Oil Beach - How Toxic Infrastructure Threatens Life: A Conversation with Christina Dunbar-Hester
Oct 9, 2023
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Christina Dunbar-Hester, professor at USC, talks about her book 'Oil Beach' examining how petroleum and port infrastructure harms life. They discuss overlooked topics in Los Angeles, the juxtaposition of industrialism and wildlife, multi-species perspective, and infrastructural vitalism.
The book 'Oil Beach' by Christina Dunbar-Hester uncovers how the oil industry and conservation efforts can coexist and even depend on each other in certain contexts, challenging the assumption that they are at odds with each other.
The Port of Los Angeles acts as a linchpin for global systems of trade and energy, serving as a crucial entry point for 40% of containerized goods entering the United States and highlighting the vulnerabilities and downstream effects of such critical chokepoints in global trade and infrastructure.
Deep dives
The Multi-Species Impact of Petroleum Production and Refining
The podcast episode discusses the book 'Oil Beach' by Christina Dunbar-Haster, which explores the multi-species impact of petroleum production and refining in the Port of Los Angeles and beyond. The book examines how the heavy industrialization required for one of the busiest ports in the world has affected various animals, including humans. It highlights the hidden infrastructure and environmental consequences of the oil industry in the region. The chapter on birds, for example, reveals the juxtaposition of migratory routes and the infrastructure to handle oil spills. The book delves into the deep interconnections between industrial activity, conservation efforts, and the larger global systems of trade and energy. It prompts readers to consider the implications of these issues beyond the specific context of the Port of Los Angeles.
The Complimentary Relationship between Conservation and Petroleum
A major theme in the book is the complimentary relationship between conservation and petroleum production. It uncovers how the oil industry contributes financially to wildlife rehabilitation and remediation efforts, highlighting the complex and often hidden dynamics at play. The book challenges the naturalized assumption that conservation activities and the petroleum industry are at odds with each other, revealing how they can coexist and even depend on each other in certain contexts. By examining the funding sources of various conservation entities tied to the ports, the book showcases the intricate connections between conservation impulses, petroleum operations, and the public's involvement.
The Port of Los Angeles as a Linchpin for Global Systems
The podcast episode emphasizes how the Port of Los Angeles serves as a linchpin for global systems of trade and energy. The port acts as a crucial entry point for 40% of containerized goods entering the United States. It reveals the extensive reach and downstream effects of the port's operations, both within California and across the country. The book highlights the vulnerabilities associated with such crucial chokepoints in global trade and infrastructure. It also prompts readers to consider the larger implications of energy transition and the resistance faced in transforming such critical systems.
Exploring Beyond the Port: Governance, Vitalism, and Future Projects
The podcast episode touches upon the exploration beyond the port and looks at various aspects that go beyond the book's scope. It alludes to potential ongoing research threads related to governance, municipal regulations, and international collaborations in addressing port pollution and greening initiatives. The book's concept of infrastructural vitalism is briefly discussed, delving into the entwined nature of systems and the need to critically approach life, death, and resilience in the context of industrial sites. Additionally, the episode mentions potential future projects, from studying neglected sites like wastewater management to exploring LPFM antennas. While taking a break from writing, the author remains engaged in various topics related to digital media, infrastructure, and the effects of the oil industry.
Christina Dunbar-Hester, professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, talks about her recent book, Oil Beach: How Toxic Infrastructure Threatens Life in the Port of Los Angeles and Beyond (U Chicago Press, 2023) with Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel. The pair discuss the trajectory of Dunbar-Hester’s career from her dissertation on low powered FM pirates and activists to her examination of gender in open technology communities and how she came to write a multispecies, place-focused examination of how petroleum and port infrastructure harms life.
Lee Vinsel is an associate professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech. He studies human life with technology, with particular focus on the relationship between government, business, and technological change. His first book, Moving Violations: Automobiles, Experts, and Regulations in the United States, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in July 2019.
