Love Canal Disaster
By: Olivia Farinas

"I would like to be remembered as somebody who cared a great deal about people."
-then Governor (NY) Hugh Carey
This statement made by Hugh Carey perfectly signifies the hypocrisy coming from politicians who don't follow through with their promises. Hugh Carey is one of those figures who may have meant the best intentions, but in reality, he didn't listen to his people's needs quick enough. He didn't care about his people by being ignorant despite the strong activism and complaints among Love Canal residents. More and more people were being affected by the Love Canal tragedy, but politicians weren't making the steps for change soon enough. This serves as a lesson--whether that is environmental or social issues--to take action sooner rather than later.
Protests, but no action done
Many residents protested and made clear their hostile feelings toward the ignorant government system that wouldn't listen to their concerns.
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Some of the signs said: "Evacuate us now, federal government", "Evacuate us now! Federal aid...Please?". Another sign had pictures of monkeys, each one being the federal, state, and city government, which said "speak no Love Canal chemicals, hear no Love Canal chemicals, and hear no Love Canal chemicals." Hostility was shown further by making effigies of the politicians who didn't listen.




Once they listened...
The government finally decided to listen to the needs of the people, after countless calls, interviews, and meetings.
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On August 7, 1978, Jimmy Carter confirmed that the Love Canal was a disaster area. The NY governor, Hugh Kerry, ordered that the two rows of homes along the canal would be purchased by the government, meaning that those people would evacuate. The rest of homes would be left, and this angered Lois Gibbs and many other families. However, in February of 1979, the government offered to temporarily evacuate families with pregnant women and children under the age of two in the outer contaminated regions. This was in response to Dr. Axelrod's, the new county health commissioner, extension of the health emergency. Yet, those who didn't fall into this category did not have their homes purchased, unfortunately.
Superfund legislation was made, and it was prepared to prevent other environmental crises with money that could be used for testing and cleanup. This was known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Nearly 400 toxic sites have been remediated.
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Certain legislation has been passed since, such as the Clean Air and Water Acts, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Pesticide Act, the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Specifically, the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act grants funds to states to make the infrastructure necessary for safe processing of hazardous chemicals. Thus, proper waste disposal sites are needed and require evaluations of any dangers created by the sites.

To learn more about some of the legislation of Love Canal and other disasters:
Summary of the Superfund Act
The birth of environmental policy in the 70s and 80s
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References
A look back at the Love Canal Disaster. Buffalo News. (2021, August 19). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://buffalonews.com/multimedia/a-look-back-at-the-love-canal-disaster/collection_d77d0659-8155-5db7-bd09-0627ee8cb281.html#6
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Hugh Carey quotes. Hugh Carey Quotes. QuotesGram. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://quotesgram.com/hugh-carey-quotes/
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Love Canal: Case study in soil contamination. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrWtd1P-NoU
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Remembering the 'slow-motion disaster' that was love canal. Great Lakes Today. (2018, August 7). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://www.greatlakestoday.org/post/remembering-slow-motion-disaster-was-love-canal
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