Toms River by Dan Fagin
There's something about a story like this that fires me up. From the very first chapter I was itching to read more and find out who did it, how it was allowed to happen, why it took so long to do something about it and what is being done to make sure it will never, ever happen again.
If I could, I'd shake the author's hand. Hell, I'd give him a big hug because he's done some outstanding journalism to bring this story to light. As a journalist myself I can only imagine how massive and daunting a task it was to pull this piece of work together.
Fagin did a tremendous job of telling the story of Toms River; a town which became a dumping ground for global chemical companies who buried tens of thousands of drums of toxic waste in pits which then leaked billions of gallons of acid-laced waste water into the town's river system. A river where children played in the summer time and where the town's drinking water was sourced. So strong was the toxicity, that the workers from the chemical plant began to smell the same, distinct odour from the chemicals at their workplace coming through the water they were showering in at home.
This is a story of red flags that were ignored. It's about the victims, the people who spoke up, the town that suffered and those who deserved to be punished.
For anyone who has ever questioned the role and power of big companies, particularly those with a stranglehold on isolated communities, then this is a book you will want to read.
If I could, I'd shake the author's hand. Hell, I'd give him a big hug because he's done some outstanding journalism to bring this story to light. As a journalist myself I can only imagine how massive and daunting a task it was to pull this piece of work together.
Fagin did a tremendous job of telling the story of Toms River; a town which became a dumping ground for global chemical companies who buried tens of thousands of drums of toxic waste in pits which then leaked billions of gallons of acid-laced waste water into the town's river system. A river where children played in the summer time and where the town's drinking water was sourced. So strong was the toxicity, that the workers from the chemical plant began to smell the same, distinct odour from the chemicals at their workplace coming through the water they were showering in at home.
This is a story of red flags that were ignored. It's about the victims, the people who spoke up, the town that suffered and those who deserved to be punished.
For anyone who has ever questioned the role and power of big companies, particularly those with a stranglehold on isolated communities, then this is a book you will want to read.