This visualization emphasizes the multinational reach of Formosa Plastics' operations (and contamination), situating the environmental implication of the company's business practices within a global context. The caption nicely frames the image, highlighting questions and gaps produced by the map. More than anything else, this visualization gives a sense of the scale of the problem posed by Formosa's extensive petrochem production line.
This caption is comprehensive in both describing in detail and critiquing the limits of the map. I would be interested in learning more about the researchers and users (are these one in the same group?) who upload the information. If I understand the caption correctly, the map shows all "petrochemical plants across the globe" and not just Formosa's. If this is the case, it runs against the assumption that I had when I first engaged with the visualization.
The scale of this image is what most stands out. As a screenshot, the image invites the viewer to navigate to the interactive map and explore the different data points.
While this may not be possible, I feel like this image would be more effective had it been a map of Formosa-run facilities only. Another option might be to take a new screenshot after clicking on the data point of one of the Formosa facilities (I assume this would open a small pop up window with additional info or something similar) to provide a visual reference of how the map works when used as intended. A small way to bring the critique of the "god view" into the image itself might be to flip the image over its horizontal axis, to display the globe "upside-down".
This visualization does a great job of highlighting the high stakes and enormous scale of the problem posed by petrochemical industries. It invites viewers to think about toxics as global citizens connected to an interlinked system of consumption and pollution.
The answer that comes to my mind is ‘scale’, this image and caption introduce nicely the idea that the local ethnography is part of a global problem. One then wonders what is the scale of the environmental damage behind each of those petrochemical plants.
It was unclear to me the meaning of each number on the petrochemical sites, also I was wondering which of those is your fieldsite.
I understand this image is part of a bigger project, and it really works for introducing the global scale of the petrochemical activities.
It says that petrochemical-related toxicity is part of a global business.
Maybe a way to connect it more clearly to the geographical site of your ethnography.
