Saturday, May 5, 2012

The Last Mountain

The Last Mountain was shown at I.G. Greer as part of the 2012 Sustainability Film Series on March 20. The goal of this movie was to explain the controversy surrounding mountain top removal (MTR) coal mining in the Central Appalachia and show how problematic the practice is.  Coal River Mountain is the last untouched mountain in the Coal River Valley, which is controlled by Massey Energy.  The makers of the film argue that a wind energy site would be a much better use of this location than a MTR coal mining site.

Throughout the film problems are presented and some potential solutions are given.  Different activists are also interviewed throughout the film and describe their experiences with trying to gain awareness and fight back against the big coal companies.  One group that is discussed quite often throughout the film consists of individuals from outside of the area that have done things such as camp in the trees or on machines such as the dragline.  The film follows protestors and gives a good depiction of how great the tension is in the area between those who strongly support MTR mining and those who are very opposed to it.  During many of the large protests there would often be another group of individuals who are pro-MTR mining that want to counter their attempts.

The video also shows cases where significant damages have been incurred as a result of MTR coal mining, yet it is very difficult to make a case out of the actions because the coal companies spend so much money on keeping politicians on their side and on lobbying.  Some of the controversies surround reclamation and how it isn't sufficient, problems with the coal slurry impoundments, especially one that's directly behind an elementary school, covering streams, and flooding.  There are also economic damages in communities caused by air and water pollution and poverty caused by devaluation of homes, significant cuts in employment, and the temporary nature of the jobs.

In the panel afterwards some of the speakers emphasized the importance of people coming from elsewhere to try to help, however I've had some personal experiences that make me feel a little differently.  There is a strong cultural tie to coal mining in the Central Appalachia, as many of the people there at least have close relatives that do or have worked in the mines.  When people come up from out of state and tell the local residents that they need to stop doing something that has been going on for generations, it upsets people.  They also talked about externalities and how the price of coal does not accurately reflect the costs of the damages caused by its mining.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dr. Robert Rennie (University of Tennessee- Knoxville): Between Heaven and Hell: The Everyday Experiences of World War I Aviators

         WWI was the first modern war and set the precedent or all wars following.  It was the first war that made use of the aircraft.  This use of technology shrinks the perception of time and space and allows for shorter trip times.  When the armies involved started recruiting for aviators, these men stepped forward from a variety of backgrounds.  When the recruiters asked the men why did they choose aviation, most responded that they were drawn to the new technology and felt a sense of duty or adventure.
         Between 1914-1918 no one saw the usefulness of aircraft's.  Most were used to spot enemy locations behind lines and for reconnaissance.  The second use was in response to the reconnaissance planes flying overhead.  The enemy developed planes to shoot down reconnaissance planes.  Being a pilot in these days was not a glorious as Hollywood makes it out to be.  These planes were extremely weak and poorly built.  In training to fly to the new planes 1/2 of all pilots died in training for the Royal Flying Corps.  This is around 17,000 men that lost their lives due to poorly built planes.  There was no parachute to count on, the equipment was very unreliable, and it took a heavy emotional toll of the pilots.
        The myth of the "Ace" was developed my the aviators and solider's because it gave them hope for immortality and embodied Nationalism.  These historic figures gave a meaning to the war and offered an escape from the meaningless loss of life that was happening all around them.  Enemy pilots when shot down over lines were given full military burials by the people they were trying to bomb or kill.  The aviators perception of death was far more embraced at this time than any other soldier in the war.  This is respect that has been lost in war today.
        Most of the men that survived the war stayed on as the aerial unit for monograph transportation.  Many aviators that could not find a job flying, life seems anti-climatic.  Europe was in shambles, there homes were destroyed, families lost, brothers, colleagues, friends were dead or misplaced.  It took an emotional and economic toll on the aviators of the war and the countries involved.