Erin Brockovich, the brash legal clerk turned environmental powerhouse, kicked off the 31st annual Featured Speakers Series at Kent State University at Stark in September.
Brockovich met with students in the campus’ Environmental Studies program and spoke about her experiences building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. involving groundwater contamination in the small town of Hinkley, California, back in the 1990s. She also talked to students about the present-day water quality issues that span the world — from Flint, Michigan, to Camp Lejeune to Australia and beyond.
“I thought this was a one-time thing with Hinkley,” Brockovich said. “I had no idea how big this really is. Contamination of our water supply is still a major issue and it’s up to us to educate ourselves and stand up for our communities.”
Brockovich and her team have established the website, Community Healthbook at www.communityhealthbook.com, to enable everyday people to report and share information about water, air and land issues happening in their backyards.
Brockovich, president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, is currently involved in numerous environmental projects worldwide. She also assists with groundwater contamination complaints in every state, as well as overseas. A bestselling author, her most recent book is “Superman’s Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It.”
And while it’s been over 20 years since Julia Roberts starred in the Oscar-winning film, “Erin Brockovich”, it turned this unknown legal researcher into a 20th century icon by showcasing how her dogged persistence was the impelling force behind the largest medical settlement lawsuit in history.