Ecology of Fear

Mike Davis' (1998) Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster, the tale of the creation and subsequent development of Los Angeles (L.A.) highlights the tragedy of a city that knowingly defies its ecological system in the name of economic development. The reckless pursuit of individual wealth supplants the vision of community, thus resulting in a city that celebrates a world of double standards one standard for the rich and another for the poor. Resources have been devoted to the rich that allows them to tamper with nature, while the poor have been left to fend for themselves in dire living conditions.

When Davis (1998) talks about the "social construction of natural disasters," he refers to Southern Californians' tendency to attribute natural disasters to the random and unpredictable forces of nature. Although it is evident that the rampant urbanization has contributed to the debilitating effects of natural disasters, Southern Californians continue to ignore the consequences of irresponsible regional planning and land development (Davis, 1998, p. 9).

Southern Californians believe that they live in a stable natural environment that is characterized by sunshine and adequate water. However, scientists have uncovered information that contradicts Southern Californians' expectations because the pleasant weather they have experienced in the past 150 years actually deviates from the "normal" weather patterns of this region (Davis, 1998, p. 25). Therefore, So

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been victims of fires in these areas (Davis, 1998, pp. 112-5). Political representatives of these poor areas have found that fire inspectors did not adequately inspect tenements. Auditors of the city's fire department found that inspectors employed a double standard in their execution of their work because they spent the least time inspecting buildings in areas that posed the likeliest risk for a fire. Other prejudices that were found included the fact that inspectors did not follow through with their findings. In addition, more fire personnel were sent to areas with the most buildings, i.e. rich cities (Davis, 1998, pp. 137-8). One of the least discussed natural disasters in Southern California is the tornado. The tendency for Southern Californians to deny the existence of destructive tornadoes in L.A. can be attributed to the success of local politicians in dismissing their existence since the early 20th century (Davis, 1998, pp. 155-9). Even the National Research Council's Committee on Natural Disaster led by scientists reporting to local officials failed to document the necessity for Southern Californians to prepare for tornadoes. Even though the scientists acknowledged the existence of tornadoes, they believed that the buil

Category: History - E