LM Group Questions

Becca Moore
Shawna Polivka
Pat Ferguson
Dave Landers

1. The economy of coal is a relatively short-sighted solution to our resource problem, while creating a long term problem for the forests and ultimately for us. When we look at the value of the economy of coal, one has to think about how it is benefiting the population - for example, heat and electricity. However, this is at the expense of our forests which could supply us with plants containing anti-carcinogens and oxygen. When Reece says species diversity "holds the secret to the perpetuation of human life," he is saying that we need to stop taking away species from the ecosystem before it collapses entirely.

2. The alternating chapters give us two different perspectives that allow us to see what he is seeing, while keeping in mind the negative affects it has on real people. This helps us associate the facts of mountain top removal with the emotions of the people it is directly affecting. Sometimes when we hear the broad perspective, it's hard for us to emotionally connect to the problem. However, the emotional appeal through specific stories gives us a reason to care. An example that affects us as readers was the chapter called "White Washing in Martin County." He uses personal stories to relate outrageous tactics by the EPA to cover up criminal acts of the coal companies. Aside from just explaining what he is seeing, as a reader we now have a reason to care.

3. Reece believes that educating readers about the cost of clean tap water will drive people to put more effort into finding alternative energy sources. As a group, we agree that the book so far has not changed our beliefs, values or actions because we already felt like we needed to save energy. It has enlightened us on the effects it has on the people living in the area of coal mining, but we have already begun making an effort to save electricity and we will continue to do so.

4. We would emulate the emotional appeal he incorporates into his writing because it really keeps us involved in the stories. He keeps his points short, helping us get through some of the harder parts to read. His blunt facts are important, but some of the statistics weigh the story down.

5. Our group believes that it is both us and the coal companies who are contributing to the downfall of Appalachia. Because the demand for cheap energy is so high, society as a whole is to blame for giving the coal companies a reason to mine the way they do. In order to change that, we not only need to save energy in our homes, but we need to demand alternative fuels by relaying this message to other people.