It’s surprising how many sacrifice zones there are around the country. In fact, you may be living in one and not even know it.
Famous Sacrifice Zones
Three Mile Island
Love Canal
Centralia Mine Fire
Bhopal, India Disaster
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Flint, Michigan
East Palestine, Ohio
A sacrifice zone is any community or location where the environment has been irreparably harmed by the pollution left by corporations and federal, state, and local governments. Places infamously ruined decades ago, like Three Mile Island and Love Canal, but also recent disasters such as the Flint, Michigan water crisis and Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, are examples of sacrifice zones.
Sacrifice zones typically are places you’ll find forever chemicals like PFAS or dioxins in the environment. Often times, you’ll find cancer clusters developing around these sites, as well as other chronic illnesses afflicting the local residents due to toxic chemicals being recklessly disposed of. Sometimes this happens simply out of ignorant negligence, but other times because of criminal intent.
Some of the most egregious cases include cover ups by the companies involved and gaslighting by government officials who’s campaigns are funded by executives at the same companies. Sound too crazy to be true? Check out the many examples.
The Stafford Act
Passed in 1988 as an amendment to The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, The Stafford Act sets in place much of the government policy and procedures for how major disasters are handled in the United States. The act allows the president to coordinate efforts to help affected residents relocate and get medical attention, but also to help local governments with any clean up efforts.
The Stafford Act is a helpful tool to alleviate some of the suffering going on in the many sacrifice zones across the country, however it has been dangerously underused.
Click the button below to learn more about The Stafford Act and whether it could help your community.