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Water is a necessity to life and for 25% of Americans,
it can kill them in the long run.
We're talking arsenic and nitrate water.
3,000 areas have poisoning rates that
horrendously exceed Flint, Michigan (link).
This is an alarming panorama of modern America
where amenities themselves are a gamble.
Water worries are their highest since 2001-D.C.'s water disaster.
Life and death in Flint, Michigan are too close together.
How did such a "winning" system fail in protecting
the most vulnerable citizens: children?
There is poison in the blood.
Where can we find an answer to this?
Below is PBS' documentary Poisoned Water, a
further analysis on the nationwide water crisis.
Poisoned Water paints a devastating reality.
(D-PA) Senator Matt Cartwright shaming Governor Rick Snyder for his corrupt role
in Flint
Neglect by leadership and the EPA has formed a vicious cycle:
poverty, pollution, low investment, health defects and
creation of inescapable ghettoes with high lead levels.
278 zip codes have double the likelihood of this.
1,100 communities had lead tests four times Flint's.
And in 4 million households, children are greatly affected.
5% of Flint's children test for high lead levels.
2015 NRDC map of 5,363 water systems in violation of
EPA standards
A related report released that only 908 cases were
pursued by the EPA, out of 8,000 (Washington Post).
NRDC's Threats on Tap indicates that
80,000 violations hover over
drinking water systems in each state.
Underreporting's a given, so that number is considerably higher.
This sick system has succeeded in
toxifying nature's foundations,
and the people who need them.
Fracking, industry production, outdated water
systems and weak environmental regulation
have created a nightmare scenario.
Dozens of American cities, states and towns face a
particularly rough predicament like Flint.
Water advocates have been poisoned themselves,
thrust into a conflict against governments, even threatened.
But they won't give up the mission.
Autumn Peltier is an Anishinaabe water protector/
(AKA Chief Water Commissioner)
that you have seen in Generation Activism,
and standing against Canadian imperialism!
Read her words from 2019's Eshekenijig Conference.
"Our ancestors fought so hard to keep our languages,
our ways of life and oral teachings alive.
They saw ahead and they suffered for us.
I often think that one of my great, great-grandparents prayed for me.
They prayed for our way of life and our future...
The water is a precious resource that sustains all life.
I have been hearing all over that we only have 12
years left because of the impacts of climate change.
Then I hear we have 20 years left if we don’t do anything now.
I think of what kind of future do we even have?" (x)
She argues for reality's return, and
pivot away from poisonous forces.
"I recently visited Attawapiskat.
Our people in the north are living in Third World conditions.
Those children live in a world where a
bottle of water is $18 and for
us here a bottle is $2-$3.
I still can’t imagine living that way.
In the south we are so fortunate to be
able to drink from our taps,
and our water is fresh and clean."
Watch Autumn Peltier's full speech on YouTube.
The Unist'ot'en Camp also agrees fiercely
on water access as a basic human right.
RCMP is suppressing all opposition to the Coastal GasLink
pipeline which illegally crosses ancestral land.
Police brutality and Indigenous intimidation continue here.
Wet'suwet'en protesters are fighting
for their lives, and the future's as well.
But each protector knows: Wet'suwet'en solidarity
will win this anti-nature war or else.
"The Unist’ot’en (C’ihlts’ehkhyu/Big Frog Clan)
are the original Wet’suwet’en Yintah Wewat Zenli
distinct to the lands of the Wet’suwet’en.
Over time in Wet’suwet’en History,
the other clans developed and were included
throughout Wet’suwet’en Territories... (History)
The Deterritorialization of our people,
Indian Residential Schools, 60’s Scoop,
and continuously reduced social programs
on the Indian Reservations have forced
our people to resort to being 100% dependent
on fragile and threatened salmon runs.
This is one of the biggest reasons why we must
vigorously fight for our lands and waterways.
This is one of the biggest reasons why we will win." (Unist'ot'en)
Dr. Karla Tait insightfully said of the raids,
"a year later that Covid-19, legal battles, invasion,
and community trauma have challenged us
and still the fight for the clean water of the
Wid’zin Kwah and the future of
the Healing Centre continues.
A lot of it is about remembering how connected we are,
and that what we’re connected to is strong
enough to hold us through anything.” (One Year)
2,000 communities in Amazonia, the Amazon
River Basin live alongside one other today at least.
They co-exist in such an ancient, enormous forest.
Our respect should come naturally.
Brazil has nine Amazon provinces
whose land defenders are COIAB
(A Coordenação das Organizações
Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira
since 1989, and APIB est. 2005
as part of their council) plus some we
know that don't want to be named. Bad-ass.
440,000 people's home is in a 110-MILLION
hectare area where isolation can be detrimental,
or key to consistent survival (COIAB).
Meet awesome leaders like Sonia Bone
Guajajara, judicial advocate Eloy Terena,
Deputy Joênia Wapichana in Roraima
(tribe has the same name),
Artemisa Xakriaba and thousands more.
Luta pela Vida Mobilization 2021 has amassed 6,000
forest protectors for Indigenous rights now (8/24).
"Nesse imenso território, vivem ao menos
180 povos indígenas distintos, além
de grupos considerados “isolados”.
Em toda a Amazônia Legal, existem
cerca de 114 registros da presença
desses indígenas que optaram por viver
de forma livre e autônoma, sem
contato com a sociedade envolvente.
Porém, a maior floresta tropical do planeta,
e nossas terras indígenas, estão cada vez mais
ameaçadas pelo desmatamento e pela
cobiça de madeireiros, garimpeiros, pecuaristas
e investidores do agronegócio.
Muitas regiões são de difícil acesso,
e as políticas públicas raramente chegam
até as populações mais afastadas."
Translation for the Anglo readers:
"In this immense territory, at least 180 distinct
indigenous peoples live, as well as groups considered "isolated".
Throughout the Legal Amazon, there are about
114 records of the presence of these indigenous
people who chose to live freely and autonomously,
without contact with the surrounding society.
However, the largest rainforest on the planet and
our indigenous lands are increasingly threatened by
deforestation and the greed of loggers,
prospectors, ranchers and agribusiness investors.
Many regions are difficult to access, and public policies
rarely reach even the most remote populations." (Reverso)
Artemisa Xakriaba comes from Mina Gerais,
southeastern Brazil. She is turning 20 soon:
already a representative in Global Alliance
of Territorial Communities and the one who
hand-delivered an open letter to U.S. Congress (APIB).
Act now, amplify Amazonia's voices.
Amarun Mesa and Sani Isla (Kichwa) community
stay by the northern Napo River's median (Ecuador).
Helena Gualinga, Sarayaku youth and incredible light in dark times.
Credit: Alli Hanes
Pueblo de Sarayaku in central/eastern Ecuador
are a seven-community village (Kalikali,
Kushillu Urku y Puma and more),
with Waorani neighbors
who are a day's boat ride away!
"En esta parte del país, no existe carretera.
Para llegar a Sarayaku se debe ir por vía fluvial o aérea."
Travel is by air or fluvial here.
2020 alone bore the worst oil spills in
15 years: two major ones across Ecuador.
Petrobell and Petroecuador's extraction/
refinery processes create hydrocarbon,
which contains heavy metals...toxic waste.
672,000+ gallons entered the Napo River,
April 2020 to completely disrupt local life.
Rio Shiripuno faced the same danger less than seven months later.
Greed barred food and water access for weeks.
Canoes are invaluable to each river-bound individual.
So much was lost, but not forever.
President Marlon Vargas of CONFENIAE
confronted European and South American-
aligned business for their failure to save lives!
He outlined an alternative course so
Ecuadorian Amazon communities can survive.
"1. Ecuador enforces the free, prior and informed consent
(FPIC)and implements it in current and future concessions.
2. The government of Ecuador commits to the
non-expansion of the oil frontier and
takes a wind-down of existing wells.
3. The government of Ecuador aligns with the goals of the
Paris Agreement and respects the vision of our peoples
by making the Amazon, a priority ecosystem for
the country and the planet, to prevent an environmental collapse."
Amariyanna Copeny, "Little Miss Flint" is not
just part of Generation Activism or a figurehead.
She quite effectively pressures her local
government on water protection.
When Mari penned a letter to Obama,
he agreed on $100 million for clean water authorization.
The water crisis is decades in the making
though, and Mari did not waste time.
Flint needed more help than one charity case or two.
She steadily guided townspeople to rallies and
government meetings so they could take a stand.
Never mind the fact a 13-year-old
can be a better leader than current ones.
You are looking at a proud Flint Youth Justice League member,
the People's Climate March Youth Ambassador, Women's
March alumnae and Turtle Island's brighter possibility.
"My generation will fix this mess of a government.
Watch us."
Marc Edwards is a significant professor
and expert on plumbing corrosion.
He came to a horrifying realization on 2003
Washington, D.C.'s drinking water.
Marc Edwards
His research focused on premature pipe corrosion
around the metropolitan area.
The news defied any expectations.
Chloramine treatment increased lead levels to 83 times the acceptable limit.
The EPA Lead and Copper Rule
sets the standard for 15 parts per
billion (ppb), and any level above this
prompts immediate decontamination.
Edwards diluted samples to 10% potency from each visited house.
Meters still calculated 1,250 ppb (Time)!
Marc testified to the House of Representatives in 2010.
"The lead levels in DC drinking water from 2001-2004
were
unprecedented in modern history.
Some samples exceeded “hazardous waste”
criteria (>5,000 ppb).
Debris on the Potomac River, near the Kennedy Center.
Quite a dirty capital.
And the contaminated water was present in tens
of
thousands of DC buildings including homes,
apartments, offices, schools, daycare
facilities
and even the US Congress." (Flint Water Study)
Acidity in the Potomac increased with lead-based solder alone (x).
The CDC claimed there were no risks from chloramine treatment.
So they did not fix the issue until 2004.
Additional treatment as a "fix" has its drawbacks.
Although chloramine may no longer dissolve in
water mains, chemical testing and
treatments are rife with problems.
Edwards also discovered the fatal levels of lead in Flint.
He combats water poisoning wherever the need arises.
Edwards makes his assessment of D.C.'s political
intent known, after EPA cut ties and
WASA diverted research funding.
"To the extent that my experiences with individuals
in the CDC Lead Poisoning Prevention
Branch and the CDC Office of Science are
any indication, there is a culture
of scientific corruption." (Flint Water Study)
Marsha Coleman-Adebayo is a tenacious water
protector, and former EPA policy analyst
during the Gore-Mbeki Commission.
Marc Edwards' assessment was chilling and all too real.
Coleman-Adebayo exposed ties between
business and environmental hazards here,
but abroad as well (South Africa).
Vanadium was poisoning land under American contracts.
Money literally toxified the motherland,
and something had to be done.
First there were courageous calls for
administrator Browner outside her office.
Then backlash started and became vicious.
So Coleman-Adebayo advocated for a particular lawsuit
to protect her rights, and other whistleblowers.
We realize an ominous truth in the U.S. House
Federal Employee Antidiscrimination
and Retaliation Act hearing...
The EPA affected employees' health
on concerning levels, and terminated
several victims as a professional threat.
This was unacceptable.
"We can no longer live in fear of compromising
our health, from the stress created by
working in a cruel work environment.
We can no longer live in fear of retaliation
and out-of-control managers who discriminate
without consequences and face
no accountability for their actions.
We can no longer live in fear of being
retaliated against when we courageously
expose fraud,waste, abuse and
mismanagement in the government.
We can no longer live in fear."
(House Session, pg. 44, 5-9-01)
The Act passed in 2002, and Marsha embodies
true freedom beyond so-called law.
This Anishinaabe-led organization in Minnesota's
Great Lakes Region resists during the "Seventh Fire":
a prophetic, capitalist climate carnage.
They combine grassroots action in person,
digital art and awareness with multimedia.
"This is a time when our people will have two roads
ahead of us—one miikina, or path, which
is well-worn but scorched—and
another path which is green.
It will be our choice upon which path to embark.
That is where we are."
Winona LaDuke and the Indigo Girls founded
Honor the Earth in 1993, no less relevant.
"We are the only Native organization that
provides both financial support and organizing
support to Native environmental initiatives.
This model is based on strategic analysis of what
is needed to forge change in Indian country, and it
is based deep in our communities, histories,
and long-term struggles to protect the earth."
Their latest actions involve Line 3 interventions
via leadership cultivation, political engagement,
the MN Public Utilities Commission, and much more.
We cannot quantify in words, the importance in
Anishinaabe wisdom through Honor the Earth.
"We are creating spaces for Water Protectors to
gather and learn about our lands, our traditions,
and models for a new sustainable future."
Baltimore's, Cleveland's, East Chicago's, Philadelphia's,
Saint Louis' and Washington D.C.'s
lower-income, majority Black neighborhoods
are dying from generational exposure.
Baltimore's environmental pollution affects from
40% to 50% of residents over a decade.
Indigenous territories from the Wet'suwet'en to
the Sioux (Standing Rock), and Suriname
have faced eco-warfare in waves.
Health consequences can be irreversible for
lead and other metals or toxins,
though some manage to overcome this.
They include lags in mental and physical growth.
High blood pressure and kidney problems manifest into adulthood.
Big Sean's track 'Bigger Than Me' is about his home city, Detroit, and Flint.
Cognitive gaps and heightened aggression are persistent side effects.
Crime can be traced from the blood.
What's in it? Look deeper to see.
Freddie Gray's death was a major factor in 2015's
Baltimore uprising.
He passed in police custody after prior run-ins with law
enforcement.
Gray's childhood is pivotal: Baltimore's Sandtown-
Winchester district, a lead paint hotspot.
He lived there since two years old, and suffered
developmental issues that never went away.
Follow events throughout his life, and it becomes clear that
destiny is determined by five digits—where we live,
who we identify to be beyond nationality.
This is not an uncommon story.
Let's petition multiple officials in health and resource authority
for their share of water systems donations.
They are responsible for the loopholes in regulation.
Contaminated water will take billions to replace if
each
state wants taxpayers to live healthily.
No more poisoned water, no lead in the blood.
Extinguish the destructive fires across Earth with our power.
The Trump administration, governmental bodies and
global citizens
must stand firmly on climate and ecological policy.
This is our chance, and only planet we have.
Emissions, natural gas/oil extraction, industry waste and
our future have to drive national action and discourse on health.
Will the EPA stand up for nature now?
Will the RCMP leave water protectors alone?
What is Turtle Island's fate? We decide.
It shouldn't have to be the super-rich's backyard for them to care.
We can resist for the good of everyone.
It will be difficult. But don't worry.
Metal is found in plenty of beneficial places,
like mountains and music, even our bodies.
Balance is everything.
Purify the water so we can live, and for generations after us.
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Water Crises Like Flint's Will Continue
Until the EPA Is Held Accountable (The Guardian, 2-09-21)
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- ORAU