"No off-site impact" is what the petrochemical-producing companies of Chemical Valley promised the residents of Sarnia, Ontario. Canada's Chemical Valley is a massive group of industrial plants located just east of the St. Clair River in southern Sarnia that make up 40 per cent of Canada's petro chemical industry.

With a total of 62 large chemical- producing companies located so close to a major water supply and the city, people living in Sarnia have been worried about the effects of pollution. However, some of these people feel that company owners, healthcare professionals and government officials in the area are not concerned.

Residents of Lambton County, especially members of the Aamjiwnaang community, have been speaking out against the companies and the hazardous health effects of pollution. On the Aamjiwnaang reserve — located close to the group of industrial plants — the residents have been suffering from various forms of cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and immune system deficiencies, which they believe can be linked to the pollution of Chemical Valley.

Fanshawe's Social Justice Club is trying to get students involved in their community and the issues that affect it. They held a viewing of the documentary The Beloved Community and invited a panel of experts for discussion in hopes of spreading the message and concern about Sarnia's Chemical Valley.

The documentary focused on the residents living on the Aamjiwnaang reserve in Sarnia and the negative health effects the group of industrial plants has had on them.

Event Organizer and Nursing student Jessica Conlon said this issue hits home for her because she sees how the environment affects our health every day. She added, "It's not fair that people are making a profit off of things that are making people sick."

Vanessa Gray founded a group called Green Teens and is now a member of Fanshawe's Social Justice Club. Green Teens is a youth group and community movement to help teens get involved with environmental issues. The group was started on the Aamjiwnaang reserve and has been working to educate people about Chemical Valley. Gray said she hopes the group will help its members speak up about what they're passionate about and that "their voice would be loud enough for important people to hear."

While Green Teens is currently only located in Sarnia, Gray said she hopes to see the group grow beyond the small community and reach teens in other areas of Ontario. Green Teens holds community events in Sarnia, but Gray said anyone is welcome if they would like to get involved.

The chemical pollution is a major issue in Lambton County, but Fanshawe students and other residents of London are still affected. Gray said, "The environment isn't just for us who live right next to a chemical valley to worry about. I think it affects us all."

Toban Black is a London Community Organizer and university student who said he believes that there is "a lot of potential for improvement" regarding the pollution in Sarina. He also said that the air and water pollution is not just isolated within the city. Because London is so closely located to Sarnia, it isn't difficult to see that the pollution and health effects stream into our city.

Gary Brown, a Green Party Member in London, said, "It's time we start standing up and talking about this as a community." He added that concerned London citizens can get involved by writing to our Minister of Health, Deb Matthews, about the health effects of pollution.

For more information on Sarnia's Chemical Valley and other environmental issues, visit ecojustice.ca.