I. Introduction
A.) Attention gainer
B.) Thesis
II. Purpose of Dams
A.) Briefly summarize why dams are considered valuable, and what services they provide
1.) Drinking water
2.) Irrigation to drought prone/affected areas
3.) Power and electricity
III. Environmental Impacts
A.) Changes H2O
1.) Increases salinity and traps nutrients
2.) Causes water logging
3.) Traps sediments
4.) The reservoir actually warms the cool river water (affecting wildlife)
B.) Causes floods
1.) The dams can break from an overflow of water storage
2.) Dam engineers can (and do) periodically release water gates, flooding areas downstream
3.) Flood from precipitation
C.) Deforestation
1.) Strip the land of trees to make way for roads, accommodations for dam site
D.) Alters ecosystems/wildlife
1.) Hinders fish migratory and spawning patterns
2.) Wildlife dependent on rich soils/nutrients/crops along the river bed/shore are forced to relocate, adapt or die off.
3.) Cause disease from stagnant waters
IV. Economic Impact
A.) Displacement of people
1.) Usually rural people are displaced to urban areas (not used to the new way of life)
2.) Lose social networks
3.) Rehabilitation and resettlement plans are far from adequate. Large quantities of people forced to relocate find themselves starving, and economically disadvantaged.
B.) (in severe cases) Imports/Exports change
1.) People start growing what they can afford to sell - not what they can afford to eat
C.) Funding/guidelines for dam projects
1.) No guidelines/plan REQUIRED for relocation of mass quantities of people
A- people are promised retribution, but receive none
B- people are promised housing, but receive tin shelters
C- people starve to death in government rehabilitation areas
2.) The World Bank
A- their role as the main financier of large dam projects
3.) Nations in debt from construction of dams
4.) Resources not allocated like promised
5.) Overlook the impacts of the dam in order to gain status/power/control
V. Alternative methods to dams
A.) Methods that have a less severe impact on the environment
B.) Methods that have a less severe impact on the economy
C.) Using the money to research “greener” alternatives rather than jumping into ANOTHER dam project
D.) Re-using/maintaining dams ALREADY built, opposed to building more
E.) New ideas proposed (solar energy, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and safe nuclear technology)
F.) Dam De-Commissioning
VI. Conclusion
1.) Summarize key points
2.) Reiterate thesis and position
Monday, March 29, 2010
RJA #9b: Argument
RJA#9b: Argument
Research Question:
Should we continue to build dams even though they cause significant damage economically and environmentally?
Thesis/claim:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the extreme economic and environmental impacts they incur.
4 Reasons:
- Construction of dams causes a mass displacement of people that rely on the agriculture rich areas (that are about to be destroyed because of the dam) for their livelihood. They are relocated often times in urban areas and have to re-learn how to live
- Dams completely reshape the ecosystems and biodiversity of rivers. By doing this, plants and animals that once relied on the river for nourishment are forced to relocate themselves, adapt, or die.
- Dams breed disease. Large lakes (reservoirs) that pool up behind a dam trap and warm the water. This becomes a breeding ground and active area for bugs that are prone to carrying disease. (e.g. mosquitoes carrying malaria)
- Dams also trap sediment that normally would be rich with nutrients to sustain life downstream. Sometimes the sediment can be so thick that it takes up more room than water in the reservoir.
3 objections/counterarguments:
- Dams provide a “good” source of hydro-electricity, providing power to thousands of people
- Dams supply fresh drinking water to areas in need
- Dams ration water through irrigation to drought prone/stricken areas
- Dams are a better alternative to power rather than coal
Research Question:
Should we continue to build dams even though they cause significant damage economically and environmentally?
Thesis/claim:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the extreme economic and environmental impacts they incur.
4 Reasons:
- Construction of dams causes a mass displacement of people that rely on the agriculture rich areas (that are about to be destroyed because of the dam) for their livelihood. They are relocated often times in urban areas and have to re-learn how to live
- Dams completely reshape the ecosystems and biodiversity of rivers. By doing this, plants and animals that once relied on the river for nourishment are forced to relocate themselves, adapt, or die.
- Dams breed disease. Large lakes (reservoirs) that pool up behind a dam trap and warm the water. This becomes a breeding ground and active area for bugs that are prone to carrying disease. (e.g. mosquitoes carrying malaria)
- Dams also trap sediment that normally would be rich with nutrients to sustain life downstream. Sometimes the sediment can be so thick that it takes up more room than water in the reservoir.
3 objections/counterarguments:
- Dams provide a “good” source of hydro-electricity, providing power to thousands of people
- Dams supply fresh drinking water to areas in need
- Dams ration water through irrigation to drought prone/stricken areas
- Dams are a better alternative to power rather than coal
RJA#9a: Thesis Statement
Research Question:
Should we continue to build dams even though they cause significant damage economically and environmentally?
Precise Claim:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the extreme economic and environmental impacts they incur.
Reasons/blueprint:
- dams hinder the natural flow of water that ecosystems/fish/forests rely upon
- dams significantly reduce fish populations by blocking their migratory/spawning patterns
- dams increase the salinity of the water making it nearly impossible for agriculture once the water becomes “water-logged”
- while they’re meant to reduce flooding, they can and do actually aid in flooding by overflowing
- diminish the land by deforestation in order to make room for all the accommodations that come along with dam construction
- spread disease
- reservoirs from newly built dams attract developers (golf courses, resorts etc)
- dams displace thousands if not millions of people
- resettlement locations and plans are barely adequate reparations for moving
- displaced persons are promised “x,y, and z” but very rarely ever receive anything promised
- people have been known to starve to death in “resettlement and rehabilitation” sites
- Average cost overrun of dams is 56% (proving that they cost more than they’re worth)
- Funding for large dams isn’t in the interest of the people, but in the interest of big business/corporations
- People who don’t receive power from dams end up paying high taxes for it (almost as much as the people receiving fresh water/power etc from it)
Complete thesis statement:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the devastating effects they bring about economically and environmentally in regards to diminished ecosystems and biodiversity, the mass displacement of people, and the large debt they accrue.
Should we continue to build dams even though they cause significant damage economically and environmentally?
Precise Claim:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the extreme economic and environmental impacts they incur.
Reasons/blueprint:
- dams hinder the natural flow of water that ecosystems/fish/forests rely upon
- dams significantly reduce fish populations by blocking their migratory/spawning patterns
- dams increase the salinity of the water making it nearly impossible for agriculture once the water becomes “water-logged”
- while they’re meant to reduce flooding, they can and do actually aid in flooding by overflowing
- diminish the land by deforestation in order to make room for all the accommodations that come along with dam construction
- spread disease
- reservoirs from newly built dams attract developers (golf courses, resorts etc)
- dams displace thousands if not millions of people
- resettlement locations and plans are barely adequate reparations for moving
- displaced persons are promised “x,y, and z” but very rarely ever receive anything promised
- people have been known to starve to death in “resettlement and rehabilitation” sites
- Average cost overrun of dams is 56% (proving that they cost more than they’re worth)
- Funding for large dams isn’t in the interest of the people, but in the interest of big business/corporations
- People who don’t receive power from dams end up paying high taxes for it (almost as much as the people receiving fresh water/power etc from it)
Complete thesis statement:
Production of dams should be stopped because of the devastating effects they bring about economically and environmentally in regards to diminished ecosystems and biodiversity, the mass displacement of people, and the large debt they accrue.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
RJA#8b: Evaluation Check
http://astults.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html#comment-form
http://mgheng2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html#comment-form
http://mgheng2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html#comment-form
RJA #8a: Quotation, Paraphrase, and Summary
PASSAGE:
http://www.narmada.org/gcg/gcg.html
http://www.narmada.org/gcg/gcg.html
Further upstream, where the silt deposits have not yet become a problem, there's another problem. Landless people (predominantly tribal people and Dalits) have traditionally cultivated rice, fruit and vegetables on the rich, shallow silt banks the river leaves when it recedes in the dry months. Every now and then, the engineers manning the Bargi Dam (way upstream, near Jabalpur) release water from the reservoir without warning. Downstream, the water level in the river suddenly rises. Hundreds of families have had their crops washed away several times, leaving them with no livelihood.
PARAPHRASE:
Local tribal villagers/dalits heavily rely on silt banks left by the river to grow their rich agricultural pallet. However, as engineers from the nearby dam release water from it without warning, it floods the crops the villagers rely on for sustainability. This in turn, leaves the villagers without no livelihood.
SUMMARY:
Landless villagers living around one of India's largest dams are constantly affected by the inconsistent flow of water let out of the dam by engineers without warning. These local villagers rely on silt banks from the river to grow crops, which in turn sustains their livelihood. With unexpected water flow from the dam, it floods their crops, and the villagers cannot make a living.
PARAGRAPH (ellipsis/brackets):
Most people are only familiar with the positive aftermath regarding the construction of large dams. It (in essence) supplies fresh drinking water to millions of people, it provides irrigated water in times of need, and a consistent flow to meet human demands. However, often times we do not consider the socio-economic impact that dams have on people. Whether it is resettling entire villages or communities, or simply disturbing the lifestyles of people living around dams, we fail to consider the effects dams have on humans. A group of tribal villagers in India rely on the silt banks left from the river when the dry months arrive to fuel their agricultural lifestyle. This group of villagers use their crops as a means of sustainability, however "every now and again the engineers [. . .] release water from the reservoir, [. . . .] and downstream water levels rise, flooding the crops time and time again," (Roy) leaving the villagers unable to sustain their way of life.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
RJA #7b: Field Research Suggestions
Jeff Auger: Global Climate Change
http://jeffauger.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-6c-field-research-options.html#comment-form
Alex Tempest-Mitchell: Dangers of Underage Drinking
http://tempestmitchell.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-6c-field-research-options.html#comment-form
http://jeffauger.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-6c-field-research-options.html#comment-form
Alex Tempest-Mitchell: Dangers of Underage Drinking
http://tempestmitchell.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-6c-field-research-options.html#comment-form
RJA #7a: Evaluation of Sources
1.) Reference Article
"Position Paper on Dams and Environment" by Louis Jean Genepi
- I thought this article did a great job at presenting information for both sides of the fence regarding dams. The article is thorough by breaking down the article into many sections to ensure that they cover all aspects of dam construction. They emphasize the positives AND negatives in a very objective way. The article was written in the last 10 years, which I've heard that anything in the last 10years is fairly relevant and up to date. I think they could have done a much better job at citing their sources, and information, they provide so much information, but don't do a great job at documenting it.
2.) Book
Pearce, Fred. When the Rivers Run Dry. Boston: Beacon Press, 2006. Print.
- This book takes a clear stance on the economic and environmental impacts of dams, and presents compelling statistics with credible sources. It was published in 2006, and since it was not a work funded by The World Bank, it seeks to provide the truth on BOTH sides about dams. He gives undeniable statistics, that when compared with other works, seems fairly accurate. Unlike the previous article I just mentioned, he cites all his information clearly. He also uses interviews, and statements from leading political figures that only aid in his argument. I particularly like when he uses excerpts from the former commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (who favors dams) and how he is extremely against dams and their negative affects. It makes for a very compelling argument!
3.) Periodical
Roy, Arundhati. The Greater Common Good. India: India book Distributor (Bombay), 1999. Print.
- Probably my favorite article, I love this because she gives the human side of dams. Yes it affects the environment and economy, however she gives the account FIRST HAND of the people. She is a renowned activist for social justice, so she dedicates her life to this kind of thing. She cites ALL her information, and when you check up on her references, they are legit. She frequently publishes articles, she frequently gives speeches, and travels all over to raise awareness, this to me establishes credibility because she doesn't just give an opinion and disappear. She gives good comparisons, statistics, images and primary sources! She wrote this article in 1999, which is still pretty current.
4.) Website
http://iresearch-reporter.com
- This website was amazing! I really love it. The articles seem very scholarly, and relevant. I like the breakdown of "key topics," "possibly useful," and "selected sources." It gives you a variety of elements to choose from based on your needs. I didn't find many articles that were outdated, or irrelevant. Most articles supplied good information, on both sides of my topic, it seemed objective which is helpful, because then you aren't always sifting through biased works.
"Position Paper on Dams and Environment" by Louis Jean Genepi
- I thought this article did a great job at presenting information for both sides of the fence regarding dams. The article is thorough by breaking down the article into many sections to ensure that they cover all aspects of dam construction. They emphasize the positives AND negatives in a very objective way. The article was written in the last 10 years, which I've heard that anything in the last 10years is fairly relevant and up to date. I think they could have done a much better job at citing their sources, and information, they provide so much information, but don't do a great job at documenting it.
2.) Book
Pearce, Fred. When the Rivers Run Dry. Boston: Beacon Press, 2006. Print.
- This book takes a clear stance on the economic and environmental impacts of dams, and presents compelling statistics with credible sources. It was published in 2006, and since it was not a work funded by The World Bank, it seeks to provide the truth on BOTH sides about dams. He gives undeniable statistics, that when compared with other works, seems fairly accurate. Unlike the previous article I just mentioned, he cites all his information clearly. He also uses interviews, and statements from leading political figures that only aid in his argument. I particularly like when he uses excerpts from the former commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (who favors dams) and how he is extremely against dams and their negative affects. It makes for a very compelling argument!
3.) Periodical
Roy, Arundhati. The Greater Common Good. India: India book Distributor (Bombay), 1999. Print.
- Probably my favorite article, I love this because she gives the human side of dams. Yes it affects the environment and economy, however she gives the account FIRST HAND of the people. She is a renowned activist for social justice, so she dedicates her life to this kind of thing. She cites ALL her information, and when you check up on her references, they are legit. She frequently publishes articles, she frequently gives speeches, and travels all over to raise awareness, this to me establishes credibility because she doesn't just give an opinion and disappear. She gives good comparisons, statistics, images and primary sources! She wrote this article in 1999, which is still pretty current.
4.) Website
http://iresearch-reporter.com
- This website was amazing! I really love it. The articles seem very scholarly, and relevant. I like the breakdown of "key topics," "possibly useful," and "selected sources." It gives you a variety of elements to choose from based on your needs. I didn't find many articles that were outdated, or irrelevant. Most articles supplied good information, on both sides of my topic, it seemed objective which is helpful, because then you aren't always sifting through biased works.
RJA #6c: Field Research Options
Survey:
- I'd like to survey a very wide genre of people (different ages, social status, ethnicity etc) and ask for their general impression of dams, their basic knowledge of them, and whether they would be for or against one. I would like to see how the differences in people influences their answer, or not.
Interview:
- Ideally I would like to interview someone who has been affected by the construction of a dam, either by displacement for building, or by a flood caused by the dam. This will require some leg work, but I think will be worth the effort.
Museum:
- I would like to visit a museum that is dedicated to the knowledge of dams, or maybe a virtual visitor center if I can not physically go to a museum/visitor center that is close enough.
- I'd like to survey a very wide genre of people (different ages, social status, ethnicity etc) and ask for their general impression of dams, their basic knowledge of them, and whether they would be for or against one. I would like to see how the differences in people influences their answer, or not.
Interview:
- Ideally I would like to interview someone who has been affected by the construction of a dam, either by displacement for building, or by a flood caused by the dam. This will require some leg work, but I think will be worth the effort.
Museum:
- I would like to visit a museum that is dedicated to the knowledge of dams, or maybe a virtual visitor center if I can not physically go to a museum/visitor center that is close enough.
RJA #6b: Social Media and Multimedia
Social Media Search Tools
1.) www.trendpedia.com
Keywords Used: economic impact + dams, environment and dams, funding + dams
Search Strategies: boolean combinations
Date of Search: n/a
Number of Hits: 1
Relevance of Hits: 5
2.) www.qwika.com
Keywords Used: economic impact of dams + environment, displacement + dams, communities and dams, environment +dams
Search Strategies: boolean
Date of Search: Oct 2007
Number of Hits: 22,000
Relevance of Hits: 3
Multimedia Search Tools
1.) www.blinx.com
Keywords Used: dams are harmful, economic impacts of dam, dams and the environment
Search Strategies: using different keyword sentences
Date of Search: APR 10, 2008
Number of Hits: 339
Relevance of Hits: 4
1.) www.trendpedia.com
Keywords Used: economic impact + dams, environment and dams, funding + dams
Search Strategies: boolean combinations
Date of Search: n/a
Number of Hits: 1
Relevance of Hits: 5
2.) www.qwika.com
Keywords Used: economic impact of dams + environment, displacement + dams, communities and dams, environment +dams
Search Strategies: boolean
Date of Search: Oct 2007
Number of Hits: 22,000
Relevance of Hits: 3
Multimedia Search Tools
1.) www.blinx.com
Keywords Used: dams are harmful, economic impacts of dam, dams and the environment
Search Strategies: using different keyword sentences
Date of Search: APR 10, 2008
Number of Hits: 339
Relevance of Hits: 4
RJA #6a: Websites
1.)
SEARCH ENGINE
www.duckduckgo.com
KEYWORDS: dams + environment, dams, dams + economy
SEARCH STRATEGIES: I looked for search engines that were Boolean compatible
DATE OF SEARCH: Nov 16, 2000
NUMBER OF HITS: doesn't give a specific number like google, but there was a plethora of very relevant articles that popped up.
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
2.)
META & MULTI SEARCH ENGINES
www.carrot2.org
KEYWORDS: economy + dams, economy + environment + dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: Again, used the Boolean search, I find it to be the most effective
DATE OF SEARCH: OCT 2005
NUMBER OF HITS: 152,000
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
3.)
DIRECTORIES
http://search.yahoo.com
KEYWORDS: dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: trying various directory websites to find out which one had the most relevant academic articles
DATE OF SEARCH: MAR 2010
NUMBER OF HITS: 861
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 3
4.)
INVISIBLE WEB SEARCH TOOLS
www.incywincy.com
KEYWORDS: dams, dams + environment + economic impact, environment affected + dams, displacement + dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: Again, looking at all the different web search tools, I found for my topic that incywincy.com was the most effective. The others didn't produce nearly the amount of information for my topic as this one did.
DATE OF SEARCH:
NUMBER OF HITS: 8,887
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 4
5.)
OTHER SEARCH TOOLS
http://iresearch-reporter.com
KEYWORDS: economic impact of dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: I reviewed most of the misc search tools, and found iresearch to be fascinating and so very helpful! It helps break down the larger more complex ideas into easily understandable material.
DATE OF SEARCH: n/a
NUMBER OF HITS: n/a
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
SEARCH ENGINE
www.duckduckgo.com
KEYWORDS: dams + environment, dams, dams + economy
SEARCH STRATEGIES: I looked for search engines that were Boolean compatible
DATE OF SEARCH: Nov 16, 2000
NUMBER OF HITS: doesn't give a specific number like google, but there was a plethora of very relevant articles that popped up.
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
2.)
META & MULTI SEARCH ENGINES
www.carrot2.org
KEYWORDS: economy + dams, economy + environment + dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: Again, used the Boolean search, I find it to be the most effective
DATE OF SEARCH: OCT 2005
NUMBER OF HITS: 152,000
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
3.)
DIRECTORIES
http://search.yahoo.com
KEYWORDS: dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: trying various directory websites to find out which one had the most relevant academic articles
DATE OF SEARCH: MAR 2010
NUMBER OF HITS: 861
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 3
4.)
INVISIBLE WEB SEARCH TOOLS
www.incywincy.com
KEYWORDS: dams, dams + environment + economic impact, environment affected + dams, displacement + dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: Again, looking at all the different web search tools, I found for my topic that incywincy.com was the most effective. The others didn't produce nearly the amount of information for my topic as this one did.
DATE OF SEARCH:
NUMBER OF HITS: 8,887
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 4
5.)
OTHER SEARCH TOOLS
http://iresearch-reporter.com
KEYWORDS: economic impact of dams
SEARCH STRATEGIES: I reviewed most of the misc search tools, and found iresearch to be fascinating and so very helpful! It helps break down the larger more complex ideas into easily understandable material.
DATE OF SEARCH: n/a
NUMBER OF HITS: n/a
RELEVANCE OF HITS: 5
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