Environmentalists Consider the Dangers, Opportunities Under Another 4 Years of Bush

Interview with Lois Gibbs, environmental justice activist, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

Leading up to the presidential election, polls affirmed that safeguarding of the nation's water, air, and public health, related to environmental protection, were important to a majority of Americans, even though the environment clearly ranked behind such top-tier issues as terrorism, the war in Iraq and the economy. But environmental issues were barely focused on during the presidential campaign, despite the fact that there were more clear differences between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry on this issue than on many others.

Now that George W. Bush has been elected to lead the country for another four years, environmentalists are considering worst-case scenarios, especially regarding global climate change. But some others see a silver lining.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Lois Gibbs, who more than 30 years ago as a housewife and mother, led the fight for justice in response to the burial of toxic chemical waste in her community of Love Canal, N.Y. The organization she founded, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, has been fighting similar battles since 1981. Gibbs worked for John Kerry's campaign, and says, considering all the energy and passion that millions of people devoted to it, she was surprised he didn't win. Here, she considers the obstacles and opportunities for environmentalists over the next four years of the Bush administration.

Lois Gibbs, is executive director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. For more information, call (703) 237-2249 or visit the group's website at www.chej.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: httC://www.btlonline.org

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