As we learned in class, the Love Canal, a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NY, was the site of a massive chemical dump during the 1940s and 50s. With a sanction from the government, the Hooker Chemical Company used a partially-dug canal as a disposal site for around 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals and carcinogens, thinking nothing of it. For around 20 years, the chemical dump was not thought of again. However, in the late 1970s, residents of the idyllic community began to notice the drastic effects of the chemicals, which were causing diseases, birth defects, and other such maladies.
In 1978, after much pressuring from Love Canal's residents, President Carter declared a state of emergency, and ordered the government to relocate the 239 families living closest to the canal. However, the state of emergency did not extend to the other 700 families still living in Love Canal, despite evidence from state department of health officials revealing that the toxicity had reached even the houses that were further out. Eventually, after protests from the remaining residents (and two EPA officials being held hostage), Carter declared a second state of emergency in 1981. With this order, the remaining residents were relocated, and Love Canal was finally abandoned.
While the Love Canal disaster occurred in the 1970s, the effects of it are still felt today. While the EPA claims that the site was completely cleaned out and is now safe to live in, current inhabitants of the area have begun to complain about feeling sick, and some reports even claim contaminants have been discovered in the area. Lois Gibbs, the face of the Love Canal resident relocation movement, still believes that the area was not properly treated, and that the current residents still run the risks of seeing another environmental disaster occur in the future. However, many of the residents are refusing to heed her warnings, telling Gibbs that "We choose to live here. If there's a problem, we'll take care of it. Just leave it alone. Stop bringing it up year after year."
Although it's inconclusive whether Love Canal still presents the same environmental and health danger that it did 40 years ago, there can be no mistaking the fact that it was one of the worst environmental disasters in American history. Yet, like most tragedies in history, it sparked the growth of many environmental protection movements that still exist today. In all, the Love Canal was an important moment in American history, as it serves as a warning to any who try to place production above the protection of nature.
I like the fact that you followed up on what we had learned in class but I wonder why residents would willingly go back to the Love Canal. They obviously know of what happened there so of all places, why choose to live there. Is it because it is cheaper than other areas? Also, how did they clean up the love canal if over 21,000 tons of waste was there? Also, why was Carter reluctant to relocate everybody? Wouldn't it just cause further problems like it did?
ReplyDeleteI really like this post and it was well researched. I also liked that you summarized your findings and talked about how it impacted the country/history in general. I wonder why current residents don't want to listen to Lois Gibbs/are unwilling to?
ReplyDeleteI thought this post was very interesting, and it's scary to think that the people of Love Canal might still be in danger from the events that happened in 1978. However, I found that in 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that the waste that is still stored has not been leaking out. Despite this, people have claimed earlier, in 2011, that waste was leaking into the sewer system. These are two very contradictory claims, and it raises the question of how thorough the EPA really is.
ReplyDeleteSource: https://buffalonews.com/2018/08/04/love-canal-today-monitoring-and-reminders-for-those-living-nearby/
this is super interesting, Love Canal seems so long ago as we learn about it in history, but in reality the effects are still hurting people to this day. It's sad that it happened, but luckily many environmental groups sparked up because of it, as you said, which helps keep the country from becoming one big love canal.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting and sad. It is terrible that the chemical waste sickened so many people and that it took the government so long to actually do something about it. I also liked that you talked about the current situation. I found it interesting that the people live there are skeptical of the risks and say that if there is a problem they will deal with it themselves.
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