to think with logic and facts, basing all decisions on statistics and factual bases. It is in a sense, a mathematical way of looking at things. On the other spectrum, a sympathetic mind makes decisions based on emotion and ethics. It uses some logic to make decisions, however, it takes into consideration the after-effects of decisions made and how they may effect others and their emotions. In the book, Reece was using a sympathetic mind in part three by discussing the emotional cues that he includes in these last few chapters. When reading the chapter on RFK (visiting appalachia), you can see that emotion and ethics played a huge role in the role play. RFK was very concerned with the health and finical incomes of those living in the area as well as living conditions. The effects of coal mining on the town was looked upon and what the damage in the future could be. Also, when Reece was filing the complaints at the Federal Office of Surface mining, he was concerned with the rights that the citizens of the area surrounding the coal mining sites had. He made sure he addressed the fact that the water contamination in these areas was causing damage to the health of the citizens and that the coal mining industry had an obligation in ensure the safety of those citizens. This shows that since Reece was mainly concerned with the ethics and emotions involved with those effected by coal mining, that he used a sympathetic mind set.
On page 242, in the first paragraph, Frank Lloyd Write stated, "The actual difference between ' individualism' and individuality of a true democracy lies in the difference between selfishness and noble self hood." (pg. 242) To me, this quote is basically saying that those who seek out to do right, regardless of their own self needs, truly make a difference in the world. Relating back to the book, Reece can be the perfect individual to base this quote on. Reece worked to fight against coal mining by bringing the topic out into the public. Not only be going to the Federal Office of Surface Mining and trying to change the way in which they stripe the mountains, but also by writing and publishing this book. This is an issue that many don't realize is happening, I myself was one of them. The coal industry is basing all of its decisions in a rational mindset, setting out for profit, and not caring about who it is hurting in the process. It's own selfish mindset is causing large environmental problems, but they ignore the side effects and continue on. If more people are made knowledgeable on this issue, and help to bring about change, then future environmental problems could be solved. But it will take those special individuals, like Reece, to do so.

Lost Mountain (pg 85-162)

After finishing the assigned chapters, I found many paragraphs that stuck out in my mind. However, one in particular really grabbed my attention. It was the use of data and statistics used by Reece that captured my eye. On page 111, Reece explains the problem that strip mining is causing on the streams and waterways. He describes lost creek and how damage from blasting has caused the release of sulfuric acid into the water contaminating it and causing much harm to aquatic life. Reece describes how after acid mine drainage and acid rain, the only trout that is able to survive in the water is that of the brook trout, and even that species is becoming endangered. Reece then goes on to talk about Falling Rock Watershed. This watershed feeds into some of the cleanest streams in Kentucky. He uses factual data such as the amount of dissolved solids in the watershed as being typically between 50 and 60, and its chlorides, sulfates, magnesium, and sodium levels as being about one milligram per liter. Its what Reece then says that captured my attention. Only a half a mile away from Falling Rock, is the confluence of Buckhorn Creek. Buckhorn lies directly below a strip mine. Compared to the data provided from Falling Rock, Buckhorns numbers are drastically different. Where Falling Rock had a dissolved solids of 50 to 60, Buckhorn's is close to 1,000, and their levels of magnesium and calcium is close to 25. However, the most shocking to me was the amount of species in Buckhorn Creek. Compared to Falling Rock who has hundreds of species living within its waters, Buckhorn Creek can only support about about ten species. This truly demonstrates the effects that strip mining has on waterways and wildlife. If the amount of acid mine drainage has this much effect on wildlife, one can only imagine the effects it is having on the people living around these waterways and those that rely on this water was a source of drinking water. Later in the following chapters, Reece provides some personal stories from those living around the waters affect by strip mines, and you can see the negative effect it is having. One women even says that she hesitates to give her child a bath in the water and has to ensure that no water makes its way into her child's mouth when bathing because she is afraid of what it might do in the long run. In my opinion, no one should have to worry about bathing their children or their water being harmful to their health especially in the case of preventable contamination (such as strip mining).

CC Technology

After reviewing the information regarding the issue of clean coal (cc) technology, I have found that the anti-cc technology site (This is Reality) greatly differs from that of the pro- cc technology (American Power) on their approaches to persuade their audiences on this issue. My initial impression of the This is Reality site was that it was very easy to navigate though the different sections within the website as well as was provided links to their humorous video commercials directly on the right hand side of the site. The website itself was very plain and dark in color with bold yellow writing to capture your attention fast. The American Power website however was more professional looking in general with more information and video clips individuals discussing the coal situation in a more serious manor which may be directed towards an older audience and towards electric companies. Looking at first impressions alone, the This is Reality website grabs your attention more than that of the American Power solely because they present their information in a more visual appealing way, as well as provide animation right from the start to grab your attention and may also be used to get the attention of a younger audience. With reguards to the infomation provided (about cc-technology) from each site, you see that the issue is whether or not clean coal will truly provide the most effective way to provide electricity or if the harmfulness of it's emissions will do more harm than good. The Reality website argues that coal is the leading source for global warming as well as the dirtiest way to produce electric when other cleaner resources are available )such as windmills).Their goal is to stop using coal and to switch over to more environmentally friendly approaches. The opposite stance on this provided by the American Power argues that after data collected from each state was reviewed, that many states have begun to use cc technology and have seen a 77% increase in cleaner coal. Their future goal is to continue to advance and develop cc technology and to produce a coal that has near zero emissions. The Reality website is sponsored by several different environmental agencies that argue against the pollution of the environment and seek to stop global warming (hence the anti-cc technology approach) where as the American Power site is sponsored by American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity who is involved with electric companies. When looking at the site for credibility, I believe American Power looks to be more of a credible site based on the amount of data and tables collected. The way each site presented their information was soley based on their attempts to persuade their audiences. The Reality website was trying to present the information in a less serious manor, but at the same time, was able to get their point across and still provide the audience with facts and figures that supported their arguments. The American Power website used facts and figures as well as interactive maps regarding each states usage of coal for power in order to get their point across and to make it more relateable to the audience. After looking over both sites, regardless of my standpoint of the issue, I have found that the American Power website was more successful in presenting their argument and stance based on the amount of facts and figures they provided. They seemed to have more actual data collected on the issue and provided current news on the issue and facts from each state. Also, their more serious demeanor seemed to make the issue more serious and prevalent.

Lost Mountain (pg1-85)

In the book Lost Mountain, Eric Reece, provides a first hand perspective of the devastation of mountian tops in the process of strip mining to collect coal used for various sources of energy. In particular, Reece examines the effects that this process has on "Lost Mountain," a mountain located in the forests of Appalachia. After watching the process that the minors go though to strip the top of the mountain, Reece (who had previously worked in the coal industry in a power plant with his father), describes the devestating decrease in the amount of wildlife, trees, and overall health of those living around the mountain. In a particular story told by Reece, he describes how miners once took a famous warber, the canary, into the mines in cages because the birds were highly sensitive to odorless methane gas (secreted by coal). If there began to be too much methane in the underground mine shaft, the canary would stop singing, warning the miner's that they may be in immediate danger. Reece then relates this story into Lost Mountain. The bird native to the mountain, is that of a Cerulean Warbler. He says that the number of birds are drastically decreasing due to the deforestion of trees in their habitit and that these once vocal birds are no longer siging, signifiying the amount of methane that is being leaked into the mountain air. This leads into another one of Reece's arguments for the stop of mountain top removal which is the effect it is having on those citizens living around the mountains. With the amount of pollution (methane) being produced in the process of harvesting the coal, the amount of cancer and deaths (related to cancer and injuries caused by coal mining) has increased dramatically.He provides one example of a women names Teri Blanton, who's two children were constantly sick (measle like rashes) caused by the groundwater around their home being polluted with "volatile organic chemicals" caused by the coal company's coal wastes. Not only is this process causing many animals to loose their homes or lives, but it is also doing the same thing to the people in the local areas. Houses around the mountain are being destroyed by landslides caused by loose rock that was broken up to clear the top of the mountain. But every issue has two sides. Reece provides arguments for those pro-strip mining that don't necessarily agree with Reeces viewpoints. Those in favor of the mining say that in order to produce the cheapest form of energy (coal), then strip minging must continue stating that coal is the cheapest energy source by far. Besides being a money saver, the clearing of the land also provides opportunity for growth in the forms of retail and development. Developers can now place stores and other profit making entities in places that were once stricly forests. So, you see, money is the key argument of those supporting the strip mining. After reading these chapter's on the devastation of Appalachia, I can relate personally to something similar. Living out by farmlands and wild life preserves, I too see many natural lands being destroyed to make room for more housing developments and retail spaces. Many of our local wildlife has now become scarce or non-existant which is ashame to see when this was once someplace where people came and visited nature. Seeing some deforstation first hand, I agree with Reece on his stance of protecting the mountain tops and stoping the strip mining from occuring, because once the trees, animals, and natural habitats are gone, they never come back and are never truely the same.

Intro

I'm Holly Ruwe and am in my third year as a Health Services Administration Major with a minor in Business and Enviornmental Health. After I complete my degree, I plan on doing an accelerated nursing program or going to grad school for nutrition sciences. I am originally from Hilliard, Ohio, which is west of Columbus. I enjoy working out, hanging out with my friends, and traveling. I also am a host at Ruby Tuesday here in Athens. I love OU and look forward to a great quarter.