Equity In Every Drop - A Waterkeeper Alliance Podcast
Waterkeeper Alliance
This podcast features the diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives of our global movement of Waterkeeper groups, impacted community members, and leading ex...
In this episode of Equity In Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes is joined by Dr. Christopher D. Heaney, Ph.D., an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Heaney's research focuses on the human health impacts of concentrated animal feeding operations, more commonly known as factory farms. Throughout the episode, they explore the significant hazards these facilities pose to both workers and nearby fenceline communities, including respiratory issues, the spread of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, and environmental contamination.Dr. Heaney discusses his research on the link between high-density animal production and human health, sharing his journey from personal curiosity to academic inquiry. He stresses the urgent need to address these health risks and the importance of considering the lived experiences of affected communities when crafting regulatory policies. The conversation also touches on broader issues of environmental justice, with an emphasis on the need for a proactive approach to protect public health from the impacts of industrial livestock operations.Another key topic is the promising, yet controversial, biogas technology used to capture methane from livestock waste to produce renewable energy. While this technology may seem like an innovative solution, Dr. Heaney raises concerns about its potential risks. He warns that these biogas facilities could worsen health problems for nearby residents, particularly through the release of pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide. He also points to the unsettling possibility that these facilities could become as hazardous as fossil fuel industries, especially in the event of catastrophic failures due to natural disasters like hurricanes, which frequently affect regions like North Carolina.Dr. Heaney further advocates for more robust and proactive community engagement and public health surveillance. He stresses the importance of active surveillance and systematic testing, which could provide early warnings for emerging health threats, particularly those related to zoonotic diseases, which can transfer from animals to humans. In a global health context, such surveillance is crucial as the world continues to face the challenges posed by pandemics and their widespread effects.
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49:45
The Underregulated Underbelly of Factory Farms
In this episode of Equity In Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes speaks with Kelly Hunter Foster, Senior Attorney at Waterkeeper Alliance and a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Animal Agriculture and Water Quality subcommittee. Kelly offers an in-depth look at the regulatory challenges surrounding concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), exposing industry loopholes and the inadequacies of current federal and state permits. She explains how underregulation and lack of enforcement enable widespread water pollution and pose serious public health risks, particularly for vulnerable communities near these facilities.Sandy Bihn, Lake Erie Waterkeeper from Toledo, Ohio, provides an on-the-ground perspective by sharing the devastating local impacts of CAFOs on Lake Erie. She details the rise of harmful algal blooms and the political and economic obstacles affected communities face.Both guests emphasize the urgent need for more robust regulatory measures and call on large agribusinesses to take responsibility for their environmental impact. This episode highlights the human and ecological costs of industrial agriculture’s water pollution while underscoring the critical need for public awareness and action.
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1:09:01
The Impact of Factory Farms on Water Quality
In this episode, host Thomas Hynes delves deep into the environmental impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) with expert insights from Dr. Michael Mallin, a research professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Cape Fear Riverkeeper, Kemp Burdette. The discussion covers the extensive pollution caused by swine and poultry farms in North Carolina, the devastating effects of hurricanes on these facilities, and the subsequent impacts on water quality, ecosystems, and public health. Key topics include the pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus leading to algae blooms, the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the inadequacies in CAFO waste management and regulation. The guests highlight the challenges faced in regulating non-point source pollution, the powerful industry lobbying, and the urgent need for more stringent policies, while underscoring the importance of sustainable farming practices. This episode is a call to action for better regulation and transparency to protect the environment and public health from the adverse effects of industrial agriculture.
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59:22
Exploring the True Costs of Factory Farms
In this episode of Equity in Every Drop, Jamie Berger, a filmmaker whose movie, The Smell of Money, highlights the impacts of factory farming in North Carolina, and Larry Baldwin, the coordinator of Waterkeeper Alliance's Pure Farms, Pure Waters campaign, join to discuss the true costs of industrialized animal agriculture. The conversation provides an overview of factory farming, including the impacts on waterways and ecosystems, as well as the burdens placed on local communities. Larry Baldwin, who has worked on the issue of factory farms and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), brings decades of insight and experience to the conversation. Jamie Berger, who spent years documenting the issue for The Smell of Money, is reunited with Larry Baldwin, who is featured prominently in her film.The episode highlights the true cost of factory farms and provides the listener with a transparent look at who is paying the cost for all those sides of bacon.
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55:03
Equity In Every Drop: Season 2 Trailer
Equity in Every Drop: Season 2 TrailerWelcome back to Equity In Every Drop, where we continue to spotlight the vital work of the Waterkeeper movement in the fight for clean, safe, and equitable water for all. In our first series, we explored the intersection of water, climate change, and environmental justice with guests from the United States, Senegal, and The Bahamas. WHAT TO EXPECT IN SEASON 2Now, in our second series, we explore factory farms — industrial facilities that wreak havoc on water and air quality, human health, and the economic well-being of residents and small scale farmers. These operations, often shielded from public scrutiny, release toxins that contaminate local water sources, degrade air quality, and harm surrounding communities.Join host Thomas Hynes as we bring you compelling conversations with legal experts, health officials, and local community members who endure the consequences of these toxic facilities. Together, we uncover the true cost of factory farming and highlight the resilience, resistance, and hope of those on the front lines of this environmental struggle.LISTEN, LEARN, AND TAKE ACTIONWhether you're a seasoned advocate for clean water or just starting to understand the impacts of factory farming on our environment and communities, this series provides the insights and inspiration needed to make a difference. We examine the policies, actions, and solutions required to combat these harms and work towards a future where every drop of water is safe, clean, and equitable.To learn more about our global movement and how you can support the fight for environmental justice, visit waterkeeper.org.Stay tuned for another season of powerful conversations that demand equity in every drop!
O Equity In Every Drop - A Waterkeeper Alliance Podcast
This podcast features the diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives of our global movement of Waterkeeper groups, impacted community members, and leading experts. Join us for meaningful conversations about critical issues threatening our waters and the actions, policies, and solutions we need to promote environmental equity, advance environmental justice, and protect everyone's right to clean water. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the cause of clean water, join us to listen, learn, and amplify the demand for equity in every drop.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN SERIES #1
From the crystal-clear waters of The Bahamas to the vibrant landscapes of Sénégal and the environmental battlegrounds throughout the United States, this six-episode series will explore the critical climate-related threats to our water quality, quantity, and security and reveal the realities facing vulnerable communities already bearing the brunt of climate change.
The series is hosted by Tom Hynes with Waterkeeper Alliance.
To learn about our global movement and to get involved, visit https://waterkeeper.org/
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