Environmental Racism: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

The reporter was 100% correct in asking the man “why don’t you move”? So many idiots would watch the report and think the same thing. Asking the question gives the man a chance to answer it directly, give voice to his frustration and make his quandary clear. The question wasn’t an accusation, it was an opportunity.

Whoever failed to notify the residents of that city for 31 years deserves a prison sentence for their dangerous, malicious incompetence.

I'll be honest after the "Why don't you move?" question, I half-expected another British comedian to start destroying the set and yell "Just one small problem! Sell their houses to whom? Fucking Captain Pollution?"

Grew up in one of those towns. Dad died of cancer, mom just beat breast cancer last year but we’re still watching and I’ve got a host of ovarian cysts. Absolutely shameful to have grown up in those conditions and I fight like hell everyday to not go back.

18:18 massive respect to this man for actually giving a fuck about who would buy his house if he were trying to move. We need more humans to think like this.

That man who talked about selling his house has more decency and ethics than the government ever will.

I'm a black Memphian and the second Germantown popped up on the screen I knew John would have a joke about it. On a serious note, the Byhalia pipeline proposal was infuriating. Shoutout to local organizers, activists, and ordinary citizens who were instrumental in shutting it down.

John Oliver is still talking about unpopular topics..after all these years..I appreciate the voice

Arguably more important than the impacts on lifespan are the impacts on 'healthspan'. Losing out on two years you would have otherwise lived is horrible, but if you have to spend an extra ten years in and out of care due to a build-up of health problems, all of a sudden you are looking at bills that directly and indirectly effect your family. One of the many examples of 'expensive to be poor.'

"When people aren't scripted, you can really learn what they believe and what they think." This is one of my favorite sentences now

It's also worth mentioning that we export waste overseas to the Global South too. The problem, and the racism, need to be addressed globally, not just within any one country's borders.

As an environmental scientist, I am utterly disgusted. I feel sick. Unfortunately, it's not just environmental policy that targets people of color. Transportation and infrastructure projects often treat communities of color as expendable. It is something that professionals in these fields need to be aware of and actively fight against.

The failure to notify West Calumet residents that they're living on dangerously poisoned land is especially outrageous. At the very least, legislation should be passed to ensure notification doesn't take 31 freaking years!

Fun fact! Studies have shown that this is yet another reason why kids in those communities have lower test scores. Turns out it's hard to learn when you have lead poisoning, live near high levels of noise pollution, or breath in hidden chemicals. Did I say fun fact? I meant to say horrible. This is a horrible fact.

Growing up in cancer alley the most baffling thing is whenever it got brought up in conversation there's always people who just laugh and either say it's not real or treat it like it isn't a problem. Louisiana is so full of people who would go out of their way to help their neighbor with any problem they might have, and then would take joy in being able to vote to make sure their neighbor's children starve as long as a rich asshole proposed it. Everyone there pretends to care about the environment to protect the cypress trees, but will at the same time say anyone who votes for a politician who is trying to deal with pollution in any form, including preventing erosion the thing they pretend to care about, is an evil commie who hates whites. I have family living in some of the worst parts of cancer alley who care more about pretending to be mad at school boards for making all the kids gay or hate whites, than they do ensuring their children's health or financial future.

Glad to see the statement "You can point at anything in america and ask: How is that racist? and get a comprehensive answer." still holds true.

You want politicians to act? Force them to live in the same zip code they represent full time. Force their kids to go to the same schools... See how fast they clean up their act

"What poor, unexpecting family would I trick into moving into this death trap?" We need more people with this level of responsibility.

I lived next to a superfund site, dioxin levels were 1,000 times above average in soil. “As long as you don’t eat the dirt there’s no risk” was what was said to us with a chuckle by the city. It was insulting.

The majority of my Environmental Studies major was about Environmental Justice and Racism. Had no idea it was even a thing until I went to college. Thank you for spreading awareness about it- wish I was still in school so I could write a paper about this video!