A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS.

RIVER 1

A Call to Action: Culture vs.

River
Comparing the cultures surrounding
the Cape Fear River and the Ganges
River
Bethany E. Showers (bes2947@uncw.edu),

Melanie R. Nash (mrn3962@uncw.edu), and

Kathryn V. McCallion (kvm8855@uncw.edu)

April 19, 2017

A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 2

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 4

Background 5

The Ganges River 5

Existing research in religious effect on the Ganges 6

Existing research in political and economic effects on the Ganges 6

Gaps in the research of the Ganges 7

The Cape Fear River 7

The town of Navassa 7

The history of Navassa 7

Gaps in the research of Navassa in conjunction with the Cape Fear River 9

Goals & Objectives 9

Methods 9

Primary Research 10

Secondary Research 10

Analysis 11

Recommendations 13

Conclusion 15

References 16
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 3

Executive Summary

This research paper analyzes the perceptions of the cultures of the Ganges River and
Cape Fear River among the river communities in terms of how religious, economic, and political
actions and biases in the river basin communities are chiefly polluting the waters and negatively
affecting the rivers residents.

Methods of primary research included participant observation at a local school and an

online survey.quiz created and shared via social media concerning local knowledge of the
Superfund site at Navassa and the culture of the Ganges. Methods of secondary research
involved various forms of academic research and case studies of the two river cultures, such as
scholarly articles, government documents, and news articles. All results can be found in the
appendices at the end of this paper

Results of this study illustrate a great ignorance of river cultures among local residents of
the Wilmington, North Carolina area concerning the Cape Fear River and the state of its present
pollution rates caused by the pollution in Navassa, NC. Participants in our online survey held
more knowledge of the Ganges and its pollution than that of the Cape Fear River. This is most
likely due to the fame of the Ganges pollution. Our younger participants of the local school quiz
gave similarly ignorant results of the environmental state of the local Cape Fear River.

This study concludes that the two cultures are very similar and in order to clean up our
own Cape Fear River, one may learn from the political and community efforts employed in the
Ganges river basin. An increase in knowledge of both river cultures and how they may be
negatively affect their rivers with various cultural biases is paramount.

Recommendations discussed include the following:

- Run advertisements that accurately depict the Ganges and the Cape Fear rivers in
order to make people take this issue of pollution and contamination more seriously
- Taking political action at a community level if the federal level does not work
(e.g. GAP and CWA)
- Enhance local river pollution awareness at a local level

Limitations in the study included time constraint for survey results and a limited budget
for more primary research such as contamination numbers from the Navassa Superfund site or an
in depth primary study on the Ganges River basin culture.

Introduction
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 4

The purpose of this study is to compare the state of the Ganges river in India and
Bangladesh with the Cape Fear river in North Carolina in order to illuminate the importance of
river cleanup and protection. This study has been conducted in order to highlight how crucial
rivers are to the surrounding culture and how human interactions with the river can pollute the
waters and affect the society in negative ways. The scope of our research includes the Ganges
river basin area and the Cape Fear river basin area, particularly the Wilmington area.

For this research, we have focused on the following aspects of cultural interactions with
the river: political, religious, and economic. Our major objectives for this study were to
understand the political and cultural environments of the Ganges and Cape Fear rivers, and to
compare these two rivers on a common ground. For example, the political actions underway to
combat pollution and the failings of said political actions both reflect in the polluted state of
these rivers. We have set out to understand how the religious, political, and economic biases of
these two river cultures affect the pollution and state of the rivers and how the river in turn
affects the culture.

Background

The focus of our research was the following questions. How does the pollution in the
Ganges affect the surrounding culture and how does the culture affect the Ganges river? How can
we learn about the Gagnes situation through a comparison with the Cape Fear River and its
surrounding cultures? This research needed to be conducted because the value of rivers and their
effects on human beings cultures, politics, etc. is important and reflected in the various
rhetorical devices at work in the surrounding cultures. First we will explain the two river cultures
in terms of the religious, political, and economic biases that exist.

The Ganges River

The Ganges River is the second largest river in the world by discharge, or water flow
amount (Briney, 2017). It is a transboundary river that flows between India and Bangladesh. At
1,569 miles long, it begins in the western Himalayas and empties into the Bay of Bengal. Ganges
is the most sacred river for Hindus, worshipped as the goddess Ganga; however, it is also the
most polluted river in the world since 2016 (Zerkel, 2016).

The Ganges serves as an econ for India since it holds such national importance. An econ
is an environmental icon for a nation or culture, such as the bald eagle serves as an econ for
America. The Ganges symbolizes the religious vigor and faithfulness of the Hindu population. Its
pollution contrasts the belief that Ganga is naturally pure and clean, enabling thousands of
residents to bathe in the waters for refreshment, health, and spiritual renewal. Since the water is
so densely polluted, however, research has shown that the residents have contracted deadly
diseases from their interactions with this river (Hamner et al., 2006).
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 5

Existing research in religious effect on the Ganges

The existing research concerning the pollution of the Ganges and the effects of the
surrounding Hindu religion and the Indian politics and economy is much larger than that of the
Cape Fear River. Religious scholars and anthropologists such as Agoramoothy (2015) and
Sharma (2004) give insight in the religious culture surrounding rivers by divulging on Hinduism
and how its practices affect the pollution levels within the Ganges river. Agoramoothy covers the
sacred significance and history of the Ganges river and the various efforts in the surrounding
communities to refresh the polluted waters such as the Save Ganga Movement and the Save
Narmada Movement. Sharma discusses the abundance of decomposing human corpses polluting
the Ganges contrasts the peaceful hope that the goddess Ganga should represent with the unburnt
or partially burnt floating corpses that pollute her holy waters.

Existing research in political and economic effects on the Ganges

The river is also affected by the politics and economy of the area (politics tend to affect
the economy and vice versa, so these have been grouped together). Cambridge Universitys S.
Ahmed illustrated the amount of contaminated water sources in India, stressing the importance of
clean water for Hindu culture (physically, economically, and spiritually). Criticizing the Ganga
Action Plan (GAP) and Water Pollution Control Acts of 1974 in India, which were both political
efforts at combating the pollution in the Ganges on a local and federal level, the author highlights
how the Hindu people (both spiritually and politically) have directly and negatively impacted the
pollution levels of the Ganges River. The author supports this conclusion by addressing the
commonality of finding carcasses of both animals and humans throughout the river as well as
how different technological controls over the river can be implemented to help mitigate and
control the pollution and sewage throughout the water systems. Pointing out that the people
along the Ganges will not change their biases toward the river further bolsters his argument.

Das and Tammingas article The Ganges and the GAP: An Assessment of Efforts to
Clean a Sacred River, gives almost an all-encompassing discussion of the efforts from the
Indian federal local governments toward cleaning up the Ganges river. The authors discusses
GAP as well but reiterates how impactful it truly was. In 2011, the authors mentions, the
government launched the National Ganga River Basin Project, internationally funded by the
World Bank; however, the authors notes that it has yet to be effective since the river still remains
intensely polluted and dangerous for river basin residents.

Highlighting the religious and day-to-day cultural practices of river residents, Das and
Tamminga reveal the activities which could be polluting the river carelessly and the residents
religious biases as they state, Gangaji can never be impure because she has the ability to cleanse
herself. Several other scholars such as Hossen (2015), Narayanan (2001), Robinson (1987), and
Schiff (2013) all reiterate the political issues between a state-level desire for cleanup and a local
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 6

biases against either the presence of pollution in the waters or the need to do the cleanup at a
human level due to the religious beliefs that Ganga can take care of herself.

Gaps in the research of the Ganges

As the research exists, there may be a lack of in-depth scholarly study of concerning the
rivers religious history and its peoples beliefs in relation to the rivers condition; as in, most
research is opposed to the religious beliefs of those along the Ganges. However, it would be
interesting to reflect on how political forces and religious forces could join and find a uniting
solution to the religious biases and the political inaction.

The Cape Fear River

The Cape Fear River is a local Wilmington econ as the Riverfront shops and market
depend on its splendor for tourist, the surrounding area for drinking and bathing water, and many
factories and plants for its energy and power. It is 202 miles long, extending from the
Greensboro, NC area down to the Wilmington, NC port and opening out into the Atlantic Ocean.
During the colonial era, this river was a transportation route to the interior of North Carolina and
today it provides an avenue for river cruises, sunset tours, etc.

The town of Navassa

Navassa is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, bordered by the Brunswick
River, Cape Fear River, and Sturgeon Creek. The population was 1,505 as of the 2010 census
with 27.1 percent white, 63.3 percent African American, and 0.5 percent Native American.
Navassa is located across the bridge from historic Wilmington, NC. The town has an area of 13.8
square miles.

The history of Navassa

The high bluffs that touch the edge of the Cape Fear River from the west made the
construction of railroad tracks from Eagles Island, located directly between the Cape Fear River
and the Brunswick River, ideal. Two years after the Civil War ended in 1867, the Railroad
Company then decided to build a bridge across the Cape Fear River (People Working for People,
2016). Because of the war, the economy was struggling and the land was cheap. Building the
bridge allowed the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Airline to connect Wilmington with
Charlotte and other areas of South Carolina, opening up trade from the west (White, 1984).

Businessman Donald McRae recognized North Carolina as a perfect spot for a fertilizer
company. Previously, turpentine was shipped to the West Indies, but returned with nothing to
offer Americans. In 1856, large deposits of guano were found 15 miles off the coast of Jamaica
on an Island called Navassa (White, 1984). McRae decided to have his ships, returning from the
West Indies, pick up the guano on the way. This began the Navassa Guano Factory in 1869,
located in what is now Navassa, NC. The company was built in Navassa to keep the foul odor
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 7

from Wilmington. The railroad that was connected to the town was used to ship their fertilizer to
the interior of North Carolina (People Working for People, 2016).

After the Civil War, freed African Americans came to Wilmington looking for work. The
Guano Company built houses for laborers who moved the fertilizer from ships, packed it, and
loaded it on trains for distribution to the rest of the state and country. Trains also delivered mail,
so because of the Guano Companys extreme mail load, it was established as a regular -- and one
of the only -- mail posts in the area. African Americans were also hired to work on Navassa
Island in the Caribbean to work the guano deposits. Due to poor labor conditions, laborers
incited an uprising in 1889 which led to the eventual abandonment of the island (People Working
for People, 2016). Even after the abandonment of the island, fertilizer still remained a huge part
of Navassa. Plants like Smith-Douglas, USS Agri-Chemicals, and Armour Fertilizer Co. Navassa
Guano Co. remained in Wilmingtons directories until 1956, when the Virginia-Carolina Co.
bought the company. Since then, a series of fertilizer and wood-treatment plants have been the
subject of Navassas economy, employing those in the town, and elsewhere, until 1980.

Existing research in economic, political, and biological effects on the Cape

Fear River

The existing research surrounding the area where the Kerr-Mcgee Chemical Corporation
operated a wood-treatment plant from 1936-1980, in Navassa, NC, shows that the town was
placed on the EPA Superfund Program National Priorities List in 2010 because of contaminated
groundwater, soil, and sediment resulting from creosote disposal (EPA, 2016). Sturgeon Creek
borders the site to the south and Brunswick River borders the site to the east. What once made
the town economically affluent has now ruined an area within the town, making it unhealthy for
basically all biological life. According to the EPA, more than $10 million have been allocated to
clean up the site following the largest environmental lawsuit in U.S. history. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that another $9 million will be given to the
town of Navassa (Talton, 2016).

Creosote, the contaminant, has been identified as a carcinogen by the EPA, with studies
showing increased risk of cancer and respiratory problems (Talton, 2016). Soil and water
samples from the contaminated area turned up hazardous substances. This includes polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, a combination of chemicals that enter the body through breathing
contaminated air or by consuming contaminated water or food. The creosote has leaked into the
Sturgeon Creek, which connects to the Brunswick River, then connecting to the Cape Fear River.
The consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish would directly expose humans to the
contaminants (Talton, 2016).
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 8

Gaps in the research of Navassa in conjunction with the Cape Fear River
As the research exists, there may be a lack of in-depth scholarly study of concerning the
connection of Navassa with the larger Cape Fear Area. Navassas demographic, as well as its
seclusion from the large Cape Fear Area, has seemingly delayed the EPA in cleaning the site,
causing irreparable damage to the environment. In our preliminary research, we conclude that the
ignorance of the EPA site in surrounding areas is due to the fact that Navassa is a historically
black community, with over half of its population being African American. The town has been
one of poverty since the 1800s, employing black workers after the Civil War because no one else
would work in the harsh factory conditions. There may be a connection between the culture of
the town, the lack of awareness, and lack of care to clean up the site in an efficient manner. The
investigation into the Superfund site began in 2003, and no actual progress has been made, other
than taking soil and water samples. If the contamination reaches the Cape Fear River and if
nothing is done, it will the EPA would have the site cleaned almost immediately because of
the affluent demographic and rich biological area of Wilmington. However, the EPA does not
seem to be doing this with the Navassa Superfund site.

Goals & Objectives

Our goals for this project were centered around drawing connections between the Cape
Fear River and the Ganges in an effort to create solutions for these polluted rivers. We aimed to
do the following:

- research the extent to which culture affects the rivers and to which the river
affects culture
- draw political, economic, and religious connections
- connect common biases that may pollute the river, and
- draw our own conclusions on how people might become more aware of the
environmental effects of their culture

Methods

Our methods for this project included conducting various forms of primary and secondary
research. For our primary research, we conducted participant observation visual methods by
administering an ecological quiz about river culture in Wilmington to the eighth grade English
class at St. Mark Catholic School (Appendix A). Another primary source of information came
from an online survey/quiz we created and shared about the Superfund site at Navassa and on the
river culture of the Ganges (Appendix B).

Our secondary research consisted of various forms of academic research and case studies
regarding the river cultures of both the Ganges River and the area of Wilmington. We collected
ten different scholarly sources on the Ganges River, formatted in an annotated bibliography.
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 9

News articles, government entities (such as the EPA), and scholarly articles served as our
secondary sources for Navassa and the Cape Fear River.

Primary Research
On April 3, 2017, we went to St. Mark Catholic School and visited Mrs. Quinns eighth
grade English class. For our quiz, we used 14 multiple choice questions that included answer
choices A through D (Appendix A). The questions, though text-based, included visually
appealing graphics and memes on each slide to help illustrate what we were asking and further
engage the students. The questions started out easier and progressed in difficulty as the quiz went
on. The theme of the questions were based on the culture of Wilmington, NC. The first few
questions asked involved popular culture and everyday life, while the latter questions involved
nature and the environment. As we administered the quiz, we noted the reactions of the eighth
graders to the correct answer choices. This allowed us not only to see how much they knew
about their own community, but also how culturally aware they were.

On April 10, 2017, we created a survey on SurveyMonkey.com and shared it on social

media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, asking followers to take the survey for our research
(Appendix B). We used eight questions in the survey that varied from single answer multiple
choice, multi-answer multiple choice, and a slider ranking scale. The first two questions asked
participants if they were U.S. citizens and/or from the Wilmington, North Carolina or North
Carolina area. The remaining questions asked participants about superfund sites, their knowledge
of the superfund site of Navassa, the Ganges River, and their knowledge of the Ganges River
culture. Some questions we asked included, Do you know what a Superfund site is?, Are you
aware that the town of Navassa, located outside of Wilmington, NC, is a Superfund site, What
countries does the Ganges River flow through?, and What do you believe to be the main
source of pollution in the Ganges River? We received 100 responses to our survey.

Secondary Research
For our secondary research, we collected ten different scholarly sources on the Ganges
River, formatted in an annotated bibliography. News articles, government entities (such as the
EPA), and scholarly articles served as our secondary sources for Navassa and the Cape Fear
River. This information gave us more insight into the political, economical, and biological
impacts that each of the two rivers have on the communities surrounding them.

Analysis

After analyzing our primary and secondary research on both a local and global scale,
similar patterns emerged. On a local scale, we discovered that a high population of North
Carolina residents, both from Wilmington and afar, were unaware of what Superfund sites are,
and specifically, of the Superfund site located in Navassa. From our school visitation, we
discovered that the majority of students were not fully educated on the culture surrounding the
Cape Fear River, but were familiar only with items regarding the popular culture of the area.
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 10

They also did not know the ramifications of the Superfund site in Navassa, nor the ecoliteracy of
river culture. Similarly, in our online survey we discovered that 81 percent of respondents did not
know what a Superfund site was and 95 percent of respondents were not aware of the Superfund
site in Navassa or had never heard of it. Of the total 100 respondents, 55 percent claimed to be
from Wilmington, North Carolina or another part of North Carolina. From this data one can
conclude that the majority of North Carolina residents are ignorant of the Superfund site in
Navassa, despite the possible major threat it poses to residents in the Wilmington area, and those
living along the Cape Fear River who drink its water and eat its fish.

On a global scale, our primary research showed us that more respondents were familiar
with information regarding the Ganges River than they were with Navassa. In the survey,
respondents were asked to check off all the countries given that the Ganges River flows through.
India (86%), Nepal (54%), Bangladesh (45%), and China (34%) were the correct answers and
the most populous, with Myanmar (22%) and Bhutan (14%), the incorrect answers, following
behind. Also, 65 percent of respondents correctly answered that Hinduism was the primary
religion of the people living along the Ganges River. When respondents were asked to rate how
polluted the Ganges River was on a scale of 0 to 100 (0 being not polluted; 100 being extremely
polluted), the average response number was 75. After rating the level of pollution in the Ganges,
respondents were asked to choose which of the following three created the most pollution in the
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 11

Ganges River: human waste, industrial waste, religious traditions. The responses concluded with
human waste at 47%, industrial waste at 42%, and religious traditions at 11%. The statistics
pulled from this survey showed that majority of the respondents are aware of the primary
religion of the people along the Ganges River, and believe it to be very polluted, but are not as
familiar with the countries that the Ganges River lays upon nor the religious traditions that add to
the heavy pollution found in it.

Considering the results from the primary

resources, we can see that there is a greater
awareness of the Ganges River and its polluted
state on a global level than there is for the
Navassa Superfund site on a local level. But,
people are still only aware of surface level
information regarding the Ganges River and
are ignorant to how deeper culture and
religious practices are affecting the health of
the river. Comparatively, there is a lack of
awareness necessary for both to be properly
taken care of.

Our secondary research, too, points to the

misuse and mistreatment of both the Ganges
River and the Cape Fear River. Our sources on the
Ganges have allowed us to conclude that the
Ganges River has long been a spiritually and
practically crucial place for groups of people
along the water; however, the cultural practices
that unite people and biological practices that
seem to protect the river actually end up
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 12

damaging the ecology of the Ganges. Things like the GAP and the National Ganga River Basin
Project, though government led, have yet to promote the intensity and scope of the pollution, nor
have they really done any real cleanup. Similarly, our secondary research on the town of Navassa
has led us to believe that though the EPA is funding and leading the site cleanup, nothing has
been effectively been decontaminated despite the number years that have passed. This could be
for many reasons, but we have concluded that the lack of awareness and demographic of the
town has prevented progress on the site.

It makes sense that the Ganges River would be more known than the Navassa Superfund
site considering the fact that it is the third largest river in the world by discharge. Yet, people are
only aware of surface level information regarding the polluted state of river. This observance is
most likely to do with the fact that the river itself is visually depicted as a beautiful portrayal of
nature, showing only its cleanest parts and during holy rituals. There are more images of the
Ganges River showing clean and pure sites than there are showing polluted and damaged ones.
Those in control of producing such pictures do so purposely for economic reasons. Similarly, the
Navassa Superfund site is unpopular by people in the surrounding areas because of the limited
exposure it receives. Its poor economic background and predominantly black demographic leave
the community with limited access to promote their cause. Had this site been in Wilmington,
North Carolina instead, one can assume there would be a greater awareness promoted due to its
affluent demographic.

Recommendations

Because the cultures surrounding both the Ganges River and the Cape Fear River,
specifically in regards to Navassa, are hindering river cleanup, we recommend these
communities must transform the way people see the rivers. Right now, each river is viewed
through a lense of perfection. People automatically assume that our rivers are clean without
doing any research. Rivers are an econ for life and purity in general, and so people often
overlook that they can be harmed (i.e. when googling river, only beautiful pictures are the
result). However, if advertisements were run that accurately depict the Ganges and the Cape Fear
River, people might take this issue of pollution and contamination much more seriously. In the
photo below, a beautiful picture of the Ganges (left) is placed next to what the Ganges actually
looks like (right). This method of ecosee would make communities more aware of how their
culture is impacting the river.

Another recommendation we have is transforming ecosee into ecodo. Both the Ganges
River and the Cape Fear River have allocated government funding to keep them clean, but
neither are actually working. The Ganges Action Plan, implemented in 1974, had yet to be
effective even in the year 2000. Similarly, the EPA, though it has assigned over $10 million for
the efforts of the Superfund cleanup in Navassa, has not affected any real change since its
declaration of the sites contamination. In order for ecodo to work, the communities need to be
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 13

more aware of whats at stake. If communities are more educated on how serious the problems
actually are, they will take more part in making sure the government helps in an efficient manner.
Restrictions could also be placed on certain activities surrounding the river. While the
government realizes that the Ganges has important cultural and religious significance, they might
ask citizens to clean up their waste after rituals, or to not dump ashes into the river itself. We
realize that these
restrictions will only be as
effective as their
enforcement, which is why
regulation of restrictions
are essential to the
cleanliness of the river.

We also
recommend that the
communities surrounding
the rivers enhance river
awareness. As seen
through our primary research via survey and the eighth grade classroom, not many people know
the definition of the Superfund site, know that Navassa is subject of one of the largest EPA
cleanups in history, know where the Ganges is located, or know the primary religion of those
living along the Ganges. Even people who live along these two rivers are ignorant to the fact that
either, one, in the case of the Ganges, religious practices is ironically a polluting agent, or that,
two, contamination of the Cape Fear River is eminent because of the proximity of the Navassa
Superfund site. Awareness might come in the form of brochures, presentations, and other scripto-
visual rhetorical elements that educate communities on their rivers. Things such as these will
finely craft word and visual to tell audiences about the pollution of their rivers.

Discussion

Both the Ganges River and the Cape Fear River were, and are, being exploited by their
people. The political, religious, and economic factors concerning both the town of Navassa and
the Ganges River are aiding in damaging the river ecosystems. And without proper restoration,
further harm could come to the rivers and their surrounding cultures.

Overall, this research responds to the nature versus human interaction relationship.
Humans are overwhelming the ability of the earth and its duty to sustaining life, when it is our
responsibility, and privilege, to consider other beings and ecosystems while we engage in such
interactions. By promoting awareness and transforming the way we look at the environment, we
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 14

can embody an ethical approach to sharing and appreciating the earths bounty in a proper and
useful way.

In our research, we were limited in incorporating responses from people in the town of
Navassa who are directly affected by the Superfund site as well as those from people along the
Ganges River. Due to time restraints and a limited budget, we could only rely on secondary
resources for information in these two aspects. If possible, we would have liked to further this
research by collecting more scientific evidence of the contamination from the Navassa Superfund
site leaking into the Cape Fear River. Also, we would have liked to conduct primary research on
the culture surrounding the Ganges River ourselves.
Conclusion

The Ganges River and Cape Fear River, mostly the tributary of the Brunswick River, both
need to be restored with help from government sources. Each river is used and abused by its
people. The culture of the town of Navassa is affecting the cleanup of the Superfund site and the
culture of India, which is heavily rooted in religious ritual, is also affecting the cleanup of the
river itself. Our research has shown that lack of awareness, lack of a real solution, and lack of
knowledge of how culture affects river, have led to the detrimental states of the two bodies of
water. It is important to note the similarities between the Ganges and the Cape Fear, and how the
culture surrounding them affects the state of the rivers.

Though the Ganges River, much larger than the Cape Fear River, is located in a different
country across the world, connections can be made on a local level. The international river can
learn much from the local river, and vice versa. The cultures might be different, they are also
inherently the same, striving to protect community and ecology, even if they do not realize it. It
is each communitys duty to provide solutions and implement those solutions in a timely manner,
before it is too late.
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 15

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Zerkel, E. (2016, January 04). World's Most Polluted Rivers. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from
https://weather.com/news/news/worlds-most-polluted-rivers-20130627#/2
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 17

Appendix A
How well do you know your environment?
A Quiz About Wilmingtons Culture
1. Wilmington is home to which U.S. battleship?
A). U.S.S. Cape Fear
B). U.S.S. Johnson
C). U.S.S. Charlotte
D). U.S.S. North Carolina
2. What teen drama was filmed in Wilmington?
A). Gilmore Girls
B). Dawsons Creek
C). Roswell
D). Degrassi
3. Wilmington is a major ____________?
A). Capital City
B). Port City
C). Drama Queen
D). Factory City
4. Where does the Cape Fear River start and end?
A). Fayetteville to Atlantic Ocean
B). Greensboro to Intracoastal Waterway
C). Greenville to Atlantic Ocean
D). Charlotte to Intracoastal Waterway
5. Which two rivers flow into the Cape Fear River?
A). Northeast Cape Fear River and the Brunswick River
B). Pee Dee River and Lumber River
C). Pee Dee River and the Brunswick River
D). Northeast Cape Fear River and the Lumber River
6. Carolina Beach State Park is one of the few places in the world that you can see what plant in its
natural habitat?
A). Aloe Vera
B). Kiwano Melon
C). Venus Fly Trap
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 18

D). Kudzu
7. What flower is this?
A). Dogwood
B). Daisy
C). Azalea
D). Begonia
8. What freshwater fish is thought to be native to the Cape Fear River?
A). Cape Fear Shiner
B). Cape Fear Catfish
C). Speckled Catfish
D). Speckled Shiner
9. What kind of bird is this?
A). Egret
B). Blue Heron
C). Seagull
D). Osprey
10. What percent of streams in the Cape Fear River are impaired due to pollutants?
A). 5%
B). 25%
C). 18%
D). 66%
11. Why would it be unlikely to find a basement in Wilmington?
A). Because of flooding and muddy soil
B). Because of the flooding and sandy soil
C). Because red clay is too hard to dig through
D). Because sinkholes are common in Wilmington
12. What is a superfund site?
A) Any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the
EPA as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment
B) Wealthy site that provides country with a lot of money
C) A heritage site having a value that has been registered by a governmental agency as being of
national importance
D) A place where superheroes receive their checks for saving the world
13. Which of the following (outside of Wilmington) is a superfund site?
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 19

A). Fayetteville
B). Southport
C). Leland
D). Navassa
14. Designated areas of beach land in the Cape Fear area are designated as critical habitat for what
wildlife?
A). Ryan Goslings
B). Horseshoe Crabs
C). Otters
D). Sea Turtles
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 20

Appendix B
River Culture
Online Survey
1. Are you a U.S. citizen? If no, where are you from?
a. Yes
b. No
2. Where are you from?
a. Wilmington, North Carolina
b. North Carolina
c. Other
3. Do you know what a Superfund site is?
a. Yes
b. No
4. Are you aware that the town of Navassa, located outside of Wilmington, NC, is a Superfund site?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Never heard of it
5. What countries do the Ganges River run through? Check all that apply.
a. Nepal
b. India
c. Bhutan
d. Myanmar
e. China
f. Bangladesh
6. What is the primary religion of the people who live along the Ganges River?
a. Buddhism
b. Hinduism
c. Catholicism
d. Islam
7. How polluted do you think the Ganges River is?
0_________________________________________100
8. Which of these practices do you believe pollutes the Ganges River the most?
a. Human Waste
b. Industrial Waste
c. Religious Traditions
A CALL TO ACTION: CULTURE VS. RIVER 21