Barbara Jackson, GASP’s Grassroots Organizer: In Her Own Words
As the Grassroots Organizer it is important to give them tools, strategies and resources they can use that will help to build a supportive network that will foster resilience and growth despite the obstacles they are facing.
The Hidden Cost of Industry: Health Hazards and Climate Consequences
Jefferson County is home to one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the United States, the Alabama Power, James H. Miller Jr. Steam Plant, a coal-fired power plant. Birmingham is also home to several industrial facilities that produce materials like coke, steel, pipe, and concrete. These plants emit significant amounts of pollutants that harm the environment and contribute to climate change.
GASP and Partner Organizations Support EPA’s Strengthened Soot Pollution Standard, File Amicus Brief in U.S. Court of Appeals
Contact: Jilisa Milton, GASP, [email protected] Birmingham, AL — GASP, alongside several leading environmental justice organizations, has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of the U.S. The...
COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: 9 – JULIANNE THARP
Julianne Tharp’s journey into environmental advocacy is one of profound transformation, shaped by her commitment to service and a deep-seated passion for justice. As the Field and Advocacy Fellow for GASP and the Chair of the Central Alabama Chapter of the Climate Reality Project, Julianne stands at the forefront of the fight for environmental justice in Birmingham and beyond. Julianne’s professional journey began in healthcare, where she earned her BSN in nursing.
COMMUNITY CHRONICLES #8: Charlie Powell – PANIC
Before the creation of the Clean Air Act in 1970, “It used to just rain stuff on us. You know, it would be all on our houses.” Powell’s family would hang their clean clothes on a drying line outside and have to bring them back in before too long because soot would make them dirty again. “I believe up until this day, if any of our fathers knew they (were) bringing us into an environment like this here, they never would (have).” Powell will never understand how two coke plants (ABC Coke and Bluestone Coke) were able to be built three miles from each other.
Exploring Environmental Justice at Sloss Furnaces: A May Day Reflection
The legacy of environmental injustice persists in our communities today, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups who bear the brunt of pollution, climate change, and industrial exploitation. May Day is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights and environmental justice intertwined in a complex web of systemic inequality.
COMMUNITY CHRONICLES #7 Linda Carr (Harriman Park)
Linda Carr lived in the Harriman Park neighborhood long enough to see the street she grew up on transform from Huntsville Row into Shuttlesworth Drive in 1988. The street was renamed to honor Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a prominent leader during the Civil Rights Movement and a founder of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). This transformation symbolized a shift in recognition, yet the legacy of environmental degradation persisted.
Magical Meetings at The 2023 Moss Rock Festival
At the Moss Rock Festival, an annual eco-creative haven, art and nature converge. Amidst the festivities, GASP engaged with visitors of all ages. One standout was Leo, a 6th grader eager to combat air pollution, shared his own initiative—a recycling program at his school. This connection exemplified the impact of community engagement. The Moss Rock Festival showcased more than art; it was a fusion of art, nature, and sustainability. GASP left, appreciating the importance of local artists and sustainable practices. Anticipation lingers for next year’s rendezvous as we continue our journey to protect the environment and nurture future advocates.
Making a Difference Through Mutual Aid – GASP Hosts Last Popup Market of 2023
GASP’s impactful Pop-Up markets transcend charity in North Birmingham’s Superfund Site. Since 2020, these events ensure crucial support for low- and middle-income communities. Grassroots organizer Barbara Jackson emphasizes their significance, stating, “The Pop-Up markets connect GASP with citizens and build relationships,” highlighting the community bonds fostered through these initiatives
Meet The Author With Kathryn Savage & Keisha Brown at Burdock Book Collective
Partnering with Burdock Book Collective turned out to be an inspiring afternoon at the reading and discussion of Ground Glass with Author Kathryn Savage and Keisha Brown! The venue at the Burdock Book Collective allowed an intimate space to fill with honest personal stories and sparked attendees with motivation and empowerment.
GASP Goes Solar! – UAB Solar House National Tour
Attending the UAB Solar House Tour was an enlightening and inspiring experience. The solar house itself was a marvel of modern design and sustainability, showcasing the potential of solar energy and eco-friendly construction. It is a glimpse into a more sustainable and eco-conscious future, and GASP left feeling inspired to make more sustainable choices in our daily lives.
GASP Seeking: Fresh Voices For Clean Air 2023-2024 School Year
“The students loved hearing from a wide variety of guest speakers, and those speakers valued interacting with the students even more,” GASP educator Laura Kuster said. “It’s inspiring to engage in conversations about air quality and the environment with our Fresh Voices participants, and I often think back to their perspectives and insights while doing my work.”
The Real Dangers of PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5
The air quality we breathe has become an increasingly pressing issue in today’s world of fast industrialization. Although we may be mindful of air pollutants like smog and automobile emissions, particulate matter (PM2.5) poses an invisible hazard.
What Is Ozone and Why You Need To Know
Ground-level ozone can reach unhealthy levels, particularly in urban environments on hot, sunny days. Populations exceptionally vulnerable to the harmful effects of ozone include children, older people, people with asthma, and people who engage in physical activity outdoors.
Q&A WITH SUMMER INTERN NISHA SHARMA
Being in a health care profession I wish to live in a society that breathes healthy and survives healthy. This being a serious motto my passion is to drive myself to work within a framework that helps the individuals to live freely, and GASP is one such platform that cater its sincere time and energy that aligns my interests. – Nisha Sharma
Community Chronicles #5: David Butler, Cahaba Riverkeeper
“We have this amazing biodiversity and Alabama, and unlike many things, when something goes extinct, you know, its near impossible to restore that species,” said Butler. “We’re running out of time to preserve some of what makes Alabama so biologically rich. And I think the biggest fear for us is that our children and their children won’t have the opportunities to experience the beauty of Alabama in the same way we have.” – David Butler, Staff Attorney and Riverkeeper for Cahaba Riverkeeper.
Q&A with Summer Policy Intern Hannah Grace
What is your major and why did you choose it? I am double majoring in Environmental Studies and Global Liberal Studies, concentrating in Sustainability, Health, and the Environment at New York University. During a COVID quarantine, I only had a book for one of my...
Q&A with Summer Intern Leah Redd
What is your major, and why did you choose it? I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in data science! Data science is a combination of math, computer science, and statistics, often sprinkling a bit of social science. I chose data science because collecting and...
Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Birmingham, Alabama on June 9
Smoke from the wildfires in central Canada has been affecting a large portion of the eastern United States over the past several days, and now the Southeast, including Alabama, is experiencing the effects. The National Weather Service in Birmingham today said it...
Black History Month Town Hall: The Two Faces of Southern Company
Southern Company has a long, documented history of putting profits over people. They give money to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia while they greenwash their use of dirty coal that poisons our air, water, and...
Community Chronicles #4: Daniel Tait
Daniel Tait is the Executive Director of Energy Alabama and fits into his position as a reputable and environmentally conscious leader. His amiable disposition has made him an ally for communities and an influential educator on sustainable energy.
Landfill Fire Update: State Declares Emergency, Asks Feds for Help
Invoking the Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955, Gov. Kay Ivey today declared a state of emergency due to the landfill fire in St. Clair County. The proclamation signed by Gov. Ivey states that the fire "poses extraordinary conditions of disaster and of extreme...
Meet Anastasia Cox, GASP’s Winter Intern
GASP: What is/was your major and why did you choose it? Anastasia: Three and a half years ago, when the decision of choosing a major was due to be added to my degree plan, truthfully I wasn’t sure what to major in. All I knew was I had made it to college and I wanted...
Moody Landfill Fire Pollutes Air, Threatens Public Health
On Friday, November 25 a large underground fire was reported to the Moody Fire Department. The source of the fire is a "green waste" landfill operating under the name Environmental Landfill, Inc. GASP has received dozens of complaints about the air quality as a result...
Community Chronicles #3: M. Dominique Villanueva (Fountain Heights Farms)
“Fountain Heights includes the civil rights district, it includes the historically Black Bussiness District, and it goes all the way down to the bus stations and Morris Avenue,” Said Dominique.”We are a diverse neighborhood that could be benefiting by sharing the resources we each have through reinvestments and people who are willing to listen.”
Community Chronicles 2: Gerica Cammack
“We were so close to it. I could taste it in my mouth. The smell was in the house. I felt like I couldn’t get away from it. I couldn’t let my window up; I couldn’t let my window down. It’s in the ground. It’s in the foundation.”
Green New Deal for Birmingham Hosts Community Climate Assembly
Sustainable development means economic development without the depletion of natural resources. Another way to think of it is; meeting the needs of today without creating problems tomorrow.
Why The EPA Needs To Update Soot Pollution Standards
Soot, is a dangerous and deadly pollutant composed of metals, organic chemicals and acidic substances. It is produced by power plants vehicle tailpipes and other industrial sources as well as wildfire smoke. Soot threatens our health and our environment, posing particular risks for children, seniors and people with chronic illnesses.
The Tragedy of North Birmingham
Industrial plants in Birmingham, Alabama — including one now owned by WV Gov. Jim Justice’s family — have polluted the air and land in its historic Black communities for over a century.
Community Chronicles 1: Keisha Brown
“It’s like a third-world country,” she said. “I know we sound like a broken record, but no one’s doing anything. Politicians keep telling us to vote for them–vote for you for what? What am I voting for you for? To do nothing? We need people who are willing to work with the community’s needs.”
