Tuesday, September 13, 2005

difficult search

one of my clients has asked me to write an article about the environmental affects of hurricane katrina on biloxi, mississippi.
i've spent the last several days researching, and most of what i've come up with has been about new orleans.
granted, between being hit almost dead-on by the hurricane, and the levy breeches that happened afterwards, new orleans has had a tough time of it.

but it's only one city.

do you realize that the total area affected by the hurricane is close in size to great britain? i heard one estimate that the damage was spread across 90,000 square miles.
and all we're hearing about is one city.
'cause that's where all the controversy is.
hence the reason i never became a journalist. the controversy isn't the real story. the real stories are happening in places like biloxi. the real story is a $700 million/year fishing industry that's gone. wiped out at least for the season if not for several years. the real story is industrial chemicals killing what's left in the gulf. entire species of fish washed out to sea. the livlihood of an entire industry - gone.
and we're still arguing and talking about the people at the sports dome in new orleans.
the stories extend so far beyond new orleans, and we're not hearing a thing about it.
this is why i always tell people that you've got to investigate stuff for yourself. if you leave it up to the media, you'll never know the full (or true) story.

2 Comments:

Blogger Cheryl said...

You are so right! Thanks for the reminder that there are so many more people in need that what the media is covering.

7:40 AM  
Blogger Stephanie said...

cheryl - you're welcome :)

valerie - DO IT ;)

louiserickson4610 - GET THE *&^$ OFF MY BLOG!! (your comment has been permanently deleted)

11:52 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home