Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 8.02 Natural Resources
Presentation #1 Title
Talking Across the Lines on the Oil and Gas Rush
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
North central West Virginia, like other parts of the United States, is experiencing an ecological and public health crisis and a deep community conflict ensuing from modern day gas extraction in the Shale region. Appalachian communities are in an uproar of pain and confusion around fracking. Citizen opinion about the practice spans a wide spectrum, and community relations run the risk of being ruptured. With support from the Oral History Association Emerging Crises Research Fund, the Talking Across the Lines enterprise is recording lengthy testimonials from people on various sides of the issue. In our recording sessions we link reflections about family, home and community to local views on the oil and gas rush, as we seek to discover common ground among apparently polarized points of view. This project can play a role in balancing the need for energy independence with protection of health, happiness and human rights among the region’s inhabitants. Such is the power of spoken narratives. Carrie Kline will share early findings from this community documentation project, excerpting oral testimonials and paraphrasing the diverse views of participants.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Carrie and Michael Nobel Kline operate Talking Across the Lines: Worldwide Conversations, LLC, a folklife documentary consulting and production enterprise. Together with students and community interns they seek to give voice to a wide range of views on historical and current events through oral testimonials and music.
Talking Across the Lines on the Oil and Gas Rush
Corbly Hall 244
North central West Virginia, like other parts of the United States, is experiencing an ecological and public health crisis and a deep community conflict ensuing from modern day gas extraction in the Shale region. Appalachian communities are in an uproar of pain and confusion around fracking. Citizen opinion about the practice spans a wide spectrum, and community relations run the risk of being ruptured. With support from the Oral History Association Emerging Crises Research Fund, the Talking Across the Lines enterprise is recording lengthy testimonials from people on various sides of the issue. In our recording sessions we link reflections about family, home and community to local views on the oil and gas rush, as we seek to discover common ground among apparently polarized points of view. This project can play a role in balancing the need for energy independence with protection of health, happiness and human rights among the region’s inhabitants. Such is the power of spoken narratives. Carrie Kline will share early findings from this community documentation project, excerpting oral testimonials and paraphrasing the diverse views of participants.
