Black People Are 75% More Likely to Live Near Toxic Oil and Gas Facilities

[L. Coyote]

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[ProudLib72]

1. I'm sorry, but I have to rant

I usually like Mother Jones, but there is something about this article that really irks me. This "reporting style" is stupid. While I understand the reason for writing such an article, I absolutely detest the way it pussyfoots around the real issue. If you want to say that this is an example of why we need social justice, then say it. You can argue that the implication is clear or that the journalist wasn't trying to make the piece argumentative. I call bullshit on that.

Here is what I'm talking about:

The authors of the report note, “The ills brought onto the West Port Arthur community violate basic human rights to a clean and livable environment. Air pollution from oil and gas facilities, permitted or otherwise, is a continued violation of this basic right.”

The quote from the report is actually more argumentative than the article. In fact, the article relies on source material to make its claim. There is no analysis, no commentary, no furthering the discussion.

[miyazaki]

2. Minus El Segundo. n/t