The Little People Fueled Engine That Could

A small group of people poisoned by pollution from chemical, animal, radioactive and other wastes joined together.

“We need to stop the poisoning of our homes, air, water, land and bodies.” 

“There must be someone who can help us.”

The people began by going to their town halls and city governments.

 “We need help,” they said, and told their stories of pollution, poison and sickness to local government representatives.

“We can’t help you,” said the local representatives.  “You don’t represent enough money or voters nor are there laws that fit.”
 
“Go see the Attorney General, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Agriculture or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” they suggested.

So the people feeling dejected because of their lack of votes, money and laws - - - went to the State government Offices of OHEPA, Attorney General, Department of Agriculture and Natural Regulatory Commission.

As they walked toward the offices they felt hopeful.

Meeting with the various State Agency staff – the people told their stories of pollution, poisons and sickness.

The agency representatives said, “We are sorry about your situation, about the suffering –but we can’t help you.  If there is a violation of law we’ll see what we cab do.”

Walking out of the building the people were angry.
“How dare they!”  The people yelled.

“We may not be rich with lot’s of money – but they are wrong about our political power.”

So the people set out to solve these problems once and for all.

“We think we can . . . we think we can . . . we think we can” . . .they chanted.

And called meetings to have a conversation about changing state policy.

The people began in Columbus, Ohio.
Everyday—ordinary—people came together to develop a policy to protect public health and their environment.

“We think we can . . . we think we can” . . . was heard throughout the room.

Next the people and conversation traveled to other cities Cincinnati, Cleveland, then Athens, Toledo and then to Warren, Ohio.

“We think we can . . . we think we can . . . we think we can.”

As the train, full of people moved through the state the people
--grew more powerful
--grew more confident
--their engines were roaring!

The chorus “We think we can,” could be heard everywhere across the state.

Today the people were nearing the top of the another hill toward victory.

Another important stop is needed at Deer Creek Park.
Here the group of everyday people – from towns and cities across the state, now very powerful with tremendous energy stopped to polish their policy train.

As they polished the train – they removed the unnecessary weight, filled the holes and fixed the dents.

A new chorus was coming from Deer Creek Park  rising louder and louder.

“We know we can . . . we know we can . . .we know we can.”

Sunday morning the people fueling the engine set off from Deer Creek Park with a shiny new Environmental Justice Protective Policy.  They knew they had one more very steep hill to overcome!

The people knew that this hill. . . more than any other, will need a great deal of Voter power to get the engine carrying the policy over the top and  . . . they believed they can conquer the hill.
 
As they left the park with hole filled, dents removed and a tight policy engine;

You could hear the people powering the train as they moved forward.
“We think we can . . . We think we can . . . We think we can.”

The end of this story depends on the people in Ohio.

As the leaders leave Deer Creek Park they know they need to increase their strength;
They know they need to work very hard – the steepest hill is still in front of them.
And, the people know they need more people to fuel the engine to make it up that next hill.

Everyone is hopeful that the effort will succeed and an Environmental Justice Policy will be passed in the state of Ohio.

Everyone is anxious to celebrate with a chorus of:
“We thought we could . . . We thought we could . . . We thought we could”!!!

Ohioans for Health, Environment and Justice
A Project of The Center for Health, Environment and Justice