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Dreaming of a Cleaner, Healthier Environment:
Gloria R. Davis Scholars learn about Environmental Justice in their community
For six weeks during January and February, LEJ conducted Environmental Justice
workshops with the 7th and 8th grade students at Gloria R. Davis College Preparatory
Academy. Scholars participated in a tour of the neighborhood, conducted internet
research on toxins at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and PG&E power plant
and their health effects, designed artistic brochures to educate others, and
wrote advocacy letters to Mayor Gavin Newsom and Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.
Many of the students did not have any prior knowledge of the environmental issues
in Bayview Hunters Point, but during the course of the workshops, they blossomed
into strong, articulate, and passionate advocates for environmental health and
justice in their community. But enough from me- let the youth speak for themselves!
Below are excerpts of letters that the G.R.D scholars wrote:
Dear Mayor Newsom,
I am sorry for bothering you, but I am concerned about the pollution in Bayview.
There are many things polluting Bayview. The pollution is causing more asthma
attacks to children and causing more people to get asthma. Not only does this
pollution cause asthma problems, but it also causes cancer, kidney, and brain
problems. So if you can, please help stop the pollution. Sincerely, Jonniccka
Scott
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Please can you help me. Bayview has a lot of toxic chemicals. If someone does
not do anything about the serious chemicals, people in the Bay Area are going
to suffer cancer, asthma, and birth defects.The way that you can help me is
to come to Bayview and see all the toxic things and start fixing it.
Mayor Gavin Newsom, thank you so much for your support and concern. Brianua
Dotson
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I am a student at Gloria R. Davis C.P.A. I am writing to you to request that
you take some time to shut down the PG&E power plant. Many people in the
Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood are becoming very sick and some are dying
because the power plant is polluting the neighborhood. It is having a bad effect
on our health and our lives. A lot of the students at my school have asthma
and when they come to school they become very sick and they start coughing a
lot because the neighborhood is tremendously polluted.
I am writing to you about this because I feel that you, as the Mayor, can make
a difference in not just Bayview Hunters Point, but all over the city. I am
hoping that you will take this letter into consideration.
I thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Evan
Jones
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I feel that the PG&E power plant should be shut down. It does not need to
be in the community of colored people. The community of Bayview Hunters Point
would like to survive without pollution. This power plant causes a lot of asthma
in the black community. This plant is also causing a lot of symptoms and forms
of cancer. The people of Bayview want to live in a healthier environment.
I would like to see my generation and myself live in a healthy environment.
I would like to be healthy without asthma. I would surely love to see my people
and peers look up to a good, positive life with a healthy environment.
Thank you and again please, please shut the power plant down. Deje Silas
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I am writing to you because I am a concerned student at Gloria R. Davis College
Prep. Academy. The power plant in Bayview is causing a lot of problems so we
want you to shut it down, or relocate it if you can.
People in our community are dying and getting sick and it’s because of
the power plant. It causes birth defects, asthma, and allergies. Personally,
I can say that I have asthma. Knowing that the power plant helped case that
makes me sick.
So I’m writing you because I know you can do something about it. I can’t
go anywhere without my inhaler and I feel like the oddball. As the mayor of
San Francisco, I know you don’t want to see babies, kids, or even adults
like that. So you should think about what I said.
Thank you for listening to what I had to say. Sincerely, Marisa Harris
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My name is Mikala Capree King- Anderson. I am a student at Gloria R. Davis College
Prep Academy which is in Hunters Point- the same place where the PG&E power
plant is.
I have asthma and so do a lot of people. You should shut down the power plant.
I’m sure one of the things you’re supposed to do as our mayor is
to keep us safe, and having the power plant by my school is making my asthma
worse.
As my asthma and others’ asthma gets worse, it becomes a real problem
and danger to my health. My asthma can get so bad I could die. If more people
get asthma and get sicker and sicker, more people die. That’s a very bad
thing.
Thank you for your time and cooperation with reading my letter and please do
something about the issue. I know you don’t want people, especially as
young as me, dying when they have so much more to do in life. Sincerely, Mikala
Capree King- Anderson
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Hi. My name is DeJanae Gardner and I am a citizen of San Francisco. We need
to have a long talk. I think that you should shut down the PG&E power plant
in Bayview Hunters Point. The reason why you need to shut down the power plant
is because it causes asthma for young children. Now a days, children under 10
years of age are starting to get asthma. That’s why we need to shut it
down now.
If you shut it down, you would make a personal difference in many people’s
lives. I would personally thank you face to face. Could you please think about
it?
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. DeJanae Gardener
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I think that we should work together to shut down the PG&E power plant in
Bayview Hunters Point. I think that you should stop the gases from the power
plant that are polluting the air. Also, I think that it is a health risk for
the people who live around the power plant- it could cause a person with asthma,
like me, to have an asthma attack. I think that the pollution gases and chemicals
in the air could cause someone to get cancer.
I think that if you do this just this once, the citizens would probably try
to get you to the top as president. You should just try to get it closed down
because it’s causing people to get sick.
Thank you for your participation. Antwanisha Porter
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Hello. My name is Kelvina Brooks. I am thirteen and I attend Gloria R. Davis
College Preparatory Academy. I am writing you because I need a big favor that
will help me, you, and the community. The big favor is to shut to power plant
located in the Bayview district.
The power plant has caused many residents in Bayview to suffer from asthma.
Children in Bayview are at more risk to suffer from or catch asthma. In spite
of this, the environmental justice advocates are trying to get this place shut
down. However, the board keeps postponing the date.
I have admired you and your leadership and commitment to solving issues in this
city. I would be extremely happy and grateful if you solve this big problem.
The power plant has many toxics and is very contaminated.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free
to contact me at G.R.D during school hours. Thanks very much for your time and
consideration.
Sincerely, Kelvina Brooks
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Dear Superintendent Ackerman,
I am an 8th grader at G.R.D. We have just completed our environmental studies
of the Bayview Hunters Point area. I was surprised to learn that there are 325
toxic sites in our area. I was not aware of how these sites are affecting our
community.
I hope that every student in the San Francisco Unified School District has the
same opportunity we have had to learn about their environment. I believe that
my awareness will continue to help me to become an activist for environmental
justice. Sincerely, Elgin Rose
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I am an 8th grade student at G.R.D. I am aware of the pollution here in Bayview
Hunters Point. Our family has been affected by asthma and cancer. In school
we have learned that there are 325 toxic sites in Bayview, Can you make sure
kids learn about the toxic waste here? Sincerely, Chris Corowley
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I would like you to help our community with its environmental justice issues.
I would also like for you to fight to make the air clean so that little kids
won’t get sick. I also want you to help me because I really don’t
want to get sick breathing the air.
One reason it’s important is because little kids can get asthma and they
can also get cancer from the pollution in the air and environment. The other
reason is the power plant. Smoke coming from the power plant is one reason why
kids in Bayview get sick so much.
This is important to me because I would want my little brother to know about
environmental justice. I would also want my family to know about what’s
going on around them in the world. I would also like to learn more because I
have bad asthma. I mean really, really, really bad asthma.
Thanks you for all your help and your support. I also want to thank you for
talking time out to listen to my story. May God bless you in many ways.
Sincerely, Roshawnda Collins
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Students should have environmental education in school because many students
want to learn about the environment. I learned recently that everywhere around
me is the environment, and that there are many things that affect it. This is
important for kids to know and learn about. Thank you, Faautautalelei Kelly
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Dear Mayor and Superintendent Ackerman,
You should close down the PG&E plant because it is causing too many problems.
I took a field trip to the PG&E plant and it stinks. Have you ever been
there? It affected my friend with asthma. He said, “It’s not easy
living with asthma”. The plant affects birth and it causes cancer. People
live next to the plant. I think we should educate the people of Bayview about
it.
I learned in school that there are 325 toxic sites in Bayview, and one Superfund
site. That site is the Shipyard. Most of us live by the shipyard. Superfund
means that it is super toxic and can cause a lot of damage to the body.
You can make a change by educating us more on the shipyard. I think students
in more schools should have classes in environmental education. I want to be
an environmental specialist one day. I don’t want any more people affected
by the hazardous sites. The radiation can affect a baby before birth and cause
birth defects. Most mothers do not know what happens to their babies when they
are born, but now I know.
If you read this letter, please help make a change in our schools and community.
I am tired of people getting affected by the toxic waste. I hope all students
in the SFUSD have the same opportunity to learn about environmental justice
that we have had in G.R.D. Sincerely, Andre Hines
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