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In this episode, Savannah Domenech is back to dive into the economic effects of Kodakās rise and fall in Rochester, New York. For decades, Kodak wasnāt just a company - it was the economic backbone of the city, providing tens of thousands of jobs and shaping the entire community. But when the company went bankrupt, so did the financial security of many Rochester residents.
What happens when an industry that once promised prosperity vanishes? Savannah unpacks the stark realities of Kodakās economic collapse, from lost pensions and skyrocketing unemployment to the struggles of former workers forced back into the job market. They explore the racial and gender disparities in Kodakās hiring and wage practices, the class-action lawsuits that followed, and the devastating impact of the companyās bankruptcy on retirees who were left with nothing.
But this isnāt just a story of loss - itās also one of resilience. How did the community rebuild after the downfall of its largest employer? And what lessons can we learn about relying too heavily on a single industry? Let's explore this and so much more on this episode of The Environmental Justice Lab.
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In this episode, we dive deep into the urgent water crises affecting communities worldwide. Although the United Nationsā theme for World Water Day 2025 highlights glacier preservation, we are shifting the conversation to the pressing issue of water access in war zones, underprivileged communities, and regions suffering from environmental neglect.
From Gaza to Flint, Sudan to Ukraine, billions are struggling to secure clean, safe water. We discuss how water scarcity is not just a resource issue but a matter of human rights and environmental justice. We also explore the devastating impact of climate change, conflict, and inequality on global water supplies, emphasizing how access to water determines survival, health, and social equity.
Why are some communities forced to buy bottled water while others enjoy clean tap water? How has water become a weapon in modern conflicts? And could future wars be fought over this essential resource? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the politics of water, the disparities in global access, and what we can do to push for change.
Because water isnāt a privilege. Itās a right.
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In this episode, we confront one of the most devastating consequences of Kodakās industrial legacy: its impact on public health. For decades, the communities surrounding Kodakās operations in Rochester have faced alarming health disparitiesārising cancer rates, respiratory illnesses, and other chronic conditions linked to toxic pollution. Savannah unpacks the harsh reality of how environmental contamination has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, especially children and low-income families.
But this episode is not just about the problemāitās about the fight for solutions. How do you heal a community that has been exposed to industrial pollution for generations? What policies or healthcare interventions are needed to address these long-standing health disparities? And most importantlyāhow can we prevent this from happening again in other communities? If you are concerned about the intersection of health, equity, and environmental justice, this episode is essential listening.
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In this continuation of our series on Legacy Environmental Justice, we shift our focus from Kodak to the people of Rochester - the communities that lived in the shadow of the factory, bore the brunt of its pollution, and are still dealing with its lasting effects today. Savannah unpacks eye-opening statistics from the latest census, revealing how economic hardship, failing school systems, and environmental degradation have shaped the city over time.
At the heart of this episode lies in the deeply human impact of Kodakās environmental footprint. From toxic spills near elementary schools to alarmingly high cancer rates in women and children, we discuss how systemic neglect and corporate irresponsibility continue to haunt Rochester long after Kodak's decline.
How does a community recover from a century of environmental injustice? What can be done to protect future generations? And is anyone still being held accountable? This is a conversation about resilience, accountability, and the fight for justice. If you want to learn more about environmental equity and the real-life consequences of corporate pollution, this is an episode you donāt want to miss.
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In this episode, we welcome back Savannah Domenech for a deep dive into the rise and fall of Kodakā and the lasting environmental and social impacts on Rochester, New York. Once a corporate giant that defined photography for generations, Kodak was more than just a company ā it was the backbone of an entire community. Savannah unpacks Kodakās golden era, its contributions to Rochester, and how it became synonymous with job security and innovation. But, as the company declined, so did its reputation, with environmental disasters, mass layoffs, and lingering pollution leaving a lasting mark on the city and its people.
Was Kodak a benevolent giant, or just another corporation prioritizing profits over people? How did the Rochester community respond when faced with toxic spills and economic downturns? And what lessons can we learn from Kodakās environmental justice legacy?
Join us for an eye-opening conversation that connects history, business, and environmental responsibility. If youāre interested in corporate accountability, community resilience, and the real-world impacts of industrial decline, this episode is a must-listen.
Resources:
Pollution By Kodak Brings Sense Of Betrayal - NY Times
The Environmental Ruin of Kodak - Psychology Today
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For many, fighting for environmental justice means pushing polluters to stop poisoning our air and water. It means shutting down non-compliant factories and industrial facilities that refuse to follow the law. However, environmental justice issues can persist long after these facilities shut down or stop polluting. It's called "legacy environmental (in)justice", where the pollution of the past continues to impact our present. Not much has been said on this, but it's something that we need to discuss and confront wherever we see it.
On this episode, we begin our discussion about legacy environmental justice with Savannah Domenech, a Senior majoring in Environmental Management at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. (And she promised to stay with us for several episodes on this topic.)
So let's get into it!
Resources:
A Primer on Legacy Pollution - PBS
Legacy Pollution and Health - University of Wisconsin
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Happy New Year and welcome to Season 4 of the Environmental Justice Lab. We have a lot of amazing stories and analysis planned for this season. From thinking through the implications of a new president in the United States for EJ work to examining topics like legacy environmental justice to lifting up marginalized voices around the world, we are going to be getting deep this year. Stay with us! Connect with us! And support us!
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It's the holiday season, and we are coming to the end of another amazing season of the Environmental Justice Lab Podcast. And to finish the year strong, we have a 2-part conversation with the El-Sayeghs. They are a dynamic father-daughter duo of Palestinian engineers who care deeply about environmental justice and equity. I hope you enjoy these episodes as much as I enjoyed recording them.
So let's get into Part 1 of my conversation with the El-Sayeghs!
Resources:
Five Myths about Israel & Palestine
Voices from Gaza
Reports from BāTselem (Israeli Human Rights Organization)
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We are talking about infrastructure apartheid. Infrastructure can play an important role in social inclusion and economic growth. However, when infrastructure is inadequate, it can lead to social exclusion, poverty, and poor health. The fact that some people in some places have more better, more resilient, more effective infrastructure than others is not an accident. Decisions are being made that keep people from enjoying the quality of infrastructure that would allow them to live healthy, whole lives, while others have an overabundance of high-quality systems and infrastructure. Itās not right.
So letās talk about it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
How infrastructure has historically promoted inequality - PBS News
āInfrastructure apartheidā: Africatownās fight against toxins, new toll bridge
Green Apartheid: Urban green infrastructure remains unequally distributed across income and race geographies in South Africa - Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning
Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians - Amnesty International
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We are (still) talking about food apartheid. While the United Nations has the goal of a world free from hunger by 2030, the reality is that because of these inequitable food systems, we are far from that goal. From conflict to climate change, there is a lot that is keeping us from living in a hunger-free world.
So letās get into it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
Food Apartheid - ReGeneration.
Food Apartheid | Why we should change the way we talk about food deserts
Global Food Crisis - World Food Programme
Violence and the Right to Food - The Situation in Palestine
The Question of Palestine: The Right to Food - United Nations (2003)
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We are still talking about food apartheid. The fact that some people in some places have more food choices that they need, while others have no good food choices at all. And on this episode, we are focusing on how food apartheid shows itself in the United States. Trust me, itās not an accident. People are making decisions that keep healthy foods in some neighborhoods and keeps them out of other neighborhoods. Itās not right.
So letās talk about it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
USDA's Legacy of Discrimination - Environmental Working Group
How corporations buy - and sell - food made with prison labor - The Counter
Supermarket Redlining
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We are talking about food apartheid. The fact that some people in some places have more food choices that they need, while others have no good food choices at all. And itās not an accident. Decisions are being made that keep healthy foods in some neighborhoods and keeps them out of other neighborhoods. Itās not right.
So letās get into it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
Food Apartheid: Racialized Access to Healthy Affordable Food
Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States
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Since the early 20th century, plastic has been around and has dominated US consumerism. Unfortunately, it hurts the planet in all phases of its life cycleā from when itās produced (emitting greenhouse gases), to when itās used (releasing microplastics), to when itās discarded (rotting in landfills). That being said, everyone knows its negative impact on the environment, but nothing major has been done to reduce this planet-destroying product. So today, we are talking about plastic pollution, but specifically zeroing in the last phase of its life and where it is discarded: developing nations.
Letās explore the research behind it. Join us!
Resources:
US generates more plastic trash than any other nation - National Geographic
How the fossil fuel industry is pushing plastics on the world - CNBC
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Climate Apartheid. This phrase, coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, describes the ways in which the wealthy and well-connected insulate themselves from the impacts of climate change, while the rest of are left to suffer from them. This two-tiered way of dealing with climate change leaves the vulnerable behind and creates a world where there are two different climate realities. We have to work to identify and dismantle climate apartheid wherever we see it. So letās get into it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
'I dare not be quiet': What climate activist Ndelika Mandela learned from her granddad - National Public Radio
UN expert condemns failure to address impact of climate change on poverty ā United Nations Commission on Human Rights
Climate Apartheid: The Forgetting of Race in the Antropocene
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Apartheid. Itās not a word that you can just throw around. When itās used, it suggests a systematic, deliberate, intentional effort to subjugate and oppress another group with full governmental support. It started in South Africa. It was present in the United States of America. Itās happening now to Palestinians. And now itās happening to our environment.
Itās called āEnvironmental Apartheidā. And we need to call it out. Name it. Dismantle it. But first, we need to educate ourselves and be aware of how it functions around us.
So letās get into it on this episode of the Environmental Justice Lab.
Resources:
A History of Apartheid in South Africa
Environmental Apartheid: Eco-health and Rural Marginalization in South Africa - Journal of Rural Studies
American Apartheid
The Legacy of American Apartheid and Environmental Racism
Infrastructure Apartheid with Dr. Maya Carrasquillo - Cities @ Tufts Podcast
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The time is now. Itās time to get off of the sideline. Itās time to educate and advocate. Educate yourself on the issues that plague the Occupied Palestinian Territories, otherwise known as Palestine. Then, after you have educated yourself, itās time to advocate. Advocate for the Palestinian people. Advocate for freedom and justice to reign in the region.
The time is now. #freepalestine #ceasefirenow
(A few) Advocacy Groups:
Churches for Middle East Peace
Jewish Voices For Peace
If Not Now Movement
Resources:
Six ways to support Palestinians in Gaza - American Friends Service Committee
How to help Palestine - Palestine Children's Relief Fund
Trusted Organizations to Donate to in Palestine - Build Palestine
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War is raging in Gaza. People are being killed. Homes and schools and hospitals are being destroyed. Famine has ravaged the land. But there is also something else going on. Ecocide. The complete and utter destruction of the environment in Gaza. Water infrastructure has been destroyed. Wastewater infrastructure has been decimated. Soil is contaminated. The air is unbreathable. We do not talk enough about how war destroys the environment and exacerbates climate change. Well, weāre talking about it today. Starting with Gazaā¦
Resources:
The UN is investigating the environmental impact of the war in Gaza - EuroNews
Emissions from Israel's war in Gaza have "immense" effect on climate catastrophe - The Guardian
Legal Definition of "Ecocide" - Stop Ecocide Foundation
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You need water to live. I need water to live. Everyone needs water to live. However, in Palestine, the necessary amount of water is not flowing to the Palestinians.
It's not just a matter of water insecurity. It's water injustice. It's water apartheid. And it needs to stop.
So let's talk about it.... #ceasefirenow #releasethehostagesnow #freepalestine
Resources:
The Occupation of Water - Amnesty International (11/2017)
Palestinians struggle to get water - Al Jazeera (08/2023)
Gaza children face acute water and sanitation crisis - UNICEF (09/2017)
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Food justice and food sovereignty are hallmarks of a free society. The ability to get the food you need, when you need it, is critical for any group of people to flourish. However, this is not the case in Palestine.
Long before the current war on Gaza, food justice and food sovereignty were not present.
And we need to talk about it.... #ceasefirenow #releasethehostagesnow #freepalestine
Resources:
Palestine - World Food Programme
Restrictions on food sovereignty in Palestine - Visualizing Palestine
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Peace requires environmental justice.
Thatās it.
#ceasefirenow #releasethehostagesnow #freepalestine
Resources:
Peace will require environmental justice - The Century Foundation
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Donāt forget to subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen! - Se mer