"Intellectual Idiots Fostering Political and Cultural Literacy"

The Poisoning of Kalamazoo?: Part 3

Dan and Corey sit down to wrap up our three part series on the alleged poisoning of Kalamazoo, Michigan by Graphic Packaging.

Dan and Corey sit down and discuss our two interviews on the subject of Graphic Packaging and it's alleged poisoning of Kalamazoo, Michigan via harmful emissions from their plant on the east end of the city.

After interviewing lead activist, Brandi Crawford and Kalamazoo local and environmental scientist, "Redditor Scott", we learned a lot about covering environmental issues. The fact that historical environmental racism and classism is still causing issues in 2023. The idea that the EPA and other agencies charged with ensuring the environmental well being of Americans don't do the best job of job of publicly holding these corporations accountable. But how much of it is collusion, incompetence, or bureaucracy isn't always the easiest question to answer.

And when environmental issues are taking place in a town, we all know that the physical health of its residents should be the most important thing. But what about the overall perception of the town in question? What about the reputation a town receives when it is known as a "pollution ridden wasteland"? Is it fair for residents of the town to resent the coverage it's receiving and painting it in a negative light?