Weekly Discussion

Alejandro Aguirre

March 16, 2014

SOC 122 – M/W 3:30 PM

Kubal

 

Weekly Discussion

 

      In Democracy Now’s story, Caught in the Crossfire: U.S.-Mexico Border Militarization Threatens Way of Life for Native Tribe, Alex Soto, a member of the rap duo Shining Soul, talks about the increase of militarization and patrolling of the Mexican-U.S border and its unjust effects on people who cross it – or attempt to cross it. Soto explained that when he was younger, there was little to no patrolling and militarization along the border. He mentioned that 9/11 was most likely an influence for this enforcement. Soto also discusses how patrol men sometimes ask unnecessary questions like where the crossers are coming from and whom among the commuters look  suspicious. Rather, he says that they are actually supposed to ask only for citizenship. From a certain perspective, Soto explained that this sudden and high enforcement of patrolling and militarization is equivalent to the genocide of any race that attempts to cross this border.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/caught_in_the_crossfire_us_mexico

 

In A Slow Genocide of the People: Uranium Mining Leaves Toxic Nuclear Legacy on Indigenous Land, Democracy Now brings activist Klee Benally to talk about the environmental harm uranium mining has on indigenous land, its inhabitants, and tourists. Benally shares that this mining has lead to a spike in cancer diagnoses. This should not be a surprise, considering the estimate of 10,000 abandoned uranium mines – that have also not been cleaned – within the vicinity. Benally perceived this to be a “slow genocide of the indigenous people”. What is also unfortunate is that miners were not told of the lethal potential of uranium in both respects (proximity and nuclear warfare production). With respect to proximity, the uranium is leaking into the water and land. This applies to both public and private property. There was a 10-year legal battle with the victims about the uranium spilling on their sacred land, but lost  because they are [unjustifiably] not guaranteed protection of religion by the courts. Perhaps the scariest fact Benally shared with Democracy Now is that the U.S. government has checked the water supply to determine whether or not it is safe to drink, but never returned to this community with the results.

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/14/a_slow_genocide_of_the_people