Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice

          There will be two face to face “community conversations” on Environmental Justice taking place at the Springfield Free Public Library. The first will be on Thursday, September 8th at 7:00 P.M. The film Crude: The Real Price of Oil will be shown that night.  An official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, it provides an inside look at the infamous $27 billion “Amazon Chernobyl” case.  The plaintiffs claim that Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001- spent three decades systematically contaminating one of the most bio-diverse regions on earth, poisoning the water air, and land.  The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, and a multiplicity of other health problems.

            Following the screening, a discussion will be led by Sarah Walk, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in English and Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Drew University.

            The second will be a Scholar led reading and discussion that will take place on September 22nd at 7:00 P.M.  Four reading selections will be drawn from American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau, one of the most important works in the environmental movement.  Facilitator Sarah Ward will lead a discussion on the topic of Toxins in the Human Environment.

            Attendees will receive a reading packet at the time of registration.  Registration is required. The Springfield Free Public Library is located at 66 Mountain Avenue, Springfield. For additional information, call 973-376-4930.

            This screening was made possible by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.