Nest week, we're going to be moving onto the second theme of the course: urban geographies of a globalizing world. In the first installment of the readings on this theme, we're going to carry on with a couple of threads of thought that we've been discussing since the beginning of the course, namely free-market or free-trade ideologies and the effects of their implementation as well as the spatialization of inclusion and exclusion. We'll see a film about hurricane Katrina on Tuesday. Wednesday we'll discuss it and the Naomi Klein article from your course packets.
Naomi Klein's chapter "Red and Green Zones" makes links between Iraq, post-Katrina New Orleans, and Atlanta, GA. As you read, pay attention to what links these cities for Klein. Iraq and New Orleans are united by what can broadly be considered disaster: one which, at the time of writing, was in the middle of a war, and the other post-hurricane. How have the governance of those post-disaster landscapes been similar? How are these landscapes of disaster linked to the areas surrounding Atlanta? What story is Klein trying to tell by bringing these cities together? Can we say that New Orleans and Atlanta both are somehow "militarized" landscapes? Or does the "corperatization" of wartime Iraq paint a slightly different picture? Either way, Klein's story has much to do with government policies--policies that organize place and populations--that are build in "free-market" or "free-trade" ideologies. Who is Klein referring to when she references "free-market ideologues"? What transformations has this population enacted in government as it pertains to all three of the locations that she describes? And how has this created geographic landscapes of inclusion and exclusion according to Klein? What does that kind of landscape look like?
When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans everything was broken apart,120,000 people were homeless and without shelter all were depending on the state to organize their evacution. The People desperately waited for help to arrive, but no one came. The FEMA (The Fereral Emergency Management Agency) was given $500,000- $1million from the Bush Administration that summer to create a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan to help people of south Louisiana and the city of new Orleans, for planing ahead for future disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.The FEMA gave this money to a private company to help Katrina victims to rebuilt their life but Unfortunately the plan never existed instead the private company claimed that they ran out of Money. There was 23,000 without food or water for days. Then within weeks the goverment hired The company familiar to the Baghdad gang who were all top constructors in Iraq. They were given $60million to reconstruct military bases along the coast, but still they didn't help anyone and also there work was sloppy and slow .They let bodies rot in the sun for days.They also charged the state $12,500 for each victim because the state at that time of failing to properly level of many bodies. Similar things are happening in Iraq because those worker are really slow at doing their job, the company is becoming corrupted or else the war in Iraq would have been over many years before. It seems to me like all people work for is to get money, This is a bussiness to them anyway they can make money is good for them. They never think about other peoples lives depanding on them. It's like the Katrina victims were ignored they never got the kind of help they needed.
ReplyDeleteBush administration gave the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money to conduct a safe evocation for the state of New Orleans incase a big disaster would occur. After the disaster of hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans we can see that these evocation plans weren’t activated. Only those with money would be able to have help. In Iraq during the war the U.S government wanted to rebuild the military bases along the coast. In Atlanta the government was putting the city under construction. These landscapes are all under construction for their own reason. Post- Katrina and Iraq are connected to Atlanta by the CH2M Hill. CH2M Hill was hired to construct the function of overseeing other contractors and in post- Katrina that was granted $500 million to build the FEMA- villes for the next disaster.
ReplyDeleteKlein has describes to us in her article about the disasters around Atlanta and the government reconstruction. She brings these cities together in relation to show us reconstruction connection though the CH2M Hill. I guess you would be able to say that New Orleans and Atlanta could be militarized landscapes because the CH2M Hill is to look over the contractors. The CH2M Hill is in charge of the cities at that moment and making all the actions to get the cities up and running.
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ReplyDeleteWhen hurricane Katrina occurred, America was surely not prepared for what was splashed across the covers of newspapers, and glaring across TV screens. What we saw as a nation was the effects of a natural disaster, and more importantly the state of a community, a state, a nation. What I remember most was the shocking realization of what human nature was as the pictures, and videos played on the news- I had never seen human nature in its true form. Human nature was people stealing, killing, raping, survival of the fittest. Arguments littered nighttime discussion; we had never seen such a disaster and were certainly not prepared. Everyone was looking for someone to blame and they found in it then-President George Bush. Finding a scape-goat, and evading the truth also seems to be apart of human nature, it’s been done for thousands of years.
ReplyDeleteI found that Naomi Klein was doing the same thing. Througout her essay I felt that she was blaming Bush personally for the aftermath that ensued, and not only Bush but every capitalist in the country. As an aspiring journalist, I respect her search and display or facts, but by the end of the reading, I found her arguments altogether lopsided and conspiracy- theorist- sounding. Anyone can twist words to work for their advantage, and can easily be selective about the facts they choose to print so long as they paint a picture that serves its desired purpose. Still. What I learned while reading her essay I found to be particularly interesting, and a similar diagnosis of this country as Fast Food Nation, Stuffed and Starved, and Food Inc. showed.
Klein displays a series of facts that affirm my previous belief in a failure of the government (not just Bush, sheesh) to do the job it was designed to do. A government that was designed by, of, and for the people is failing to act in the best interests of the nation as a whole. And when I say as a whole, I mean each individual, not just giant corporations. By permitting what Klein terms as “a series of mishaps, mistakes, incompetence and lack of oversight” the government has failed the people miserably- and this was extremely evident in what occurred in New Orleans following Katrina.
What I found interesting is that Klien never goes into detail about respnsibility that local government had to its people. Living in New York, and in particular NYC my mother pays a chunk of her paycheck in taxes, but also being a nurse I know that the local government is greatly prepared for any sort of disaster natural and otherwise. Klein neglects to mention the mayor, governor, or local departments.
I feel that Klien succeeds in illustrating the inclusion and exclusion of the economy generated beforehand and after the huricane, she also convinces me that the lack of economical regulation has lead to a system breakdown to the detriment not only of New Orleans citizens but also of every American. She fails however in convincing me of the evils of Bush and capitalism, that I feel she keeps trying to shove down my throat the whole reading. Bush did not create a whole nation; he did not direct each and every person to practice corrupt business. If Klein wants to get specific then why not get specific about who supported these bills, who was the advsior, who was on the cabinet, who proposed the legislation, etc. She ignores the other possible motives, and by doing this she engages in the same kind anger and stubborness that kept New York government at a stand-still when democrats locked the doors to the senate chamber. The best way to go about things is to acknowledge that a problem exists, find the source, and then work to solve it and to avoid it- instead she lashes out- blaming Christians, capitalists, and conservatives for the demise if "the world they are creating down here".
Hi Krista - It's interesting to read your comments the same week we'll be talking about media images of war - it turns out that many of the reports of mayhem were exaggerated at best, as Rebecca Solnit talks about in this article - http://www.thenation.com/article/154168/reconstructing-story-storm-hurricane-katrina-five. She makes an argument that in fact we may be all to willing to believe in "savage human nature" and ignore the ways people band together in a crisis . . .
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that human nature is multi-faceted. Yes there are those who will band together but there are many who will not. There have been many examples during times of stress and extreme crisis of people showing kindness and of those showing extreme selfishness. One cannot ignore one or the other. Thats what I was trying to convey. Thanks for the comments Professor T!
ReplyDeleteYes - what's interesting in the link (which I don't think got entered properly but which you can cut and paste) is which things were reported which way - it was reported that there was generally looting and violence in the superdome, which there wasn't, but individual attacks on people trying to leave the city by vigilantes and police were ignored.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has been a victim of Hurricanes and other natural disasters since past. In this chapter Naomi Klein describes that when Hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans It had disastrous effects, a huge number of civilians lost their lives. Not only had hurricane left half of the New Orleans people homeless but hungry as well.
ReplyDeleteAmerican government had taken action to prevent the future destruction. Precautions had been taken to facilitate civilians in the hour of need. Especially G. W. Bush had made a plan to evacuate the victims in future, in this regard he has provided almost a $ million dollars to The Federal Emergency Management Agency. It was expected that if Hurricane Katrina hits again then FEMA would step up and save civilians as soon as possible but when Hurricane Katrina struck in New Orleans the FEMA did not do anything and left the civilians own their own. They were homeless, hungry and sick but few made their ways out and saved their selves on the bases of their resources.
Also, Bush administrations gave contract to a constructions company to build an army base along the coast in Iraq, government gave 60million dollar to the company but actually the company didn’t do what they were expected to do. Klein relates both issues of the lack of attentions and the corruption of the companies and agencies. He is arguing that bush administration has been spending blindly but they did not look back and asked for what they were expecting. I agree that the government should step and make such policies which will make sure that the money will be spend for the cause which it is given for.
All,
ReplyDeleteI just want to note that Krista's commentary here does a great job of taking on Klein's argument as an argument, rather than merely the presentation of facts. We'll have a chance to discuss where Klein is coming from and to debate the merits of her argument as well as what she leaves out on Wednesday of this week.
In the meantime, Krista, I also want to point out it's interesting that you bring up the question of "human nature" in regards to what we witnessed in Katrina's aftermath. Part of Klein's main goals is to get readers to see that Hurricane Katrina was not a "natural" disaster, but a social one that could have been prevented (in spite of the damaged caused by the actual hurricane). We'll discuss this a bit tomorrow, but it's interesting to think about whether this can be extended to the notion of "human nature" as an explanatory framework as well. Are the characteristics that we call "human nature" only natural? What does that mean?
while president Bush was he seemed to make alot of mistakes such the war in Iraq and the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I feel that these two situations are so similar because it show poor judgement of the government. When hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005 so many people died and were hungry and homeless. Being that this nation wasn't prepared for this type hurricane Bush had FEMA come in and help out. However something crooked was going on because instead of hiring local contracters who could make some money and rebuild thier community, outside contractors were hired and they had illegal immigrants working for low pay. However Bush did give money to prepare for any futher disaters, but I wonder why wasn't it already funds for this before Katrina. There wasnt funds because the government was spending the money on other things just like in Iraq. Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan was spending government on there own private corporate overhead.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Katrina was a natural disaster that exposed a social one- perhaps all the reasonings ("Natural disaster" , "Act of God", and "Social Disaster") that you pointed out in class today are interconnected
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ReplyDeleteI personally feel like Hurricane Katrina was indeed a horrific social disaster as well as being an natural disaster. After watching the film we watched in class on Tuesday and after reading Naomi klein's article I can compare the two and actually say for a fact that watching personal footage outside of what local newscaster portrayed to us on the hurricane and how it affected it's residents show me that Yes, Katrina was a disaster but it became much more than what it was thought to be because not only was their no government protection but there was no local enforcement added to protect it's citizens creating total chaos. It does make me wonder as to how it is possible for an organization such as FEMA who are suppose to implement food and water to unfortunate citizens of need not have a plan ready or a desire to jump in when possible calamity strikes. The head of FEMA Mike Brown talked a big talk making false claims saying how FEMA had a plan and were ready to jump in and save the day as soon as the hurricane hit; but as soon as the hurricane did hit, they were no where in sight. Law officials were out of sight, FEMA were no where in sight and only ones left standing were the national guards and they let alone couldn't handle the job by themselves.
ReplyDeleteOne piece of the Klein article I found interesting was a segment where visitors from canada were caught in the middle of the hurricane and while in the hospital waiting for medical help there was paperwork that was in need of being filled out. It came as a shock to the visitor because in Canada their residents recieve free healthcare and see physicians within ten minutes whereas in the states everything costs and everything takes patience and a lengthy time to wait. Those with the funds to seek medical attention get the best help as fast as possible compared to those that are lower class citizens with little funds get the second best of help. Which when you think about it relates to the hurricane katrina story..the upper class citizens get help first before the lower class citizens do. It's all about status role and who has the biggest wallet
When Hurricane Katrina attacked New Orleans, it had destroyed many people's home and lives. Although Bush administration would help some people to rebuild their houses, but the result was totally opposite to what we had expected. FEMA originally planned to send some basic needs for those people, so most resident in New Orleans deeply believed FEMA could help them as well. In an other world, the residents were cheated by the government. When Katrina really hit New Orleans, there was no government step out for people. The irresponsible answer that the officials provided was really hurt people's feelings while they were struggled in difficulties which affected their personal safety. Even thought most residents who lives in New Orleans are low-income families, saving people's live is a important mission that we shouldn't judge who are they. After watching this film, we can imagine how our previous president rather use money on war than helping the residents.
ReplyDeleteThe Katarina hurricane have not only brought absolute destruction of infrastructure over the city of New Orleans, it had also set up a ground for a principle of inclusion and exclusion among the citizens. We have seen the film “Trouble the water” and discussed a lot the conditions to which the population have been left to. The synopsis of Katarina was incorrect ever since the beginning but was perpetually transmitted via the local news channel. Plus, no measures of reinforcement of the city’s security have been made. Nobody was alarmed of the danger, and nobody did prepare for it. Only the wealthiest had the opportunity to escape the cataclysm and be fully repaired in damages, while the rest had to deal with the new order that the government had setup after the catastrophe happened. The poorest population - despite the beliefs, the media and the promises of US officials - received strictly limited access to their needs. Their incapability to afford aid have put them at their disadvantage. Things like food provision, clean water, medical assistance and reparations have been merely distributed to the luckiest of them. During the decadent situation, the government have shown little concern about the disastrous situation that took place afterwards Katarina happened in the city. Barely nothing have been installed to restore the city’s operation and as a result - the gap between the wealth and the poor have only widen.
ReplyDeleteIn the reading Disaster Apartheid by Naomi Klein she tries to explain how the causes of disaster natural or social create a shock effect of one a mass level. It is the ideas of how privatization in placed instead of humanitarian aid to help the build the economic structure that has been lost by the events that take place. Katrina is not considered it natural disaster because of the poor structure of the levees and the idea that is was foreseeable. The affected areas where not prepared as needed to be for an evacuation by the city. In her story she writes how the passing of DVD’s was one tactic used to tell people to get out if town if a hurricane should come. What I found more surprising is that two weeks after the hurricane the Heritage Foundation hosted a meeting discussing Pro-free market ideas as a response for the high gas prices by placing school vouchers and flat tax free enterprises. Klein compares how the government uses privatization to capitalize on disasters as in Iraq by sub contracting companies at enormous rates making it an opportunity to make money at the expense victims like Katrina. They were prepared with ideas on how to profit on the aftermath but did not place any in giving real aid to the aftermath of the hurricane. Another example pointed out is the incomplete works of base camp in St. Bernard Parish that FEMA paid for emergency workers to be in but was never completed and fell behind schedule. You can see that the interests of the people were not being served. At $12,500 on average for a decaying victim corpse, there was not much emergency workers or volunteers could do to make the process faster, more efficient and less costly. It was all contracted and many of the private companies did not even have the means to do the jobs they were hired to do as with the AshBritt who was hired to clean debris but did not have any dump trucks. This is something she feels is all to common and my take is that I find it hard to believe that the process of capitalization runs all to smoothly and that the needs of the people with the United States who are underprivileged cannot be assisted in a quick and efficient manner, not as quickly as it was for the Bush Administration to place all of his free market solutions. Atlanta is another example of how the government is supposed to be responsible for the country under any condition but hires corporations to do its job instead.
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