Taking Civic Taking Civic Action….Action….

In Boston HarborIn Boston Harbor

IF CITIZENS HADN’T IF CITIZENS HADN’T TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD STILL HAVE SEGREGATIONSTILL HAVE SEGREGATION

IF CITIZENS HADN’T IF CITIZENS HADN’T TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD STILL HAVE SEGREGATIONSTILL HAVE SEGREGATION

ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WOULD BE ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE…CITIZENS’ ALLOWED TO VOTE…CITIZENS’ RIGHTS WOULD BE TRAMPLED.RIGHTS WOULD BE TRAMPLED.

IF CITIZENS HADN’T IF CITIZENS HADN’T TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD HAVE LOST THE HAVE LOST THE ENVIRONMENT / HAVE NO ENVIRONMENT / HAVE NO NATIONAL PARKS…NATIONAL PARKS…

IF CITIZENS HADN’T IF CITIZENS HADN’T TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD TAKEN ACTION WE WOULD HAVE LOST THE HAVE LOST THE ENVIRONMENT / HAVE NO ENVIRONMENT / HAVE NO NATIONAL PARKS…NATIONAL PARKS…

THIS SLIDE SHOW IS ABOUT HOW CITIZENS THIS SLIDE SHOW IS ABOUT HOW CITIZENS WORKED TOGETHER TO PROTECT BOSTON HARBORWORKED TOGETHER TO PROTECT BOSTON HARBOR

Boston Harbor during the time Boston Harbor during the time of the Native Americans…the of the Native Americans…the First PeoplesFirst Peoples

The The technologytechnology of the of the First Peoples did not First Peoples did not drastically change the drastically change the Harbor…Harbor…

The The technologytechnology of the of the First Peoples did not First Peoples did not drastically change the drastically change the Harbor…Harbor…

Almost 400 years ago, Almost 400 years ago, settlers from Europe, settlers from Europe, primarily England, primarily England, traveled across the ocean traveled across the ocean to make Boston Harbor to make Boston Harbor their home.their home.

Almost 400 years ago, Almost 400 years ago, settlers from Europe, settlers from Europe, primarily England, primarily England, traveled across the ocean traveled across the ocean to make Boston Harbor to make Boston Harbor their home.their home.

They brought a They brought a different way of life, different way of life, different technology, different technology, and different and different attitudes…attitudes…

They brought a They brought a different way of life, different way of life, different technology, different technology, and different and different attitudes…attitudes…

As their numbers grew, As their numbers grew, the harbor the harbor drasticallydrastically changed…changed…

As their numbers grew, As their numbers grew, the harbor the harbor drasticallydrastically changed…changed…

The harbor became the The harbor became the place to dump garbage and place to dump garbage and waste… including human waste… including human wastewaste

The harbor became the The harbor became the place to dump garbage and place to dump garbage and waste… including human waste… including human wastewaste

But along the way, But along the way, people began to take people began to take notice of their notice of their environment. The environment. The unpleasant sights and unpleasant sights and smells of Boston smells of Boston harbor could not be harbor could not be ignored.ignored.

But along the way, But along the way, people began to take people began to take notice of their notice of their environment. The environment. The unpleasant sights and unpleasant sights and smells of Boston smells of Boston harbor could not be harbor could not be ignored.ignored.

““Our beautiful city is almost Our beautiful city is almost encircled by the mouths of encircled by the mouths of sewers discharging their sewers discharging their contents … the sewer gases… contents … the sewer gases… absolutely dangerous to absolutely dangerous to breathe….”breathe….”

“…“…a stench so strong as a stench so strong as to arouse the sleeping, to arouse the sleeping, terrify the weak, and terrify the weak, and nauseate and exasperate nauseate and exasperate everybody….”everybody….”Boston City Board Boston City Board of Health - 1874of Health - 1874

Newer technology began Newer technology began to affect nature in to affect nature in faster ways, creating faster ways, creating larger amounts of larger amounts of pollution.pollution.Raw Sewage!Raw Sewage!

In 1972, the United States In 1972, the United States Congress had passed a law Congress had passed a law known as the Clean Water Act.known as the Clean Water Act.

The law was The law was ignored in Boston ignored in Boston

Harbor!Harbor!

People began to work with People began to work with local groups and governments, local groups and governments, trying to stop this pollution trying to stop this pollution and protect the environmentand protect the environment

By the By the 1980’s, 1980’s, Boston Harbor Boston Harbor was called was called the most the most polluted polluted harbor in the harbor in the USA!USA!

By the By the 1980’s, 1980’s, Boston Harbor Boston Harbor was called was called the most the most polluted polluted harbor in the harbor in the USA!USA!

In the summer of 1982, Bill In the summer of 1982, Bill Golden, a man from Quincy, was Golden, a man from Quincy, was jogging along Wollaston Beach. jogging along Wollaston Beach. He stepped in what he thought was He stepped in what he thought was brown jellyfish.brown jellyfish.

It was It was notnot jellyfish. It was jellyfish. It was human waste, and it was all over human waste, and it was all over the beach!the beach!

““As I realized what I had As I realized what I had stepped in, I felt nauseated. stepped in, I felt nauseated. Then I got angry.” Then I got angry.”

Citizens, people like Citizens, people like yourself, began to yourself, began to demand that these laws demand that these laws be enforced.be enforced.

Citizens, people like Citizens, people like yourself, began to yourself, began to demand that these laws demand that these laws be enforced.be enforced.

Bill Golden’s Bill Golden’s anger turned to anger turned to action. And he action. And he was not alone. was not alone. Many others Many others came forward to came forward to help the Boston help the Boston Harbor Harbor including a including a powerful judge, powerful judge, Paul Garrity Paul Garrity from Jamaica from Jamaica Plain.Plain.

Bill Golden’s Bill Golden’s anger turned to anger turned to action. And he action. And he was not alone. was not alone. Many others Many others came forward to came forward to help the Boston help the Boston Harbor Harbor including a including a powerful judge, powerful judge, Paul Garrity Paul Garrity from Jamaica from Jamaica Plain.Plain.

He called himself He called himself the “the “Sludge Sludge JudgeJudge”, and he ”, and he made made big thingsbig things happen.happen.

““Boston Harbor is ... Boston Harbor is ... visibly polluted primarily visibly polluted primarily because of the discharge because of the discharge of sewage...the damage to of sewage...the damage to that environment and to that environment and to the creatures who live in the creatures who live in it may very well become it may very well become irreversibleirreversible..”..”

““Boston Harbor is ... Boston Harbor is ... visibly polluted primarily visibly polluted primarily because of the discharge because of the discharge of sewage...the damage to of sewage...the damage to that environment and to that environment and to the creatures who live in the creatures who live in it may very well become it may very well become irreversibleirreversible..”..”

In 1984, a new state In 1984, a new state agency was created, the agency was created, the Massachusetts Water Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. It Resources Authority. It was created to clean up was created to clean up the Boston Harbor.the Boston Harbor.

In 1984, a new state In 1984, a new state agency was created, the agency was created, the Massachusetts Water Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. It Resources Authority. It was created to clean up was created to clean up the Boston Harbor.the Boston Harbor.

The clean-up was The clean-up was called thecalled the

Boston Harbor ProjectBoston Harbor Project

The clean-up was The clean-up was called thecalled the

Boston Harbor ProjectBoston Harbor Project

The biggest part of the The biggest part of the project was the construction project was the construction of the sewage treatment plant of the sewage treatment plant on Deer Island.on Deer Island.

Deer Island had been Deer Island had been home to a large prison.home to a large prison.Deer Island had been Deer Island had been home to a large prison.home to a large prison.

It was torn It was torn down.down.

But during this time, sewage But during this time, sewage was still being dumped into was still being dumped into the harbor, violating the the harbor, violating the federal Clean Water Act. federal Clean Water Act. Concerned citizens filed Concerned citizens filed lawsuits to make sure the law lawsuits to make sure the law was carried out.was carried out.

Another judge, federal judge Another judge, federal judge David Mazzone stepped in.David Mazzone stepped in.

But during this time, sewage But during this time, sewage was still being dumped into was still being dumped into the harbor, violating the the harbor, violating the federal Clean Water Act. federal Clean Water Act. Concerned citizens filed Concerned citizens filed lawsuits to make sure the law lawsuits to make sure the law was carried out.was carried out.

Another judge, federal judge Another judge, federal judge David Mazzone stepped in.David Mazzone stepped in.

““The Court and the public must The Court and the public must be able to hold ..individuals be able to hold ..individuals and agencies responsible …this and agencies responsible …this Court has jurisdiction to Court has jurisdiction to protect the cleanliness of the protect the cleanliness of the Harbor and the safety of the Harbor and the safety of the citizens who enjoy and use that citizens who enjoy and use that Harbor…”Harbor…”

But these judges could But these judges could only make the clean-up only make the clean-up happen because happen because thousands of citizens thousands of citizens were behind them!were behind them!

But these judges could But these judges could only make the clean-up only make the clean-up happen because happen because thousands of citizens thousands of citizens were behind them!were behind them!

Construction of the Construction of the Deer Island sewage Deer Island sewage treatment plant treatment plant began in 1988.began in 1988.

Construction of the Construction of the Deer Island sewage Deer Island sewage treatment plant treatment plant began in 1988.began in 1988.

It took 14 years to complete.It took 14 years to complete.It was built in It was built in youryour lifetime! lifetime!

It cost 3.8 billion dollars.It cost 3.8 billion dollars.

That’s $3,800,000,000!That’s $3,800,000,000!

It also cost five lives - five It also cost five lives - five construction workers died construction workers died building the plant and the building the plant and the tunnels.tunnels.

It took 14 years to complete.It took 14 years to complete.It was built in It was built in youryour lifetime! lifetime!

It cost 3.8 billion dollars.It cost 3.8 billion dollars.

That’s $3,800,000,000!That’s $3,800,000,000!

It also cost five lives - five It also cost five lives - five construction workers died construction workers died building the plant and the building the plant and the tunnels.tunnels.

Finally the sewage Finally the sewage treatment plant was treatment plant was completed….completed….

Finally the sewage Finally the sewage treatment plant was treatment plant was completed….completed….

Sewage was no longer Sewage was no longer dumped into the harbor.dumped into the harbor.

It was now carried by It was now carried by pipes to the plant. pipes to the plant. There, after several There, after several steps, the egg shaped steps, the egg shaped digestersdigesters produce a produce a sludge sludge that is made that is made into….into….

Sewage was no longer Sewage was no longer dumped into the harbor.dumped into the harbor.

It was now carried by It was now carried by pipes to the plant. pipes to the plant. There, after several There, after several steps, the egg shaped steps, the egg shaped digestersdigesters produce a produce a sludge sludge that is made that is made into….into….

Fertilizer to grow Fertilizer to grow plants!plants!Fertilizer to grow Fertilizer to grow plants!plants!

Some serious Some serious recycling!recycling!

The Boston Harbor The Boston Harbor became a cleaner place…became a cleaner place…The Boston Harbor The Boston Harbor became a cleaner place…became a cleaner place…

For people…For people…For people…For people…

……plants, and animals.plants, and animals.……plants, and animals.plants, and animals.

In 1996, the In 1996, the Boston Boston Harbor Harbor Islands Islands became a became a national national parkpark..

In 1996, the In 1996, the Boston Boston Harbor Harbor Islands Islands became a became a national national parkpark..

The harbor is The harbor is public!public!

That means it That means it belongs to all of belongs to all of us.us.

The harbor is The harbor is public!public!

That means it That means it belongs to all of belongs to all of us.us.

But… the Boston Harbor is But… the Boston Harbor is not all better. A problem not all better. A problem that went on for 350 years that went on for 350 years isn’t totally solved in isn’t totally solved in less than 30 years.less than 30 years.

Some people still throw Some people still throw trash is the harbor, and trash is the harbor, and some of that winds up on some of that winds up on the islands.the islands.

This problem can keep This problem can keep people from enjoying the people from enjoying the beauty of the harbor.beauty of the harbor.

But citizens like us can But citizens like us can deal with this problem.deal with this problem.

Restoring the beauty of our Restoring the beauty of our harbor islands can give a harbor islands can give a positive feeling…positive feeling…

A sense of A sense of accomplishment…accomplishment…

..and maybe a boat ..and maybe a boat ride…ride…

……or a day at the or a day at the beach!beach!