On today's show, we'll hear an encore of a show from our archives that first aired in April. We'll be looking at the environmental impact of the rail industry and hear from people in two communities currently impacted by rail-related contamination.
In February, a Suffolk Northern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, and residents are still recovering from the disaster over two months later. Residents like Jami Wallace and community organizations are fighting for relief.
In Houston's Fifth Ward, residents have been living with the dire health effects of carcinogenic creosote used to treat railroad ties decades ago. Health officials have found cancer clusters in the neighborhood, where many have been devastated by the loss of friends, neighbors and loved ones. We'll hear a story from Living Downstream about the impacts to this close-knit community, where residents and organizers like Sandra Edwards continue to advocate for accountability and justice.
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Featuring:
Jami Wallace, community organizer and East Palestine resident Sandra Edwards, community organizer, member of Impact Fifth Ward and Impact Justice, and Fifth Ward resident
Making Contact Staff:
Host: Lucy Kang
Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang
Executive Director: Jina Chung
Interim Senior Producer: Jessica Partnow
Engineer: Jeff Emtman
Living Downstream Staff:
Story: Generations in Houston's 5th Ward Contend With Contamination, Cancer Clusters
Story producer: Laura Isensee
Story editor: Steve Mencher
Living Downstream founding producer: Steve Mencher
President and CEO of Northern California Public Media: Darren LaShelle
Story music:
Minimal Documentary by penguinmusic via Pixabay
Documentary by The Mountain via Pixabay
Lobo Loco and Nine Inch Nails, under Creative Commons licenses
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for the use of music by the late Texas blues artist, Lightnin' Hopkins
Learn More:
Making Contact Homepage:
www.radioproject.org
Unity Council for EP Train Derailment petition urging President Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for the Norfolk Southern train derailment:
https://only.one/act/east-palestine
Impact Fifth Ward:
https://www.facebook.com/cleanupthecreosote
Texas Standard's story and interview with reporter Laura Isensee: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/houstonians-living-in-neighborhoods-with-high-rates-of-cancer-say-rail-yards-cleanup-plans-fall-short/
Spotify link to Living Downstream series, including the story heard on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tPKsb6vtQkuJjNrn5MEij
Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the web at www.radioproject.org.
