Are You Getting Every Word Of This? with Erin Brockovich
Sep 30, 2020
auto_awesome
Clean water activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich discusses the importance of safe drinking water, individual and community actions, the power of local grassroots movements, overcoming challenges, and the difficulties in implementing changes in federal policies and science-industry interactions.
Local communities have the power to create change by taking action in their own backyard.
Active involvement and engagement at the local level can make a significant difference.
The regulatory systems in place often face challenges, including outdated laws and policies, a lack of enforcement, and the influence of industry on regulations.
Deep dives
Power of Local Action
Local communities have the power to create change by taking action in their own backyard. Examples like the women of Hannibal, Missouri and the water operator in Poughkeepsie, New York show how grassroots efforts can lead to real progress. By being engaged, educated, and persistent, these communities successfully fought against harmful practices like using ammonia in water systems and brought about positive change. Their stories underscore the importance of local activism and the impact it can have on improving the safety and well-being of communities.
The Need for Active Involvement
Active involvement and engagement at the local level can make a significant difference. Aaron Brockovich emphasizes that individuals don't need a specific background or credentials to take action. By getting curious, asking questions, and becoming informed about issues such as water quality or harmful chemicals in products, people can become advocates for change. The power of collective action, social media, and raising awareness are effective tools in holding agencies and corporations accountable for their practices. The key is to consistently voice concerns, apply pressure, and document incidents, leading to positive outcomes and safer environments for all.
The Challenges with Regulatory Systems
The regulatory systems in place often face challenges, including outdated laws and policies, a lack of enforcement, and the influence of industry on regulations. The EPA, in particular, has faced violations and shortcomings, such as 500,000 clean water violations between 2004 and 2009. Additionally, reliance on industry-conducted studies and rigging of data can lead to flawed science and delayed action. This underscores the need for local involvement and vigilance in monitoring and advocating for the enforcement of regulations. By being actively engaged and pushing for change, individuals and communities can help ensure the protection of water, the environment, and public health.
Misconceptions and Failures in Environmental Regulations
The podcast highlights several misconceptions and failures in existing environmental regulations. It discusses how certain chemicals, such as PFOA and PFOS, were released into the environment before comprehensive studies were conducted on their health effects. The EPA's guidelines and regulations were often reactive rather than proactive. The podcast also sheds light on issues with reporting and underreporting of contaminant levels, lack of follow-through on findings, and the need for a national registry to identify disease clusters linked to environmental exposure.
Empowering Communities through Self-Reporting and Advocacy
The podcast emphasizes the importance of community involvement and self-advocacy in addressing water safety concerns. It encourages individuals to get curious and request their municipality's water quality reports to understand the potential contaminants present. It also emphasizes the need for people to stay engaged, ask questions, and seek solutions. The conversation underscores the power of local communities in coming together, rallying behind a cause, and pressuring state governments to take action by implementing regulations, such as the banning of harmful chemicals like TCE. The podcast concludes with a call to action, urging individuals to love themselves, their families, and their country enough to protect their rights to clean water and engage in proactive change.
This week on Getting Curious, we’ve got numbers coming out of our ears. For instance: two. Two? Yeah. That’s how many times the clean water activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has now appeared on the show. How about this for a number? One. That’s how many people it takes to start a movement advocating for safe drinking water.
And we’re guessing zero is the amount of hesitation you’ll have before hitting play on this iconic conversation between Jonathan and Erin, all about what’s in our water, who’s currently regulating it, and how we can take charge of the water supply in our communities.
