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Children Of Flint Water Crisis Make Change As Young Environmental And Health Activists

Published

7 months ago

2024-04-22

AP - VOR News Image

Flint, Michigan – Their childhood memories remain vivid: cautions against drinking or cooking with tap water, waiting in lengthy lines for cases of water, and washing in buckets filled with warm, bottled water. Some people have stomachaches, skin rashes, and hair loss.

On April 25, 2014, ten years ago, city and state environmental officials in Flint raised champagne glasses as the mayor depressed a button to stop the flow of Lake Huron water that Detroit had been supplying for almost 50 years. That triggered a public health disaster including lead and bacteria from which the city has yet to recover.

However, dozens of water crisis survivors, now teenagers and young adults, have used their pain to advocate for change. They provide feedback on public health programs, participate in social problem campaigns, distribute filters, and offer free water testing to households.

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Children Of Flint Water Crisis Make Change As Young Environmental And Health Activists

They realize Flint is still struggling. The population has decreased by approximately 20,000 over the last decade, leaving abandoned houses as targets for arsonists. Almost 70% of children live in poverty, and many struggle in school.

Despite the fact that the water has been confirmed safe to drink, there is widespread skepticism, and hundreds of lead water pipes remain in place since householders were given the option of not replacing them.

However, the young activists say they want to make a difference and change the way outsiders perceive their community. They seek to defy expectations.

“One of the biggest issues about growing up in Flint is that people had already decided and predetermined who we were,” said Cruz Duhart, a 22-year-old Flint Public Health Youth Academy member.

“They had ideas about our IQ, about behavioral things, but they never really stopped to speak to us and how we thought about it and the type of traumas that we were going through.”

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Children Of Flint Water Crisis Make Change As Young Environmental And Health Activists

Sima Gutierrez, 16, has always found it easier to express herself through painting. Drawings, paintings, and wire sculptures adorn her family’s neat cottage.

The self-described “very shy” teen, who rarely spoke up for fear of being ignored, now collects water samples from people’s homes and transports them to the Flint Community Water Lab, where over 60 high school and college interns have provided free testing to thousands of residents since 2020.

As a member of the Flint Public Health Youth Academy, she assisted in the planning of public awareness campaigns on issues such as gun violence and how racism impacts public health.

“I wanted to be surrounded by people who weren’t going to cover up the whole fact that people are still having problems,” Sima remarked. “I was able to … share my life (with) anybody else who’s going through what I’m going through.”

She complained a decade ago that drinking water made her stomach pain. Her mother insisted that it would help Sima’s body flush out the medication she was taking for an autoimmune disease, which was causing her hair to come out in sections and leaving her skin with light blotches.

Residents began reporting skin rashes and complaints about discolored, odorous, and foul-tasting water shortly after the city began drawing from the Flint River to save money before it could connect to a new Lake Huron pipeline. However, they were told that everything was alright.

Sima claimed she was unaware of the issues until one of her elementary school classmates, Mari Copeny, a 7-year-old beauty pageant winner known as Little Miss Flint, started protesting. Mari became the crisis’s face, and she continues to raise awareness of environmental justice concerns among her almost 200,000 Instagram followers, as well as funds for water filters that she distributes in communities around the United States.

“I want to keep on using my voice to spread awareness about the Flint water crisis because it’s not just Flint that has a water crisis,” Mari went on to say. “America has a water crisis.”

Almost a year and a half after Flint made the transition, homeowners dissatisfied with the water quality contacted an expert, who discovered excessive lead levels caused by the city’s inability to add chemicals that prevent pipe corrosion. State officials had stated that these were superfluous. Around the same time, a pediatrician observed that levels in children’s blood had doubled since the changeover.

Outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease, which resulted in a dozen deaths, were eventually traced to the city’s water supply.

Flint reconnected to its previous water line shortly thereafter, but the pipes continued to leak lead. The state gave households filters and bottled water.

Lead is a strong neurotoxin that can harm children’s brains and neurological systems, impairing learning, behavior, hearing, and speaking. There is no safe level of exposure throughout childhood, and issues can appear years later.

Dionna Brown, who was 14 when the water crisis started, grew interested in lobbying after taking an environmental inequality class at Howard University. She’s now building her life around it, pursuing a master’s degree in sociology at Wayne State University with the goal of becoming an environmental justice lawyer.

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Children Of Flint Water Crisis Make Change As Young Environmental And Health Activists

She is also the national director of Young, Gifted & Green’s youth environmental justice initiative, which was previously known as Black Millennials for Flint and was formed by Washington advocates to help Flint recover from the disaster.

Every year, Brown hosts a two-week summer environmental justice camp in Flint to educate youth about policy, climate justice, sustainability, and housing inequality. She also works with children in Baltimore and Memphis.

She claimed that the Flint water crisis strengthened the children’s resilience.

“I tell people all the time: I’m a child of the Flint water crisis,” Brown added. “I love my city. And we made it clear to the world that you couldn’t just poison a city and expect people to forget about it.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Trudeau Accused of Sowing Divisions Between Sikhs and Hindus

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-06

Geoff Thomas

Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Leader, has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of sowing “divisions” that culminated in the violent altercation between Sikh separatists and Hindu devotees outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario.

Justin Trudeau initiated the question period by condemning Poilievre’s reticence regarding the violence in South Asian communities as “deafening.”

Poilievre refuted the assertion by accusing Trudeau of exploiting the matter to divert attention from domestic economic concerns.

“Consequently, he implements divisions in his residence.” Poilievre stated, “These divisions are the consequence of his actions.”

“Currently, sectarian riots are occurring on the streets of Brampton.” This has never occurred before the tenure of this prime minister. Is he accountable for the divisions he has incited and the ensuing violence?

Trudeau Must Assume Responsibility

Mr. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Leader, requested that the Prime Minister assume responsibility for the divisions and violence in Canada. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Poilievre’s refusal to obtain security clearance to review foreign interference documents.

Trudeau, who has frequently employed a phrase in the question period recently, urged Poilievre to undergo the security clearance procedure to receive a briefing from Canada’s intelligence and security agencies regarding potential threats to the country.

Trudeau’s remarks exacerbate an already precarious police situation, which has the potential to further deteriorate the diplomatic relationship between Canada and India.

Police dispersed a second day of demonstrations outside a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, on Monday. The temple has been the site of violent clashes that have resulted in arrests and a public safety alert.

During the Indian consular officials’ visit to the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple in Brampton on Sunday at midday, violence erupted.

Peel Regional Police issued a public safety alert on Monday evening regarding the presence of weapons at a demonstration near a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont. The demonstration had been the site of violent clashes between demonstrators the previous day.

Canada India Tensions

Social media videos depict demonstrators holding banners in support of Pro-Khalistan separatism, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India, and engaging in physical altercations with other individuals, some of whom are holding India’s national flag.

Later, an off-duty Sergeant of the Peel police in Brampton, Ontario, was identified as one of the pro-Khalistan protesters.

In the interim, the violence prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a rare comment during a period of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

“I unequivocally condemn the intentional destruction of a Hindu temple in Canada.” “The cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats are equally appalling,” he shared on social media.

No amount of violence will ever undermine India’s resolve. We anticipate that the Canadian government will maintain the rule of law and ensure justice.

Last September, Trudeau expressed that there were credible allegations that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which marked the beginning of the deterioration of relations between the two countries. India has vigorously denied the charge.

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Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Police Officer Suspended for Joining Pro-Khalistan Protest

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-06

Geoff Thomas

A Brampton, Ontario, police officer was suspended on Monday following the viralization of a video on social media that showed him participating in a pro-Khalistan protest outside a Hindu temple.

According to CBC News, the suspended Peel Regional Police officer, Harinder Sohi, was videotaped brandishing a Khalistan flag while other participants in the protest chanted anti-India slogans. He was not wearing a police uniform.

Sohi served as a Sergeant for the Peel Regional Police.

In an email to CBC News, Media Relations Officer Richard Chin informed the organization that it is “aware of a video circulating on social media that depicts an off-duty Peel Police officer participating in a demonstration.”

“This officer has since been suspended in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act,” according to him.

“We are investigating the circumstances in totality depicted in the video and are unable to provide further information until this investigation is complete.”

Peel Regional Police have previously stated that three individuals have been charged in connection with the violence that occurred during the visit of Indian consular officials to the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple on Sunday.

Social media videos appear to depict demonstrators holding banners in support of Khalistan, a proposed independent Sikh homeland in northern India, and engaging in a physical altercation with other individuals, some of whom are holding India’s national flag.

The videos appear to depict fist battles and individuals striking each other with poles on the grounds outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple.

According to Peel police, the event was ultimately relocated to two additional locations in the neighboring city of Mississauga, where additional demonstrations were also conducted.

Peel police acknowledged the protest on Sunday at noon and announced that they had increased their presence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir temple to preserve public safety and order.

“We acknowledge the right to peacefully and safely protest; however, we will not tolerate criminal activities or violence,” stated Chief Nishan Duraiappah in response to the videos’ dissemination.

“Those that do participate in this activity will be pursued, arrested, and charged.”

The violence elicited condemnations from Canadian political leaders at all levels of government and also prompted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a rare comment during a period of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern regarding the “deliberate attack” and requested accountability from the Canadian government, which Justin Trudeau heads. He anticipated that the government would uphold the rule of law and ensure justice.

PM Modi expressed his strong condemnation of the deliberately targeted assault on a Hindu temple in Canada in a post on X. The contemptible endeavors to intimidate our diplomats are equally repulsive. No amount of violence will ever be able to undermine India’s resolve.

In the interim, the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) expressed its “profound concern” regarding the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada, and it anticipates that those who engage in violence will be prosecuted.

The Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario, was the site of violent acts committed by separatists and extremists yesterday. We condemn these actions. “We urge the Canadian government to guarantee that all places of worship are safeguarded from such attacks,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the MEA.

India Slams Trudeau Over Pro-Khalistani Sikhs Attack

India Slams Trudeau Over Pro-Khalistani Sikhs Attacking Canadian Hindus

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Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs Attack Hindu Temple in Brampton

Published

4 days ago

2024-11-04

Geoff Thomas

Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs, Hindu Temple, Brampton, Ontario

Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs attack Hindu Temple in Bramption Ontario.

Police in Brampton, Ontario, were summoned to the Hindu Temple after a group of pro-Khalistanis Sikhs attacked Hindu worshipers on Sunday. According to the Hindu Canadian Foundation, supporters of the Khalistaani movement in Canada helped to carry out the “attack.”

Following its posting on X, a video of the attack with demonstrators brandishing Khalistan flags at the Hindu Temple’s front entrance quickly became viral, inciting indignation among the Hindu community in Canada and India.

Chandra Arya, a Liberal MP from Canada, denounced the violence and claimed that under the country’s “freedom of expression,” extremists are getting away with it.

According to Arya, he began to think there might be some truth to the claims that Khalistanis have successfully infiltrated Canada’s law enforcement forces and political machinery.

Today, Canadian Khalistani fanatics have crossed a line. The attack by Khalistanis on Hindu-Canadian worshipers within the Hindu Sabha temple’s grounds demonstrates the extent and blatantness of Khalistani violent extremism in Canada.

In a post on X, he stated, “I start to believe that there is a sliver of truth in the reports that Khalistanis have successfully infiltrated not only our political apparatus but also our law enforcement agencies.”

It is understandable why Khalistani fanatics are receiving a free pass in Canada under the guise of “freedom of expression.” As I’ve been saying for a while, Hindu Canadians must stand up, defend their rights, and hold politicians responsible for the safety and security of our community,” he continued.

Peel Regional Police said they were aware of the demonstration in the city’s northeast and are investigating the situation.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states, “We respect the individual right to protest, but it is still our duty and responsibility to maintain public order and ensure everyone’s safety. ” Therefore, we request the public’s help participating in and supporting a nonviolent and legal protest.

Peel police warned that any acts of violence, threats of violence, or vandalism would be looked into and said they would be more visible and present to keep an eye on the situation.

Taking his X account, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown also conveyed his dissatisfaction after learning of the “acts of violence” outside the Hindu Sabha.

“In Canada, religious freedom is a fundamental virtue. In their house of worship, everyone ought to feel secure. Brown stated in his letter that he is “completely confident that Peel police will do everything in their authority to keep the peace and hold those accountable who commit acts of violence.” “I strongly condemn any acts of violence outside of a place of worship,” Brown added.

“The violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton was unacceptable,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also posted on X.

Every Canadian has the right to freely and securely follow their religion. “Swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident” was how he praised the cops.

As Ottawa frequently rejected New Delhi’s demands for tough measures against Khalistani radicals in Canada, the incident took place during a time of poor relations between India and Canada. Instead, it sparked a huge diplomatic dispute by accusing India of targeting Khalistani people inside its borders.