Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Act of God or Act of Greed?
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This paper will discuss the links between several environmental/industrial disasters (such as Buffalo Creek, the Martin County spill and Upper Big Branch explosion) that took place in West Virginia and Kentucky, how these disasters were not "Acts of God", how state government was involved and colluded with industry to make the disasters go away. The main conclusion I expect to find is that the more time goes on, the less things actually change. From Hawk's Nest in 1930 to Upper Big Branch in 2010, central Appalachia has been burdened with exploitation from outsiders, exploitation that has been helped along by our own state governments. I want to see what trend or pattern emerges, if there is one single such thing. I will be using official records whenever I can, such as the Congressional Hearing records, transcripts and the like. As well as books such as Trust Us, We're Experts and The Price of Justice. This presentation will be expanded work from a class paper, from a graduate class here at Marshall University. Why do state governments put business over people? Why is it more important to go on a trip with Don Blankenship than to do the right thing for the people who elected you?
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Nancy Tresch-Reneau. I graduated in December of 2016 with my MA in History from Marshall University. My areas of interest include military history, particularly the Civil War, and Appalachian history.
Act of God or Act of Greed?
This paper will discuss the links between several environmental/industrial disasters (such as Buffalo Creek, the Martin County spill and Upper Big Branch explosion) that took place in West Virginia and Kentucky, how these disasters were not "Acts of God", how state government was involved and colluded with industry to make the disasters go away. The main conclusion I expect to find is that the more time goes on, the less things actually change. From Hawk's Nest in 1930 to Upper Big Branch in 2010, central Appalachia has been burdened with exploitation from outsiders, exploitation that has been helped along by our own state governments. I want to see what trend or pattern emerges, if there is one single such thing. I will be using official records whenever I can, such as the Congressional Hearing records, transcripts and the like. As well as books such as Trust Us, We're Experts and The Price of Justice. This presentation will be expanded work from a class paper, from a graduate class here at Marshall University. Why do state governments put business over people? Why is it more important to go on a trip with Don Blankenship than to do the right thing for the people who elected you?
