Comments on: Polar Bears vs. The Poor? http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:34:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Julie Schwietert http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-6098 Julie Schwietert Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:31:53 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-6098 Sorry, James, but I'm not going to take your bait. Regardless of the mainstream media's distortion--and that's certainly an issue we examine constantly here-- I was writing based on what was presented in that piece, and I concluded that the idea being conveyed by Majora was one that was a false opposition. Not quite sure why you think we disagree, but I'm not really interested in running around in a rhetorical circle. Sorry, James, but I’m not going to take your bait.
Regardless of the mainstream media’s distortion–and that’s certainly an issue we examine constantly here– I was writing based on what was presented in that piece, and I concluded that the idea being conveyed by Majora was one that was a false opposition.
Not quite sure why you think we disagree, but I’m not really interested in running around in a rhetorical circle.

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]]> By: Julie Schwietert http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-6095 Julie Schwietert Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:37:10 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-6095 James- Thanks for your comment. I'm sorry that you've misunderstood my interpretation of Majora's remarks as they were printed in the Newsweek article. Rather than a clear, direct articulation of the ideas you draw out here, I think the Newsweek article reflected a kind of sound byte snazziness that appeals to mainstream media but which ends up obscuring the real issues. I actually agree completely with Majora's position as you articulate it here. I lived in the South Bronx (and now live in Queens near the polluted Newtown Creek) and I haven't just seen firsthand how poor people are affected by the kinds of issues described- but I've lived them myself and as a former social worker, have had direct experience working with people affected by these issues. So it bothers me that you think I am conveying a message that "poor people are poor because of their own fault." I simply don't believe that at all and I'm not a person who "reflexively jumps to the defense of animals." I simply believe that none of us has to choose between animals and people. Advocating and embracing a philosophy of living that recognizes the value and importance of both and is committed to protecting the rights of both is the value I hold. I believe Majora holds it, too; I just wish she wouldn't have copped to such a simplistic, sensationalist expression of her belief. James-

Thanks for your comment. I’m sorry that you’ve misunderstood my interpretation of Majora’s remarks as they were printed in the Newsweek article. Rather than a clear, direct articulation of the ideas you draw out here, I think the Newsweek article reflected a kind of sound byte snazziness that appeals to mainstream media but which ends up obscuring the real issues.

I actually agree completely with Majora’s position as you articulate it here. I lived in the South Bronx (and now live in Queens near the polluted Newtown Creek) and I haven’t just seen firsthand how poor people are affected by the kinds of issues described- but I’ve lived them myself and as a former social worker, have had direct experience working with people affected by these issues. So it bothers me that you think I am conveying a message that “poor people are poor because of their own fault.” I simply don’t believe that at all and I’m not a person who “reflexively jumps to the defense of animals.”

I simply believe that none of us has to choose between animals and people. Advocating and embracing a philosophy of living that recognizes the value and importance of both and is committed to protecting the rights of both is the value I hold. I believe Majora holds it, too; I just wish she wouldn’t have copped to such a simplistic, sensationalist expression of her belief.

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]]> By: James http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-6087 James Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:07:04 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-6087 the writer's comments don't give the context of Majora's response. In the Newsweek column, Majora was not advocating for us to make a choice between the poor or the polar bears. She said that poor people are not going to be motivated to care about polar bears while their own basic needs are not being met. Majora has, in numerous other articles and talks, stated that, "if we treat all people with environmental equality, the polar bears will do just fine" ie wildlife is suffering due to dirty industrial practices that only the poor are intended to suffer (environmental injustice). Moreover, she is also quoted as saying "if we placed power, transport, waste, and agri-business facilities near affluent people like we do with the poor, we would have had a clean and green economy decades ago" - if we treated poor people with environmental respect always, there would likely not be a global atmospheric environmental problem affecting polar bears. This article and other comments here reflect a basic perceptual issue here in the US that poor people are poor because of their own fault and therefore 'ugly' in some way/not worthy of real care like the 'innocent' animals. the plight of many endangered animals can be traced back to our collective and careless disregard for our fellow citizens. Those who reflexively jump to the defense of animals, see the symptom of a problem but ignore the cause. the writer’s comments don’t give the context of Majora’s response. In the Newsweek column, Majora was not advocating for us to make a choice between the poor or the polar bears.
She said that poor people are not going to be motivated to care about polar bears while their own basic needs are not being met.
Majora has, in numerous other articles and talks, stated that, “if we treat all people with environmental equality, the polar bears will do just fine” ie wildlife is suffering due to dirty industrial practices that only the poor are intended to suffer (environmental injustice).
Moreover, she is also quoted as saying “if we placed power, transport, waste, and agri-business facilities near affluent people like we do with the poor, we would have had a clean and green economy decades ago” – if we treated poor people with environmental respect always, there would likely not be a global atmospheric environmental problem affecting polar bears.
This article and other comments here reflect a basic perceptual issue here in the US that poor people are poor because of their own fault and therefore ‘ugly’ in some way/not worthy of real care like the ‘innocent’ animals.
the plight of many endangered animals can be traced back to our collective and careless disregard for our fellow citizens. Those who reflexively jump to the defense of animals, see the symptom of a problem but ignore the cause.

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]]> By: Shreya http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-3150 Shreya Sat, 23 May 2009 14:16:18 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-3150 If ignoring poor people is detrimental, then so is ignoring polar bears, whales, tigers and trees. It's time we stopped being so reckless about anything that's not human and giving them equal status on our priority lists. If ignoring poor people is detrimental, then so is ignoring polar bears, whales, tigers and trees. It’s time we stopped being so reckless about anything that’s not human and giving them equal status on our priority lists.

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]]> By: joshywashington http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-3146 joshywashington Fri, 22 May 2009 05:23:28 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-3146 because polar bears are people too darn it. I think it is a fallacy to think that you either choose this or that...you can't say polar bear or people because ultimately it is the same thing. if you have to make a choice the one and the other are invariably screwed anyways because polar bears are people too darn it. I think it is a fallacy to think that you either choose this or that…you can’t say polar bear or people because ultimately it is the same thing. if you have to make a choice the one and the other are invariably screwed anyways

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]]> By: Kate http://matadorchange.com/polar-bears-vs-the-poor/comment-page-1#comment-3145 Kate Fri, 22 May 2009 03:52:09 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=451#comment-3145 Yes. A true environmental movement make being environmentally friendly widely accessible. It's funny, because if we were all outfitted for solar power, we'd save tons on power and why wouldn't that benefit the poor? It's governmental restrictions that can make these options a logistical nightmare - that and the fact that solar outfitting is a hefty investment up front. Still, if policy were geared toward helping out the little guy instead of the power brokers, there might be ways to help poor people save money and be environmentally friendly at the same time. I've never been that well to do, and I would roll my eyes when people would talk about buying organic. I didn't have money to pay my phone bill - I wasn't going to worry about organic farmers and eating healthily and being environmentally conscious. I see what she's saying, but she needs to go further. Yes. A true environmental movement make being environmentally friendly widely accessible.

It’s funny, because if we were all outfitted for solar power, we’d save tons on power and why wouldn’t that benefit the poor?

It’s governmental restrictions that can make these options a logistical nightmare – that and the fact that solar outfitting is a hefty investment up front.

Still, if policy were geared toward helping out the little guy instead of the power brokers, there might be ways to help poor people save money and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

I’ve never been that well to do, and I would roll my eyes when people would talk about buying organic. I didn’t have money to pay my phone bill – I wasn’t going to worry about organic farmers and eating healthily and being environmentally conscious.

I see what she’s saying, but she needs to go further.

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