On Friday, April 22nd Michael Hickey and Georgette Yakman visited Log Lunch to give a very important and relevant Earth Day talk. Both Michael and Georgette are from Hoosick Falls and have been personally affected by the PFOA water crisis plaguing the town. In the wake of his father’s death Michael suspected something was wrong about the high cancer rates in the town. When the town refused to test the water of Hoosick Falls Michael paid out of pocket. The results can back positive for PFOA’s, thus his crusade began. Like Michael, Georgette has a strong personal connection to the PFOA problem with the horrific death of her grandfather. Motivated by heartbreak and anger Michael and Georgette are Hoosick Falls’ very own Erin Brockovich(s). Georgette, a passionate and engaging public speaker travels the world sharing her story and raising awareness of the grave environmental injustice occurring in Hoosick Falls. Georgette advocates for the development and protection of societies through education in a program she created called “STEAM” – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
PFOA, also know as C8, is a man-made chemical used in many common items including Telfon pans, microwave popcorn, water resistant clothing and fast food packaging. The compound is suspected to cause several forms of cancer and is highly persistent in the environment. When released into the environment, or in this case the Hoosick River, PFOAs bioaccumulate and can contaminate the water, land, animals and people. DuPont Chemical Company manufactures and dumpes PFOAs into the water of Hoosick Falls, even after they were aware that PFOA is a known carcinogen according to the EPA. Georgette has referred to the situation in Hoosick Falls as a crime against humanity and unfortunately, this is not an isolated incidence. Towns like Hoosick Falls, NY and Flint, MI have been burdened with dealing with such disaster, but as Georgette remarked she hopes Hoosick and the people suffering can be used and an example and motivation to demand change. The EPA, federal and state officials are responsibility for protecting people from these types of injustices and DuPont Chemical Company must be held responsible for their actions.
For more information and to follow the fight against PFOAs in Hoosick Falls please visit these links:
https://www.epa.gov/ny/hoosick-falls-water-contamination
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/PFOA-folk-hero-files-lawsuit-over-Hoosick-Falls-7235538.php