By Karen Gutiérrez
Posted October 31, 2024
Cultivando and the Green House Connection Center on Monday, welcomed activist and actor Jane Fonda for an update of on-the-ground efforts to advocate for public health, community protections and environmental justice.
“The things that are destroying the planet are the things that are destroying people’s health,” stressed Fonda at the Call to Action event in northeast Denver on October 28. “And it’s concentrated in communities of people of color, of low income people, working class people; and you know what the oil companies call them – sacrifice zones.
“We have to…everywhere in the country including here in Commerce City, do something about this industry that is killing people just because they are not wealthy and white. It is a travesty that your elected officials from Governor Polis to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper are paying no attention. Is it because they are getting money from the fossil fuel industry I wonder?” asked Fonda. “That’s true in California, the people who never vote for proper legislation to protect people in communities, get money from fossil fuel industries. I bet it’s true here in Colorado.”
The event connected community members, organizations, health experts, Indigenous teachers and youth to share perspectives, challenges and successes surrounding Colorado’s climate policies.
The Weekly Issue/El Semanario livestreamed the event, watch here.
Guadalupe Solis, Director of Environmental Justice Programs for Cultivando, expressed gratitude for Fonda utilizing her voice for environmental justice and equity.
“The actress’s visit is very important for the community because with her influence, right?” stated Solis “With her power, she will help bring a lot of attention to the issues and challenges that exist here regarding environmental justice, and she can help a lot by putting pressure on the Governor, and senators that so far haven’t done much to support and protect the community. So, we hope she will help to apply that pressure and add momentum to what these politicians are doing so that something truly impactful is done to change what has been happening here for decades, which is environmental pollution.”
The goal of the event was to elevate the voices of impacted residents while building bridges between community and decision makers in order to create true climate solutions.
Earthjustice Senior Attorney, During the event, Cultivando and other organizations addressed critical issues like the expansion of the Magellan Terminal, the impact of 160 new oil wells at Lowry ranch and the ongoing justice lawsuit against Suncor.
Ian Coghill, Senior Attorney for Earthjustice, explained the ongoing legal efforts against Suncor.
“The next step “is to see what Suncor does in response and then probably ending up in front of a judge in several months to explain why the case should go forward,” said Coghill. “If they don’t challenge it, then it will be actually a matter of setting a schedule for the case, because these cases can take quite a long time because these cases are complicated and so then we will be able to ask Suncor for documents and take testimony from folks who work there.”
Coghill stressed the ongoing environmental dangers in Commerce City.
“Ozone and industrial pollution in this area particularly, especially is connected to specifically higher asthma rates—especially in children,” noted Coghill. “Also, major breathing problems, cardiac problems, things all along those lines, and the ozone level has been according to the EPA – the ozone level in Colorado has been unsafe for public safety for decades.
“It’s a significant impact,” on the community said Coghill.
The Weekly Issue/El Semanario livestreamed the event, watch here.
Karen Gutiérrez is an Independent Digital Journalist for El Semanario.
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