http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/15/content_348413.htm
I liked this article because it portrayed the gravity of the situation through words and pictures. This article illustrated the struggle for citizens after they have been displaced, also it gave key facts concerning the massive relocation of people. It gave key facts in retribution from the government, the new quality of life people were facing, and what their opinion was. This article was slightly biased, but gave a fairly good objective point of view. It stated facts, and interviewed citizens to get the real story. It gave two different examples of people affected by the dam, one person doing okay, the other not. I think I can learn from this example to give objective based reporting, to create an organizational flow and implement voice. Overall, I think this will be a good article to mirror.
Friday, April 23, 2010
RJA#13b: Application Project Plan
For my application project I have decided to write a newspaper article. I think the approach I am going to take is to report on a local village and how they have been affected by recent dam construction. I am going to start by explaining the environmental implications the dam has had on the village, how the village has tried to adapt to their new environment without a flowing river. I am also going to report in this newspaper article how the village people have been asked to leave so they can continue with dam construction. I will report in the newspaper article how their quality of life has been affected, and also how the environment has changed the area.
Friday, April 16, 2010
RJA#12b: Field Research Report
I conducted a survey of twenty people, who's ages ranged between 21 and 64. I chose people with various backgrounds (e.g. jobs, ethnicity, age, political views etc). I asked what they thought of dams and their environmental and economic roll, the outcome was very interesting, and not what I expected.
Four People: (ages 35, 23, 26, and 30)
- Believe that dams have grave implications (economically and environmentally). These four people were able to give examples backing up their points.
Twelve People: ( ages 21, 26, 27, 23, 25, 64, 58, 59, 52, 48, 49, 31)
- believed that dams did not significantly alter ecology and biodiversity.
Four People: (ages 62, 41, 23, 24)
- argued that without dams our nation would not have progressed as it has, therefore whatever implications that dams "supposedly" incur, it did not outweigh progress.
Four People: (ages 35, 23, 26, and 30)
- Believe that dams have grave implications (economically and environmentally). These four people were able to give examples backing up their points.
Twelve People: ( ages 21, 26, 27, 23, 25, 64, 58, 59, 52, 48, 49, 31)
- believed that dams did not significantly alter ecology and biodiversity.
Four People: (ages 62, 41, 23, 24)
- argued that without dams our nation would not have progressed as it has, therefore whatever implications that dams "supposedly" incur, it did not outweigh progress.
RJA#12a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 3
1.)
Bezlova, Antoaneta. "Three Gorges Dam May Displace Millions More." Environment China 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2010.
Antoaneta gives some powerful statistics regarding dam displacement. Not only does she account for reservoir displacement, but she sheds an interesting light on the thousands to millions more that will need to evacuate based on repercussions from dam development. Bezlova is very factual, taking great care to be a voice for the people affected adversely because of dams. She advocates for their rights, and is a powerful resource for people displaced by dams. Very concise!
2.)
Pamoa, E. Tedonkeng, and M N. Tchambab. "Elephants and Vegetation Change in the Sahelo-Soudanian Region of Cameroon." Journal of Arid Environments 48.3 (2001): 243-53. Print.
This was an interesting journal, although only some of it applied to me. It did account for the biodiversity affected as a side effect of dams. Typically we think of aquatic life being affected by dams, however this journal argues (as in the case for elephants) that it goes beyond just affected aquatic life. It affects migratory patterns of many species, elephants in particular in this case, because dam infrastructure has such monumental affects. This journal is good at encompassing vegetation change etc, but I was more focused with what they had to say regarding migratory routes.
3.)
Xi, Juan, Sean-Shong Hwang, Xiaotian Feng, Xiaofei Qiao Qiao, and Yue Cao. "Perceived Risks and Benefits of the Three Gorges Project." Sociological Perspectives 50.2 (2007): 323-37. Print.
This article was a good non-biased, very objective source for the cost/benefit analysis of dam displacement and environmental damage. It illustrated the gains as well as the loses. While their were writing from a Chinese perspective on the Three Gorges Dam in China, it is clear that though they are being objective, they are clearly in support of the dam. Even though this dam is said to be the most catastrophic known to man. At any rate, they do give a good opinion of what they believe is worth the risk to provide to "the greater good of the people."
4.)
Cantor, Doug. "5 of the Largest, Oddest and most Useless State Projects." cnn.com/living. CNN, 12 Oct. 2006. Web. 27 July 2007.
This article was funny and factual. Doug Cantor briefly describes how the Teton Dam was useless. He describes how the government could have avoided unneeded damages, costs, and lives had they been more receptive to suggestions about preventative care maintenance. At any rate, Cantor describes the demise of the dam, and the damage it caused as a result of complacency. He describes the dangers of dam infrastructure as they age, and cannot support itself anymore without maintenance.
5.)
Pearce, Fred. When the Rivers Run Dry. Boston: Beacon Press Books, 2006. 130-40. Print.
Gives really good statistics, and information regarding water crisis and how dams really aren't the solution. Fred Pearce conveys the information easily and makes you understand just how detrimental dams really are. His book primarily focuses on environmental aspects, and how grand a scale they play in society. He also offers a comparison of a cost/benefit analysis. This source was VERY helpful!
Bezlova, Antoaneta. "Three Gorges Dam May Displace Millions More." Environment China 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2010.
Antoaneta gives some powerful statistics regarding dam displacement. Not only does she account for reservoir displacement, but she sheds an interesting light on the thousands to millions more that will need to evacuate based on repercussions from dam development. Bezlova is very factual, taking great care to be a voice for the people affected adversely because of dams. She advocates for their rights, and is a powerful resource for people displaced by dams. Very concise!
2.)
Pamoa, E. Tedonkeng, and M N. Tchambab. "Elephants and Vegetation Change in the Sahelo-Soudanian Region of Cameroon." Journal of Arid Environments 48.3 (2001): 243-53. Print.
This was an interesting journal, although only some of it applied to me. It did account for the biodiversity affected as a side effect of dams. Typically we think of aquatic life being affected by dams, however this journal argues (as in the case for elephants) that it goes beyond just affected aquatic life. It affects migratory patterns of many species, elephants in particular in this case, because dam infrastructure has such monumental affects. This journal is good at encompassing vegetation change etc, but I was more focused with what they had to say regarding migratory routes.
3.)
Xi, Juan, Sean-Shong Hwang, Xiaotian Feng, Xiaofei Qiao Qiao, and Yue Cao. "Perceived Risks and Benefits of the Three Gorges Project." Sociological Perspectives 50.2 (2007): 323-37. Print.
This article was a good non-biased, very objective source for the cost/benefit analysis of dam displacement and environmental damage. It illustrated the gains as well as the loses. While their were writing from a Chinese perspective on the Three Gorges Dam in China, it is clear that though they are being objective, they are clearly in support of the dam. Even though this dam is said to be the most catastrophic known to man. At any rate, they do give a good opinion of what they believe is worth the risk to provide to "the greater good of the people."
4.)
Cantor, Doug. "5 of the Largest, Oddest and most Useless State Projects." cnn.com/living. CNN, 12 Oct. 2006. Web. 27 July 2007.
This article was funny and factual. Doug Cantor briefly describes how the Teton Dam was useless. He describes how the government could have avoided unneeded damages, costs, and lives had they been more receptive to suggestions about preventative care maintenance. At any rate, Cantor describes the demise of the dam, and the damage it caused as a result of complacency. He describes the dangers of dam infrastructure as they age, and cannot support itself anymore without maintenance.
5.)
Pearce, Fred. When the Rivers Run Dry. Boston: Beacon Press Books, 2006. 130-40. Print.
Gives really good statistics, and information regarding water crisis and how dams really aren't the solution. Fred Pearce conveys the information easily and makes you understand just how detrimental dams really are. His book primarily focuses on environmental aspects, and how grand a scale they play in society. He also offers a comparison of a cost/benefit analysis. This source was VERY helpful!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
RJA#11: Annotated Bibliographies, Part 2
1.) Tan, Raymond. "Alternatives to Dams." Environe. N.p., 19 May 2008. Web. 10 Apr. 2010.
This source was really wonderful in regards to alternatives to dams. It provided a variety of different perspectives on different approaches to solutions. It included ideas on spending money for researching new ways, in addition to utilizing energy efficient technology we already have. It suggested implementing and trying new avenues like fuel cell technology, as well as just fixing and rehabilitating older dams. It also talks about dam decommissioning, and restoring river life as a means to alternatives to dams.
2.) Chao, Liang. "More Bid Farewell to Three Gorges." China Daily 15 July 2004. Web. 9 Apr. 2010.
This newspaper article was by far the best article I have found that deals directly with displaced people of a dam. The article was clearly written objectively and gave two very good accounts of life for a resettled person after they’re forced to leave. This article in China Daily expresses the hardships, personal feelings/attitudes as a result of their new life. This article also accounts for two different people affected by the dam. One citizen made out okay with government retribution, while the other has lost everything. A very good objective article!
3.) Barlow, Maude. Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water. New York: The New Press, 2007. Print.
Maude Barlow is more focused on the distribution of fresh water around the world, but she is relevant to my topic when discussing the distribution and cleanliness of the water. This source is brief but useful in that she discusses the effects that low quality water has on people. Astounding statistics of people dying from preventable diseases as a result of poor water quality (diarrhea etc.) as a result (in part) of dams. Maude Barlow is a very credible resource to use because she is a leading activist for public distribution of water, one of the main problems when dams get built, they claim the water will be distributed evenly, but rarely are.
4.) Burke, Edmund, and Kenneth Pomeranz. The Environment and World History. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009. Print.
This book was a wonderful portrayal of how dams (even since pre-colonial/colonial times) stood for symbols of national development and economic power. Dams remain symbols for national pride, even when their benefits are less than the cost. This source really shed light on and insisted the prominence dams have had in our history. It even goes as far to say that dams have been our consistent endeavor to conquer the land even when it has catastrophic consequences. I really like this source as an economic standpoint because it has been the most thorough in supplying evidence that dams have always been an imperialistic representation.
5.) Getis, Arthur, Judith Getis, and Jerome D. Fellman. Introduction to Geography. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 145-46. Print.
This has been an incredible source for environmental impacts of dams. Not only does it list what the repercussions dams have on the environment, but it gives detailed examples. It breaks down hard terms associated with dam problems that you might not be familiar with unless you’re an environmentalist, agriculturist, or engineer. This source focuses only on environmental effects, upstream and downstream, as well as all the development that accompanies a dam. It is one of my favorite sources!
This source was really wonderful in regards to alternatives to dams. It provided a variety of different perspectives on different approaches to solutions. It included ideas on spending money for researching new ways, in addition to utilizing energy efficient technology we already have. It suggested implementing and trying new avenues like fuel cell technology, as well as just fixing and rehabilitating older dams. It also talks about dam decommissioning, and restoring river life as a means to alternatives to dams.
2.) Chao, Liang. "More Bid Farewell to Three Gorges." China Daily 15 July 2004. Web. 9 Apr. 2010.
This newspaper article was by far the best article I have found that deals directly with displaced people of a dam. The article was clearly written objectively and gave two very good accounts of life for a resettled person after they’re forced to leave. This article in China Daily expresses the hardships, personal feelings/attitudes as a result of their new life. This article also accounts for two different people affected by the dam. One citizen made out okay with government retribution, while the other has lost everything. A very good objective article!
3.) Barlow, Maude. Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water. New York: The New Press, 2007. Print.
Maude Barlow is more focused on the distribution of fresh water around the world, but she is relevant to my topic when discussing the distribution and cleanliness of the water. This source is brief but useful in that she discusses the effects that low quality water has on people. Astounding statistics of people dying from preventable diseases as a result of poor water quality (diarrhea etc.) as a result (in part) of dams. Maude Barlow is a very credible resource to use because she is a leading activist for public distribution of water, one of the main problems when dams get built, they claim the water will be distributed evenly, but rarely are.
4.) Burke, Edmund, and Kenneth Pomeranz. The Environment and World History. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009. Print.
This book was a wonderful portrayal of how dams (even since pre-colonial/colonial times) stood for symbols of national development and economic power. Dams remain symbols for national pride, even when their benefits are less than the cost. This source really shed light on and insisted the prominence dams have had in our history. It even goes as far to say that dams have been our consistent endeavor to conquer the land even when it has catastrophic consequences. I really like this source as an economic standpoint because it has been the most thorough in supplying evidence that dams have always been an imperialistic representation.
5.) Getis, Arthur, Judith Getis, and Jerome D. Fellman. Introduction to Geography. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 145-46. Print.
This has been an incredible source for environmental impacts of dams. Not only does it list what the repercussions dams have on the environment, but it gives detailed examples. It breaks down hard terms associated with dam problems that you might not be familiar with unless you’re an environmentalist, agriculturist, or engineer. This source focuses only on environmental effects, upstream and downstream, as well as all the development that accompanies a dam. It is one of my favorite sources!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
RJA#10c: Ideas for Application Project
1.) write to a family member in the form of a displaced person because of a major dam
2.) write the World Commission on Dams from the perspective of an activist who opposes dam construction
3.) write to the World Bank as an environmentalist who understands the gravity of damage the dam will impose on the environment
4.) write a journal entry about how my life has changed now that I have been displaced/resettled because of a dam
2.) write the World Commission on Dams from the perspective of an activist who opposes dam construction
3.) write to the World Bank as an environmentalist who understands the gravity of damage the dam will impose on the environment
4.) write a journal entry about how my life has changed now that I have been displaced/resettled because of a dam
RJA#10b: Progress Report for Argumentative Paper
1.) Accomplished
- documented sources
- read over half of the articles I'm going to use
- divided and organized my sources into groups, and placed them accordingly (economics, environmental, solutions, displacement etc.)
- brainstormed a few ideas for introductions
- collected powerful quotes from leaders regarding dams that will be effective in demonstrating my argument
- found the visual aids I will use
- revising my outline, adding and removing key points
2.) What I still have to do...
- find a few more credible/reliable sources
- find some more sources that give the other side to the story
- finish conducting my poll/survey
- revise sources
- begin drafting paper
- find more alternatives to dams
3.) Detailed Schedule
- (4/5) go to the library/book store for more sources
- (4/6) read sources, revise outline
- (4/8) begin drafting research paper, submit to OWL for review/help
- (4/10) revise research paper
- (4/12) complete draft to be submitted
- (4/14) edit one last time before submitting paper on (4/16)
- repeat process until final draft is due
RJA #10c: Ideas for the Application Project–Brainstorm a list of at least four ideas for your application project.
RJA#10a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1
1.) Roy, Arundhati. The Greater Common Good. Bombay: India Book Distributor, 1999. Print.
Arundhati Roy is extremely skilled at giving an in-depth perspective of the social aspects of dam construction. She is a world renowned social activist, and extremely credible among her colleagues. In "The Greater Common Good," Roy depicts the lack of governmental acknowledgment in regards to the displacement and resettlement of people. Roy illustrates the social activism and movements in the Narmada Valley that are resistant to dam construction.
2.)Leslie, Jacques. Deep Water: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. N.p.: Picador, 2006. Print.
This book has been the most helpful so far, in that it gives three different perspectives from three different people on dam construction and effects. All three people were members of the World Commission on dams, yet each have different (and like-minded) opinions. One of the ladies was an activist against dams, another is an anthropologist, dam re-settlement expert and consultant to the world bank, and the last is a representative of Australia's dam crisis (the necessity for them, but the problematic issues associated with them.) Clearly you can see the diverse opinions, which helps give a well-rounded perspective.
3.) McCully, Patrick. Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams. N.p.: Zed Books, 2001. Print.
This work particularly focuses on the economic factors going into dams. The financing and support of major corporations for profit, but also dives into the infrastructure and it's impact on society and their ability to support it financially. He talks about the politics of dams and how money can drive decisions instead of what is best for "everyone." I like this book the best because it gives a taste of behind the scenes construction, and how a project begins.
4.) Khagram, Sanjeev. Dams and Development: Transnational Struggles for Water and Power. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2004. Print.
Khagram expresses the economic symbol that dams used to represent in India, but with the rise of Non-Governmental Organizations they begin to shed light on the real effects dams have on society. He focuses specifically on the Narmada Valley (like Roy) and it's 3,030 dam projects under way. He also touches on how the political economy of India has changed as a result of these specific large dam projects, and how it gave India attention on the global scale.
Arundhati Roy is extremely skilled at giving an in-depth perspective of the social aspects of dam construction. She is a world renowned social activist, and extremely credible among her colleagues. In "The Greater Common Good," Roy depicts the lack of governmental acknowledgment in regards to the displacement and resettlement of people. Roy illustrates the social activism and movements in the Narmada Valley that are resistant to dam construction.
2.)Leslie, Jacques. Deep Water: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. N.p.: Picador, 2006. Print.
This book has been the most helpful so far, in that it gives three different perspectives from three different people on dam construction and effects. All three people were members of the World Commission on dams, yet each have different (and like-minded) opinions. One of the ladies was an activist against dams, another is an anthropologist, dam re-settlement expert and consultant to the world bank, and the last is a representative of Australia's dam crisis (the necessity for them, but the problematic issues associated with them.) Clearly you can see the diverse opinions, which helps give a well-rounded perspective.
3.) McCully, Patrick. Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams. N.p.: Zed Books, 2001. Print.
This work particularly focuses on the economic factors going into dams. The financing and support of major corporations for profit, but also dives into the infrastructure and it's impact on society and their ability to support it financially. He talks about the politics of dams and how money can drive decisions instead of what is best for "everyone." I like this book the best because it gives a taste of behind the scenes construction, and how a project begins.
4.) Khagram, Sanjeev. Dams and Development: Transnational Struggles for Water and Power. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2004. Print.
Khagram expresses the economic symbol that dams used to represent in India, but with the rise of Non-Governmental Organizations they begin to shed light on the real effects dams have on society. He focuses specifically on the Narmada Valley (like Roy) and it's 3,030 dam projects under way. He also touches on how the political economy of India has changed as a result of these specific large dam projects, and how it gave India attention on the global scale.
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