Tommy Tainant
Diamond Member
BBC Four - Storyville, Poisoning America: The Devil we Know
A group of citizens in West Virginia take on a powerful corporation.
www.bbc.co.uk
I watched this last night. It was on the BBC but I am sure you can get it on one of your channels.
It concerns the pollution of the Ohio River by Dupont and the actions of the people there to get justice.
It was horrific. We follow the story of Bucky who was born deformed, so bad that his Mam broke down in tears when the nurse handed him over at birth. It was due to the chemicals in the Dupont plant she worked in. Those same chemicals were regularly released into the Ohio River and caused all sorts of health problems for people and animals alike.
The chemical was used in the making of Teflon which was a huge moneymaker for DUpont who were keen to keep a lid on the problem. One farmer couldnt even get a vet to come and look at his dead cows.
Much of the film relied on Dupont execs reading out internal docs which revealed their complete lack of concern for the people. It was considered too valuable to come clean and make recompense.
It then outlined the failure of government through the actions of the EPA. The deputy head of the EPA was actually employed by Dupont in some capacity and the relationship saw the EPA draft press releases for Dupont. It was incredible.
Pretty much every trick in the book was employed by Dupont and it was like a real life Erin Brokovich.
Bucky had a childhood of treatment trying to sort out his deformities and he eventually met someone and settled down. His wife gt pregnant and we then followed them to the hospital for scans with the young couple praying that their baby did not suffer as his father had.
I wont give away the ending to this but I was weeping like a big girl at the end.
The locals won their case in the end but Dupont really got away with it. The useless EPA fined them $16m which was a pittance. People should have gone to jail.
Water quality and the environment seems to be a low priority for the US Govt regardless of who is in power. Dupont and their ilk own all the politicians that they need and it seems that things do not change. The government should protect people not corporations.
I give it 10/10. A great documentary.
I also give the good people of Parkersville WV 10/10 for their courage in taking on this giant. Heroes one and all.