On today's show, we'll hear an encore of a show from our archives that first aired in April. We'll be looking at the environmental impact of the rail industry and hear from people in two communities currently impacted by rail-related contamination. In February, a Suffolk Northern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, and residents are still recovering from the disaster over two months later. Residents like Jami Wallace and community organizations are fighting for relief.

In Houston's Fifth Ward, residents have been living with the dire health effects of carcinogenic creosote used to treat railroad ties decades ago. Health officials have found cancer clusters in the neighborhood, where many have been devastated by the loss of friends, neighbors and loved ones. We'll hear a story from Living Downstream about the impacts to this close-knit community, where residents and organizers like Sandra Edwards continue to advocate for accountability and justice. 

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Featuring: 

Jami Wallace, community organizer and East Palestine resident  Sandra Edwards, community organizer, member of Impact Fifth Ward and Impact Justice, and Fifth Ward resident 

Making Contact Staff: Host: Lucy Kang Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang Executive Director: Jina Chung Interim Senior Producer: Jessica Partnow Engineer: Jeff Emtman Living Downstream Staff: Story: Generations in Houston's 5th Ward Contend With Contamination, Cancer Clusters Story producer: Laura Isensee Story editor: Steve Mencher Living Downstream founding producer: Steve Mencher President and CEO of Northern California Public Media: Darren LaShelle Story music:

Minimal Documentary by penguinmusic via Pixabay Documentary by The Mountain via Pixabay Lobo Loco and Nine Inch Nails, under Creative Commons licenses

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings for the use of music by the late Texas blues artist, Lightnin’ Hopkins 

 

Learn More: 

Making Contact Homepage: www.radioproject.org Unity Council for EP Train Derailment petition urging President Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for the Norfolk Southern train derailment: https://only.one/act/east-palestine Impact Fifth Ward: https://www.facebook.com/cleanupthecreosote Texas Standard's story and interview with reporter Laura Isensee: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/houstonians-living-in-neighborhoods-with-high-rates-of-cancer-say-rail-yards-cleanup-plans-fall-short/ Spotify link to Living Downstream series, including the story heard on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tPKsb6vtQkuJjNrn5MEij 

 

Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the web at www.radioproject.org.