SuperWeed

Guest post by Greta Gaard

Ok, in the interests of Truth and Accuracy in Reporting, let’s think of a new word.

In daily news coverage since April 20, when BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig began gushing uncontrollably into the Gulf of Mexico, the media have persisted in calling this phenomenon a “spill.” Huh? When your child knocks over the juice glass at the breakfast table, that’s a “spill”—accidental, small in size, limited in impact, unskillful certainly, but blameless—and you can clean it up with a sponge. Is this thing in the Gulf comparable to a juice glass? Let’s see—

Accidental? Not really. Since the 1970s, past oil spills have proven deep-sea drilling is dangerous and uncontrollable. Attempts to remediate disasters have taken up to nine months, allowing oil to contaminate ocean life and coastal communities .

Size and impact? 8 ounces of sticky juice plus a few drips on the floor, vs. 1,470,000 gallons of toxic and suffocating black tar per day, impacting the lives and deaths of thousands of birds, fish, and human communities. Kitchen sponge clean-up doesn’t apply.

Blameless? Now we’re at the core: media usage of “spill” implies blamelessness and thereby protects the corporation…hmn…BP execs deny responsibility but generously work to “cap” (wait, aren’t caps usually twelve inches or less?)—I think we’re onto something. Media and corporations…where have we seen this connection before? And if we were going to de-link the two—not blaming anybody, heavens no, just naming actions with accuracy—what would we call it?

Spew? Blowout? Hemorrhage? How about “selfish-appropriation-of-earth’s-commons-for-corporate-profit”? Catchy. Maybe something in German, like “fuckendrillinsprechen” or “kapitalistichoilkeitdrownin”?

Let’s have a contest. Send in your suggestions for renaming BP’s presence in the Gulf. The winner gets prime media coverage and we can all write letters to the editor of our local papers, proposing the new word.

Go!

Superweed sez: Use the comments to propose a name or vote on those proposed by others. Winner will be declared by popular acclaim (or me) and will get a copy of my book, Aftershock.

July 14th, 2010 | Tags: BP, contest, deepwater, media, oil spill, rhetoric | Category: Energy, Language | Leave a comment

Earlier this year — or was it last year? — I got into a lot of trouble for telling a reporter that I hope my heterosexual friends who are financially able to do so will boycott marriage until such time as it becomes available to everyone. I’m happy to report that a group of students has launched the National Marriage Boycott. Their slogan is “We won’t — until we all can.”

Me, I’m busy prepping classes for fall. SuperWeed will return to its regular broadcast schedule soon.

August 23rd, 2009 | Tags: boycott, gay rights, marriage | Category: Activism, Direct Action, Queer | Leave a comment

The August issue of Words Without Borders has got a lovely selection of innovative nature writing from eastern Europe, central Africa, South America, and some imaginary places. Check it out if you’re looking for something interesting to read on a sultry August afternoon wherever you happen to be. Think about place, time, circumstance, and how these intersect; how everyplace is sometime and, as Delmore Schwartz wrote, “all are circumstances.” I’ve just moved and am consequently even more aware than usual of place and time. More soon, once I get settled.

August 14th, 2009 | Tags: literature, nature, place, Writing | Category: place | Leave a comment

Still here at AR2009. As an adjunct to today’s “Commonalities of Oppression” talk, let me offer this link to last year’s talk on the same topic. Check out the intersections category for more posts on this topic; visit the connections page of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary website for even more ideas, essays, and links.

July 19th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I know, I know, I still need to post summaries of my talks at TLOV in June. But here I am in LA at AR2009, getting ready to appear on the “Nurturing Activism” panel, and so this seems a good time to share the link to my account of my 2007 talk on that topic. Here it is.

July 17th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

As a way of helping the Eastern Shore Sanctuary get some publicity in the midst of our more expensive than anticipated relocation, Mickey Z wrote up an interview with me for OpEd News. It covers trauma and recovery, rooster rehabilitation, the social construction of gender by way of animals, and the origins of the sanctuary. Read it. Rate it. Share the link. Thanks, Mickey!

June 7th, 2009 | Tags: Gender, Sanctuary, Trauma | Category: Gender, Sanctuary, Trauma | Leave a comment