Allaxys Communications --- Transponder V --- Allaxys Forum 1
Das Überleben auf diesem Planeten / Gesunde Umwelt, gesunde Ernaehrung => Rettet die Natur! => Topic started by: ama on March 18, 2009, 08:03:15 AM
-
http://www.heroism.org/class/1970/gibbs.html
http://www.heroism.org/class/1970/images/lois3.gif
http://www.heroism.org/class/1970/images/lois4.gif
http://www.heroism.org/class/1970/images/lois5.gif
Lois Gibbs
Environmental Activist
Lois Gibbs has been shot at, insulted, threatened and harassed in her twenty one years as an
environmental activist. But the mother of Superfund, legislation that seeks to clean up
hazardous waste sites around the nation, isnít easily intimidated.
Although people may shoot at me, if they wanted to hit me, they would have years ago. But
Iím still fearful that they are bad at missing me, said Gibbs, who established the Center for
Health, Environment and Justice in 1981 to help other communities fight for their right to a
safe environment. Itís really hard-- [to get over your fears] I was that way at Love Canal but
you just have to get up and do it.
It all started in 1978 when she discovered that her
neighborhood in Love Canal, NY was located on a 20,000
ton chemical waste dump. Lois and her husband moved to
Love Canal, New York in the mid-seventies to raise their
young family and settle in what they thought was a
picturesque, working class neighborhood near the Niagara
river. Mr. Gibbs worked for Goodyear Chemical Company,
and Lois stayed at home with their two infant children.
Gibbs was baffled by the array of illnesses such as epilepsy, asthma, and urinary track
infections that hospitalized her children every week, especially because of their healthy
family history. When Niagara Falls Gazette reporter Michael Brown published a series about
the 20,000 ton chemical waste dump in town, Lois began to realize why her children were
sick.
When she learned that her childrenís elementary school was located directly under large
amounts of toxic waste, she begged the School Board to move her children to another
school. The School Board denied her request because it felt that every student would want to
move if one was granted the privilege.
Lois, who had no formal education or prior knowledge of environmental issues, began to ask
the government to clean up or relocate residents in 1978. When they refused to listen, she
organized her neighbors into the Love Canal Homeowners Association.
They made me mad, and it wasnít a matter of Iím going to go out and do good. I was just
furious and frightened, said Gibbs in describing her motivations to fight.
The state of New York closed the local elementary school and purchased the 239 homes
closest to the dump. Gibbs fought for two more years until Jimmy Carter delivered an
emergency declaration moving nine hundred families out of the area in 1980. Congress also
enacted Superfund legislation in December of 1980 to help clean up other toxic waste sites
around the nation.
After her ordeal at Love Canal, Gibbs received thousands of calls from people around the
nation also facing environmental hazards. In order to help other people, she established
CHEJ. I can provide something to people in a way that comes from personal experience I
walked the walk and did it, she said.
Her organization teaches community groups and individuals the basics of advocacy such as
writing letters, meeting with public officials and talking to corporations. She also helps people
understand technical information in environmental studies.
People get inspired by their own actions and all we really do is give them the path and frame
it in a way that they see each step as a major victory, said Gibbs.
While Gibbs is proud of her work and the progress of the environmental movement, a big
setback for her came in 1988 when the state of New York decided to build low income
housing in parts of the once-contaminated Love Canal. Gibbs warned residents that the canal
will continue to leak and affect homes, which were sold to mostly young couples below
market prices, and peopleís health. Despite her warnings, she has pledged to help people if
they get into trouble.
Most of them [people who move in the new homes] I fear for. Some of them will face the
same issues as we did, said Gibbs.
Gibbs is also fighting to stop polluters from setting up facilities in minority or low-income
neighborhoods. From her experience, she knows that polluters seek out such communities
because they are not inclined to fight.
Itís just devastating because here is a community already suffering a number of social ills,
then you pollute it, said Gibbs.
She added that many organizations profile a number of poor communities and find out which
is least likely to resist in deciding where to build a facility. In one companyís case, it ended
up being East Los Angeles because its primarily poor, primarily a community of color.
Biography
Established Love Canal
Honeowner's Association in
August of 1978.
On August 2, 1978, the
New York State
Department of Health
closed the local elementary
school, and moved 239
residents out of the area.
Gibbs and her neighbors
held two EPA officials
hostage until the state
agreed to move all residents
out of the area.
Jimmy Carter declared an
emergency evacution and
moved 900 families out of
of Love Canal 1980.
Gibbs forms the Center for
Health, Environment and
Justice to help other
communities fight
environmental injustice.
Links
The Center for
Environment, Health and
Justice
-
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084262/
Now Playing Movie/TV News My Movies DVD New Releases IMDbTV Message Boards Showtimes & Tickets IMDbPro
IMDb Resume
Login | Register
Home | TopMovies | Photos | IndependentFilm | GameBase | Browse | Help
search
more | tips
IMDb > Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal (1982) (TV)
Own the rights?
Buy it at Amazon
More at IMDb Pro Discuss in Boards Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature
listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal (1982) (TV) More at IMDbPro »
advertisement
Overview
User Rating:
5.8/10 21 votes
MOVIEmeter:
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Glenn Jordan
Writer:
Michael Zagor (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 February 1982 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot Keywords:
BioHazard | NiagaraFalls | Environmental | BasedOnTrueStory
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)
Marsha Mason
...
Lois Gibbs
Bob Gunton
...
Harry Gibbs
Penny Fuller
...
Jeannie Kolchak
Roberta Maxwell
...
Mary Belinski
Jeremy Licht
...
Michael Gibbs
Louise Latham
...
Pat Kinsman
James Ray
...
Mr. Bain
Bianca Ferguson
...
Gail Shepherd
Thomas Hill
...
Dr. Halperin
Robert Picardo
...
Larry McGuinness
Priscilla Morrill
...
Mrs. Fowler
Raleigh Bond
...
Dave Hobart
Mackenzie Astin
...
Tony Belinski
Michael Flanagan
...
Spokesman
Tina M. Kaye
...
Missy Gibbs
more
Create a character page for:
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Company:
Filmways Television more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
User Comments
(Comment on this title)
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal (1982) (TV)
Recent Posts (updated daily)
User
Encore has been airing this!
cynsemele
Filmed in Downey, California
Heidihoe85
more
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Never Cry
Wolf
Bitter Harvest
Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of
Dian Fossey
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez
Disaster
For Their Own
Good
IMDb User
Rating:
IMDb User
Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations
Related Links
Full cast and crew
Company credits
External reviews
IMDb Drama section
IMDb USA section
Add this title to
MyMovies
You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if
approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.
Home | Search | Now Playing | News | My Movies | Games | Boards | Help | USMovieShowtimes | Top 250 | Register
| Recommendations | Widgets
BoxOffice | Index | Trailers | Jobs | IMDbPro.com-FreeTrial | IMDb Resume
Copyright © 1990-2009 IMDb.com, Inc.
Terms and Privacy Policy under which this service is provided to you.
An company. Advertise on IMDb. License our content.
-
http://www.youtube.com/user/Superfund365
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrzqFPego4A
Love Canal with Lois Gibbs: Part I
.
-
http://www.bu.edu/lovecanal/canal/index.html
Real Media Video, 1:15min
This excerpt is from Lynn Corcoran's documentary IN OUR OWN BACKYARD available from Bullfrog Films, Oley, PA 19547
Home Page
The Start of a
Movement
Chronology
Pictures and
Video Clips
More Info on
Love Canal
History: Love Canal: the Start of a Movement
By Lois Marie Gibbs
Lois Marie Gibbs was the key leader of Love Canal residents in their fight to be
relocated away from a toxic dump containing over 20,000 tons of chemicals. She is
the Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, which she
founded in 1981 following the Love Canal struggle. CHEJ is a national organization
that assists local people to become empowered to protect their communities from
environmental threats. The following text was written by Lois Marie Gibbs and CHEJ
in 1983 and updated in 1997 and 2002.
******************************************
The history of Love Canal began in
1892 when William T. Love proposed
connecting the upper and lower Niagara
River by digging a canal six to seven miles
long. By doing this, Love hoped to harness
the water of the upper Niagara River into a
navigable channel, which would create a
man-made waterfall with a 280-foot drop
into the lower Niagara River, providing
cheap power.
However, the country fell into an economic depression and financial backing for
the project slipped away. Love then abandoned the project, leaving behind a
partially dug section of the canal, sixty feet wide and three thousand feet long. In
1920, the land was sold at public auction and became a municipal and chemical
disposal site until 1953. The principal company that dumped wastes in the canal
was Hooker Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum. The
City of Niagara and the United States Army used the site as well, with the city
dumping garbage and the Army possibly dumping parts of the Manhattan Project
and other chemical warfare material.
In 1953, after filling the canal and covering it with dirt, Hooker sold the land to
the Board of Education for one dollar. Hooker included in the deed transfer a
"warning" of the chemical wastes buried on the property and a disclaimer
absolving Hooker of any future liability.
Perhaps because they didn't understand the potential risks associated with
Hooker's chemical wastes, the Board of Education began in 1954 to construct an
elementary school on the canal property. The 99th Street School was completed
by 1955, opening its doors to about 400 students each year.
Homebuilding around the old canal also began in the 1950's. However,
homeowners were never given any warning or information that would indicate
that the property was located near a chemical waste dump. Most families who
moved into the area were unaware of the old landfill and its poisons. The canal
looked very innocent, like any field anywhere. It certainly did not appear to be a
chemical dump with 20,000 tons of toxic wastes buried beneath it.
In 1978, there were approximately 800 private single-family homes and 240
low-income apartments built around the canal. The elementary school was
located near the center of the landfill. The Niagara River, to the south and a
creek to the north of the landfill formed natural boundaries for the area affected
by the migrating chemicals.
From the late 1950's through the 1970's, people repeatedly complained of odors
and substances surfacing near or in their yards and on the school playground.
The city, responding to these complaints, visited the area and covered the
"substances" with dirt or clay.
After years of complaints, the city and county hired a consultant to investigate. In
1976, the Calspan Corporation completed a study of the canal area and found
toxic chemical residues in the air and sump pumps of a high percentage of homes
at the southern end of the canal. They also found drums just beneath or on the
surface, and high levels of PCB's in the storm sewer system. Calspan
recommended that the canal be covered with clay, home sump pumps be sealed
off and a tile drainage system be installed to control the migration of wastes.
However, nothing was done by the city with the exception of placing window
fans in a few homes found to contain high levels of chemical residues.
In March of 1978, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) began
collecting air and soil tests in basements and conducting a health study of the
239 families that immediately encircled the canal. The Health Department found
an increase in reproductive problems among women and high levels of chemical
contaminants in soil and air.
The Love Canal Homeowners Association
Love Canal Homeowners Association (LCHA) was established in August of
1978 to give the community a voice in the decisions made during the Love Canal
environmental crisis. LCHA membership consisted of approximately 500
families living within a 10-block area surrounding the Love Canal landfill. The
community consisted of blue-collar workers with an average annual income of
$10,000-$25,000. The majority of people worked in local industries, which
were largely chemical.
The Love Canal Homeowners Association grew out of another group
established in June 1978, the Love Canal Parents Movement. The Parents
Movement was started by Lois Gibbs, who lived in the neighborhood and whose
children attended the 99th Street School. Ms. Gibbs, unaware of the dump, was
alerted first by newspaper articles describing the landfill, its wastes, and
proximity to the 99th Street School. Having a small sickly child attending the
school, Gibbs became very concerned about the danger the landfill posed to the
school. She also realized that the school being built so close to the landfill might
have something to do with her son's poor health.
Gibbs first approached the School Board armed with notes from two physicians
recommending the transfer of her child to another public school. But the Board
refused to transfer her child stating that if it was unsafe for her son, then it would
be unsafe for all children and they were not going to close the school because of
one concerned mother with a sickly child. Gibbs was angered and began talking
with other parents in the neighborhood to see if they were having problems with
their children's health. After speaking with hundreds of people, she realized that
the entire community was affected.
On August 2, 1978, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)
issued a health order. The health order recommended that the 99th Street School
be closed (a victory), that pregnant women and children under the age of two be
evacuated, that residents not eat out of their home gardens and that they spend
limited time in their basements. A few days later, the state agreed to purchase
all 239 homes in the first two rings of homes closest to the canal.
These unprecedented actions served to bring the residents together to form a
strong united citizens' organization, and served as the stepping-stone to the
establishment of the Love Canal Homeowners Association. Within a week of the
health order, the residents held a public meeting, elected officers and set goals
for the newly formed organization. All goals set at that time were ultimately
reached.
Summary of Events
At the time of the first evacuation order in August of 1978, the state established
the Love Canal Interagency Task Force to coordinate the many activities
undertaken at the canal. The task force had three major responsibilities: the
relocation of evacuated families, the continuation of health and environmental
studies and the construction of a drainage system to prevent further migration of
toxic chemicals. [Also, please see Key Dates and Events at Love Canal.]
Remedial Construction
Because of the close proximity to the Niagara River, the water table in the canal
would rise and fall substantially. As this occurred, water would mix with
chemicals in the landfill and move out into the community as "leachate." As the
water table rose, so did the leachate, which moved out through the topsoil to
homes built nearby. There was also an old streambed that crossed the canal and
underground sand layers that carried this overflow into the basements of
adjacent homes and throughout the community.
The cleanup plan consists of a tile drain collection system designed to "contain"
the waste and prevent any outward migration of chemical leachate. A graded
trench system was dug around the canal to intercept migrating leachate and
create a barrier drain system. The leachate collected from the drain system was
pumped to an on-site treatment plant that uses a series of filters, most
importantly, activated charcoal, to remove chemicals from the waste stream.
The remaining "clean" water is then flushed down the sanitary sewer system.
Chemicals such as mercury and other heavy metals are not removed by this
treatment and find their way into the Niagara River. A clay cap was placed over
the canal as a cover to minimize rainwater entering the canal surface, to prevent
chemicals from vaporizing into the air and to prevent direct contact with
contaminated soil. The 20,000 tons of wastes are still buried in the center of this
community.
The "Unaffected" Community
Once the state had evacuated 239 families and began the cleanup, they
arbitrarily defined the affected area and erected a 10-foot fence around the
evacuated area. This decision was arbitrary because at the time nobody knew
how far the chemicals had gone or how many people were affected. At this same
time, the state began to make public statements that there was no evidence of
abnormal health problems outside the fenced area. Consequently, the families in
the outer community became angry and began to look at the fence as though it
fenced them in. The residents knew there were health problems outside the first
239 homes because of a health survey that LCHA had conducted.
The community quickly began to express their anger and concerns. Even quiet
and retiring residents suddenly found themselves raising their voices in public
protest. The protests included mothers and fathers with their babies and old
people who were ready for retirement. They marched into the streets on
Mother's Day, carried symbolic coffins to the state capitol, and held prayer
vigils. The residents also picketed at the canal every day for weeks in the dead
of winter, hoping someone would hear them and someone would help. Their
children were sick, their homes were worthless and they were innocent victims.
Because of the pressure created by the protests and the persistence of the
community, the state was forced to address the community's concerns. They gave
the residents "concessions" such as an extensive safety plan, a
scientist-consultant of their choosing whose salary was paid by the state, and a
$200,000 Human Services Fund to pay some of the residents' medical expenses.
But, residents did not want concessions. They wanted and needed to be
evacuated as the first 239 families were.
Community Health Studies
With the help of a dedicated volunteer scientist, LCHA began to interview
families. Once the data was collected, they plotted the results on a map and
immediately noticed a clustering of diseases in certain areas of the
neighborhood. Elderly residents suggested that the clusters seemed to follow the
path of old streambeds that had crossed the canal many years ago. LCHA looked
at old aerial photographs, geological survey maps and personal photographs that
residents brought forth. One of these photographs showed an old streambed,
which appeared to be 10-feet deep and more than 20-feet wide. These
streambeds crossed the canal carrying water to and from the Niagara River.
When the area was developed, the streambeds were filled with dirt and building
rubble through which water flowed easily. Even though there was no surface
evidence of these streambeds, they provided an easy pathway for chemicals to
flow out of the canal.
The scientist who helped the residents with their health study was Dr. Beverly
Paigen, a cancer research scientist at Roswell Memorial Institute in Buffalo,
New York. The data was collected by interviewing each family using a
questionnaire. More than 75% of the homes outside the fenced area were
included in the study. The 239 families who lived closest to the canal were not
included because they were already evacuated. Thus, the results were an
underestimate of the total health damages in the community. The study was
completed in February 1979.
The study found increases in miscarriages, still births, crib deaths, nervous
breakdowns, hyperactivity, epilepsy, and urinary tract disorders. Each of these
diseases was plotted on a map using dots to re- present each disease. Many of
the dots clustered around the old streambeds or "historically wet" areas.
When the observed miscarriages were compared to the number of miscarriages
that occurred in the same women before they moved to the Love Canal,
miscarriages were found to have increased 300%. Most of these miscarriages
occurred in women who lived in the historically wet areas.
When comparing the number of birth defects in historically wet areas with
homes outside these areas, there were almost three times as many birth defects.
Importantly, no birth defects were found in homes located on the streambed that
did not cross the canal. The study also showed that during the 5-year period
from 1974 to 1978, 56% of the children in the Love Canal neighborhood were
born with a birth defect (9 birth defects among 16 children born) that included
three ears, double row of teeth, and mental retardation.
LCHA also examined the pregnancies that occurred between January 1979 and
February 1980, the construction period. This study found that out of 22
pregnancies occurring among Love Canal women, only four normal babies were
born. The rest of the pregnancies ended in a miscarriage, stillbirth or a
birth-defected child.
Many of the chemicals in Love Canal are also known to affect the kidneys and
the urinary system. The study showed an increase of almost 300% in urinary
tract disorders. LCHA found a great number of the canal children to have
urinary tract disorders.
LCHA presented these findings to the state health authorities who quickly
dismissed the study calling it "useless housewife data," saying residents'
illnesses were all in their heads, the birth defects were genetic, and the urinary
disease the result of sexual activity (in a five-year-old boy??).
So, the community went back to the streets and explained their problems to the
public in order to gain the public support needed. Thousands of people soon
began to write letters and send telegrams to the Governor, to legislators and to
the President of our country. Residents created so much pressure and public
outcry that the health authorities were forced to investigate the claims.
On February 8, 1979, after the health department looked at the reproductive
problems in the outer community, they confirmed the homeowners' findings and
issued a second evacuation order for pregnant women and children under the
age of two. This evacuation was a step in the right direction, but it was still not
enough. It was not until October of 1980 that a total evacuation of the community
was ordered by President Carter. Everyone who lived at the Love Canal had the
option of moving away, with the government purchasing their homes at fair
market value.
It is unfortunate that everything done at Love Canal, from the health studies to
evacuation, was done for political reasons. None of the decisions were based
on scientific evidence. LCHA truly believes that if it had not been for the large,
strong citizen organization, families would still be living at Love Canal with the
health authorities saying there were no health problems.
For these same reasons, in September 1988, the Love Canal was declared
"habitable," not to be confused with "safe." The 239 homes closest to the canal
have been demolished and the remaining homes may be sold to new families.
The homes that will be re-inhabited are still contaminated, still unsafe. There
have been no cleanup measures taken around the homes, which were found to
have several toxic chemicals in and around them. Only the creek and sewer
systems were cleaned.
In the case of Love Canal, history will most likely repeat itself. The deeds will
contain a clause stating that if the new owners become sick, harmed, or die due
to the Love Canal wastes, the city, state or federal governments will not be
responsible. This clause is similar to the "Hooker Clause" in the earlier land
transfer in 1950.
In conclusion, it is important to add that canal families did not know that they
were being exposed to poisonous chemicals, nor were they aware that chemical
wastes were being dumped in our rivers, soil, and air. Love Canal awoke a
community to the unpleasantness and unfortunate realization of how toxic wastes
affect out lives, and destroy our environment. Residents at Love Canal always
believed that the government would automatically protect them. They were
wrong; in some cases dead wrong!
Since Love Canal, Ms. Gibbs has founded the Center for Health, Environment
and Justice (CHEJ) (formerly the Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste -
CCHW) which provides direct assistance to citizens faced with environmental
problems. She started CHEJ because she was contacted by hundreds of people
seeking help with their hazardous waste problems. As Director, she has traveled
extensively across the country working with citizens and she quickly found that,
although Love Canal is the most famous, it is not the only serious problem. In
fact, chemical wastes and emissions continue to this day, to threaten thousands
of communities across the country!
Residents learned at Love Canal that even low levels of chemical exposure have
an effect on the human body, and that the government will protect you from this
only when you force them to. If you think you're safe, think again. We can count
only on ourselves to safeguard our families' health through vigilance, knowledge
and collective action.
******************************************
In the years following the community health study in which Dr. Beverly Paigen
was involved, Dr. Paigen and other scientists conducted numerous other studies
on the health impacts of living near the Love Canal toxic dump. Please see our
bibliographies in Health Studies and pictures from Lois Gibbs' Love Canal 25th
anniversary press conference and tour. This article looks back at Love Canal 30
years after the disaster first came to light.
Back to the Top
Return to the Home page
© 2008 Boston University School of Public Health | PEHS
-
Marke: 4000