Sandra Steingraber was arrested while demonstrating against fracking. Sandra is one of my heroines.
“In my field of environmental health, the word trespass has meaning. Toxic trespass refers to involuntary human exposure to a chemical or other pollutant. It is a contamination without consent. It is my belief, as a biologist, that Inergy is guilty of toxic trespass.” …
“In closing, my actions were taken to protest the trespass of Inergy into our air, water, bodies, safety, and security. My small, peaceful act of trespass was intended to prevent a much larger, and possibly violent one.”
Sandra Steingraber: Prepared Sentencing Statement for the Reading Town Court, April 17, 2013.
She has written a lot about the dangers of fracking, as well as other environmental health issues that affect us all. Well worth checking out what she has to say.
I have heard Sandra speak once, after I read her book “Living Downstream” but before “Raising Elijah” was published. In fact, it was very shortly after he was born that she was there. Sandra was in Toronto again just before I left, and a friend (because I was too sick to go) brought me this wonderful gift from her :
Addition:
I only have a facebook link for this:
“Sandra Steingraber: Letter from Chemung County Jail, Part 1”
I’ve just discovered that Bill Moyers will be featuring Sandra this weekend.
from:
http://billmoyers.com/episode/preview-the-toxic-assault-on-our-children/
Preview: The Toxic Assault on Our Children
“On this week’s Moyers & Company, biologist, mother and activist Sandra Steingraber explains why she was willing to go to jail for blocking access to the construction of a storage and transportation facility involved in the controversial process of fracking. Steingraber has become internationally known for building awareness about toxins she says are threatening our children’s health by contaminating our air, water and food. She talks to Bill about these “toxic trespassers,” and how we must act to stop them.
With government captured by the very industries it’s supposed to regulate, Steingraber has lost patience with politicians and corporations, but says our kids need to know “mom is on the job” of preventing destruction to the environment.”
I wonder now if I actually saw her just after her daughter Faith was born, and not her son.. I think it was that long ago. Time flies when you’re housebound and seriously brain-fogged.