Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Environmental Justice by Advocate Scott


Environmental Justice: We are all Inextricably Linked
By: Advocate Scott
This past Saturday, the 13th, there was a People not Poisons fair at Chickasaw park. It was for educating folks about, and bringing awareness to chemical pollution in our communities. Rubbertown Emergency Action (REACT) has constantly set out to improve the living conditions of our neighborhoods. The fair was a gathering of people, organizations and a powerful speaker, Michele Roberts. This is what I learned from Ms. Roberts and REACT about the effects of chemical pollution.
STUDENTS: Schools around the Rubbertown area are located near factories and chemical plants creating hazards and impacting learning development. For example one school has a garden on one hand and on the other hand is exposed to factory emissions. So what happens when the plants absorb those emissions; or when an explosion interrupts the class day… if the school is even informed? Test scores and health are lowered. SOLUTION: keep the factories away from our schools!
HEALTH: Many people in our neighborhoods develop cancer and respiratory diseases that are linked to the air pollution caused by factories and chemical plants. People are sent to the hospital and even die because of these pollutions. My own great-uncle died from four forms of cancer and he lived within walking distance of a factory. So what happens when are hard-working community members are always sick? They are fired from their jobs, upkeep of property becomes secondary, and “family-time” slowly fades away. SOLUTION: keep factories out of our residential areas!
It was a very educational experience for me and I am glad at the success of the event. Most people are aware of the toxicity of Rubbertown, but not what they can do to make a change. The fair was about solid solutions and solid actions. We must remember that in justice work we are all inextricably linked! 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Rubbertown has done it again!

Well Good Morning folks, 


Rubbertown has done it AGAIN.  Just when we thought we had seen the last of the MULTIPLE incidents that have occurred over there, they are at it once more.  I have pasted the links to the various news stories below along with the health affects of the chemical released.
http://www.wave3.com/story/15214952/chemical-vented-from-rubbertown-plan
http://www.whas11.com/news/Hazmat--126824418.html
http://www.wlky.com/news/28774572/detail.html
http://www.wdrb.com/story/15214891/emergency-crews-respond-in-rubbertown


It is very misleading to say 2 R-calls were sent to residents. It leads people to believe people were called when in all actuality R-Call is a bulletin board system that residents must call to receive information. It's safe to say that somewhere in the 90 percentile of people living in neighborhoods surrounding Rubbertown, do not know the number.


They tried to make it sound like 90 seconds (of releasing the chemical) was not long but who knows at what rate that chemical was being released and at what concentration.


Additionally, they have downplayed toluene, which is the chemical that was released. 


TOLUENE - According to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Database, ASR reported emitting 408,400 pounds of this nasty chemical in 2009. This chemical is associated with learning and behavioral disorders. It is also considered a teratogen. Teratogens can cause birth defects.


When exactly are people going to flood the offices of the Air Pollution Control District demanding that they enter the premises of all of these raggedy chemical facilities. When? 


No one is coming to save any of us. No one. You better get up and do something and stop turning your head because you don't live in Park DuValle, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Algonquin Parkway, etc.


Children from all over this city attend schools in the affected areas. What are YOU going to do?


ATTEND the People Not Poisons Environmental Justice Fair (August 13th from 1:00-5:30PM Chickasaw Park) so you can help in coming up with solutions to this problem.  Let's not let the hard work of Rev. Louis Coleman, Roosevelt Roberts and others have been in vain.  We must continue this fight.  




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REACT - Rubbertown Emergency ACTion
P.O. Box 3662
Louisville, KY 40201
Email:  rubbertownstinks@gmail.com