A chance to hear environmental advocate Erin Brockovich drew more than 1,000 people to the Catawba College campus Monday, November 7. Her message was that environmental change and the push for environmental accountability begins “in your own backyard.”
She spoke to those gathered about “shared interests and common goals so we can look for better ways to live as families and communities.”
“Our human right is access to clean water and clean land to grow our food. We would not be who we are…if we didn’t have our environment. I think it’s important that we start giving back to the environment that sustains us. It’s time for us to begin to find a solution and not just blame.
“People need to build a bridge to transparency. We’ve lost our trust. We’ve got to stop the deception and we need to rethink how we do business.”
Noting that knowledge is power, she encouraged those listening to ask questions, seek answers, attend city council meetings, and run for public office. In this way, positive environmental changes can occur that will be the legacy left to “our children and our grandchildren.”
“We can’t take it with us, but that is what we can leave,” she said.
Brockovich’s visit to Catawba’s campus was hosted by the College’s Center for the Environment.
