The film “The Organizer” was released in 1964. Marcello Mastroianni plays a labor organizer in late 19th Turin. The film is a gritty depiction of conditions in the early days of the industrial revolution when workers worked 14-hour days and had no hope of advancement. I love that film and the determination on the part of the workers to fight back, even though they lost in the end.
Which brings me to Linda Christman. When she realized the PennEast Pipeline was slated to cut across our farm, she decided to fight. She had yard signs made, raised money, reached out to environmental groups, organized demonstrations and bus trips to the Delaware River Basin Commission meetings, put together a group called “Save Carbon County,” arranged for people to testify to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, taught them how to become intervenors, learned eminent domain rules, partnered with New Jersey activists, organized rallies, testified at public hearings and recruited others to testify, and worked with local officials.
When people were discouraged, she gave them hope. She kept telling people we could beat this pipeline, even though to stop a pipeline seemed nearly impossible. I know there were hundreds of people and many groups who fought the pipeline, and I know the New Jersey governor and environmental agencies were important, but I also know in Pennsylvania it was Linda who led the opposition and saved wetlands, state game lands, and state parks.
She is an organizer and truly amazing. This time we won.
Linda is the greatest. She kept the faith and never gave up.
ReplyDelete