Our Road: Then -- E30: 45th Anniversary: The Grassroots Uprising that Birthed the Warren Co. Environmental Justice Movement:

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In this late December, 2023, Podcast Episode 30, Deborah and Ken break from their chronological narrative in order to recognize and celebrate the 45th anniversary of the actual birth of the Warren County environmental justice movement. They follow the extraordinary events that take place in Warren County in late December, 1978, and early 1979, after citizens learn the Hunt Administration plans to bury the roadsides PCBs in Warren County, regardless of their public sentiment.

In this 45th anniversary episode, Ken and Deborah follow in detail how Warren County Citizens Concerned About PCBs responded to the state’s announcement; informed themselves and each other; on the issues; formed an unlikely, multi-racial coalition of citizens who opposed the proposed PCB landfill; affirmed their freedom to determine themselves and their county through the expression of their public sentiments; exposed and stopped a multi-state chemical dump plan for the county; got nearly a 1,000 citizens to an EPA public hearing, with coverage by local, state, and national media, and at breakneck speed, changed the course of Warren County’s environmental justice history — all in two week’s time,

After they describe the grassroots uprising, Ken and Deborah then return to the chronological narrative that their listeners have been following — to late December, 1979, after Ken has sent his PCB analysis to the gubernatorial candidates (Episode 29) and is waiting for their response.

1979 has been a long, hard year. Deborah joins her sister, Victoria, and they leave to spend Christmas in Columbus, Ohio with their family. Ken stays at the cabin, reflects on the year that has past and considers what lies ahead, and writes two poems that he shares with their podcast listeners. (Click transcript above for the text of these poems.)