The Story of Chemical Valley and the Aamjiwnaang
Protestors carry sign that reads “Cancer Alley” in opposition to toxic pollutants in Aamjiwnaang First Nation (Talia Ricci / CTV London).
Inequality unfortunately penetrates every aspect of society in Canada and the fabric of every international system. In addition to this already daunting problem, our generation is being challenged with the greatest existential threat humanity has ever faced: climate change. Unsurprisingly, the climate issue deeply intersects with inequality at most levels. Climate change on a global scale disproportionately affects those in less developed regions. Those in high-income countries, who contribute a much larger portion of carbon emissions, are seldom forced to deal with the immediate consequences of our warming climate. The burden of waste is sent from these wealthier countries to poorer ones; the livelihoods of those who depend on the land for their incomes or sustenance are being severely threatened; and the list continues. Those of us in countries like Canada are aware of the global impacts of climate change, yet we are able to easily ignore them as they do not seem to affect our lives. Instead, Canada boasts of fiercely defending human rights and touts itself as a global leader in climate change initiatives. However, those same international patterns of inequality and climate change can be found within Canada’s borders, and Canadian institutions are complicit. Canadians may be less aware of and certainly less likely to act on the environmental racism that exists here, but they must recognize its existence and put pressure on their government to end this discriminatory treatment of their fellow citizens.
In June 2019, Baskut Tuncak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Toxics, issued a highly critical report outlining his observations of toxic pollutants as they relate to human rights and inequality in Canada. Tuncak observed that Indigenous communities specifically were in dangerous and disproportionate close proximity to sources of toxic exposure, including refineries and manufacturing facilities, pipelines, and landfills or other waste disposal sites. Tuncak also noted that Canada has the responsibility to protect the health and security of its citizens, but that these were threatened by the presence of hazardous waste and other pollutants. According to Tuncak, Canada is violating its human rights obligations, which is highly alarming.
Perhaps one of the clearest examples of environmental racism and inequality in Canada is that of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve, located at the southern tip of Lake Huron. Aamjiwnaang is the home of 900 Anishinaabe residents, and is surrounded by “the largest complex of petrochemical industries in Canada”, an area nicknamed Chemical Valley. Some of the company facilities that border the community include Imperial Oil (Esso), Shell, and NOVA Chemicals. They emit toxic chemicals like benzene, which is linked to leukemia, into the air, impacting the health of the community’s residents. These pollutants have also been connected to cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, and reproductive health issues in the community. These residents are clearly disproportionately exposed to significant health risks caused by the pollutants emitted by nearby facilities.
The Aamjiwnaang community is also forced to deal with significant mental and emotional stressors. Alarms are sounded weekly as a constant and unavoidable warning to the residents of the risk of leakages, spillages, increased odours, or fires. The constant anxiety and fear stemming from the pollution severely affects the wellbeing of the community and prevents residents from participating in cultural activities that allow them to cultivate happy lives. Since the early 2000s, residents have reported reproduction problems in their population, including a male birth rate of about 30%, significantly lower than the 50% average in the rest of Canada. There is also a much higher level of endocrine disruptors found in mothers and children of the community compared to the overall Canadian population, which can cause various hormonal issues including fertility and developmental problems. The persistent odour of chemicals is not only a cause for these health problems, but also serves as a constant reminder of the harm that is being done to the community, causing significant emotional distress.
Indigenous communities are hugely disadvantaged in Canada and are less likely to be able to advocate for themselves due to structural disadvantages, so it is no surprise that this kind of pollutions is directed towards the Aamjiwnaang community.
Environmental justice is the concept that environmental impacts should be equitably distributed among populations, but it is not considered when making decisions about where these types of polluting facilities should be located. Indigenous populations are seldom given the proper consultation or notice during these decision-making processes. Instead, the concerns of privileged voter bases, like rich, white city dwellers, are most influential. It is therefore the duty of Canadians, who pride themselves on their country’s equality, to advocate for the better treatment of communities like Aamjiwnaang.
The case of Aamjiwnaang is not unique in Canada. Lack of accessible drinking water is a pervasive problem on Indigenous reserves, and injustices can be seen in places like Fort McMurray, Fort MacKay and Fort Chipewyan, which are disproportionately affected by the tar sands. This is not to mention the further environmental injustices that women, immigrants, and other minorities face across Canada. As Baskut Tuncak wrote, Canada has an obligation to treat these communities with the same dignity as it treats the rest of its population. Canada needs to own up to its environmental failures and acknowledge that they are causing significant physical and mental harm to its minority populations, especially Indigenous communities.
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