Group questions LM, Pt2

Ben Ziraldo
Brandon Fude
Vince Gerbec
Holly Ruwe

Question 1
Reece makes the argument against coal mining because we are losing our natural habitat, losing clean water, and many natural resources in the region around Lost Mountain. However he says that mining loses a big energy source and it is one of the cheapest forms of energy. Also he talks about the loss of jobs from the coal industry. Although he believes people that mountaintop coal removal needs to stop he does provide reasons why people are opposed. When he states about the perpetuation of human life he means earth has been here so long its not natural to change it. Also he states that the earth has survived 4 mass extinctions already, and it can survive another.

Question 2
Reece's strategy of alternating chapters between his visits to Lost Mountain and accounts of specific issues and events is a very effective strategy. His decision to tell us about specific people and animals affected helps us relate and then his first hand account of the mountain itself helps us sympathize with those people and animals. That way we can relate the negative effects of strip coal mining to more than just the people of Lost Mountain and take a stance on against mountain top mining all over the world not just at Lost Mountain.

Question 3
Reece gives an example of the people in Louisville not knowing about how their clean tap water is being affected by deforestation and coal mining. He, like many other environmental authors, assumes that becoming knowledgeable about the cause of the problem will motivate people being negatively affected by it to do something about it. We think it's nearly impossible to read a book like "Lost Mountain" and not have your beliefs and values affected whether it be a positive affect or negative affect. None of us were very knowledgeable about mountain top mining before reading this book, but hearing the facts and real-life accounts of the people and animals alike changes how we feel about mountain top mining and coal energy.

Question 4
Reece's writing has some very notable characteristics. What first strikes us is that his writing is easy to read and well organized. He does a good job getting his points across using facts and even small moments of humor. His style of alternating the chapters from his first-hand accounts of Lost Mountain and stories of those effected by mountain top mining grabs us as readers and makes it a lot easier for us to sympathize. If his style of writing was to only talk about what he found at Lost Mountain, he would be less credible in a way because he's only telling his side of the story.

Question 5
Richard Olson's point that the destruction of the mountains in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia can and should be blamed on us and not the coal companies is one we don't entirely agree with. Yes, we as consumers use the electricity provided by coal, which is taken, at times, from the very mountains we're discussing. However, to say that the coal companies are not to blame at all is unreasonable. We feel that the blame should fall evenly on both shoulders. Let's keep in mind that the coal companies aren't exactly non-profit organizations. They stand to make large sums of money from the destruction of these environments. We feel that we should be spending less time pointing fingers and more time finding a solution.