By Lauren Haag
In my early stages of adjusting to and becoming a Ramapo student, my freshmen year, I heard words on the Ford dumping which occurred nearby, in the forested area of Ringwood, NJ. I heard bits and pieces on how it affected the Ramapough Indians and the Ramapo River, for whom and what, as I was told, the school was named for. I thought this was something typical that every Ramapo student will become aware of, because of its relationship to our college.
However, that is not the case. I’m not even sure how much correlation between the Ramapough Indians and Ramapo College truly exists, if any. The only thing truthful about the assumed first year Ramapo introduction statement seems to be that the company, Ford, did indeed dump toxic waste leading to many deleterious results.
Ford is a large company, one we’ve all heard of, as Americans, as Ramapo College students. It was one of the first car producers in our history, and well recognized for that feat. What is most striking about the entire situation is that this company, Ford, so well known to us all, would commit such an irresponsible act. Not only did Ford managers have no regard for their actions, they denied them and avoided the consequences at all lengths, as detailed in The Record’s “Toxic Legacy” investigative series.
Ford is a very American company, in traditions, history, and representation. For Ford to show more regard for cost and convenience, than human lives, is a statement about business in this country. That the entire dumping situation could occur, the repercussions prolonged a long with the effects, is also representative of our country and our priorities. For such a larger and well known company to be so successful in hiding and avoiding the issue for so long, is telling, raising also the question how many other organizations and corporations could be doing the same, if not worse.
The whole situation reminds me of what is happening in food industries. We’re polluting the earth in multiple places with our ear to ear cattle farming, leading to ear to ear feces. Constantly E-coli is infecting our food supply, killing and harming our citizens. Companies like Tyson and EB eggs are everywhere, purchased every day, but where is the truth about the irresponsibility in their production? Why is it that so few know the truth, in both situations, Ford and Tyson?
I think there is much reflection of our culture in these issues. We’re all so focused on convenience and cost, the details just slip under the surface. As producers and consumers, we’re not focused enough on the resulting loss these details cause. Our relationship to the environment, the natural processes of the world, is so detached that we don’t even concern ourselves with them. In order to avoid and stop these contaminations, both of the system and ourselves, we have to be more in touch with the natural world.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
“Toxic Legacy” Shows Ignorance Can be Bliss, and also Dangerous
By Thomas Babcock
“Toxic Legacy” is a sad example of just how little corporations care about the well being of people, especially those with lower incomes. However, some strong investigative reporting and a persistent attitude can help make all of the difference
.
The sad irony of this story is that it is undoubtedly just one of many. There are “toxic legacies” out there that may never go reported. In this particular case, it is Ford Motor Co., located in Mahwah, investigated by The Record. What they found is startling. The factory left behind a footprint of an “ocean of contamination” and toxic sludge. It was dumped in poor communities, including where the Ramapough tribe lives in Ringwood.
The handling of these toxins is horrifying. They were dumped in places where either the residents wouldn’t have a say in stopping Ford or wouldn’t notice until it was too late. The story behind the dumping is something out of “The Sopranos.” A vicious mob-rule over waste hauling including bribes, threats and even murder makes you wonder just how far a corporation will go to cover its despicable actions. It also made me question, if this was happening on a very small scale, just how far would the US government go to protect itself from corruption? Being poor does not mean you’re invisible. Being poor does not mean your life is less valuable. But I think that’s the clear message that was being sent by Ford’s actions.
I think as populations grow, people become more sick, and more investigative reporting occurs, we’re going to see a lot more of these stories. And we need to. The population of everyday people far outnumber the elite who run these polluting corporations.
I believe the punishment for these types of actions are not harsh enough. There should be criminal prosecutions. If possessing marijuana can get you sent to jail, then putting entire neighborhoods’ lives in peril should be a lifetime in prison. I, however, don’t think this will ever be the case. Those in power positions seem to get away with corruption more often than not.
The only way to stop this terrible habit corporations have is through the hard and persistent reporting that The Record showed. The point of journalism in this case is to expose things that otherwise would be unnoticed. If enough people care about the story, they will push for a change. The only people who can stop them are us.
“Toxic Legacy” is a sad example of just how little corporations care about the well being of people, especially those with lower incomes. However, some strong investigative reporting and a persistent attitude can help make all of the difference
.
The sad irony of this story is that it is undoubtedly just one of many. There are “toxic legacies” out there that may never go reported. In this particular case, it is Ford Motor Co., located in Mahwah, investigated by The Record. What they found is startling. The factory left behind a footprint of an “ocean of contamination” and toxic sludge. It was dumped in poor communities, including where the Ramapough tribe lives in Ringwood.
The handling of these toxins is horrifying. They were dumped in places where either the residents wouldn’t have a say in stopping Ford or wouldn’t notice until it was too late. The story behind the dumping is something out of “The Sopranos.” A vicious mob-rule over waste hauling including bribes, threats and even murder makes you wonder just how far a corporation will go to cover its despicable actions. It also made me question, if this was happening on a very small scale, just how far would the US government go to protect itself from corruption? Being poor does not mean you’re invisible. Being poor does not mean your life is less valuable. But I think that’s the clear message that was being sent by Ford’s actions.
I think as populations grow, people become more sick, and more investigative reporting occurs, we’re going to see a lot more of these stories. And we need to. The population of everyday people far outnumber the elite who run these polluting corporations.
I believe the punishment for these types of actions are not harsh enough. There should be criminal prosecutions. If possessing marijuana can get you sent to jail, then putting entire neighborhoods’ lives in peril should be a lifetime in prison. I, however, don’t think this will ever be the case. Those in power positions seem to get away with corruption more often than not.
The only way to stop this terrible habit corporations have is through the hard and persistent reporting that The Record showed. The point of journalism in this case is to expose things that otherwise would be unnoticed. If enough people care about the story, they will push for a change. The only people who can stop them are us.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Newsletter: Pipeline Issues
By Diana Stanczak
To the residents of Mahwah:
In recent months, you may have heard about plans to install a pipeline in our town. Proposed by the Tennessee Gas Company, the pipeline would run through our forests, destroying some of our town’s—as well as the state’s—most scenic wood landscape.
But the aesthetic details are only the beginning of the negatives that would affect our town if we allow this pipeline to cut through Mahwah. The safety and health of not only our generation, but also generations to come, may be at risk as well.
The pipeline would run across the Ramapo fault, an earthquake fault in Mahwah that according to some seismologists has the potential to initiate a major, destructive earthquake. Heavy construction has the power to induce an accidental man-made earthquake and cause massive destruction.
Another health risk that will come with the pipeline is possible contamination of our drinking water. The pipeline itself would be surrounded with chemicals, and the possibility of runoff contaminating our water sources is high.
There are two sides to every story. The Tennessee Gas Company has told us the sugarcoated fairytale version; it is up to us, the residents of this town, to spread the other half. Spread the word. Attend town meetings. Don’t let this pipeline tear us apart.
To the residents of Mahwah:
In recent months, you may have heard about plans to install a pipeline in our town. Proposed by the Tennessee Gas Company, the pipeline would run through our forests, destroying some of our town’s—as well as the state’s—most scenic wood landscape.
But the aesthetic details are only the beginning of the negatives that would affect our town if we allow this pipeline to cut through Mahwah. The safety and health of not only our generation, but also generations to come, may be at risk as well.
The pipeline would run across the Ramapo fault, an earthquake fault in Mahwah that according to some seismologists has the potential to initiate a major, destructive earthquake. Heavy construction has the power to induce an accidental man-made earthquake and cause massive destruction.
Another health risk that will come with the pipeline is possible contamination of our drinking water. The pipeline itself would be surrounded with chemicals, and the possibility of runoff contaminating our water sources is high.
There are two sides to every story. The Tennessee Gas Company has told us the sugarcoated fairytale version; it is up to us, the residents of this town, to spread the other half. Spread the word. Attend town meetings. Don’t let this pipeline tear us apart.
A Sustainable Burger
To the Editor,
I’m writing to express my disdain with a particular aspect of Tuesday’s article in The New York Times, “The Burger Remains a Work in Progress.” While I fully acknowledge and respect the fact this article was a restaurant review, I feel that the author should not have so lightly disregarded the fact that the restaurant, Shake Shack, uses only antibiotic and hormone-free ingredients.
Shake Shack is a fast-food restaurant in every aspect. It sells shakes, burgers, and fries, does not take reservations, and no item is priced higher than $10 on the menu. But what sets it apart from a McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s is its devotion to using beef that comes from cows that are local, organic and grass-fed. That is not a promise that every other fast food place can make.
So while the fries may not be the best, and the burgers cooked inconsistently, please give credit where credit is due. Shake Shack is making an effort at sustainability, a trend that hopefully more fast food restaurants will soon follow.
Diana Stanczak
I’m writing to express my disdain with a particular aspect of Tuesday’s article in The New York Times, “The Burger Remains a Work in Progress.” While I fully acknowledge and respect the fact this article was a restaurant review, I feel that the author should not have so lightly disregarded the fact that the restaurant, Shake Shack, uses only antibiotic and hormone-free ingredients.
Shake Shack is a fast-food restaurant in every aspect. It sells shakes, burgers, and fries, does not take reservations, and no item is priced higher than $10 on the menu. But what sets it apart from a McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s is its devotion to using beef that comes from cows that are local, organic and grass-fed. That is not a promise that every other fast food place can make.
So while the fries may not be the best, and the burgers cooked inconsistently, please give credit where credit is due. Shake Shack is making an effort at sustainability, a trend that hopefully more fast food restaurants will soon follow.
Diana Stanczak
Global Warming R Us
To the Editor,
For millions of years, way before man walked this planet; the earth’s climate has gotten warmer and cooler. It is evident that the climate today is growing warmer. Mankind’s influence has played a significant role on the outcomes of the world’s climate.
We know that the earth has gotten warmer in the past 100 years or so. The warmest years of the past century have occurred within the past decade. During this same period the burning of fossil fuels has increased the greenhouse gas content of the earth’s atmosphere, all thanks to man’s activities. The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which is known for trapping heat near the planet’s surface.
A substantial amount of the earth’s energy comes from the sun. This energy is absorbed by the land, sea, and air and then reflected back into space. This is all called the earth’s energy budget. The “greenhouse effect” is a part of the energy budget. Just like the glass walls of a greenhouse keep the inner temperature higher than the outside, the earth’s atmosphere catches the energy given off from the earth near the planet’s surface.
Greenhouse gases keep the earth’s average temperature at a hospitable 15 degrees celsius. There is no question that these gases increase the greenhouse effect and add as a contributing factor to global warming. Although, it is uncertain the exact effects the greenhouse gases have had on the global climate.
The data collected indicates that Earth's surface temperature is rising. One of the main causes of this is because of man’s own increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. It is becoming clear that these climactic changes are negatively affecting physical and biological systems worldwide.
In the last century, carbon dioxide and other toxins have been released into the Earth’s atmosphere due to burning coal that is use to help produce electricity. The use of automobiles has also increased climate change. Cars burn a lot of gas in a week and that gas releases carbon dioxide, which is another contributing factor to the planet’s temperature shift. It is evident that the places in the United States that create pollution the most are cities.
Recent studies have also shown how agriculture has played a part in climate change. Methane gas, which is used in agriculture, is produced when bacteria decomposes organic matter. It has been predictable that nearly a quarter of methane gas from human activities is due to livestock and the decomposing animal manure. Paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes are also agricultural processes that could contribute to the release of methane to the atmosphere. The use of fertilizers also leads to higher nitrogen dioxide concentrations.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Camargo
For millions of years, way before man walked this planet; the earth’s climate has gotten warmer and cooler. It is evident that the climate today is growing warmer. Mankind’s influence has played a significant role on the outcomes of the world’s climate.
We know that the earth has gotten warmer in the past 100 years or so. The warmest years of the past century have occurred within the past decade. During this same period the burning of fossil fuels has increased the greenhouse gas content of the earth’s atmosphere, all thanks to man’s activities. The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which is known for trapping heat near the planet’s surface.
A substantial amount of the earth’s energy comes from the sun. This energy is absorbed by the land, sea, and air and then reflected back into space. This is all called the earth’s energy budget. The “greenhouse effect” is a part of the energy budget. Just like the glass walls of a greenhouse keep the inner temperature higher than the outside, the earth’s atmosphere catches the energy given off from the earth near the planet’s surface.
Greenhouse gases keep the earth’s average temperature at a hospitable 15 degrees celsius. There is no question that these gases increase the greenhouse effect and add as a contributing factor to global warming. Although, it is uncertain the exact effects the greenhouse gases have had on the global climate.
The data collected indicates that Earth's surface temperature is rising. One of the main causes of this is because of man’s own increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. It is becoming clear that these climactic changes are negatively affecting physical and biological systems worldwide.
In the last century, carbon dioxide and other toxins have been released into the Earth’s atmosphere due to burning coal that is use to help produce electricity. The use of automobiles has also increased climate change. Cars burn a lot of gas in a week and that gas releases carbon dioxide, which is another contributing factor to the planet’s temperature shift. It is evident that the places in the United States that create pollution the most are cities.
Recent studies have also shown how agriculture has played a part in climate change. Methane gas, which is used in agriculture, is produced when bacteria decomposes organic matter. It has been predictable that nearly a quarter of methane gas from human activities is due to livestock and the decomposing animal manure. Paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes are also agricultural processes that could contribute to the release of methane to the atmosphere. The use of fertilizers also leads to higher nitrogen dioxide concentrations.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Camargo
Saving a Swamp in New Jersey
By Vanessa Camargo
New Jersey is the home of garbage, bumper to bumper routes and toxic waste all over the state. But still there are some good areas of farm and forestland, full of fresh green and wild life. These landscapes were preserved by the campaigns of citizens and a popular taxpayer-funded Green Acres program.
The oldest and first campaign was the struggle to save the Great Swamp. As described in “Saving a Swamp and Other Landmark Campaigns,” the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey planned on turning it into an airport. Neighboring citizens wanted to maintain the peace and quiet of this beauty of a natural world. Neighbors began to organize a campaign to stop the Port Authority from demolishing this natural haven for wildlife. During five years they got the help of over four hundred local organizations in twenty-nine states. They also purchased the main part of land they planned on saving by raising over four million dollars.
This put environmental issues on the map in the years before Earth Day was created in 1970. Stewart L. Udall, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, dedicated the Great Swamp as a national wildlife refuge in 1964. He praised the residents’ campaign for saving a “unique outdoor place” from development. The Great Swamp supporters further raised awareness of the wetlands by holding an event that labeled it as a national wilderness area to make sure that it would stay unharmed. Counties like Morris and Somerset were convinced to go the extra mile by constructing county parks and environmental education centers along the borders.
The spot that the Port Authority claimed needed a new intercontinental airport was conserved as an East Coast rest stop for migratory ducks and geese. The Great Swamp is currently one of the most frequently visited swamplands by birds and birdwatchers. Although the Port Authority’s plan for a new airport fell through, they still managed to serve millions of traveling people by remodeling their major airports in Newark and New York.
A Passaic River historian said that the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a memorial to all of those who devoted their time, hard work, and financial support to achieve a dream come true. Democratic Governor Richard J. Hughes said the campaign was the perfect example of how citizen actions can change the outcome of things. The governor got aboard the mission to save the Great Swamp after many of the Republicans had joined.
The Great Swamp salvation was the start of many other environmental projects. The Great Swamp Committee started a statewide protection movement. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation began helping other eco-friendly protestors protect more cherished areas. Many contributors documented the Great Swamp campaign and retold it in a book. So many citizen action events are recorded badly and therefore not featured in U.S. history books.
When Cam Cavanaugh wrote, in Saving the Great Swamp, about how the United States constantly faces plans that threaten areas for jetports or dams or a mall center, she provided information on how activist groups can successfully appeal to government agencies for help. A good way to bring attention to the cause is to advertise it. Try getting politicians and power brokers involved. Make sure to make a statement in the media to be recognized in a public way. And most importantly, try getting others involved, especially organizations that deal with similar matters.
New Jersey is the home of garbage, bumper to bumper routes and toxic waste all over the state. But still there are some good areas of farm and forestland, full of fresh green and wild life. These landscapes were preserved by the campaigns of citizens and a popular taxpayer-funded Green Acres program.
The oldest and first campaign was the struggle to save the Great Swamp. As described in “Saving a Swamp and Other Landmark Campaigns,” the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey planned on turning it into an airport. Neighboring citizens wanted to maintain the peace and quiet of this beauty of a natural world. Neighbors began to organize a campaign to stop the Port Authority from demolishing this natural haven for wildlife. During five years they got the help of over four hundred local organizations in twenty-nine states. They also purchased the main part of land they planned on saving by raising over four million dollars.
This put environmental issues on the map in the years before Earth Day was created in 1970. Stewart L. Udall, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, dedicated the Great Swamp as a national wildlife refuge in 1964. He praised the residents’ campaign for saving a “unique outdoor place” from development. The Great Swamp supporters further raised awareness of the wetlands by holding an event that labeled it as a national wilderness area to make sure that it would stay unharmed. Counties like Morris and Somerset were convinced to go the extra mile by constructing county parks and environmental education centers along the borders.
The spot that the Port Authority claimed needed a new intercontinental airport was conserved as an East Coast rest stop for migratory ducks and geese. The Great Swamp is currently one of the most frequently visited swamplands by birds and birdwatchers. Although the Port Authority’s plan for a new airport fell through, they still managed to serve millions of traveling people by remodeling their major airports in Newark and New York.
A Passaic River historian said that the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a memorial to all of those who devoted their time, hard work, and financial support to achieve a dream come true. Democratic Governor Richard J. Hughes said the campaign was the perfect example of how citizen actions can change the outcome of things. The governor got aboard the mission to save the Great Swamp after many of the Republicans had joined.
The Great Swamp salvation was the start of many other environmental projects. The Great Swamp Committee started a statewide protection movement. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation began helping other eco-friendly protestors protect more cherished areas. Many contributors documented the Great Swamp campaign and retold it in a book. So many citizen action events are recorded badly and therefore not featured in U.S. history books.
When Cam Cavanaugh wrote, in Saving the Great Swamp, about how the United States constantly faces plans that threaten areas for jetports or dams or a mall center, she provided information on how activist groups can successfully appeal to government agencies for help. A good way to bring attention to the cause is to advertise it. Try getting politicians and power brokers involved. Make sure to make a statement in the media to be recognized in a public way. And most importantly, try getting others involved, especially organizations that deal with similar matters.
Toxic Legacy: Mob Aspect
By Vanessa Camargo
A few residents of Greenwood Lake were threatened with death and vandalizing after speaking up about trash-hauling trucks carrying chemicals and medical waste and dumping it into the woods. Those who stood up against this crime faced a disturbing reality with the mob since the truck dumpers were linked to them. This is one of the most disturbing elements in the “Toxic Legacy” investigative report by The Record.
According to this report, Mafia transporters had a firm grasp on industrial waste in New Jersey and New York for over a generation. They would carry the toxic trash from factories like Ford and dump it wherever possible. Authorities discovered how they’re rooted into Superfund sites in New Jersey and New York, which costs taxpayers and corporations millions of dollars in waste cleanups.
The Ford plant in Mahwah had thousands of truck-loads for just paint sludge, which made it the biggest hauling contract in the state. Other opportunities for hauling were presented in the 1970s when 15,000 New Jersey businesses produced industrial waste.
Making toxic waste disappear was easy. Haulers could flush it down sewers or bury it with ordinary garbage. They could also pour it into creeks or abandon it in vacant lots. Ford’s waste was dumped in various locations. Truck drivers were ordered to dump things like paint and solvents along streams. The Record did an investigation and found it in the banks of the Hudson in Edgewater and left behind a college in Wanaque. They also buried it in municipal landfills that were solely allowed to accept domestic garbage.
According to state and federal officials, they had a shortage of people to seek this waste that could possibly be running into waterways, wells, or be around homes and woods. According to congressional testimony, New Jersey produced 1.5 billion gallons of liquid toxic waste and chemical sludges in 1977. It would vanish quickly. Haulers would mix waste oils with industrial chemicals and sold it as fuel to New York schools, hospitals, and apartments during an oil shortage in the early 1970s.
A New Jersey State Police detective, Dirk Ottens, witnessed how these haulers would handle their business. The truck containers would be lined with sawdust to absorb the chemicals. He watched as they poured the waste in and clamped sheets of plywood over loads to keep them from spilling. They also put trash on top so they could carry it out into municipal landfills without being noticed.
In 1976, Congress became stricter with disposal laws. They made paperwork a requirement and started tracking where the hazardous waste ended up. The changes ended up having the opposite effect. It actually made it easier for deceitful garbage companies to make a profit.
In the ‘70s, toxic waste became a growing industry for the mob. For decades they had complete control over the garbage industry. The mafia controlled the haulers. They would intimidate others to reserve property rights. The one who transported to a particular address would now own that location for good. If a guy were to go to someone else’s property they would then face endangering the safety of their lives and truck.
A few residents of Greenwood Lake were threatened with death and vandalizing after speaking up about trash-hauling trucks carrying chemicals and medical waste and dumping it into the woods. Those who stood up against this crime faced a disturbing reality with the mob since the truck dumpers were linked to them. This is one of the most disturbing elements in the “Toxic Legacy” investigative report by The Record.
According to this report, Mafia transporters had a firm grasp on industrial waste in New Jersey and New York for over a generation. They would carry the toxic trash from factories like Ford and dump it wherever possible. Authorities discovered how they’re rooted into Superfund sites in New Jersey and New York, which costs taxpayers and corporations millions of dollars in waste cleanups.
The Ford plant in Mahwah had thousands of truck-loads for just paint sludge, which made it the biggest hauling contract in the state. Other opportunities for hauling were presented in the 1970s when 15,000 New Jersey businesses produced industrial waste.
Making toxic waste disappear was easy. Haulers could flush it down sewers or bury it with ordinary garbage. They could also pour it into creeks or abandon it in vacant lots. Ford’s waste was dumped in various locations. Truck drivers were ordered to dump things like paint and solvents along streams. The Record did an investigation and found it in the banks of the Hudson in Edgewater and left behind a college in Wanaque. They also buried it in municipal landfills that were solely allowed to accept domestic garbage.
According to state and federal officials, they had a shortage of people to seek this waste that could possibly be running into waterways, wells, or be around homes and woods. According to congressional testimony, New Jersey produced 1.5 billion gallons of liquid toxic waste and chemical sludges in 1977. It would vanish quickly. Haulers would mix waste oils with industrial chemicals and sold it as fuel to New York schools, hospitals, and apartments during an oil shortage in the early 1970s.
A New Jersey State Police detective, Dirk Ottens, witnessed how these haulers would handle their business. The truck containers would be lined with sawdust to absorb the chemicals. He watched as they poured the waste in and clamped sheets of plywood over loads to keep them from spilling. They also put trash on top so they could carry it out into municipal landfills without being noticed.
In 1976, Congress became stricter with disposal laws. They made paperwork a requirement and started tracking where the hazardous waste ended up. The changes ended up having the opposite effect. It actually made it easier for deceitful garbage companies to make a profit.
In the ‘70s, toxic waste became a growing industry for the mob. For decades they had complete control over the garbage industry. The mafia controlled the haulers. They would intimidate others to reserve property rights. The one who transported to a particular address would now own that location for good. If a guy were to go to someone else’s property they would then face endangering the safety of their lives and truck.
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