Your Achievements for Our Planet
FISCAL YEAR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
You Are Helping Communities Affected by the Toxic Rail Disaster FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
I’m sure you were as distraught as I was when you saw the horrific images of the black plume from Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. That toxic smoke resulted from a decision by officials to burn vinyl chloride from five derailed cars. Even as evacuated residents were told it was safe to return home after only a couple days, fish in nearby streams were dying and contaminants were found in downstream water systems. People were understandably afraid of getting sick from drinking their tap water. Your generosity provided people in need with: • Free, unbiased water, soil, and indoor surface testing through partnerships with local universities • Free whole-home air filtration through a partnership with the Clean Air Council And you ensured Governors Shapiro of Penn- sylvania and DeWine of Ohio felt pressure to: • Fund independent environmental testing for all impacted communities
• Provide medical monitoring, so all residents and first responders could learn about their exposure and health. Your investment is also fighting to protect other communities from toxic rail disasters by: • Pressuring the Department of Transportation to strengthen rail safety regulations and to classify trains like Norfolk Southern’s as “high-hazard flammable trains,” which require stricter safety measures to operate. • Calling on the EPA to ban vinyl chloride — a grave threat to public health and our land, air, and water. Crises like these demand quick action. We owe our rapid and coordinated response capabilities to you. Thank you!
Emily Wurth Managing Director of Organizing
YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLES 1 The Root of the Colorado River Crisis: Corporate Water Abuse
2 The Toxic Chemicals and Toxic Greed Behind the East Palestine Disaster
3 Direct Air Capture: 5 Things You Need to Know About This Climate Scam
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Food & Water Watch • Food & Water Action
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