I’ve been following the diseased water crisis in Flint, Michigan caused by Governor Rick Snyder when his unelected emergency manager, Darnell Earley, stopped using safe water from Detroit to save money. Instead, Earley ordered use of polluted water from Flint river resulting in e-coli, a carcinogenic by-product called trihalomethanes and lead poisoning. Flint is a working class city with a majority black population. They would never have done this in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
When people started getting sick, burning rashes all over their bodies, hair falling out and mental impairment (a symptom of lead poisoning) residents began complaining and Michigan officials began lying. Earley falsely claimed that the City of Detroit canceled the water contract with Flint. Earley also decided to save money by not using corrosion control phosphates like those used in Detroit’s water supply, which caused more lead to leach into Flint’s water supply. Local, state and federal officials conspired to hide these and other truths from the citizens of Flint.
EPA employee Miguel del Toral went to Flint, investigated and gave a memo to Flint resident LeeAnne Walters documenting the lead contamination in Flint’s water supply. Ms. Walters gave the memo to the ACLU who released a documentary video titled “Hard to Swallow.” Instead of being hailed as a hero, the EPA discredited del Toral’s findings. There is now a federal investigation of this disaster. Governor Snyder apologized, but one Flint resident said: “He can take his apology and flush it down the toilet.”
If this could happen in the USA, think about the suffering of people in poor countries who are forced to drink contaminated water every day. “Rethink; we’re on the brink; no water to drink…” (Free Mama Earth). We shot my “Free Mama Earth” video in the rainforest to show the beauty of nature and what’s at risk if we do not save the environment for our children and future generations. 100% of sales from downloads and streams of “Free Mama Earth” will be donated to Environmental Defense Fund and Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. If you agree that everyone has a right to clean air and water, please share this article and “Free Mama Earth” video.
One love,
Aria