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.”
Racial Zoning In Birmingham Is Still Segregation
We need to recognize that these modern problems often have substantial historical roots in harmful and discriminatory official government policies from the past. Governmental action helped to ensure that the places we live in, the schools we go to, the health problems we have, and even the quality of the air we breathe are likely to depend in part on what race we are.
The Ghosts Over The Mountain
Imagine a moment of bliss. Euphorically tilting your head to the sky and basking in the sun for a moment you wish could last forever. The air around you is crisp and light but warm enough to embrace you like a sweatered hug. Where are you? Perhaps a hillside? Are you overlooking a city in the valley or far from the bustle of life in a hidden canopy untouched by man? Surprisingly Birmingham has these pockets that are just the right place to experience this moment of existential bliss but only in the “right” places.
GASP Seek ‘Fresh Voices for Clean Air’
GASP-Birmingham (that's us!) is seeking Jefferson County, Ala., students in grades 9, 10, and 11 interested in becoming environmental game-changers. If that sounds like you or someone you know, we invite you to apply today for an innovative new program called Fresh...
The Sun Is Crying
I am afraid to be outside for the first summer in my 25 years. A few weeks ago, I thought this was another season of excessive smiles, “positive vibes,” and the resurgence of cutoff shorts. That was before I realized the danger was beaming directly on nature lovers’ crowns.
Meet Anantha, Summer 2022 Green New Deal for Birmingham Intern
GASP: What is your major and why did you choose it? Where do you go to school? Anantha: I am in a dual degree program at the University of Alabama in Birmingham pursuing a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy...
Meet Charity, Summer 2022 Environmental Health Intern
“My dream job involves me working for a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental justice and protecting the environment,” – Charity J.
Harbison-Walker International – Fairfield
Background What and where is this facility? HarbisonWalker International, Inc.-Fairfield’s (“HWI”) is a refractory production plant located in Fairfield, Alabama. It will produce magnesite-carbon brick products for use in electric arc furnaces (used to make steel) and...
Southern Company 2022 Shareholders Meeting: All Hat, No Cattle
Last week, I attended the annual meeting of Southern Company shareholders along with several colleagues from across the company's footprint in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. (Thanks to Southern Alliance for Clean Energy for allowing me to attend as a proxy for the...
Finding Your Role In The Movement
One of the greatest honors of my life was serving GASP and our mission. I will continue to do so in a different form. It is my hope that GASP and other organized efforts will continue to grow, evolve and recruit more young people within their ranks or inspire them to launch their own actions.
Winners Of The Green New Deal For Birmingham Art Contest Announced!
Art has been used for thousands of years to highlight social issues and move people to take action for positive change. As the climate crisis worsens, we need to use the power of art now more than ever to inspire people to save our planet and ensure future generations can thrive.
Stepping My Foot In The Door
“I was so excited to be granted the opportunity to be working with GASP and the Green New Deal for Birmingham. Working in environmental action is honestly my dream job and I am now getting my start as an intern,” Danielle Wormsby, Spring 2022 Green New Deal for Birmingham Intern.
EPA to ADEM Air Program: “Do Better”
“It is vital for state agencies to have robust monitoring plans in place to ensure that families are protected from toxic air pollutants,” says Christina Andreen Tidwell, SELC Senior Attorney. “We are very pleased that EPA recognized ADEM’s failure to respond to our comments.”
EPA Grants Petition, Denies Air Permit for Facility in Historic Africatown Community
MOBILE, Ala. (May 12, 2022) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is granting key parts of a petition filed by GASP objecting to an air permit issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to UOP, LLC in Mobile. The chemical manufacturing...
Getting Past Climate Paralysis To Climate Action
It’s hard to wrap your mind around the climate crisis. It’s at once an issue that affects everyone and an issue that does not tangibly affect most people’s daily lives. You can take individual actions, like driving less or using less plastic, but one person’s actions...
What Is It To Be?
When you look at a tree Do you happen to think of the bees And all the hard work that had to happen for that one tree to be We cut trees down and live like our resources aren’t limited There will soon come a day when only the rich can play Only those with heaps...
Meet Mikayla – Spring 2022, Communications Intern
GASP: What is your major at and why did you choose it? Mikayla: I am majoring in art with a minor in marketing and a certificate in sales. I chose to major in art because it has been my lifelong passion. I chose to study sales and marketing because I think it helps me...
Meet Danielle, Spring 2022, GND4BHM Intern
GASP: What are your plans after graduation? Danielle: After graduating high school I will be going to college and most likely majoring in environmental science. GASP: What is your dream job? Danielle: My dream job is to be a conservation biologist because I love our...
Meet Bri, Spring 2022 Direct Service Intern
GASP: What is your major at and why did you choose it? Bri: I chose to major in environmental studies to better understand the climate crisis, what brought us to it, and how we can create a more equitable and sustainable world. GASP: What do you hope to do after you...
Meet Ally, Spring 2022 Legal Intern
GASP: What is your major at and why did you choose it? Ally: While in undergrad at Birmingham-Southern College I majored in Philosophy, History, and Law and minored in Gender and Women’s Studies. I’ve always had an interest in history and BSC has an amazing history...
New Report: Southern Company is a Climate ‘Laggard’
Despite the impression you may get by visiting Southern Company's website, the publicly traded utility company is one of the worst utilities in the United States when it comes to climate policy. That's according to a new report that was released this week by...
Meet Caroline Schock – Community Science Intern
What is your major at and why did you choose it? I am a freshman at UAB, and my major is public health. In the Fall of 2021, I began college majoring in biology, but I decided to switch to public health in the middle of the semester. After taking an Intro to Public...
Shopping You Can Breathe Easier About
In celebration of Earth Day, The Kindness Cause announced its first charitable partnership and limited-edition Cause Collection with GASP. The philanthropic e-commerce site is committed to creating an easy and transparent way to both discover and support important causes through shopping when life is too busy to volunteer.
The Current EPA Standard for PM2.5 Should Be Strengthened
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to make a final decision in the spring of 2023 regarding whether to keep the current standard for soot or to strengthen it. The more technical name for soot is particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which refers to particulates...
ADEM and EPA Must Do More to Protect Alabama from Haze
ADEM missed its due date to submit a plan to comply with the federal regional haze rules. We demand that EPA to hold the State of Alabama accountable.
Alabama’s Anti-Protest Bills Explained
Alabama lawmakers are still in denial about the need to protect this state from the climate crisis. After Hurricane Ida proved that climate change is making storms more destructive, and even though more than half of Alabama residents believe that global warming is...
Announcing the #GND4BHM High School Art Contest
Art has been used for thousands of years to highlight social issues and move people to take action for positive change. As the climate crisis worsens, we need to use the power of art now more than ever to inspire people to save our planet and ensure future generations...
Why Commenting on Major Source Air Permits Matters — Miller Edition
From a high vantage point on any given day, Birmingham residents can see several plumes of vapor on the northwest horizon. Those fluffy, unnatural clouds emanate from the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the country — the Miller Steam Plant in Quinton, located...
Update on Bluestone Coke’s Legal Troubles
There has been a flurry of activity recently stemming from Bluestone Coke's numerous alleged violations of air pollution regulations. You may recall that in August the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) announced that it had filed a complaint in the Circuit...
