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Global Environmental Issues
Toxic Contamination
National Sacrifice Zones
Images of America
Ansel Adams; America's great nature
photographer
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Challenging the Zeitgeist: Misrach and
the bombing of the American West
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America's National Sacrifice Zones
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King Coal
What's happening at UK?
Sculpture by Global Artist Brings
Together Cultures
"Coal Pot" was inspired by Anatsui’s
time as a visiting artist at UK
University Of Kentucky Adds "Coal" To
The New Basketball Dorm's Name For $7
Million Donation
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More Heat and Light in the battle over
coal…?
What toxics are associated with coal?
1. Mining, mountaintop and otherwise
a. Mercury, Selenium,
b. Acid runoff: Pyrite, FeS2
exposed to air and wáter forms
iron(III) hydroxide, Fe(OH)3,
which precipitates out of solution,
and sulfuric acid, H2SO4
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c.
2. Transport: Coal Dust
3. Storage: leaching into local wáter?
4. Burning: Stack emissions
a.NOx SOx
b. Metals: mercury
5. Disposal: Coal ash lechates
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Toxic Contamination
Environmental Poisoning
Indirect destruction instead of direct
appropriation:
We pollute the environment as a
byproduct of productive
(industrial) activities
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The environment dies, people die
due to 'externalities' or external
costs
Pollution as an Externality
a. Nature appropriators, e.g.
loggers, may be convinced to
accept 'sustainable' practices
because trees will eventually
run out. It is in their interest to
protect their resources
b. Contaminators, e.g. coal mine
operators, have no economic
incentive to eliminate acid mine
runoff: hence need for social
regulation to combat the
negative effects of externalities
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Externalities and Populations:
1. People living in affected areas
(NIMBY movements)
2. Workers in toxic industries
(Occupational health)
3. Gov't agencies acting a collective
public
4. Consumers of contaminated
products
Problem of Environmental Justice
Providing environmental protection to
groups, e.g. women and people of color
(Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans,
Asians) who have less political power.
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Industrialization and Point-Source
Pollution
Point -Source versus Non-Point-Source
Point-Source emissions an industrial
problem because industry requires
population concentration
Workers move to factory districts
Workers affected by factory emissions
People of Color most affected:
Toxic waste dumps located in
'minority' communities
Land prices fall, poor people of
color move into contaminated areas