Appalachia Quote by Alexander Weinstein
“The environmental catastrophes we're presently seeing are considered "normal" though they're horrific. Fracking has made drinking water flammable, families are dying from planned lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan, mountaintop removal is killing families throughout Appalachia, and oil/mining companies continue to denigrate Native American and indigenous rights throughout the world (see North Dakota Pipeline presently). This is horrific - and yet we somehow consider it normal.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Environmental commentary, unknown publication
Current environmental crises are normalized despite their severity, highlighting corporate harm and systemic injustice.
In simple terms: We ignore severe environmental harm.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge normalized environmental damage.
Themes
environment
justice
corporate greed
indigenous rights
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- urban water safety
- mining communities
- policy debates
Key Concepts
climate change
public health
resource exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can you take to oppose environmental normalization?
- How can communities resist corporate exploitation?
A Different Perspective
Normalization may overlook individual agency.
![“Go walk the streets of Beijing. It's pretty hard to argue it isn't a modern city. Now, if you go outside [of Beijing], in the rural areas, that's true. But rural America, you can say the same thing, in Appalachia there's an awful lot of poverty and lack of education.” quote by Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/726/michael-bloomberg-1293_america_go-walk-the-streets-of-beijing-it-s-pret_482884.jpg)
