Lois Marie Gibbs
Toxic dump under homes
In 1978, she was a 27-year-old homemaker with two children, living near Love Canal, Niagara Falls, New York. She had no experience in environmental or social work – until she became concerned when her children began experiencing unexplained illnesses. She began investigating the cause, became an activist and ultimately a national figure.
When Lois discovered that toxic chemicals from the 20,000 ton Love Canal dumpsite were causing the problems, she organized her neighbourhood into the Love Canal Homeowners Association to fight for their rights and safety. The group’s efforts were opposed by the chemical manufacturer, Occidental Petroleum, as well as local, state, and federal government officials. Lois Gibbs and her group continued their struggle and, in October 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued an Emergency Declaration which called for the relocation of 900 families from the hazardous area. It signified a clear victory for the grassroots community.
Toxic dumps across the nation
Lois also realized that the problem of toxic waste went far beyond her own backyard. And so she raised to the national level the general question of handling hazardous wastes. This led to the signing of new federal legislation by President Carter in December 1980 setting up the Superfund to address the thousands of other toxic sites across the nation. Lois came to be called the Mother of Superfund. (The Superfund was closed by the subsequent George W. Bush administration, but that is another story.)
Working for environmental justice
After her victory in the Love Canal case, Lois Gibbs received numerous calls from across the country from people experiencing similar problems. In April 1981, she founded the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ). For over three decades, CHEJ has assisted over 12,000 grassroots groups nationwide with organizing, technical, and general advice.
Lois has played a founding role in the development of the environmental justice movement, worked with labour and communities to secure the Right-To-Know in both the workplace and in neighborhoods. She launched and won campaigns against major corporations such as McDonalds, who were forced to stop using Styrofoam; Victoria Secretes, who moved away from PVC in bottles; and Toys R Us, who began selling only non-toxic toys.
Lois became a symbol of what could be achieved when citizens, provoked by injustice and emboldened by outrage, stand up for themselves and their families. Her story demonstrates how one committed person or one committed community can change the course of history. Lois Gibbs has received many honours and awards including the first Goldman Environmental Prize. She continues with her advocacy and consulting work.
Afterword: More information on CHEJ can be found here.
A trigger, causing all pervasive actions to protect environment from toxic waste. I have worked with some NGOs and find that they tend to shift their objectives depending on the track the donors choose. In the absence of focus many of them, which could have legitimately grown into formidable barriers, fizzle out. Focus and force are important in social actions. If this is demonstrated, there is both money and recognition for the institutions to work. I am sure that efforts of Lois Marrie Gibbs is one such example.