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Whenever our people are ready to take any kind of action necessary to get results, theyll get results. Theyll never get results so long as they play by the ground rules laid down by the power structure.
-- Minister Malcolm X; WBIA-FM radio interview; January 28, 1965.
Yesterday, as a friend and I handed out the health survey that is part of our epidemiological study of the most polluted community in New York State, our pace was slowed by the number of people who wanted to talk with us. These are people from a wide range of backgrounds and social statuses, but they have one significant thing in common: after years, even decades, of concerns and frustrations regarding living in a contaminated environment, they believe that someone is finally paying attention to them.
One of the first people we spoke with is an elderly gentleman. He is well-educated, though he suffers from a major mental illness and is now classified as disabled. He told us that, in his opinion, human beings are born one of two ways: potentially intelligent, or potentially republican. He also made an interesting point: Ill give President Obama credit for the killing of Usama bin Laden. But, by the same measure, he has to be credited with the killing of innocent children with drone attacks.
Others expressed anger that the local, state, and federal government has ignored their needs, despite the fact that their properties were severely damaged by major floods in 2006 and 2011. Several neighborhoods located near the communitys large military industry were left to deal with literally hundreds of barrels of toxic wastes polluting their properties. One man told us that, a week after the flood, he saw employees from the industry actually emptying barrels of waste over his fence, onto his back lawn. They ignored him when he told them to stop, so he began taking photographs to document what they were doing. They called the police, who told the man that if he didnt stop harassing the workers, they would arrest him.
He said that he called some state officials, but they never responded. I said that I would assist him in getting a response.
The most troubling thing we heard came a block away. A young man told us that his five year old daughter had died from cancer, a disease that is not common in his wife or his extended families. He said that a health official told them that they should not have consumed the produce from their garden, as -- unknown to them -- they lived on the edge of a toxic industrial waste dump site. He thanked us for what we were doing, and said that he hoped our effort might help save other families from dealing with the type of tragedy that they have to deal with.
I didnt sleep well last night. Im old, and deal with physical disabilities myself. But I went back today, and spent some time handing out the health survey in another neighborhood. I listened to a young man (40 seems young to me these days) who is dealing with chemotherapy. He vented for a few minutes about all of the pollution from the industry, that is poisoning the local population. He tired quickly though, cutting our conversation short. As I was leaving his porch, he said, Hey! Thanks for what youre doing.
Ill be going back to that community tomorrow. Im tired out, and sore as hell. But I believe that what Im doing is important.
Peace,
H2O Man
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)We should have hundreds more like you.
I'd settle for a couple others to help deliver the health survey door-to-door tomorrow.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)Were I still in NY, I'd love to help out.
Cheers, and thanks again.
siligut
(12,272 posts)You are giving people hope.
I like to think that I give people hope. I also am hoping that this helps to get people more confident in their ability to institute meaningful change -- and to become more actively involved.
Years ago, my friend Rubin taught me that people tend too often to look for "leaders" to assist them in accomplishing such things. This, the Good Hurricane said, was because the goodness of Truth had not fully taken root within them, and so they doubt their own strength. They do not recognize the full Power of Ideas.
When I'm in that community -- even just picking up the group's mail at the Post Office, or going into a store there -- I'm surprised by the number of people who approach me to discuss this epidemiology. While I know all too well that I'm just an average person, many of them are projecting, for lack of better words, a leadership role upon my person.
My opposition, of course, continues an attempt to discredit that. Fine with me, so long as their gossip keeps folks talking about the health study! But more, my goal is to encourage others to be their own "leader."
CrazyOrangeCat
(6,112 posts)H2O Man
(73,510 posts)Response to H2O Man (Original post)
CrazyOrangeCat This message was self-deleted by its author.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)I think it's crucial! Which in my book is way more than important.
H2O Man
(73,510 posts)I appreciate that!
One of my medical providers suggested that I write a book, detailing my 30 years of documenting the poisoning of this community (including the roles of local, state, and federal government/ agencies, and the two federal court cases that I was involved in). Perhaps you can add that to your collection of books!
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Seriously, let me know how I can help you make it happen.
H2O Man
(73,510 posts)Much appreciated.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)Boy can I vouch for that since our legislature has now been taken over by Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction.
And the Repukes living up to their potential in my state scare the hell out of me.
I imagine our TN legislature will come up with another series of bills attacking vaginas and demanding guns be allowed in every classroom and demanding that the Jesus deJour* have his rules taught in social studies class as more important than the Constitution.
*I'm confused as to which Gawd has to be let back into schools - the Baptist Gawd, the Catholic Gawd, the Methodist Gawd, the Pentecostal Gawd? I honestly wish the Christians would all duke it out and get back to us on exactly which one we should teach about in school.
Now, THAT would be some entertainment right there!
mmonk
(52,589 posts)They can't all be right but they all could be wrong.
H2O Man
(73,510 posts)is that, in going door-to-door, the registered republicans that I encounter recognize environmental issues as being extremely important. It's hard for me to square that up with their tendency to vote for corporate republicans, who are invested in exploiting that environment for immediate financial gratification.
Still, as we've discussed, in the past two years, I've helped engineer a five-for-five record for elections in that town. The new democratic majority was put in place with the help of registered republican voters.
In the next 7 to 10 days, I'll be posting (with links to newspaper & television news reports) about attempts by the Town Board's "tea party" minority to disrupt and derail the majority's efforts to protect the community from hydrofracking. (The media coordination is merely another task that I've assigned to myself!)
mmonk
(52,589 posts)between the extreme of elected tea party Republicans and those that voted for them. I think in the area of fracking, the elected tea party position can be made vulnerable if our postion is one of property rights, especially when it comes to forced pooling. That, I think, is their weak point.
bigtree
(85,977 posts). . . these folks are like 'downwinders.' Dumping by the military is a crime.
I imagine the military is in a position to try and intimidate these residents. They'll need outside visibility and support.
H2O Man
(73,510 posts)used to having government officials jump when they say jump; bark when they say bark; and bite when they say bite. One of my associates says the industry holds a big stick over these officials. I don't feel that stick.
Much of the dumping was illegal. For example, at one location, night-time dumping took place for years after the state ordered it to stop. We documented this -- in fact, I brought one of the truckers who dumped there illegally to DC, to help the federal government prepare their legal case. But, as mentioned, despite solid evidence, the federal judged ruled (twice) in favor of the industry.
Thus, it's a long struggle. I've been involved with it for over 30 years. While I can't really say that I'm just getting warmed up, I am able to say that I'm again picking up the pace. Everything worthwhile is as difficult as it is valuable.
Smilo
(1,944 posts)I admire you and all those that are with you on this much needed project.
malaise
(268,715 posts)a genuine activist
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I am thinking of TPM, Kos, etc.
I applaud your efforts.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)Unknown Beatle
(2,672 posts)I salute you, H2O Man. You're a good person.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)firehorse
(755 posts)I live in NYC, so do my friends.