ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR CHESTER!
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia were among the “Hundreds gathered for the 3rd Annual Environmental Justice March in Chester, Pennsylvania." In an article posted on CRCQL’s website on April 22, 2023, “Over 200 people marched and caravanned from Chester City Hall to the front of the Coventa’s trash incinerator, calling for an end to acts of environmental racism.” Coventa is the largest incinerator in North America.
The march was organized by Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living, known as (CRCQL), pronounced “circle”—a growing grassroots organization that has been defending the health of Chester community from industrial pollution since 1992. It is also supported by groups and organizations across several local municipalities, counties, and national organizations, such as Physicians for Social Responsibility. Several Sisters of St. Francis have participated in the peaceful protests and activities during the past three years. Sr. Nora Nash has been an active participant for four years and has seen tremendous effort to peacefully bring about change and a serious commitment to justice for people subjected to environmental racism. The article continues, “For three years we have pressured Delaware County Solid Waste Authority to withdraw Coventa’s contract, but we’ve discovered that the city of Chester made “a” deal that is now part of the bankruptcy. Chester city is bankrupt and under receivership.” https://chesterpaej.org/
Sr. Nora also attended the public hearing on May 17 and gave a four-minute speech and questioned how much would proposed new equipment limit the numerous toxic chemicals and odors that citizens have to live with every day? She also listened to the stories of several residents who are living with serious health issues due to Coventa and other polluting industries.
Read an article about the mounting public pressure against the Chester incinerator in this WHYY article: https://whyy.org/articles/public-pressure-mounts-against-chester-incinerator-as-environmental-racism-claims-pile-up/.
Also, you won’t want to miss this ABC video “TRASHED … It includes Zulene Mayfield, founder of CRCQL. It’s another “eye opener” on plastic and recycling https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/trashed-secret-life-plastic-recycling-99557139
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