'This is your community and your rights and your water,' (Erin) Brockovich tells city residents

[Newsjock]

Source: Charleston Gazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As some people were told they could turn on their taps again, about 100 people gathered at the Municipal Auditorium Monday to hear from consumer advocate and activist Erin Brockovich -- known for her work in exposing years of major water contamination in Hinkley, Calif. -- on what to do following last week's chemical leak in the Elk River.

... In the days following what Brockovich said is a level of water contamination she has never seen, people of the Kanawha Valley are searching for answers and solace.

... One service industry worker spoke about his struggle with being out of work during the water ban, which has now lasted for five days. He asked Brockovich and Bob Bocock, a member of her environmental investigation team, how to fight for answers and a kind of justice.

... "We want you to be proactive," Brockovich said. "This is your community and your rights and your water. And you have every right to be very vocal about the situation."

Read more: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201401130181

[niyad]

1. she and hinkley were the first things on my mind when I heard about elk river.

[toby jo]

2. Empowering these people would work across the board.

Since moving out to the country in Appalachia, I've seen a level of disinterest and ignorance about being in charge of one's life and environment that I hadn't witnessed growing up in northern Ohio. It's not surprising that the right wing can capture them so easily.

I've been thinking some type of country-side progressive movement would go pretty far in reshaping the political landscape.