Summary Of Fierce Climate Sacred Ground By Elizabeth Marino

Fierce Climate Sacred Ground is a study conducted by Elizabeth Marino about the effects climate change has had on residents in Shishmaref, Alaska. Within this short text, Marino manages to utilize personal narratives (from Shishmaref citizens) as well as revelations of her own to demonstrate how environmental problems are the product of an ecological, social, and political processes. With this ethnographic study, the author intended to address the issue of climate change and related issues such as flooding in Shishmaref while touching on what can be done about the vulnerability its residents face. The book also illuminates the outcome of political and social decisions regarding climate change so that future responses can be done with a deeper

Marino makes it known that understanding this relationship is essential in distinguishing how Shishmaref citizens have become a vulnerable community. In fact, these relationships along with historical conditions, influenced how residents in that specific community experienced disasters. In this section, the differences between a hazard and vulnerability are also highlighted to determine their interconnection with disasters; for a disaster to take place both must be present. Marino strategically follows up with chapter three to show the link between climate change, vulnerability, and disasters. The purpose of this chapter was to demonstrate how ecological changes can be contributed to the vulnerability of Shishmaref. Observations made by Shishmaref citizens were incorporated in this section to portray how changes in elements such as weather, erosion, permafrost thaw and thermokarst ponds have varied. This inclusion of citizen accounts allows readers to see what those being pushed toward relocation are experiencing

It answers the question of why its citizens would subject themselves to an environment that’s becoming unsuitable due to climatic conditions. In the past, it was not risky to live on the island because the community was mobile, however, the community has now colonized. This colonization has sparked the construction of permanent infrastructure (schooling) which has made it hard for individuals to continue to be mobile. In result, Marino makes the case that colonial development will be more vulnerable to environmental changes because ecological knowledge was not incorporated to withstand long-term changes.

Chapter five lays out the lengthy process of relocation planning, however, for Shishmaref citizens the task has proven to be challenging. Through colonization, a school system was created that many can’t simply leave behind. Marino utilized the statements from individuals in interviews that she conducted to demonstrate the risks they felt were involved with moving. Though little has been done yet because of financial and flexibility issues the author was able to capture the emotional response of residents which translated to fear and