Parks, Preservation, & Sense of Place

Sharpe

4/18/2017

Parks, Preservation, & Sense of Place:

This week, I had to read two articles. One by Michael Ann Williams called "'When I Can Read My Title Clear.'" The other article is by T. Young called "False, Cheap, and degraded." This blog will bring out some of the statements by these two individuals that I believe to be extremely shocking. The first shocking statement is by Michael Williams, where he states that "for some, this sense of order, of human over animal, was confirmed by their religious beliefs" (Williams, pg. 91). Simply, something like should not be feared of, as well as being partially right. Animals and humans should be considered equals rather than being dominate over the other. Unfortunately, humans ability to conquer the world and our greed profits us are negatively effecting the world and animals.

For the next two statements, it is from T. Young. One of these statements that I was shocked was that "Tennessee invoked eminent domain, condemned the land, and began forced departures" (Young, pg. 174). It is shocking that the United States today, especially in the 1900s, are so willing to kick people off their land. This kind of practice was no surprise during the 1700s and 1800s with the Native Americans, which was one of America's horrible events. But for this event, it was simply to create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Map of the Great Smoky Mountains

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://patriotgetaways.com/smoky-mountain-history

But one promising thing that Young was mentioning was about the Red Wolves. Young states that "in January 1991, Red Wolves (Canis rufus) were re-introduced into the Great Smoky Mountains at Cades Cove and their population initially climbed to 25" (Young, pg. 183). This is good sign that if an endangered species is able to sustain itself after being re-introduced, it means that there is hope for other species around the world. Hopefully, some endangered species are able to come off the endangered species list and able to survive side by side with humans.

Red Wolf (Captive)

(Author: Tim Ross)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:07-03-23RedWolfAlbanyGAChehaw.jpg

Citations:

Williams, M. A. (2002). "When I Can Read My Title Clear": Anti-Environmentalism and Sense of Place in the Great Smoky Mountains. In B. J. Howell (Eds.), Culture, Environment, and Conservation in the Appalachian South (87-99). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.

Young, T. (2006). False, cheap and degraded: when history, economy and environment collided at Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of Historical Geography, 32, 169-189.

Shale Gas and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States

Jeffrey Sharpe

4/11/2017

Shale Gas and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States:

For this week's reading, we had to read a journal article mostly about the cons of shale gas and the fracking process in which it is to retrieve it. One of the things that struck me the most was that in "northeastern Pennsylvania a subset of shallow drinking water wells consistently showed elevated methane, ethane, and propane concentration" (Vengosh, 8336-8337). It is shocking that this is an issue within the United States. The three types of gas mentioned above are highly flammable and when lit, it could possible hurt someone. Especially when the gases are sent to homes with water wells, which can burn down a house, or seriously hurt a child.

Fire

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Large_bonfire.jpg

Another shocking thing that I had read within the journal article was that "the buoyancy of gas and the flow rate of denser saline water would be substantially slower than the flow of natural gas" (Vengosh, 8338). Which is also another down side of having water wells. Which means that the gas, being lighter than the water, will be at the top of the well. Then it would flow into the well quicker than the regular water, which would fill the well with gas. Which can no longer be used for drinking purposes.

Fire fueled by gasoline.

(Author: U.S. Department of Justice)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gasoline-fire.png

The last major issue I had within the text was that "it was suggested that sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 4,4-dimethyl, oxazolidine (C3H7NO), and hydrochloric acid (HCl) would be good indicators to monitor water contamination upon a leak or a spill of hydraulic fracturing fluids" (Vengosh, 8340). It is just shocking that large corporations that deal with fracking is so willing to use these chemicals. If there is a leak somewhere and it finds a way into the local water supply, it would be to late. People will be serious sick, or even killed they intake these chemicals if they do not know it. Possibly causing lawsuits on the company.

Citation:

Vengosh, A., Jackson, R. B., Warner, N., Darrah, T. H., & Kondash A. (2014). A Critical Review of the Risks to Water Resources from Unconventional Shale Gas Development and Hydraulic Fracturing in the United States. American Chemical Society, 48. 8334-8348.

Reclaiming the Commons

Sharpe

04/04/2017

Reclaiming the Commons:

This week for class, we had to read two separate chapters about the central Appalachian mountains, one by Mary Hufford, and one from Steven Stephenson. For the first two quotes that I will discuss here comes from Stephenson. The first interesting fact that I learned was "wells in the area (central Appalachian) in 1859 yielded appreciable amount of oil and marked the beginning of what became known the Burning Springs oil field, one of only two oil fields in the entire United States before the Civil War" (pg. 221-222). To me, it is surprising to find out that oil from the ground was used so early. You would expect that it would have been used later in the 1800s or in the early 1900s. When you expect that oil was used during this time period, you would think of oil produced from whale blubber, or simply whale oil.

Bottle of Whale Oil

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_whale_oil_bottle.jpg

Another thing that I was shocked about was the careless disposal of waste from mining, especially coal mining. Stephenson states that "the ultimate product of the oxidation of sulfur is sulfuric acid" (pg.228). These mines within the Appalachian mountains was claimed to release sulfur within the surrounding area. And once it is converted to sulfuric acid, it is detrimental to the surrounding area. Especially when it is reached to a body of water. Ultimately killing everything in the water.

Sulfuric Acid in bottle (96% concentration)

(Author: W. Oelen)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sulphuric_acid_96_percent_extra_pure.jpg

Now the next quote comes from Mary Hufford's reading. She states that by looking at "a detailed map of almost any portion of the region, and ginseng is registered somewhere, often associated with the deeper, moister places: Seng Branch, Sang Camp Creek, Ginseng, Seng Creek, and Three-Prong Holler" (pg. 104). The region that Mary Hufford is discussing about is within the Appalachian mountains area of the United States, mostly within West Virginia. This illustrates how ginseng is such a huge part in the daily lives of the people within the region. Possibly brining in money for the locals family to be able to live another day.

American Ginseng

(Author: John Carl Jacobs)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Ginseng_3.jpg

Citations:

Hufford, M. (2002). Reclaiming the Commons: Narratives of Progress, Preservation, and Ginseng. In Howell, B. J. (Ed.), Culture, Environment, and Conservation in the Appalachian South (pp. 100-120). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.

Stephenson, S. L. (2013). A Natural History of the Central Appalachians. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University Press.

Humans in the Central Appalachians

Jeffrey Sharpe

3/30/2017

Humans in the Central Appalachians:

For this weeks reading, we read a document written by Steven Stephenson called the "Humans in the Central Appalachians." One thing that I was surprised about was left by the "Spanish were devastating diseases such as measles and smallpox, which decimated Native Americans and created a population vacuum that could be exploited by later European settles" (pg. 202). It just goes and show how careless Europeans were while on a conquest of taking over the world. In addition, the Europeans did not really cared for the well being of the Native Americans and let them suffer. It's just amazing how people are willing to harm other humans and simply do not care what happens to them. You even she that in todays society where people do not care for others, as well as others from foreign nation.

A Child with Smallpox in the early 1970s.

(Author: CDC/James Hicks)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Child_with_Smallpox_Bangladesh.jpg

Later in the 1700s, the European settlers were continuously moving westward in to Indian country, which meant they were on Indian land. Which in "July 1755 the settlement of Draper's Meadow was destroyed and at least five settlers killed by a raiding party of Native Americans" (pg. 203). Demonstrating that the Europeans did not care about the Native Americans and were willing to move onto their land without permission. Which would lead to violence and bloodshed. Strengthening the hatred between the Native Americans and European settlers. And it would only grow worse later in history.

Mary Draper Ingles (survivor of the Draper's Meadow Massacre)

(Author: Unknown).

Photo Location: https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Draper-900-2

Another statement that surprised me was that the "there are no really large cities in the Central Appalachians" (pg. 214). The only city that is mention was Roanoke Virginia, which is roughly 100,000 people in it (pg. 214). Which is surprising to me. Primarily that you would think that region would hold a lot more people since the regions discovery in the 1500s. By now, you would think more people would have colonize the Appalachian mountains and possibly exceeding other major cities of the United States. By having such a relatively small population in the region, you can tell how hard it is to live in the region. And it reserve for those who are able to take care of themselves.

Location of Roanoke, Virginia

(Author: Seth Ilys)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VAMap-doton-Roanoke.PNG

Citation:

Stephenson, S. L. (2013). A natural history of the central Appalachians. Morgantown: West Virginia University Press.

Founding Greater Appalachia

Sharpe

3/21/2017

Founding Greater Appalachia:

This week, we had to read chapter nine of the book titled "American Nations" by Colin Woodard. This chapter discusses the arrival of Scottish and Irish people arriving to the New World, or what would become the United States, by leaving the United Kingdom. One major reason why Scottish and Irish people left the United Kingdom because "taxes were increased all the same" (pg. 102). It is understandable why the Scottish and Irish immigrants arrived to the New World. They needed to find new ways to gain money to get them out the ever increasing debt for not paying their taxes. This is what helped caused the Americans to declare independence from the United Kingdom, becoming the United States. Similar to the Scottish and Irish, the Americans did not feel like the British Empire helped them out, but was just interested in collecting taxes. As well as not helping, or interested in the lives of their subjects.

Betsy Ross Flag

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_flag_13_stars_%E2%80%93_Betsy_Ross.svg

Another interesting fact that I learn was that "whiskey, which would remain the de facto currency of Appalachia for the next two centuries" (pg. 104). When you think of currency, you will think of paper money, or at least some type of coin system. Even without the currency system, at least having a system of trading. Even by the 1800s and 1900s, you would expect that this region would move from a whiskey currency to the currency of the United States. Any ways, I wonder if people within the region was influenced to moved from whiskey to moonshine?

Moonshine Jar

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://moonshinerecipe.org/popcorn-sutton-moonshine/

Another interesting fact that I learned was that the Scottish and Irish immigrants within the American colonies attempted to creating their own country "Transylvania, which was created in direct violation of the Royal Proclamation of 1763" (pg. 110). Which was surprising for me, because it's one of those stories that was forgotten over time. Where a new colony within the New World that was overall disappeared or simply failed. Anyways, I was also surprised that they tried to break a law, the Proclamation of 1763, which forbid them from moving west over the Appalachian Mountains. Which their new country would be settled in.

Location of the Proclamation Line (Proclamation of 1763)

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_territorial_growth_1775.svg

Citation:

Woodard, C. (2011). American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Earth Stewardship

Sharpe

3/14/17

Earth Stewardship:

This week, we read a journal article called "Earth Stewardship" by F. Stuart Chapin, which was published in 2011. One of the arguments that the author mentions is that "people and nature have always been intertwined" (pg. 3). This statement, even though fairly simple, is actually very true. Most people, even today do not realized how contacted the two are. If nature is negatively affected by some kind of event, it would sooner or later negatively  effect the human race. One well known situation was the Maya Empire in Ancient History. A group of people that inhabited southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. Long time ago, the Mayan Empire started to use Agriculture within the region. Which would mean the destruction of the rainforest, and the rainforest like climate within the region. As the population of the Mayan Empire increased, the demand for the agriculture like food also increased, which would increased in the destruction of the rainforest. As time goes on, it altered the amount of rainfall in the region. Ultimately devastating the agriculture of the region, causing the Mayan Empire to collapse.

Location of the Mayan Empire

(Author: Lynn Foster)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mayamap.png

Another statement that caught my eye was that "global problems require solutions at multiple scales" (pg. 5). I do not believe that this statement is entirely true. One reason is that if there is an environmental issue that is happening in one nation, it would be very difficult, or virtually impossible to tell them to fix the issue. One great example is nations like North Korea. Countries like North Korea are very radical, and are idealized by a radical leader. There is no way that environmental groups to influence countries like North Korea. Simply, these radical countries are just gonna do as they please.

Location of North Korea

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Korea_(orthographic_projection).svg

North Korean Flag

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_North_Korea.svg

The last thing that also caught my eye was "community-based research is change-oriented research that engages local people in all stages of the research process" (pg.11). Just like the statement before, some people will not be willing to help out, especially if it is altering ones culture. And countries and people that were once colonized or controlled by European or Western countries, they tend to go against those nations. So if the people of these former colonized nations is again felt threaten by foreign nations, they tend to go against it. Making it difficult to get people to be environmentalist, or implement environment policies.

Countries and their colonies in 1898.

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_1898_empires_colonies_territory.png

Reading Citation:

Chapin III, F. S., Power, M. E., Pickett, S. T. A., Freitag, A., Reynolds, J. A., Jackson, R. B., Lodge, D. M., Duke, C., Collins, S. L., Power, A. G., & Bartuska, A. (2011). Earth Stewardship: science for action to sustain the human-earth system. Ecosphere 2(8). 1-20.

Roots in the Hills

Sharpe

2/28/2017

Roots in the Hills:

For this weeks reading, we had read chapter seven of the Mountains of the Heart by Scott Weidensaul. One of the things that stuck to me was his quote "the Appalachians have been changed by - and changed - the human cultures that sheltered among them" (pg. 166). To me it's hard to believe that culture has any kind of impact on the landscape. The main thing that influences the landscapes, is both natural, and for human needs. But I understand that geography does influence the culture of people, where the human race needs to adopt to their surroundings in order to survive and to continue.

Location of the Appalachian Mountains

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://mytravelphoto.org/mountain/38-appalachian-mountains.html

The first group of native Americans that Weidensaul mentions is the Clovis Culture, or simply just the Clovis. It was interesting that they got the named Clovis because of their "projectile points were first found near Clovis, New Mexico" (pg. 166). It is hard to imagine that the first evidence of native Americans in North America came new Clovis, New Mexico. Because I know that they originally came from Asia by crossing the Bering Land Bridge into what is today Alaska. You would think that the first evidence of native American past would come from Alaska, or western Canada.

Clovis Arrowhead

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clovis_Point.jpg

Another interesting fact that I learned was how the Vikings had found their way to North America. Where the modern historians "know relatively little about the Viking colony at L'Anse aux Meadow" (pg. 174). It is surprising that a Viking group was able to colonize the new world. But the main issue is what happened to them? Where did they go?

Location of L'Anse aux Meadows

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://www.britannica.com/place/LAnse-aux-Meadows

Book Citations:
Weidensaul, S. (2016). Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.