Albany, NY, May 13, 2000-It was a great day to celebrate the history of our wonderful "Heritage" river-the mighty Hudson! The storms of the night before had faded into a sunny spring day, the kind of "after the rain" day that is good for fishing. About sixty youth from Arbor Hill came to fish, picnic, and learn about the river that defines their City. Blessings on the event were given by Tah-wah-dah-qui from the Tuskarora Nation and Bishop Rube Bethea and Brother Herman from the Church of Jesus Christ. Sivia Hill shared her lovely voice with the crowd who sang along with her "Amazing Grace." Dr. David Carpenter from the SUNY School of Public Health told the audience of about 120 people that although the fish that the kids were catching may look fine, they harbor PCB's, a toxic chemical that accumulates in the body and does not break down. A youngster brought his catch to Dr. Carpenter who then used the eel as an example. Subsistence fishing along the Hudson River is widespread and it is important to get the word out that eating more than one meal a month is not safe. Possible effects are lowering of IQ, attention deficit, hormone disruption, and cancer. Women of childbearing age and young children are especially vulnerable and they should eat no fish from the Hudson. Local folk singers sang of days gone by on the river when commercial fishing was a thriving enterprise; girl scouts sang and danced with cardboard "fish", whimsical creations but their fantasy for future wellness of "their" river.

Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation President Aaron Mair was Master of Ceremonies and, indeed, the spirit behind the day. He spoke of the health issues that PCB's impact on the inner city community whose members are often the subsistence anglers. His intent for the day was to bring to light these health issues and to ask GE to do the right thing and clean up the PCB's that they dumped into the River. This is the year that the EPA is to render a decision on a clean up of the Hudson so it is important to keep these issues in the forefront. Speaking for GREENPEACE was Damu Smith who travels the globe viewing first hand the effects of all the persistent organic pollutants, PCB's included. He spoke about incinerators burning trash (resulting in dioxin) in populated areas of Japan and PCB's all around the globe even in remote Inuit areas. The abundance and persistence of these toxic chemicals are frightening but we MUST pay attention to this problem. We must stop the manufacture of these chemicals and find alternative and safe solutions to the problems that they were created to solve. Our health and the health of future generations depends upon this.

Speaking from an Environmental Justice viewpoint was Dr. Robert Bullard, noted author and scholar from Atlanta, Georgia. Beneath his zen-like exterior beats the heart of an activist who has seen first hand the effects of pollution on countless minority communities across the country. Witness chemical and petroleum plants in populated residential areas where residents are forced to breathe noxious fumes or risk their lives doing simple outdoor tasks like mowing the lawn. Forget hanging out laundry or having a vegetable garden. Witness "cancer alley" in Louisiana. Quality of life issues, health issues, safety issues all colored by minority or income status. If you have the money, you move away. If you don't, then you must stay because you have no power, you have no voice. Robert Bullard is the national voice for those communities and it is a strong and resolute voice. He speaks out loud and clear against environmental injustice and on Saturday he spoke out against the pollution that surrounded us in that small pocket park in the city. Far away from the Southern industrial corridor that is familiar to him, his voice rang out with ours to call GE to action. On May 13th the "father" of the environmental justice movement spoke for all of us in upstate New York who live along the banks of the Hudson.