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A woman's plight to save her community from pollution |
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by Faith Cherotich | 30-04-2019 23:13
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This is the inspiring story of Phyllis Omido, a young single mother who was hired to work for EPC metal refinery company which removed lead from used car batteries located in Mombasa Kenya. She managed the plant’s community relations. Her task was overseeing an environmental impact assessment on the smelting factory. Soon, she quickly learnt that the company was releasing toxic emissions which were having devastating impacts on the community that surrounded the factory, a small slum called Owino Uhuru. There was very heavy thick dark smoke, a smell of noxious gasses that was so overbearing that it would knock children out. Waste emitted by the company was released and contaminated soil and water that the residents were drinking. Phyllis listened to the community concern and began to raise objections with her employer about the egregious health conditions. Soon, the issue became intensely personal for her when her infant child fell sick. Diagnosis revealed that he had high blood lead levels and prompted her to confront the issue head-on. Phyllis quit her job and began domestic services to make ends meet and fund her quest to bring justice to the community. She later formed the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action and began compiling health records in the community. A test they conducted randomly on three children revealed that they had 20 times blood lead levels as compared to the average in children. They presented their findings to the Kenyan government and galvanized the community to present their concern to the local and national government. They were initially successful in their quest to close down the factory but within a month the government gave the factory permission to reopen. Health hazard intensified as the emissions continued to envelop the small community. In fact, in a slum with a population of 3000 there were more than 300 prenatal and infant mortality. Pregnant women would not carry babies to term and if they did, most of the babies would die at birth. Phyllis continued to mobilize the community to call attention to the dire health issues. Their protests resulted to more temporary shutdowns while the activists were beaten and arrested. In 2014 after Phyllis and her group had been acquitted and assured of their rights to protests they petitioned the national government. They presented their extensive medical findings to the senate committee of health and demanded the factory cease their operations immediately. The smelter was finally shut down for good because of the damage it had caused. However was it a little too late? Its effects are still felt and it had already caused tens of deaths. The water and soil is still poisoned but the residents are relieved that at least the air is clean. Phyllis’ work did not stop. She still fights for the members of the community whose health has been damaged and is still working to restore and undo the damage that pollution had caused. In 2015, Phyllis Omido became the recipient of the 2015 Goldman environmental prize for outstanding environmental achievement for Africa, the world’s largest award for grassroots environmental activists. Phyllis has continued to show resilience and dedication for a healthy people and a healthy environment despite the setbacks she has faced. Her resolve to bring justice for humanity has inspired many to take action in order to bring change. |
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Previous : Lumbini, GOD with NATURE. 
4 Comments
Greetings Faith,
This is a very motivating story of Phyllis. It was immensely brave for her to act upon to make change, which is a rather hard thing for most people to do.
Please keep us notified with reports like this.
Great job~!
Posted 07-05-2019 15:03
Hi Faith,
This is such a wonderful and great report which I think all ambassadors should read about. We should all definitely do what Phyllis is doing in her community to make this world a better place! Please share with more with this kind of story! :)
Louis Mentor
Posted 03-05-2019 00:59
Hi Faith
Thank you for sharing such an inspirational and wonderful story. I think it's very brave of her to raise her voice to a large company to protect the environments and the member of community. This inspiring story reminds me of my favorite movie, Erin Brockovich. We all know that air pollutant emission is bad but most of us don't have enough power to say 'no'. This kind of behavior is something we must learn from. Thank you for sharing this with us. Keep up the good work!
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 01-05-2019 20:46
Hi Faith
What a lovely and inspirational story! Really loved it. We all should learn from what Phyllis did and is still doing. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 01-05-2019 16:25