Dr Becky Alexis-Martin, University of Southampton, Dr Stephanie Malin Colorado State University, and Dr Thom Davies, University of Warwick The era in which we live is now officially described as an atomic Anthropocene or the “age of humans”, an epoch defined by humans’ impact on the planet – and one of its most distinctive features is radiation. The … Continue reading The Atomic Anthropocene: a nuclear roundup of 2016
By Rich Copland, a local activist This article documents the personal experiences of a local environmental justice campaigner, in his own words: Background Lyons Park has been a large and very busy industrial site over the past seven decades. It is situated in the semi-rural Allesley Village on the west side of Coventry, and is … Continue reading Lyonsgate: a local perspective on pursuing environmental justice
Angeliki Balayannis, Doctoral Researcher, School of Geography, University of Melbourne. You can follow Angeliki on Twitter here. Encountering the kiln On a crisp autumn morning, a hazardous waste incineration facility in the industrial heart of southern Poland is in the process of burning medical waste at over 1100 degrees celsius. From the safety of a … Continue reading Encountering the kiln: visual field notes from an incinerator
Alice Mah, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick The sense of cautious optimism following the Paris climate change agreements last December already seems worlds apart. Featured image: photo credit: Petter Rudwall, unsplash.com This issue marks the one-year anniversary of Toxic News. It has been a significant year for toxic issues around the world. The sense … Continue reading Editorial: Toxic Subjectivities
Dr Deana Jovanović, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Advanced Studies of Southeastern Europe, University of Rijeka The smoke had its own character, and evoked a particular sentiment. Featured image: Bor, July 2015. Photo credit: Dragan Stojmenović The town of Bor is a copper-processing town in East Serbia that developed right “under the chimney”. The rundown smelting plant and the … Continue reading Heroic Endurance Under the Smoke: Ethnographic Notes from an Industrial Town in Serbia
Elicia Cousins, doctoral student in Sociology at Northeastern University. Spearheaded by individuals, citizen groups and NGOs across the country, hoyō seek to allow children and families to spend time away from the contaminated areas where they still live. Featured image: Hiking through a lush summer forest in Kiyosato, Yamanashi Prefecture. Photo credit: Elicia Cousins Mornings during school vacation … Continue reading Temporary Refuge from Invisible Threats: Outdoor Evacuation Retreats for Children from Fukushima, Japan
Peter C. Little, Department of Anthropology, Rhode Island College Agbogbloshie is ablaze. Featured image: Getting ready to burn a bundle of wires. Photo Credit: Peter Little For scholars and activists engaged in global environmental politics of high-tech rubbish, Agbogbloshie is a familiar name. A scrap site in Accra, Ghana, Agbogbloshie has attracted numerous international environmental … Continue reading On Electronic Pyropolitics and Pure Earth Friction in Agbogbloshie
ZHANG Hubiao, Associate Professor, Sociology Department of Hohai University, China In recent years, a series of PX (paraxylene) events have occurred in China. Public concern in China over PX first started with the mass protests in the city of Xiamen in Fujian province, over a planned paraxylene plant. The basic logic of their process is … Continue reading PX Events from the Perspective of Social Constructivism
Dr Thom Davies, Research Fellow, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick. @ThomDavies The context of post-Brexit politics was never far from discussion, and the uncertain role that expertise is playing within complex political and environmental debates led to some interesting interventions by the invited speakers as well as members of the audience. Last Thursday at The … Continue reading Toxic Expertise Public Engagement Event
Leon Sealey-Huggins, Lecturer, Global Sustainable Development Programme, University of Warwick ‘Fi Wee Belize’ Pickney march tru di street di sing yah dah fu wee Belize mis Matie cross di street di halla yah dah fuh wee Belize even Shiela granny di brokdong to di tune yah dah fu wee Belize but tell mi, weh all … Continue reading ‘‘Dis Da Fi Wee?”: Oil, Conservation and Development in Belize
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