#flint water crisis

(viaThe Full Picture of Our Lead Problem | NRDC)

Two years ago this month, officials in Flint, Michigan, flipped the switch on the faulty new water system that led to the tragic lead contamination of the city’s drinking water. Yet Congress has failed to provide the city’s low-income families with the clean water they desperately need. 

Making matters worse, we’ve learned that Flint isn’t alone: People in cities across America are exposed to lead-tainted water. Enough is enough. Tell Congress to provide the urgent aid needed to fully address Flint’s drinking water crisis and make sure all Americans have access to clean, lead-free drinking water.

When Flint, Michigan, switched its water supply on April 25, 2014, it sparked an unprecedented public health crisis. Its residents are still in dire need of help.

The water in Flint, Michigan, is still unsafe to drink — two years after the crisis was set in motion. Badly needed federal assistance has been marooned by a handful of congressional Republicans. And the larger national problem of lead in too much of our drinking water is yet to be addressed.

The tragedy in Flint, and the largely feckless response so far, make for a sorry testament to government’s falling short on this issue at every level — state, local, and federal. These failings, though, are not an excuse for government inaction or a reason to hamstring our national response, as the usual critics of commonsense safeguards have claimed. The situation, instead, calls us to do better going forward. We owe that to the people of Flint. We owe it to Americans everywhere.

viaTwo Years of Tragedy in Flint

@LoveMeLuLu22 on Twitter

Official statement from the Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Today is All About Flint. Stand with the People of Flint and Text JUSTICE to 83224 to Donate Today. Our #JusticeForFlint Special Event Today is Officially Sold Out But We Will Be Live Streaming Our Event Exclusively on Revolt.TVStarting at 5 PM EST. Join Janelle Monáe, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Jesse Williams, Jasiri X, Ryan Coogler, Royce Da 5'9, Hannibal Buress, Jon Connor and Many More Today! Tweet at Us (@UnitedBlackout) Using #JusticeForFlint. For More on Our Event, Check Out the Articles Below:

• There Will Be A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night: http://bzfd.it/20TsBn9 via Buzzfeed
  
• Ryan Coogler Announces #JusticeForFlint Benefit Fundraiser: http://bit.ly/1WLQ4po via Revolt TV
  
• Here’s How to Get #JusticeForFlint Even Before Sunday’s Big Show: http://bit.ly/1QI96yo via Colorlines
  
• Ava DuVernay, Hannibal Buress, Ryan Coogler to Headline Free Event for Flint, Michigan: http://bit.ly/1oFuvfD via Entertainment Weekly
  
• Ryan Coogler to Host Free Event for Flint Water Crisis Victims on Same Night as Oscars: http://bit.ly/21dtoFa via Complex
  
• Celebrities Organize #JusticeForFlint Event on the Same Night of the Oscars: http://bit.ly/1T50z9m via Blavity
  

Take a Moment to Read the Insightful Articles Below on the Flint Water Crisis to Learn More About the Situation:

• “Since the city’s emergency managers decided to draw Flint’s water from the highly corrosive local river, this small city of 100,000 people – just 70 miles from Michigan’s great lakes, the world’s largest freshwater source – has suffered alone, let down by local, state and federal officials and almost entirely ignored by the rest of America.” The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1Tz1GxH
  
• “Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s successive emergency managers are now gone from Flint, but the wreckage of their rule there still pollutes many homes. The crisis in Flint is, on the surface, about water. The Flint debacle also is about democracy.” Democracy Now: http://bit.ly/1Q6gdLt
  
• “Environmental racism is an issue of political power: Polluters and waste sites are placed where politicians expect little or no political backlash.” The Nation: http://bit.ly/1V3R2wL
  
• “What we have here is a horrific clash of race, class, politics and public health.” The New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/1SIrHL7
  
• “First Flint’s auto manufacturing benefactor began cutting jobs. Then white flight pulled people into the suburbs. Residents of Michigan began agitating over taxes and ushered in laws that kneecapped the city’s finances. All of it set the stage for a massive public health disaster that has touched nearly everyone in the city.” Think Progress: http://bit.ly/20LtFyF
  
• We Fear the Water: Residents Struggle to Cope with Flint Water Crisis: http://bit.ly/1oCERwL
  
• “You know how many babies here is affected now man, for the rest of their lives? And to my understanding and my little research it’s irreversible once you get lead poison in the brain. It’s nothing you can do about it. And it’s like giving a whale a tic tac for bad breath man, giving us a case a water a day. How we supposed to bathe, man? I got a wife, and I got a daughter here. I need way more than one case of water now. The people in charge need to take responsibility for what they’ve done to this city, man! People out here are mad as hell man, and I’m one of ‘em.” Flint Resident Alvon Leighton in National Geographic: http://bit.ly/1PNL6YC
  

Together, We Have the Power to Make Our Voices Heard. Join Janelle Monáe, Ava DuVernay, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Jesse Williams, Jasiri X, Ryan Coogler, Royce Da 5'9, Hannibal Buress and Many More in #Flint at Our Free #JusticeForFlint Event This Sunday! To RSVP for Free, CLICK Here → http://bit.ly/24nzv8Y! Tune In to the Live Stream of the Event Exclusively on Revolt.TV Starting at 5 PM EST. Support the Local Communities in Flint and Donate by Texting JUSTICE to 83224. For More on Our Event, Check Out the Articles Below:

• There Will Be A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night: http://bzfd.it/20TsBn9
  
• Ava DuVernay, Hannibal Buress, Ryan Coogler to Headline Free Event for Flint, Michigan: http://bit.ly/1oFuvfD via Entertainment Weekly
  
• Ryan Coogler to Host Free Event for Flint Water Crisis Victims on Same Night as Oscars: http://bit.ly/21dtoFa via Complex
  
• Celebrities Organize #JusticeForFlint Event on the Same Night of the Oscars: http://bit.ly/1T50z9m via Blavity
  

Take a Moment to Read the Insightful Articles Below on the Flint Water Crisis to Learn More About the Situation:

• “Since the city’s emergency managers decided to draw Flint’s water from the highly corrosive local river, this small city of 100,000 people – just 70 miles from Michigan’s great lakes, the world’s largest freshwater source – has suffered alone, let down by local, state and federal officials and almost entirely ignored by the rest of America.” The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1Tz1GxH
  
• “Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s successive emergency managers are now gone from Flint, but the wreckage of their rule there still pollutes many homes. The crisis in Flint is, on the surface, about water. The Flint debacle also is about democracy.” Democracy Now: http://bit.ly/1Q6gdLt
  
• “Environmental racism is an issue of political power: Polluters and waste sites are placed where politicians expect little or no political backlash.” The Nation: http://bit.ly/1V3R2wL
  
• “What we have here is a horrific clash of race, class, politics and public health.” The New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/1SIrHL7
  
• “First Flint’s auto manufacturing benefactor began cutting jobs. Then white flight pulled people into the suburbs. Residents of Michigan began agitating over taxes and ushered in laws that kneecapped the city’s finances. All of it set the stage for a massive public health disaster that has touched nearly everyone in the city.” Think Progress: http://bit.ly/20LtFyF
  
• We Fear the Water: Residents Struggle to Cope with Flint Water Crisis: http://bit.ly/1oCERwL
  
• “You know how many babies here is affected now man, for the rest of their lives? And to my understanding and my little research it’s irreversible once you get lead poison in the brain. It’s nothing you can do about it. And it’s like giving a whale a tic tac for bad breath man, giving us a case a water a day. How we supposed to bathe, man? I got a wife, and I got a daughter here. I need way more than one case of water now. The people in charge need to take responsibility for what they’ve done to this city, man! People out here are mad as hell man, and I’m one of ‘em.” Flint Resident Alvon Leighton in National Geographic: http://bit.ly/1PNL6YC
  

Join Janelle Monáe, Ava DuVernay, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Jesse Williams, Jasiri X, Ryan Coogler, Royce Da 5'9, Hannibal Buress and Many More in #Flint at Our Free #JusticeForFlint Event This Sunday! To RSVP for Free, CLICK Here → http://bit.ly/24nzv8Y!For More on Our Event, Check Out the Articles Below:

• There Will Be A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night: http://bzfd.it/20TsBn9
  
• Ava DuVernay, Hannibal Buress, Ryan Coogler to Headline Free Event for Flint, Michigan: http://bit.ly/1oFuvfD via Entertainment Weekly
  
• Ryan Coogler to Host Free Event for Flint Water Crisis Victims on Same Night as Oscars: http://bit.ly/21dtoFa via Complex
  
• Celebrities Organize #JusticeForFlint Event on the Same Night of the Oscars: http://bit.ly/1T50z9m via Blavity
  

Take a Moment to Read the Insightful Articles Below on the Flint Water Crisis to Learn More About the Situation:

• “Since the city’s emergency managers decided to draw Flint’s water from the highly corrosive local river, this small city of 100,000 people – just 70 miles from Michigan’s great lakes, the world’s largest freshwater source – has suffered alone, let down by local, state and federal officials and almost entirely ignored by the rest of America.” The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1Tz1GxH
  
• Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s successive emergency managers are now gone from Flint, but the wreckage of their rule there still pollutes many homes. The crisis in Flint is, on the surface, about water. The Flint debacle also is about democracy.” Democracy Now: http://bit.ly/1Q6gdLt
  
• “Environmental racism is an issue of political power: Polluters and waste sites are placed where politicians expect little or no political backlash.” The Nation: http://bit.ly/1V3R2wL
  
• “What we have here is a horrific clash of race, class, politics and public health.” The New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/1SIrHL7
  
• “First Flint’s auto manufacturing benefactor began cutting jobs. Then white flight pulled people into the suburbs. Residents of Michigan began agitating over taxes and ushered in laws that kneecapped the city’s finances. All of it set the stage for a massive public health disaster that has touched nearly everyone in the city.” Think Progress: http://bit.ly/20LtFyF
  
• We Fear the Water: Residents Struggle to Cope with Flint Water Crisis: http://bit.ly/1oCERwL
  
• “You know how many babies here is affected now man, for the rest of their lives? And to my understanding and my little research it’s irreversible once you get lead poison in the brain. It’s nothing you can do about it. And it’s like giving a whale a tic tac for bad breath man, giving us a case a water a day. How we supposed to bathe, man? I got a wife, and I got a daughter here. I need way more than one case of water now. The people in charge need to take responsibility for what they’ve done to this city, man! People out here are mad as hell man, and I’m one of ‘em.” Flint Resident Alvon Leighton in National Geographic: http://bit.ly/1PNL6YC

Together, We Have the Power to Make Our Voices Heard. Join Janelle Monáe, Ava DuVernay, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Jesse Williams, Jasiri X, Ryan Coogler, Royce Da 5'9, Hannibal Buress and Many More in #Flint at Our Free #JusticeForFlint Event This Sunday! To RSVP for Free, CLICK Here → http://bit.ly/24nzv8Y! Tune In to the Live Stream of the Event Exclusively on Revolt.TV Starting at 5 PM EST. Support the Local Communities in Flint and Donate by Texting JUSTICE to 83224. For More on Our Event, Check Out the Articles Below:

• There Will Be A Star-Studded Free Event For Flint On Oscars Night: http://bzfd.it/20TsBn9
  
• Ava DuVernay, Hannibal Buress, Ryan Coogler to Headline Free Event for Flint, Michigan: http://bit.ly/1oFuvfD via Entertainment Weekly
  
• Ryan Coogler to Host Free Event for Flint Water Crisis Victims on Same Night as Oscars: http://bit.ly/21dtoFa via Complex
  
• Celebrities Organize #JusticeForFlint Event on the Same Night of the Oscars: http://bit.ly/1T50z9m via Blavity
  

Take a Moment to Read the Insightful Articles Below on the Flint Water Crisis to Learn More About the Situation:

• “Since the city’s emergency managers decided to draw Flint’s water from the highly corrosive local river, this small city of 100,000 people – just 70 miles from Michigan’s great lakes, the world’s largest freshwater source – has suffered alone, let down by local, state and federal officials and almost entirely ignored by the rest of America.” The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1Tz1GxH
  
• “Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s successive emergency managers are now gone from Flint, but the wreckage of their rule there still pollutes many homes. The crisis in Flint is, on the surface, about water. The Flint debacle also is about democracy.” Democracy Now: http://bit.ly/1Q6gdLt
  
• “Environmental racism is an issue of political power: Polluters and waste sites are placed where politicians expect little or no political backlash.” The Nation: http://bit.ly/1V3R2wL
  
• “What we have here is a horrific clash of race, class, politics and public health.” The New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/1SIrHL7
  
• “First Flint’s auto manufacturing benefactor began cutting jobs. Then white flight pulled people into the suburbs. Residents of Michigan began agitating over taxes and ushered in laws that kneecapped the city’s finances. All of it set the stage for a massive public health disaster that has touched nearly everyone in the city.” Think Progress: http://bit.ly/20LtFyF
  
• We Fear the Water: Residents Struggle to Cope with Flint Water Crisis: http://bit.ly/1oCERwL
  
• “You know how many babies here is affected now man, for the rest of their lives? And to my understanding and my little research it’s irreversible once you get lead poison in the brain. It’s nothing you can do about it. And it’s like giving a whale a tic tac for bad breath man, giving us a case a water a day. How we supposed to bathe, man? I got a wife, and I got a daughter here. I need way more than one case of water now. The people in charge need to take responsibility for what they’ve done to this city, man! People out here are mad as hell man, and I’m one of ‘em.” Flint Resident Alvon Leighton in National Geographic: http://bit.ly/1PNL6YC
  

In about a week, less than 1% of America raised $18 million dollars to fund a steel wall. How impossibly evil are we?

So I had to respond with a parody for financing something that actually matters, replacing Flint, Michigan’s lead-filled water pipes. You can trust me that this is not a scam, after all, I’m using my REAL name.

https://www.gofundme.com/FixFlintsWater

(Somebody already donated $100 before I finished writing this post, maybe there’s some hope for humanity)

Edit: I just want to make sure everyone knows the first half of the campaign story is a 1 to 1 spoof of “We The People Will Fund The Wall”. I added a real run down at the bottom outlining that the campaign is meant to raise awareness for this real and tangible ongoing tragedy that can be solved, the solution being to finish replacing Flint’s water pipes as quickly as possible, which is what the campaign is specifically for. There’s already campaigns that focus on supplying water in the city, which I’d like to forward the funds to if we can’t fix the pipes faster obviously.

I’m waiting to hear back from GoFundMe to see if it’s alright to send to a like-similar objective, especially since I know the few donations are from people who want to see the pipes fixed. There’s a big difference between supplying bottled water and actually solving the problem, and I especially think that if we can find $18 million dollars worth of a steel wall, Flint shouldn’t have to wait another year to get clean pipes. Either way, let’s make sure anything raised does some good and gets to the right place!

Final Edit: $2,386 dollars were raised and made it to the Flint Water Fund, hosted by the charity organization United Way of Genesee County! Thank you again to those who donated, even though the difference was a small one in comparison to this crisis, every action counts– and we made that difference.