Tech Triumphs: Online Innovations and Progress in Addressing the East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment

By Gregory Kolen II. In the face of unexpected challenges, the integration of technology has proven to be a game-changer, offering swift and effective solutions. The recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, underscores how online technology has played a crucial role in managing and addressing the aftermath of the incident. Let’s explore the various ways in which digital advancements have contributed to progress and resilience in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment. Online technology has facilitated instant communication and coordination among various stakeholders involved in the response

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Food Insecurity and Food Justice Advocacy in America

By Juliet Porter. Food justice refers to the holistic, structural perception of the food system which views access to healthy food as a human right and simultaneously addresses obstacles in the way of the right. Directly stemming from the concept of environmental justice, food justice emphasizes the importance of putting disadvantaged and minority groups at the center of the debate. Various factors contribute to one’s ability to access healthy, fresh foods, many of which are uncontrollable. For example, BIPOC individuals and those in a lower socioeconomic bracket are more likely

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It’s Time to Do Right by the People in East Palestine, OH – and Elsewhere

By Stephen Lester. Nearly 10 months ago, a Norfolk Southern train with more than 150 cars, many of which contained toxic chemicals, derailed in East Palestine, OH. Thirty-eight of the train cars derailed and a decision was made by Norfolk Southern to burn the contents of 5 tanker cars containing vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals. This unleashed a huge black cloud full of particulates that enveloped the surrounding neighborhoods and farms in both OH and PA. Immediately after the burn, people in East Palestine began reporting adverse health symptoms

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How AI Can Help Strengthen Grassroots Organizing

By Gregory Kolen II. Environmental justice is an issue that affects everyone, but those who bear the brunt of it are often the most vulnerable members of society. Disadvantaged communities, specifically, are often the ones living in areas with poor air quality, contaminated water sources, and unregulated disposal of waste. These challenges have been longstanding and difficult to overcome, as they require significant resources and political will. Yet, in recent years, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) have emerged to support community leaders and organizations working towards environmental justice.

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Health Effects of PFAS in Drinking Water

By Leila Waid. As a research project for a university course, I conducted a literature review and systematic analysis of the health effects of PFAS in drinking water. This blog post contains a highlight and broad overview of the health effects discovered. The systematic analysis included 44 observational epidemiological studies focused on PFAS-contaminated water as the exposure and adverse health effects as the outcome of interest. (For inquiries, references to individual studies, or any other information about the information about the systematic review study, email info@chej.org). The results: PFAS in

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The Future of Groundwater: A Fleeting Resource

By Juliet Porter. Climate scientists have discovered that Americans are using up groundwater faster than ever before in our history. Recently, the New York Times investigated this phenomenon by examining 84,544 monitoring wells, which trends have been examined since 1920. Approximately half of the wells examined have experienced decreasing water levels over the past 40 years as the rate at which water is being pumped out surpasses the water’s rate of replenishing. In fact, from 2013 to 2023, ten of these wells reached their lowest water level ever recorded, with

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Blog Roll
Greenpeace’s The Witness
Grist
Groovy Green
Healthy Child Healthy World
Inside Prevention
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Moms Rising
Pharos
Safe Mama
Safer Chemicals Healthy Families
The Soft Landing
Treehugger
Zero Waste World