--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The environmental catastrophes we're…" description: "\"The environmental catastrophes we're presently seeing are considered \"normal\" though they're horrific. Fracking has made drinking water flammable, fami..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/alexander-weinstein-17341_appalachia_the-environmental-catastrophes-we-re-pre_1859924.jpg" --- # The environmental catastrophes we're presently seeing are… ![“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…” quote by Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/alexander-weinstein-17341_appalachia_the-environmental-catastrophes-we-re-pre_1859924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/alexander-weinstein-17341_appalachia_the-environmental-catastrophes-we-re-pre_1859924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/alexander-weinstein-17341_appalachia_the-environmental-catastrophes-we-re-pre_1859924.jpg) > “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.” [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appalachia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appalachia/) [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Catastrophes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophes/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Dakota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dakota/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drinking water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-water/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Fracking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fracking/) [Indigenous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indigenous/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Michigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michigan/) [Mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mining/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [North dakota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-dakota/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“We tend to think of environmental catastrophes—such as the recent Exxon Valdez oil-spill disaster in the Bay of Alaska—as "accidents": isolated phenomena that erupt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/we-tend-to-think-of-environmental-catastrophes-such-as-the-recent/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-don-t-really-think-the-outburst-is-recent-there-have-always-been/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [But overall, Obama's record on the environment has been uninspired - and that's putting it kindly. He hasn't stopped coal companies from blowing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/but-overall-obama-s-record-on-the-environment-has-been-uninspired-and/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [“Appalachia teaches us that breaking people out of bad communities has more promise than changing those communities wholesale; that encouraging family stability—or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appalachia-teaches-us-that-breaking-people-out-of-bad-communities-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Yeah, but a hellbender never dies. You ever see a dead one?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/yeah-but-a-hellbender-never-dies-you-ever-see-a-dead-one/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) > [“What keeps a poor child in Appalachia poor is not what keeps a poor child in Chicago poor—even if from a distance, the outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ijeoma-oluo/what-keeps-a-poor-child-in-appalachia-poor-is-not-what-keeps-a-poor/) [Ijeoma Oluo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ijeoma-oluo/) > [“Religion played a major part in the history of the Appalachian pioneers. Their way of life was characterized by a strong sense of independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-richmond/religion-played-a-major-part-in-the-history-of-the-appalachian/) Nancy Richmond > [I grew up in southwestern Virginia. I was born in South Carolina, but only because my parents had a vacation cabin or something there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-grew-up-in-southwestern-virginia-i-was-born-in-south-carolina-but/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/go-walk-the-streets-of-beijing-it-s-pretty-hard-to-argue-it-isn-t-a/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [There is extreme poverty in Appalachia, where I was, and increasingly poverty is not just an urban thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-is-extreme-poverty-in-appalachia-where-i-was-and-increasingly/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Yeah, I spent my teen years in West Virginia, and when I was a kid, in Louisiana. I definitely have that exposure to two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-trammell/yeah-i-spent-my-teen-years-in-west-virginia-and-when-i-was-a-kid-in/) [Sam Trammell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-trammell/) > [“Appalachia, an Indian name meaning “Endless Mountains”, is well suited to the land. The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-richmond/appalachia-an-indian-name-meaning-endless-mountains-is-well-suited-to/) Nancy Richmond > [It's not enough to celebrate the ideals that we're built on, liberty and justice and equality for all. Those just can't be words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-not-enough-to-celebrate-the-ideals-that-we-re-built-on-liberty/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I live in southern Appalachia, so I'm surrounded by people who work very hard for barely a living wage. It's particularly painful that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-live-in-southern-appalachia-so-i-m-surrounded-by-people-who-work/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Preston Black couldn't sleep the whole night through, Preston Black couldn't sleep the whole night through. He'd lay in bed 'til the morning came,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/preston-black-couldn-t-sleep-the-whole-night-through-preston-black/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) ## More by Alexander Weinstein > [I was really interested in this ability for others to create virtual memories for us. In "The Cartographers" I explore this through Adam Woods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-was-really-interested-in-this-ability-for-others-to-create-virtual/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [“The city overwhelmed me. Every day I’d walk by hundreds of strangers, compete for space in crowded coffee shops, and stand shoulder to shoulder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/the-city-overwhelmed-me-every-day-i-d-walk-by-hundreds-of-strangers/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [While I've always been critical about this peddling of spiritual materialism, it wasn't until I went to Nepal that I came face-to-face with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/while-i-ve-always-been-critical-about-this-peddling-of-spiritual/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > ["Moksha" is really a satire of myself. I've always been interested in Eastern spirituality. I'm particularly interested in enlightenment and the spiritual pursuit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/moksha-is-really-a-satire-of-myself-i-ve-always-been-interested-in/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > ["Rocket Night" is my take on bullying culture. I think this is getting better, thanks to the anti-bullying work being done by my generation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/rocket-night-is-my-take-on-bullying-culture-i-think-this-is-getting/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [What is the emotion of an empty inbox? An unliked Post? An ignored dating app message? I think there's a great loneliness that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/what-is-the-emotion-of-an-empty-inbox-an-unliked-post-an-ignored/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [I think the challenge for humans remains the same as it has always been: to learn the skills of kindness, compassion, and love. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-think-the-challenge-for-humans-remains-the-same-as-it-has-always/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [I really admire the experimentalists who challenge traditional narrative - writers like Ishmael Reed, Michael Martone, Donald Barthelme, Tatyana Tolstaya, George Saunders, and many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-really-admire-the-experimentalists-who-challenge-traditional/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [In Nepal, I realized a certain part of my spiritual search had come to an end. I wasn't ever going to live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/in-nepal-i-realized-a-certain-part-of-my-spiritual-search-had-come-to/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [It's true, I do love the semi-epiphany. For example, in "Fall Line," the character's final decision is less epiphany than imbecility. He makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/it-s-true-i-do-love-the-semi-epiphany-for-example-in-fall-line-the/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [Wit and humor seem to always factor into this - there's a tongue-in-cheek tone you get when you take on a formalist story -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/wit-and-humor-seem-to-always-factor-into-this-there-s-a-tongue-in/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [I'm a big fan of Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco's book Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, where they visit what they call The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-m-a-big-fan-of-chris-hedges-and-joe-sacco-s-book-days-of/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [ I'm just worried that the technology I invented in that story \["The Pyramid and the Ass" \] will become real, and George W. Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-m-just-worried-that-the-technology-i-invented-in-that-story-the/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [I set many of my stories in a gritty "realist" world, but one that is plagued by an overuse of technology, which is akin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/i-set-many-of-my-stories-in-a-gritty-realist-world-but-one-that-is/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [We shuffle out of office buildings after being laid-off by draconian bosses; we sit on hold for ten minutes only to be told by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/we-shuffle-out-of-office-buildings-after-being-laid-off-by-draconian/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) [Explore all 37 Alexander Weinstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) ## More Appalachia quotes > [I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-don-t-really-think-the-outburst-is-recent-there-have-always-been/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I live in southern Appalachia, so I'm surrounded by people who work very hard for barely a living wage. It's particularly painful that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-live-in-southern-appalachia-so-i-m-surrounded-by-people-who-work/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [It's not enough to celebrate the ideals that we're built on, liberty and justice and equality for all. Those just can't be words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-not-enough-to-celebrate-the-ideals-that-we-re-built-on-liberty/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Appalachia, an Indian name meaning “Endless Mountains”, is well suited to the land. The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-richmond/appalachia-an-indian-name-meaning-endless-mountains-is-well-suited-to/) Nancy Richmond > [Yeah, I spent my teen years in West Virginia, and when I was a kid, in Louisiana. I definitely have that exposure to two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-trammell/yeah-i-spent-my-teen-years-in-west-virginia-and-when-i-was-a-kid-in/) [Sam Trammell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-trammell/) > [There is extreme poverty in Appalachia, where I was, and increasingly poverty is not just an urban thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-is-extreme-poverty-in-appalachia-where-i-was-and-increasingly/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/go-walk-the-streets-of-beijing-it-s-pretty-hard-to-argue-it-isn-t-a/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [I grew up in southwestern Virginia. I was born in South Carolina, but only because my parents had a vacation cabin or something there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-grew-up-in-southwestern-virginia-i-was-born-in-south-carolina-but/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“Religion played a major part in the history of the Appalachian pioneers. Their way of life was characterized by a strong sense of independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-richmond/religion-played-a-major-part-in-the-history-of-the-appalachian/) Nancy Richmond > [“What keeps a poor child in Appalachia poor is not what keeps a poor child in Chicago poor—even if from a distance, the outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ijeoma-oluo/what-keeps-a-poor-child-in-appalachia-poor-is-not-what-keeps-a-poor/) [Ijeoma Oluo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ijeoma-oluo/) > [“Yeah, but a hellbender never dies. You ever see a dead one?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/yeah-but-a-hellbender-never-dies-you-ever-see-a-dead-one/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) > [“Appalachia teaches us that breaking people out of bad communities has more promise than changing those communities wholesale; that encouraging family stability—or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appalachia-teaches-us-that-breaking-people-out-of-bad-communities-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But overall, Obama's record on the environment has been uninspired - and that's putting it kindly. He hasn't stopped coal companies from blowing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/but-overall-obama-s-record-on-the-environment-has-been-uninspired-and/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [“Preston Black couldn't sleep the whole night through, Preston Black couldn't sleep the whole night through. He'd lay in bed 'til the morning came,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/preston-black-couldn-t-sleep-the-whole-night-through-preston-black/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) > [“Here's how I'll tell you what I think—if you see white smoke then you know I picked a new pope. And if I'm drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jack-miller/here-s-how-i-ll-tell-you-what-i-think-if-you-see-white-smoke-then-you/) [Jason Jack Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jack-miller/) [Browse all 43 Appalachia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appalachia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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). 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