Democracy Now

Evelyn Espinoza

 

"Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement's Global Rise" was a video dealing with the history of the environmental movement. I found the facts that are being highlighted this year for Earth Day are the research that connects pollution and social inequalities. Other data was found on wildfires that have increased because of the drought and the hot temperatures. The history of the environmental movement goes back to what John Adams stated about raw sewage going into the Hudson River.  Housewives because of the damage Hooker Chemical Corporation caused interestingly led one of the first battles over a toxic waste dump. Today in one of my classes we were discussing the difference in crime in the street versus crime in the suites. The instructor actually gave a lecture on the very topic that was discussed in the video. The Hooker Chemical Corporation was dumping toxic chemicals into the land that had a school and a community nearby. Once the residents realized the amount of chemicals that were in the area and the birth defects and illness that were because of the chemical waste, they were outraged and demanded to be relocated. My instructor wanted to make a point on how such CEO's of corporations aren't seen as criminals and don't get harsh punishment for what acts they commit. The second video I saw was revealing that the U.S government built a twitter program to use to protest Cuban president Fidel Castro. This was strategically built to deceive and manipulate Cubans to join not knowing it was a UD program. Information was collected from them to then introduce political propaganda to inspire Cubans to free themselves from Castro's dictatorship. Immediately following the controversies the White House Press Secretary Jay Carrey defended their actions and described the program as a way to empower Cubans to gather information and strengthen their civil society.

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/22/earth_day_special_fierce_green_fire

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/4/is_usaid_the_new_cia_agency