Jonathan Sharp
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Betty Skelton, much more than a pretty face. Photo by Glen Glendenning We received many correct answers on this one…And we thank all who responded. Seems that a lot of people remember Betty Skelton, and the first two readers to respond were John Dinkel and Bill Warner. Warner also recalled that her married name was Don Frankman. In the 1950s Betty worked as a Corvette test driver and was closely involved in the car’s development.
Let's celebrate Mandela Day
On July 18, the world celebrates the birthday of Nelson Mandela and his legacy of determination that oppression can be overcome. Former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela in London, 23 June 2008 to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Professional Competition: Finalists & Shortlists Announced
The Sony World Photography Awards announces the finalists and shortlists of the 2025 Professional competition Photographic projects were recognised for technical mastery and an original approach to narrative Photographer of the Year to be announced on 16 April at a special gala ceremony in London The Sony World Photography Awards reveals today the finalists and shortlisted photographers in the 2025 Professional competition.
Keep Ukrainian Children Learning. One Day They Will Rebuild Their Country
We are grateful to the New Zealanders who continue to support children in Ukraine. They need us more than ever, as we enter the fourth year of the war. "This war has gone on so long, some children have never been inside a school," says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund. "This is the generation who will have to rebuild Ukraine. They will be the builders, engineers, teachers, and leaders of the future. It’s not just that they deserve to be safe, to learn, to have a future like any other child.
Three Years On: One In Five Children In Ukraine Has Lost A Relative Or Friend Since The Escalation Of War
One in five children in Ukraine has reported losing a close relative or friend since the escalation of war three years ago, according to survey data released by UNICEF. "For far too long, death and destruction have remained a constant in the lives of children in Ukraine," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
How The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Can Help Veterans Impacted By Toxic Exposure
Article – Independent Media Institute Decades of toxic contamination at Camp Lejeune have left veterans, military families, and civilians with devastating health issues. Camp Lejeune, a military base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was established in 1942 to train future marines for World War II.
Unequal exposure: PFAS contaminates communities of color
Environmental racism describes a social phenomenon characterized by unequal access to clean environmental resources based on race. Herein, communities of color are more likely to reside in areas with intense pollution, and are also more likely to suffer the health care cost and disability burden of living in these environments. Although various forms of pollution tend to affect these communities, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have become a major concern.
VET PFAS Act would protect veterans from 'forever chemicals'
Jonathan Sharp: VET PFAS Act would protect veterans from ‘forever chemicals’ According to the Veterans Administration, over 43,000 veterans receive a cancer diagnosis every year across the country. Toxic exposure is a major contributor to this grim statistic, as when they train at military bases, service members encounter many harmful substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS toxicity exacerbates environmental injustice for communities of color
MountainFae photo via Wikimedia Commons Environmental racism is burdening communities of color nationwide, fueled by past oppressive policies and practices such as racial segregation. Racial segregation has been forcing Black communities to live near pollution hotspots, including truck routes, industrial sites, airports, military bases, and landfills, which results in unreasonable toxic exposure.
PFAS Alternatives Act: Protecting firefighters’ health by ensuring PFAS-Free turnout gear
Firefighting is a dangerous occupation due to the toxic environment created by combustible materials, involving major risks such as smoke inhalation, oxygen deficiency, high temperatures, poisonous atmospheres, and violent air flows. Toxic exposure is prevalent among both civilian and military firefighters, as they often come in contact with harmful agents such as formaldehyde, benzene, hydrogen cyanide, asbestos, silica, and last but not least, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
A mapped dataset of surface ocean acidification indicators in large marine ecosystems of the United States - Scientific Data
Abstract Mapped monthly data products of surface ocean acidification indicators from 1998 to 2022 on a 0.25° by 0.25° spatial grid have been developed for eleven U.S. large marine ecosystems (LMEs).
Veterans exposed to toxins deserve better
Toxic exposure at military bases has been overlooked for decades, but it can result in serious, often life-threatening illnesses for veterans. Over 700 military installations nationwide are contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals” due to their ability to persist in the environment and the human body. Exposure to these hazardous substances can cause myriad health problems, including prostate, kidney and testicular cancer.
It's vital to find alternatives to firefighting foam Original
Decades of regular use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) at military bases, airports, and firefighting facilities in Oregon have contaminated the groundwater, wells, and soil with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at and around those facilities. However, the state's administration has not proposed or enacted any regulation regarding the use of AFFF yet.
Policy Considerations for a Safer Replacement of the Toxic AFFF Firefighting Foam in Ohio
In Ohio and elsewhere in the U.S., decades of widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) resulted in contamination of ground- and surface water, and consequently of drinking water, with hazardous chemicals. AFFF is a Class-B firefighting foam widely used since the 1960s by firefighters at municipal fire departments, commercial airports, and military installations. It is the most potent foam designed to extinguish fuel fires on the market.
OpEd: The 9/11 Notice Act, Encouraging Toxic Exposure Victims to Register with Federal Health and Compensation Programs
On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists from the Islamist extreme group Al Qaeda hijacked four aircraft and crashed two into the World Trade Center in New York City. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia.
How the VET PFAS Act could help veterans injured by toxic exposure at military bases
More than 43,000 veterans receive a cancer diagnosis every year across the country, and a major contributing factor to this harrowing statistic is toxic exposure occurring at military bases. Right now, there are 710 military installations contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances nationwide.
Is alternative fire suppressant safer for firefighters? Original
Over the past decade, cancer incidence and mortality among firefighters has skyrocketed. Today, cancer is a leading cause of death in firefighters, as they are 14% more likely to die of a malignant disease than the general population. A major contributor to this grim statistic is toxic exposure, which this occupational group faces regularly.
United Kingdom: Pensions - Preparing for abolition of the lifetime allowance - Key considerations for trustees and employers
In brief The Finance Bill 2024 has been published. This includes provisions implementing the abolition of the lifetime allowance from 6 April 2024. Whilst many of the changes associated with the abolition of the lifetime allowance have already come into force from 6 April 2023, the removal of allowance itself will give rise to a number of considerations for employers and trustees.
The VET PFAS Act: Restoring equitable VA benefits to veterans - South Central Florida Life
By Jonathan Sharp Chief Financial Officer Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. Military service entails countless risks, from permanent hearing loss to severe combat injuries. Still, a more obscure health threat to service members is toxic exposure, which occurs at nearly all military bases across the country at the moment.
Exposed veterans can benefit from PFAS Act
By Jonathan Sharp | Times Observer | October 14, 2023 Read the full article by Jonathan Sharp (Times Observer) "Pennsylvania is home to nearly 800,000 veterans, and many of these brave people trained at military bases during active duty. However, the vast majority of military installations across the country have been heavily contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” for decades.
How the VET PFAS Act Could Help New York Veterans Injured by Toxic Exposure at Military Bases
By Jonathan Sharp, CFO, Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. While the risks of military service are countless, from permanent hearing loss to serious combat injuries, a more insidious health threat is toxic exposure, which occurs at the vast majority of military bases nationwide.
United Kingdom: Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023
In brief Legislation allowing for the automatic enrolment regime to be extended has received royal assent. The changes will allow the Government to issue regulations in due course to implement two changes proposed as part of its 2017 review of automatic enrolment: Firstly, to reduce the lower age limit at which workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers to age 18 (currently this is age 22).
The New VET PFAS Act 2023: A Turning Point for New York Veterans Affected by Toxic Exposure on Military Bases
September 27, 2023 By Jonathan Sharp– New York is home to 838,000 veterans and has the fifth-largest veteran population in the country. Most of these brave people trained at military bases nationwide while they were on active duty. However, a lesser-known fact about military bases is that the environment of nearly all of these installations has been contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” for decades.
OPINION: The Honoring Our PACT Act Demands Justice for Pennsylvania Veterans Injured by Toxic Exposure at Military Bases
Veterans encounter countless health risks while defending our country, from permanent hearing loss to serious combat injuries. Still, a less known threat to their health is toxic exposure, which occurs at nearly all military bases nationwide. Currently, over 700 military installations across the country are contaminated with “forever chemicals” as a result of firefighters and trainees excessively using AFFF, a highly toxic fire suppressant that sometimes contains 98 percent of these substances.
Toxic Exposure at Florida Military Bases, Threatens the Health of Veterans and Communities – How the Honoring Our PACT Act Might be a Game Changer
Florida hosts 21 military bases, some for every branch of the military. The Jacksonville area is home to most of the military bases in the state, but they exist in other coastal areas, too. What all the military bases have in common is toxic environmental contamination, especially with PFAS. These highly toxic chemicals ended up in the drinking water and soil of military bases due to firefighters and trainees using the firefighting foam AFFF excessively.
78 percent of Camp Lejeune claims denied: the military’s toxic legacy of water contamination
This story is intended to raise awareness about issues surrounding Camp Lejeune water contamination and is sponsored by Environmental Litigation Group. While most military bases nationwide have a history of toxic environmental contamination, the case of Camp Lejeune stands out because of the severity and extent of the issue. Between 1953 and 1987, as many as one million people living at the military base drank water in which volatile organic compounds were lurking.
Honoring Our PACT Act helps veterans qualify for Veterans Affairs benefits
While defending our country, veterans faced countless dangers, from permanent hearing loss to traumatic brain injuries. Still, a more obscure risk serving in the military entails is toxic exposure, which is responsible for crippling diseases among veterans. As a consequence of negligence, the vast majority of military bases nationwide are now contaminated with toxic substances.
Topical groupings of research addressed in Peruvian wetland-related...
Source publication Wetlands are crucial hydrological features that provide benefits, including ecosystem services and habitat conservation, protection from flooding associated with sea level rise and extreme events, water storage and treatment, recreation, and aesthetics, among others. Peru is one of the few countries in Latin America that has not developed a nationa... Context 1 ...
Op-Ed: Camp Lejeune Veterans' Benefits Wrongly Denied by VA for Their Life-Threatening Diseases
By now, most veterans know that the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was heavily contaminated with volatile organic compounds between 1953 and 1987. At the Hadnot Point water plant, the trichloroethylene level exceeded the safe exposure limit by 208 times, whereas at Tarawa Terrace, the perchloroethylene level eclipsed it by 43 times.
The Honoring Our PACT Act: a game-changer for Arkansas veterans affected by toxic exposure
by Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate April 18, 2023 Arkansas is home to over 222,000 veterans, which equals nearly 10% of the state’s entire population. During the last century, many were stationed on military bases with known environmental contamination, making these brave people susceptible to developing life-threatening diseases such as liver cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, and bladder cancer.
VA failing Camp Lejeune veterans
Veterans have been facing countless risks while they were on active duty that endangered their lives. A more obscure health-care threat veterans stationed at military bases encountered was toxic exposure. Camp Lejeune is the perfect example in this regard, as for nearly 35 years, the drinking water at the military facility was heavily contaminated with volatile organic compounds.
Malmstrom Air Force Base contributing to environmental racism among neighboring communities
When people of color and communities living in poverty are disproportionately exposed to toxic agents from nearby pollution hotspots, environmental racism occurs. As a global phenomenon, environmental racism is present everywhere, including Montana. Perhaps the most concerning source of environmental injustice is the state's mining laws, which fail to provide fair treatment and protection for all residents from the impact of mining activities.
Environmental racism in Arizona, fueled by the presence of military bases Original
As a global phenomenon, environmental racism occurs when communities of color are disproportionately impacted by toxic exposure because of the neighborhoods they live in. Due to factors such as the inaccessibility of affordable rent or land, historical racism, and lack of power to fight corporations, Black, Latino and Indigenous people are usually forced to inhabit areas close to industrial sites, landfills, truck routes, ports, and military bases.
Environmental racism in Tennessee, fueled by the presence of military bases – Tennessee Lookout
by Jonathan Sharp, Tennessee Lookout January 17, 2023 As a nationwide phenomenon, environmental racism occurs when low-income people of color are disproportionately exposed to pollution due to the neighborhoods they are forced to live in. There are many factors that have been contributing to environmental injustice over the decades, such as the inaccessibility of affordable land, racial segregation, and lack of political power to fight corporations.
Military bases are a big contributor to environmental racism in southeastern Pa. | Opinion
By Jonathan Sharp As a worldwide phenomenon, environmental racism occurs when low-income communities of color are disproportionately exposed to pollution because of the areas they are forced to inhabit.
An Entire Decade of Benefits Denial for Vets After Toxic Chemical Exposure?
Camp Lejeune, a military base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was established in 1942 to train future Marines for World War II. While it is known as the home of “Expeditionary Forces in Readiness,” the facility also has a long history of contamination with toxic chemicals such as perchloroethylene, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene, and benzene. In 1982, volatile organic compounds—gasses released by these solvents—were found at Camp Lejeune.
An entire decade of benefits denial for vets after toxic chemical exposure?
Understand the importance of honest news ? So do we. The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception. We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support.
Opinion: Military bases threaten the health of Alaska Native communities by causing environmental racism
Environmental racism is a relatively new concept. It refers to the disproportionate pollution amount minority communities are exposed to due to the presence of industrial sites, toxic landfills, truck routes, but also military installations close to the areas they inhabit. The Yupik and Inuit are two Alaska Native peoples highly impacted by this phenomenon.
Environmental racism affects people living on military bases and the surrounding communities
Minority neighborhoods are often clustered around industrial sites, ports, truck routes, and military bases, all of which are sources of toxic exposure. This phenomenon, which is an example of environmental racism, is also impacting black active-duty service members.
Organizing for Racial Equity Within the Federal Government
The Biden Administration is using a “whole-of government” approach to ensure that all federal agencies center environmental and climate justice in domestic and foreign policy. However, to achieve true environmental and climate justice, racial equity must be centered in order to fully tackle the degree to which white supremacy and systemic racism are entrenched in federal policy. The Biden administration has begun taking on this complex issue by organizing within.
Environmental Racism and Social Injustice at Military Bases
Camp Lejeune is one of many military bases across the United States with a history of severe contamination. Built in 1942, it covers over 156,000 acres in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From the beginning, its mission was to train marines and sailors for war. Between 1953 and 1987, one million people lived at Camp Lejeune, all of whom are now at high risk of developing serious health problems due to drinking tainted water.
Military bases are responsible for toxic environments
As a worldwide phenomenon, environmental racism occurs when communities of color disproportionately experience toxic exposure because of the severely polluted neighborhoods they live in. Factors such as the unavailability of affordable land, a history of racism, and a lack of power to fight corporations are major contributors to environmental injustice. In New York, the communities of color in Harlem and Bronx come in contact with over 30% of the city's waste and process 70% of sewage sludge.
Great Game in Ukraine Is Spinning Out of Control
Former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski famously described Ukraine as a “geopolitical pivot” of Eurasia, central to both US and Russian power. Since Russia views its vital security interests to be at stake in the current conflict, the war in Ukraine is rapidly escalating to a nuclear showdown. It’s urgent for both the US and Russia to exercise restraint before disaster hits.
Centuries-Old Thinking Applies Well to Today’s Politics
The political gulf in contemporary America—amply evident in what we witness, read, and experience—tends to be expressed as categorical differences, such as Liberal vs. Conservative and Democrat v. Republican. Often missing from consideration are the philosophical underpinnings associated with contrasting perspectives.
Environmental Racism at California's Military Bases
California is home to at least seven military bases whose drinking water was contaminated with high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals, PFAS, are extremely detrimental to human health, as significant exposure can result in crippling diseases such as kidney cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, they are persistent environmental contaminants, some taking over a thousand years to break down completely.
Jonathan Sharp
Minority neighborhoods often suffer greater environmental problems. In the US, particularly, military bases sometimes play a role in this.
Environmental racism and its surprising connection to military bases
Minority neighborhoods are often clustered around industrial sites, ports, truck routes, and military bases — all of which can be sources of toxic exposure. This phenomenon, part of a broader problem called environmental racism, is also impacting black active-duty service members.
Why Are Military Women Affected by Toxic Exposure More than Men?
The fact that medical professionals seldom ask women whether they served in the military upon assigning them a diagnosis is just one of the reasons why many female veterans fail to receive the healthcare they need. Across the United States, there are between 450 and 500 military bases, out of which at least 385 are heavily contaminated with PFAS, a group of toxic chemicals. The source of PFAS on military bases is the use of aqueous film-forming foam – AFFF for short – by firefighters and trainees.
Toxic Chemical Exposure Harms Environment and Veterans
Toxic chemicals have a huge impact on our lives. They are causing serious damage to the environment and our health. Human Rights Watch recently summarized the findings of a study detailing the environmental and social consequences of chemical pollution. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology, which showed that the government must take greater steps to protect the environment and humans from the dangers of these chemicals.
Fe-MAN-ist Voices: The Women Who Shaped My Words
In 1963, I stood in my grandmother’s garden, watching her pick peas and toss them into the galvanized metal bucket I was holding. I was somewhat befuddled. Most of the time I was chased out of said garden with a sharp clap of the hands and an exclamation of ‘Pot fulla blooma!’ which, when translated from grandma-speak, meant ‘You better get your little butt out of my garden!’ But on this day, she had asked me to be her helper.
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