Natural Disasters

     The tornadoes occurring across the southeast have caused massive damage to homes, communities, and the environment.  The storms have killed at least 310 people and have been “some of the worst that we have seen in decades.”  Some of Ursula K. Le Guin’s novels are centered on the theme of ecological awareness, and many critics have placed her in the ecofeminist movement.  Through her writings, she expresses how passionate she is about nature and its conservation.  Obama has traveled to Alabama in order to witness the catastrophe and he has declared a state of emergency.  I can see Ursula K. Le Guin responding to these natural disasters by raising money to help families and leading a group of volunteers to help rebuild the communities.  She may be too old to volunteer much herself but I do not think that would stop her from making a difference.  She would feel remorse for all of the people who died and the environment that was destroyed.  I would think that all of the natural disasters would impact Le Guin’s writing.  Anyone who is passionate about the environment has been severely moved by all of the recent events including the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the oil spill in the ocean, and the nuclear meltdown.  Le Guin could eventually write a novel that is metaphorically about these natural disasters and then raise money for foundations through the books that she sells.  She is most likely furious at the carelessness of the BP oil company.  In her Earthsea series she talks about the appreciation of fresh water.  The oil spill has disrupted aquatic life all around the world and has ruined many coral reefs.  Le Guin probably feels very disappointed in how people are contributing more and more towards global warming and the destruction of the environment that we live in.