The Brockovich Report

Yes its true Erin, its really hard to get the government off their butts to do anything. They would rather sit by and allow people to die than do their jobs. You have to put pressure on them and that takes more than one to do that. You have to hit them where it hurts bad publicity. It takes the media to get their attention and it takes the know how to work with the government to pull the right strings to make them work like they should.

You will also learn they just cannot be trusted so you have to double check what they do to make sure they are doing what they said.

Its time to clean up the messes these companies and the government have made of mother earth along with the messes they have put peoples lives at risk.

In so many cases its money before people.

The government also likes to cover their ass, they sure don't want to take the credit for putting any one in danger or admit that they have done any thing wrong.

Hi Erin.

I just sent you an e-mail via your "contact" link on your site. I think it's interesting that you note "Habitat for Humanity" as a possible resource for collaboration and ideas. I am sure you don't know that they have an affiliate that re-uses/ re-sells /re-cycles building parts from older homes they restore for low income housing (and from in-kind donations they receive.) Many of these building parts are contaminated with lead paint - which poisons children (as my children were poisoned) yet Habitat and their affiliate have refused requests (from members of the lead poisoning awareness and advocacy community) to cease selling/ re-distributing these poisoned items and refused requests to properly dispose of these contaminated building parts that they are re-selling to the very population they are state they are trying to protect and serve (other low income families trying to remodel their homes on a budget) and thereby (in doing so) they are the cause of poisoning more children now and in the future. I mention this here as it speaks to the pervasiveness of environmental toxicity as well as the pervasive thread of ignorance on the subject - even from within agencies that think they are out there trying to make a difference.

HiErin,

I agree with you totally! We the people will have to deal with the environmental problems ourselves. Our government will never do it too many big corporations that only care about greed! Sometimes I wonder what we have done to let corporations get so big! They control us. We have become like robots. It is scary!

Rosemary

Erin,

I am an on-again/off-again talk-radio host in the Greater Kansas City Area. I certainly haven't become rich or famous, but I wanted to offer my BRAVO to your life and causes. Not even just about your investigative work, I just read your BLOG and I found your respectful tone praiseworthy, especially about you NOT joining in on the dog-pile that keeps heaping on Sarah Palin.

You probably will get a flood of e-mails and blog comments, especially because A&E re-ran a Bill Curtis program today that featured the Hexavalent Chromium case. Well, I immediately went to look back into you, as through the years I have looked at the case after the movie came out several times. I had to mention a few things.

I have read many skeptical viewpoints, such as the one QuackWatch.org posted some years back. Although I respect and agree with most of what QuackWatch.org has to say, I do disagree with the skeptical thinking on the Hexavalent Chromium case. So what if Hexavalent Chromium is said to be harmless, what about all the troubles that adults, children and local animals had happen to their health!? It is clear to me that something happened and, perhaps, Hexavalent Chromium was only part of the story, but I feel your case was JUSTICE INCARNATE and I'm very glad that your victims won their case.

I wanted to lay two words on you (Erin) and everyone else here, if you (and anyone else) haven't already heard the words, and the words are EPIGENETICS and XENO-ESTROGENS. Did I say EPIGENETICS and xeno-estrogens? Let me repeat the words... !!!
Here is what EPIGENETICS relates to: DNA is not the end-all/be-all of what humans are, as deeper than the code is another code. DNA can be changed for the better or the worse and scientists have fairly recently proven this notion. For instance, lab animals removed from other animals (their community, if you will) have their offspring showing genetic damage. Many substance also show damage to the offspring. In the opposite, the animals and their offspring show improvements by partaking in positive activities, like exercise. So, in effect, the sins of the father do revisit the son, but in the genetic sense.

As to XENO-ESTROGENS, they are found in some natural items (like found in lavender, although most prefer to call them phytoestrogens) but the concern of these "ALIEN-ESTROGENS" is that they are used wayyyyy toooooo much in industry, especially plastics. For instance, from what I have read, parents are betting on the wrong horse when they blame VACCINATION SHOTS for the plague of "autistic spectrum disorders", as not all forms of autism is the same. Case in point, AUTISTIC disorders were identified by M.D.s all the way back into 1800s, and possibly even the 1700s; BUT, flash forward to the 1900s and 2000s, other nations used the exact vaccinations as America without any increase in autistic spectrum disorders. However, what did increase in the 1980s (ever increasing into the 1990s) is more and more plastic that was full of xeno-estrogens, like the PVC PIPES that were used for more than 90% (albeit from my estimation) of all building-projects.

What does AUTISTIC SPECTRUMS have to do with XENO-ESTROGENS and EPIGENETICS!? Simple, the greatest number of autistics are male!!! One thing scientists know is that disrupting hormones in boys (especially body-functions related to testosterone) is very bad and it appears likely that the testosterone-related functions of the body are what is at play with AUTISTICS.

So, like what Dustin Hoffman had to endure listening to in the movie of The Graduate...

"I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? Plastics!"

...it might just be really I should have used only one word, as plastics is more than likely to contain the xeno-estrogens of bisphenol-A "BPA", phthalates, butylated hydroxyanisole "BHA" (a food preservative), atrazine (a weedkiller) and among many other so-called plasticizers and manufactured chemicals (in general) that shockingly are used in cosmetics, medicines and even FOOD!!!

SECONDARY SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetic_Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoestrogens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butylated_hydroxyanisole
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender

Please note that I list the above web-pages as SECONDAY SOURCES not only literally, but also as a caution for it is a well-known fact that the Wikipedia is vulnerable to VANDALISM and PROPAGANDA. The Wikipedia should only be used as a PORTAL to articles and sources that are more reliable. The best sources are from MEDICAL JOURANALS (which can easily be found via the WebMD.com articles about the above subjects. I should mention that the above SECONDARY SOURCES is for the reader's convenience, as I have researched these topics myself and the articles (at the time of me writing this blog) appear to be reliable, but that can change if a vandal strikes.
Erin, please, feel free to contact me at Benny Anthony AT aol DOT com, by that e-mail address I mean all spaces should be removed and the appropriate symbols replace the words of AT and DOT.

Sincerely,

BENNY ANTHONY
Kansas City, Missouri

Dear Erin, I wrote to you regarding my problems from my employer's today. Tonight I decided to check out more of your web site and noticed the message left for you by BENNY ANTHONY. I'm not sure if this is related to anything he's trying to say but my Husband is a plumber and due to the lower cost of plastic plumbing the City Council has let them use PVC pipes in homes and businesses for quite some time. I noticed he (BENNY ANTHONY) said something regarding testerone. My Husband, while I don't want to announce it to the world due to men have enough problems with that sort of thing, but he's lost his ability to have sex for many years. I didn't know what caused it and sent him to his doctor to find out. They have no reason for the problem. I'm now sitting here wondering if his problem is from working putting in PVC plastic pipes instead of the tradionally used copper, cast iron and galvanized pipes? After reading your entry I'm wondering it there isn't a relaitonship between the two. If you find out more would you let me know? If this is a problem then the men working with the plastic could somehow be putting their self at risk which as a man I'm sure you know what risk I'm talking about. And possibly since they are starting to let them use plasic for water piping future generations due to boys drinking water from pipes made from plastic? Maybe I'm out of line but if what you say is true there could be some serious consequences to the men using plastic piping daily and boys drinking water from thos pipes. Hope that makes sense. Any thoughts appreciated. Regards, Kimberly

Hello, Erin. I am really enjoying your blog. I searched for you after I watched your movie yesterday. You are a blessing and an inspiration.

Hi Erin,

I am finally getting on to your site. just learning the ropes, please inform me if i do not a vital function of the privilege you've given to post here

I am trying to start a nonprofit to cure the problem of cigarette pollution. While educating on the repercussion of the act of littering, this mission is to provide proper places for disposal. The goal is to make Public ashtrays that are designed to educate, but the key is to “shock and aw” the smokers by making this device from the cigarette butts itself. Of course there will be refining steps to remove all the bad chemicals. But through grants like the EPA's P2I2 Pollution Prevention and Education grant, they award funds that could be used to collect the litter.

All in a plan devised to stop the gradual poisoning of our environment. This plan is to educate smokers and non-smokers that littering the filtered end of a cigarette takes there educated choice of smoking a cancerous product and carelessly taking the rights of the people around, to not absorb all the Bioaccumulotoxins that the cellulose acetate filter in which its designed to store. These chemicals in cigarettes after they have chemically modified by the burning of the tobacco, in turn multiplies the output types of poisonous chemical.

All the filter does after improper discard, is leech into the grasses, storm drains, waterways, making them prone to wildlife and human interaction or ingestion. Already it is common for a local public utility to spend millions on the extraction of these filters from there treatment plants and the unclogging of the drainage systems. The environment is enduring priceless amounts of damages to just about every last known destination on this planet.

One's habit shouldn't be tolerated if it affects everyone consequence!

This nonprofit idea in theory would work like this:

Any place that sells tobacco products, allows smoking in there establishment should be required or encouraged to enroll in the Cigarette Collection Program. Sellers could offer the RSA's “Home Units”, a program that uses recycled paint cans to collect filters from home and send them to the RSA. Existing local recycling programs could allow of collection of sealed cans. Smoking establishments could instruct all employees to collect in large 5 gallon recycled paint can and offer pamphlets of the program at the bars. This could also ensure better protection from accidental fires in regular trash.(many restaurants a year burn down for this reason.)

Any Establishment that has traffic of smokers should apply RSA Bins near there entrances. These are self maintaining units, if enrolled in the program you will not have to collect, a service designed within the program to encourage adoption. Almost all commercial places could essentially use these PSR (Public Smoking Receptacles), and save financially for there site maintenance cost. With the point of entrance to establishments being the most common source for cigarette litter, it is essential for there to be proper places to comply to anti-littering laws.

Responsible Smokers and/or Environmentally Responsible Populous along with Local and Community Beautification Projects could adopt this model to there cleanup and disposal activities.

If we can collect the product(cigarette butts) we use to make the PSR we can perpetuate the effectiveness to the outcome. Our main goal is to eradicate existing cigarette pollution and educate to remedy the man made disaster in which irresponsible smoking has caused.

"Environment for Humanity" -E. Brockovich

"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." Founder of Earth Day. R.I.P. Sen. Gaylord Nelson

Erin

Please give me any information you can on stopping a 900+ ton a day landfill from coming into my backyard. Our city council plans on selling a farm to Allied Waste on Dec 16th,2008. The location is on the first overpass coming into town. Beside two of our largest churchs, a 50 family daycare, a apartment & condo complex, and several homes,the county water deepwell, and our family farm. The council foolishly believes this will not effect the people living and working there. We have very little time, and any help would be wonderful.Robin

One solution for cleaning up the planet. Strangely this plant with 1001 benefits was the number one source of fuel before the oil companies learned how to refine fossil fuels. Their propoganda basterdized it and had it classified as a dangerous drug.
My Hemp Pusher blog, my url, tells the history and spells out the 1001 uses for this wonderous plant!

Below is an article by green.net, their url is at the bottom of this page.

Benefits of hemp cultivation

An excellent rotation and companion crop, especially favored by organic farmers and those wishing to reduce their chemical usage.

High yields, with multiple uses

Short cultivation time Ü yield in 3-4 months

Improves yield of subsequent compatible crops, primary due to improved soil structure and weed suppression

crops of winter wheat grown after hemp have reported a 10-20% greater yield
Natural insect resistance
can be grown on a commercial scale without the use of pesticides
provides some pest protection for compatible crops
"Cotton and soy, the two hemp substitute crops, are characterized not only by their enormous demand for pesticides, but also by the toxicity of the respective pesticides in use." (pg. 136, The Cultivation of Hemp, Dr. Iván Bócsa and Michael Karus.)
Contracts few diseases and has few pests

"in contrast to many other crops, especially other renewable resources such as canola or flax, economic loss due to infestation of hemp by pests and diseases is minimal" (pg. 135, The Cultivation of Hemp, Dr. Iván Bócsa and Michael Karus.)
Reduces pathogenic soil nematodes

Hemp fibre crops are characterized by rapid early growth and density of crop leading to strong weed suppression in healthy soils

weed control carries over to following crop
preferable to avoid herbicides
Nutrient requirements can be supplied through appropriate planting regimes and organic fertilizers

Soils

improves soil quality
improves soil ventilation and water balance
provides excellent shade
soil fauna thrives
Foliage left on site improves soil organic matter

Reduces erosion

Reduces eutrophication of lakes and rivers as a result of agriculture

Reduced expenditure on chemicals

Long history of cultivation across wide variation in climates Ü variety of cultivars adapted to different climates

Once plants have covered the soil, they utilize precipitation more efficiently than any other cultivated plant." (pg. 76, The Cultivation of Hemp, Dr. Iván Bócsa and Michael Karus. )

Likely ability to adapt to dry conditions

Possible to cultivate on marginal or damaged soils, although yields will be reduced

"Able to extract heavy metal from the soil in amounts higher than many other agricultural crops." (pg. 20, Cannabis: an environmentally and economically viable method for climate change mitigation, Thesis, by Marc Deeley. )

Gross primary biomass increments up to 23 t/ha

CO2 sequestration range between 7.6 tC/ha and 11.5 tC/ha

Hemp has already been marketed for its eco-friendly qualities.

http://www.green.net.au/gf/hemp_cultivation.htm

Hello erin this is kavin visiting first time in this site.Thank you very much for sharing this information I read this complete article and come to know that there are various environment issues like Nuclear Waste And Radioactive Pollution, Greenhouse Gases Including Carbon And Methane, Industrial Waste etc. and I think we should try to spread awareness about to protect our environment.

--------------------------

kavin

I'm homeless & dying thanks to a toxic mold slum lord = please help:

http://blackmoldinfectioncvphplattsburgh.blogspot.com/

Rick Landry Of Property Management Of Plattsbugh Lies & Slanders Me Out Of Safe Housing On Tape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu0kg2gT_-U

I definitely agree with the cause for going green. It's just crazy to me that the worse things get the less people seem to care.