Hedges and Sacco begin the chapter, Days of Destruction, with Larry Gibson who explains his childhood living on the mountain. He describes what his life was like then and now, showing that the land is barely recognizable. The land that his family once owned, went from 500 acres to 50. I feel like this relates to many properties in Michigan today. Trees, houses, and land are often torn apart to make room for something new, similar to what Gibson describes happened to the cemetery adjacent to his house. I can’t believe that bulldozers would just be able to start demolishing a cemetery, it doesn’t seem legal, especially because bodies are buried there. All of this space was made for underground mining. On page 119, Gibson showed how once you abandon
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The carcinogens within these coal ash deposits, cause cancer. This is not okay, people should not be getting cancer from the air they breathe. The fact that cancer is an epidemic, just like that of black lung disease is unfortunate. It seems as if people think that it is the way of life within the Appalachian Mountains. Too bad there is no vaccination for an epidemic like this. I find it fascinating that people believe that they will be able to outrun the contaminated soil, air, and water through their wealth. I wish they understood that wealth and status can’t save you forever. Eventually, these consequences will come back to get …show more content…
She described what her life is like in Boone country, where thirteen landslides have moved closer and closer to her home. Maria said that she spends about $250 a month on bottled water. That is a ridiculous amount to spend on water alone. It angers me that she lives with a contaminated well. This makes me think of one thing, the Flint water crisis. Similar to Maria, those who drink the water, which is contaminated, get very sick. Precautionary measures need to be taken in order to help protect the health of our U.S. citizens along with protecting Maria and her
The carcinogens within these coal ash deposits, cause cancer. This is not okay, people should not be getting cancer from the air they breathe. The fact that cancer is an epidemic, just like that of black lung disease is unfortunate. It seems as if people think that it is the way of life within the Appalachian Mountains. Too bad there is no vaccination for an epidemic like this. I find it fascinating that people believe that they will be able to outrun the contaminated soil, air, and water through their wealth. I wish they understood that wealth and status can’t save you forever. Eventually, these consequences will come back to get …show more content…
She described what her life is like in Boone country, where thirteen landslides have moved closer and closer to her home. Maria said that she spends about $250 a month on bottled water. That is a ridiculous amount to spend on water alone. It angers me that she lives with a contaminated well. This makes me think of one thing, the Flint water crisis. Similar to Maria, those who drink the water, which is contaminated, get very sick. Precautionary measures need to be taken in order to help protect the health of our U.S. citizens along with protecting Maria and her