GEOG 3EC3 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Kingston Fossil Plant, Ecocide, Superfund
23 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
L2 – Catastrophes and Environmental Justice
Catastrophe
Disaster
Environmental Disaster
Dust Bowl
Itai Itai Disease
Characteristics of Catastrophes
→ Human Intervention
→ Denial
→ Disregard for Safety
Ecocide
Aberfan Disaster: landslide
Kingston Fossil Plant Spill: dam collapse, coal-fl ash, ot toi, fish kills…
Environmental Justice
→ Sanitation Strike
→ 1982: PCB found, Protest Warren County
→ Minority
Indigenous People
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
L3 – Minamata
→ Chisso Factory produced acetyl-aldehyde (most in Japan) using a Mercury catalyst that
resulted in a methyl mercury by-product which was irresponsibly disposed into the river
→ Through bioaccumulation it affected fish populations and impacted humans
→ Fisherman compensated in 1926 and 1943
→ Dancing Cat Disease (dead fish, birds, and seaweed)
→ 1956: 40 patients discovered (36.7% mortality rate)
→ Chisso had tested effects of methyl mercury on cats and found it in the effluent
→ 1959-1969: 98K – 28K = paid out as mimaikin ($833 per dead family member)
→ Victims and families were ostracized
→ 1973: found guilty for negligence
→ 1979: executives found guilty for negligent homicide
→ 1969: Law concerning special measures for the relief of pollution-related health damage
→ Chisso paid out $86M by 2004 (30K potentially affected)
→ Minamata Convention on Mercury: global treaty to protect against Mercury
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Kingston fossil plant spill: dam collapse, coal-fl(cid:455) ash, (cid:862)(cid:374)ot to(cid:454)i(cid:272)(cid:863), fish kills . Chisso factory produced acetyl-aldehyde (most in japan) using a mercury catalyst that resulted in a methyl mercury by-product which was irresponsibly disposed into the river. Through bioaccumulation it affected fish populations and impacted humans. Dancing cat disease (dead fish, birds, and seaweed) 1956: 40 patients discovered (36. 7% mortality rate) Chisso had tested effects of methyl mercury on cats and found it in the effluent. 1959-1969: 98k 28k = paid out as mimaikin ( per dead family member) 1979: executives found guilty for negligent homicide. 1969: law concerning special measures for the relief of pollution-related health damage. Chisso paid out m by 2004 (30k potentially affected) Minamata convention on mercury: global treaty to protect against mercury. Ideal because of access by many modes of transportation. 1881: mayor complained of water quality issues. 1969 fire the last one (cleanup started)
