Canada's Toxic Chemical Valley (Full Length)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2013
  • The first thing you notice about Sarnia, Ontario, is the smell: a potent mix of gasoline, melting asphalt, and the occasional trace of rotten egg. Shortly after my arrival I already felt unpleasantly high and dizzy, like I wasn't getting enough air. Maybe this had something to do with the bouquet of smokestacks in the southern part of town that, all day every day, belch fumes and orange flares like something out of a Blade Runner-esque dystopia.
    Sarnia is home to more than 60 refineries and chemical plants that produce gasoline, synthetic rubbers, and other materials that the world's industries require to create the commercial products we know and love. The city's most prominent and profitable attraction is an area about the size of 100 city blocks known as the Chemical Valley, where 40 percent of Canada's chemical industry can be found packed together like a noxious megalopolis. According to a 2011 report by the World Health Organization, Sarnia's air is the most polluted air in Canada. There are more toxic air pollutants billowing out of smokestacks here than in all of the provinces of New Brunswick or Manitoba.
    Read the full article on VICE here: bit.ly/Chemical-Valley
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.4K

  • @JanacMeena
    @JanacMeena 8 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Besides gaining awareness of the chemical valley controversy, this video also taught me how difficult it is for people to "just move". Clearly its a dangerous place to live, yet they can't just move because of moving expenses, difficulty finding a new job, friends and family may live close by, children have already started school. I would have thought everyone would just move after the first cancerous death in the family, but I suppose its not that simple.

  • @Ryu-ib3ip
    @Ryu-ib3ip 6 ปีที่แล้ว +85

    "The more clouds in the sky, the more people will die" - little girl

    • @dandruff8881
      @dandruff8881 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sounds an awful lot like the "More smog in the sky the more people will buy," from the Lorax.

  • @jessicajackson5737
    @jessicajackson5737 4 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    6 1/2 years later and nothing has changed. It's a shame my family has to suffer.

  • @FackAttack
    @FackAttack 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    The final couple minutes of this were some of the most powerful words I've ever heard regarding how we used to view industry versus how it really is.

    • @sbwhite599
      @sbwhite599 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      yeah, if you know nothing about the industry....

  • @MattFolx
    @MattFolx 10 ปีที่แล้ว +190

    As a Canadian, I'm a shamed that I never learned about this, I believed (being born and raised in British Columbia) the water and air was always clean in Canada, this Vid proved me wrong....sure, there is gonna be pollution every where.......but it shouldn't be destroying families like this industrial area has......

    • @caitlynenns
      @caitlynenns 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      MattFolx the only good quality air and water is BC 😂 Manitoba it just as bad 😂

    • @raelyons130
      @raelyons130 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Im also from bc, I live in the okanagan, and thought the same thing u did, this is so wrong, I had no idea

    • @demilishing
      @demilishing 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@raelyons130 I live in the Okanagan too and knew about this from a young age, maybe it's because my mom is Albertan. We benefit from oil and gas everyday, without it Canada wouldn't be the same. We are a resourced based nation.

    • @ghostdusters5415
      @ghostdusters5415 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      MattFolx I’m from Sarnia so I’m boutta die

    • @bimmjim
      @bimmjim 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      .. Anybody who prevents proper epidemiology studies from being done should be put in jail.

  • @GetAFuckinClue
    @GetAFuckinClue 10 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    in my country your rights end where another persons rights begin..
    and if you don't think people should have the right to clean food and water then you are a sociopath..

    • @bimmjim
      @bimmjim 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      .. Anybody who prevents proper epidemiology studies from being done should be put in jail.

    • @ray_ayy
      @ray_ayy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      And what country is that, friend? I’d love to live there.

    • @sbwhite599
      @sbwhite599 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      citizen of where fucker?

  • @milkgg1394
    @milkgg1394 8 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    14:17 if we keep this up imagine in the future all of our lakes and rivers will have that sign. Scary shit.

  • @jaymorpheus11
    @jaymorpheus11 9 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    national news should be focused on this more, not about some run of the mill dope seller.

  • @MrPresidentSwole
    @MrPresidentSwole 10 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Coming from someone who lives across the river, I'm so glad that someone finally put together something that shows the issues of this valley. The county that I live in has the highest cancer rates in the state and has high levels of asthma. This isn't just a Canadian Issue. Many people where I live are effected by Chemical Valley.

  • @billiamc1969
    @billiamc1969 9 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    What a sad state of affairs...humanity has failed itself...

    • @fzerowipeoutlover
      @fzerowipeoutlover 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      BeeFriendlyApiary Now, it's time for humans to get wiped out.

    • @amypieterse3706
      @amypieterse3706 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      we are all full of love. we are all so full of hurt

    • @loganlester172
      @loganlester172 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Because America is so much better.

  • @EliasLeo6
    @EliasLeo6 9 ปีที่แล้ว +128

    crazy how people still defend those companies.

    • @kurtiskaskowski5386
      @kurtiskaskowski5386 6 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Says someone using products from these companies on a daily basis.....

    • @markauditor7873
      @markauditor7873 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      jobs thats why

    • @johncannon631
      @johncannon631 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Because you make good money working for theses companies

    • @carolinemorin6646
      @carolinemorin6646 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Going to work to die

    • @tymunday6873
      @tymunday6873 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@carolinemorin6646 how do you figure?

  • @TiborRoussou
    @TiborRoussou 9 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    It's criminal the amount of pollution being created in Canada from the energy industry. It saddens me to see what we are doing to our country, for money.

    • @sbwhite599
      @sbwhite599 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      YA, if your an idiot!

  • @hydro.pl.27
    @hydro.pl.27 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    New Jersey is infamous for refineries like Sarnia.

  • @MsNooneinparticular
    @MsNooneinparticular 4 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Can't imagine living somewhere that toxic & not being able to escape. Just waiting for some horrific disease to strike you down. Smelling poison every day, seeing dead birds on the ground... Ought to put these CEOs & their kids on the toxic reservations they create since they think they're so great.

    • @tymunday6873
      @tymunday6873 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      You realize that birds can die naturally right? Hit by cars, old age. There are tons of birds that live inside the refineries and do fine. Sarnia doesnt even have high cancer rates, and there isnt poison in the air. The air is monitored and canada has the strictest environmental laws in the world. Everywhere else strives to do what the valley does. The natives are just bitching because they can. People of corunna dont complain, people of sarnia dont even complain. Seems kinda odd to me. Oh and those clouds of vapor they are talking about is steam. Literally hot water

    • @evaone
      @evaone 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@tymunday6873 keep living in your bubble

    • @olhydra
      @olhydra 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ty Munday you’re a goddamn shill dude. you’ve responded to just about every comment criticizing these practices, by singing the praises of giant corporations who are demonstrably pumping toxic chemicals into the environment and killing people. I hope you’re getting a big fat check for selling your sad shriveled little soul you fucking disgusting bootlicker.

    • @RyanStonedonCanadianGaming
      @RyanStonedonCanadianGaming 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@tymunday6873
      Go breath in that "hot water"
      Dipshit.

    • @sbwhite599
      @sbwhite599 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      lol shut up.

  • @ipod1978
    @ipod1978 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Great video. One of the better Vice docs. It would be nice to see an updated vid on this story as of today, 2016, to see what (if any) changes have been made and what the current situation is like for those who still live there.

    • @shyannwilliams4059
      @shyannwilliams4059 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey just an update. Nothing has happened so far .

  • @JadensRedemption
    @JadensRedemption 9 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    This story reminds me of my own experiences working near h2s facilities. The training they gave us for safe work practices were very gloom and doom. If you hear a siren, run for your life, up hill, and cross wind. A siren goes off and all panic, only to realize that it is break time in the middle of the Canadian wild. Anyways, the day that we did smell rotten eggs in the air, a chemically induced odor to provide sensory warning to an otherwise odorless killer, as stressed in training. This was a h2s leak, although we were told that it was a minor leak, so as to make us feel safe working in the area, to meet our production goals. I cannot quite remember the excuse that we were given for the siren failing to sound.

  • @thekatt...
    @thekatt... 4 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    We took ALL of southern ontario , once-great fields of organically grown crops, away from the first people's ...we literally paved paradise an' put up a parking lot.
    Smdh.

  • @RancidYogurt
    @RancidYogurt 10 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I used to live there, and I remember in elementary school if there was a leak in one of the plants we weren't allowed to go outside for that day. In the middle of the night one time a pipe broke and the whole town woke up with how loud it was. I used to get horrible migraines but since I've moved I don't have that problem anymore.

  • @Krezmick
    @Krezmick 10 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I only live a few miles away from there. When I visit my grand parents in BC I notice that the air is much cleaner there than where I currently live. The first chance I get im moving well away from that area. My grandparents were smart to do so and even said that it was because of that horrible air they had to move.

  • @JJDiddley
    @JJDiddley 5 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    "You're probably not a great guy then." - both agree😂

    • @cjmickinak
      @cjmickinak 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      i dont think many caught that they dude legit agreed to being a killer no? wtf

  • @vstar7196
    @vstar7196 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I grew up in Sarnia dating back to the 70’s. Beautiful city - north of Chemical Valley. In the mornings I would walk to school and if the wind was blowing south to north, you could smell the refineries. The joke was “Sarnia... the city with morning breath.” Dow Chemical was responsible for most of the toxic ground and water pollution in area. There was the mercury spill into the St. Clair river in the early 70’s. When Dow finally shutdown their site, they couldn’t vacate the property. The ground is so badly contaminated that the cost to clean it up out weighs the cost to just pay the taxes to hold on to it indefinitely. Dow maintains a security gate at the entrance to keep people out of the cesspool of toxicity. Then there’s Centennial Park. A beautiful park on Sarnia Bay that was closed for many years because of ground pollution. Today, the park is only partially open. Both of my parents dies of cancer. All but two of my aunts and uncles died of it as well. Fortunately I only in Sarnia for eight years. Beautiful city that the huge petrochemical companies destroyed.

    • @Thevacomaticvacuumcorner
      @Thevacomaticvacuumcorner 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dow Chemical also was involved in Rocky Flats with rockwell in the us

  • @dannytourigny9403
    @dannytourigny9403 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    And to think that I was considering possibly moving there for a more affordable living! NOPE! Thank you VICE for this documentary!

  • @himesguitar
    @himesguitar 10 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    I may have 4 arms but sarnia hasnt done me wrong in the 3 years ive lived here....kinda helps with shit

  • @mikeyakafranky33
    @mikeyakafranky33 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great job as usual Vice. This is 3hrs from where I live. Who would have thought

  • @willbarbour9695
    @willbarbour9695 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    In water: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated compounds
    In air: petroleum products like BTEX,hexane and byproducts like hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans

    • @koilamaoh4238
      @koilamaoh4238 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Well water has never been 100% safe to drink. All water around the world has toxicity/arsenic values, in which we have to filter like crazy. Also flouride to boot. Since its natural :).

  • @Swansen03
    @Swansen03 9 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    what are we doing. really though, this is the weight of a human life.

  • @bpleitez
    @bpleitez 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Always great journalism work Vice. Keep it up.

  • @SteveSearches
    @SteveSearches 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'm an engineer, and design some of the products used in the plants in this area. These companies pay very well, and most of the blue collar workers make more than I do. So, pretty hard to believe anyone is forced to live there. Why would anyone continue to live in a known toxic area? The one guy at the end that died from mesothelioma continued to work around asbestos for decades even tho we've known the danger since the sixties. Canada is big, you don't have to live where you work.

  • @thenobleandmightybeaver4411
    @thenobleandmightybeaver4411 8 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I grew up here. The chemical valley is actually not in Sarnia per se. It is sandwiched between a Sarnia Industrial area and the Aamjiwnaang reserve and Corunna. The chemical plant they keep showing (Suncor) is where my mom worked for 25 years.

    • @markhart6203
      @markhart6203 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +AmesKtown Please stop trying to explain it to them..nobody cares.. if you don't like it move!

    • @thenobleandmightybeaver4411
      @thenobleandmightybeaver4411 8 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Mark Hart What are you on about? If "nobody" cares why even bother commenting? I guess that makes you nobody.

    • @pseudonamed
      @pseudonamed 8 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      +Mark Hart If people just move every time a company destroys their area, eventually there will be nowhere to escape. Just moving doesn't solve the problem. Industry needs to stop polluting us.

    • @norinradful
      @norinradful 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +R M. so true

    • @UthinkUknowlol3715
      @UthinkUknowlol3715 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +R M. money and greed will always supercede the publics well being. it will only get worse. the fact is if you dont want to be exposed to this filth.. move. no one forces anyone to live in one location

  • @ThePilotGear
    @ThePilotGear 7 ปีที่แล้ว +135

    "Yeah, that fish there's got cancer."
    **puffs cigarette**

    • @suckstosuck7605
      @suckstosuck7605 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      ThePilotGear that is very ignorant, you are basically saying if one person wants to commit suicide it is fine if some one murders them

    • @xripxmtg5884
      @xripxmtg5884 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      ThePilotGear lmao I agree the people that protest are brain dead they don't think

    • @PsychosisRecords
      @PsychosisRecords 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      XRIPX MTG dat dum der guy he jus dun not tink

    • @PsychosisRecords
      @PsychosisRecords 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      XRIPX MTG give your head a shake.

    • @simper1425
      @simper1425 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was going to say the same i am from around there and I ain’t got no fucking cancer

  • @TheRoboticPrimate
    @TheRoboticPrimate 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    hahahahaha I'm from sarnia and I just KNEW it would be about sarnia...

  • @Markmeblablabla
    @Markmeblablabla 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for bringing some attention to this problem, Vice.

  • @Aspenetric
    @Aspenetric 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Nifty, thanks for sharing. Pollution's gotta stop. .-.

  • @frantichornet0077
    @frantichornet0077 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Shit I live in sarnia and that’s why I stay inside all day and moving away when I’m older

  • @mathavian
    @mathavian 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Sarnia is a beautiful place to live. I love these videos, they keep the idiots away from driving up the housing costs and crowding our picturesque beaches. The amount of bias is so blatant.

  • @Rdgcan
    @Rdgcan 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great doc. Thanks for uploading

  • @georgev.caeseele8563
    @georgev.caeseele8563 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I have put this vid on my face book and asked every one to share

  • @smoothingmusic5010
    @smoothingmusic5010 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    never knew about this, this should have more attention on

  • @TheManySingsToUs
    @TheManySingsToUs 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the documentary. I am also really digging the ambient track that you use through a majority of it. Which artist is that or was this specially made for the doc? Thanks!

  • @jailbaithooker
    @jailbaithooker 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I can totally relate to this video. I live in Niagara Falls, NY, home to Love Canal, various chemical leaks, and a massive garbage dump right in the center of the city. My mother died from an unknown disease that basically ate her organs, my cousin had leukemia and eventually died from a brain tumor, my grandmother as had several cancers and my best friend had a brain tumor at the age of 21. There are people who actually live on Love Canal because they said it is safe and they cleaned it up.

  • @Noah-le2sm
    @Noah-le2sm 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    It's so frustrating that if you live in southern Michigan the 2 closest major Canadian cities are both very polluted.

    • @choklatechuck
      @choklatechuck 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Half of Sarnia's airborne pollution comes from Michigan.

    • @gonzo8744
      @gonzo8744 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Looking at this comment now is funny. Especially if you live in our area and watch local news. All of the American companies illegally storing/dumping poisonous chemicals all along the Detroit River \ lake St. Clair. Look at Zug island and Koch industries.

  • @fluffycy
    @fluffycy 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thank you guys for showing the world what we live and breathe in, everyday. I have always been a fan of Vice, and since seeing this documentary of my city, i respect this channel alot more. Thanks again guys.

  • @SaltyBreeze31
    @SaltyBreeze31 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't live anywhere near here but I really enjoyed this video. I'm laughing reading the comments b/c I also just stumbled upon it. So interesting! I love this kind of history. I spend a lot of time hiking locally with my dogs. There are so many historic areas lost to time that I am curious about but when I research them I hit a dead end. Your tenacity is impressive! Thanks ☺

    • @aleco678
      @aleco678 ปีที่แล้ว

      I feel sad living here all of my life so far, yet I don’t even work there so I’m not making good $, but still have to breathe in this stuff everyday

  • @SiConverted
    @SiConverted 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One of the best docs I've ever seen...

  • @GetSignalized
    @GetSignalized 10 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Anyone remember the show "the oblongs"

  • @baliebox4916
    @baliebox4916 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    this place would make a great sonic level

  • @Debster8554
    @Debster8554 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks to Vice for more vids about stuff we need to know about!!

  • @Waynev111
    @Waynev111 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you vice for reporting on REAL issues! You guys are awesome! I can't believe it's money over everything! Keep reporting on this and let's all stand for these people! I would move, and fight from a safe distance, for my kids!

  • @rebekahdrummond2818
    @rebekahdrummond2818 4 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    I literally live in southern Ontario, why wasn’t I taught this??

    • @grindcoreninja6527
      @grindcoreninja6527 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Greed.

    • @Skelstoolbox
      @Skelstoolbox 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Literally lived there, as opposed to molecularly lived there... My mom grew up in Sarnia, 121 Margaret st... Every morning their cabinets would be covered in black grime.. That was the 1960's.. I grew up in KW, 200 km away maybe, a bit better..

    • @grindcoreninja6527
      @grindcoreninja6527 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Skelstoolbox Either way it's fucked, we need to prevent greed from overwhelming the populace.

    • @lesterclaypool1
      @lesterclaypool1 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Why didn't you see it, or was your life that blessed?

  • @VirtualVernon
    @VirtualVernon 8 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Why don't you guys go to southwest Detroit, Zug Island, and see Marathon, and about a hundred Chemical, and Steel Plants along the Rouge River in Detroit. It dumps into the Detroit River, Zug island doesn't allow cameras lol. But you can go up to the gates and smell the horrible gases. You can be blocks away and smell it.

    • @kurtiskaskowski5386
      @kurtiskaskowski5386 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Vernon Schaal then stop using steel if you are so against it.. that means no more cars, buses, trains, bridges, appliances, office buildings, schools, etc etc. Have fun living in the 18th century!

    • @demonpride1975
      @demonpride1975 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@kurtiskaskowski5386 do you honestly think that is the point of what he is saying, and that would mean that everyone would have to stop using steel. are you fucking stupid.

  • @tumble0weed
    @tumble0weed 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good documentary, by Vice? Didn't know they used to have them. Thanks Vice for this one.

  • @MoncaAhwen
    @MoncaAhwen 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Totally agree. it's great to see young people catching on to what's going on in the world.

  • @Lampritch
    @Lampritch 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It's silly to be defensive about one's home town, I know, but... as one who never much wanted to stay in Sarnia, I cannot agree that it is so unclean or sinister. Apparently things have not changed since my youth there, when the national media and related intelligentsia would periodically swoop in and inform the world of Canada's Bhopal. It was only in Toronto that I became conscious of toxic smog. There, it was always fun to be instructed about Sarnia's evils; for example, to learn that the water is obviously unfit for swimming, something we never noticed. I was last there a few years ago with my foreign spouse, who is the first to complain of any bad odour. Strangely enough, she missed the "trace of rotten egg", or was just being very polite; she claimed to find Sarnia pleasant and friendly, was particularly charmed by the particular blue of the St. Clair River. She was there for fewer than 24 hours; guess that's how little time it takes for those chemicals to cloud one's judgement.

  • @olchap338
    @olchap338 7 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    "The more clouds in the sky, the more people will die"

  • @_Lobster_
    @_Lobster_ 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is my home town. It isn't as bad as they say. We had plenty of beautiful blue-skied days outside. And there simply isn't any smell at all. I'm not calling fake news, I'm just saying as a person who lived and grew up there it isn't actually that bad as they are saying. (I lived in Sherwood village, if your calling BS)

  • @tybussy1912
    @tybussy1912 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    “Your probably not a great guy then” lol this reporter is awesome

  • @lucasaccount573
    @lucasaccount573 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I feel sad that Sarnia is dealing with all of this and I'm up here in Toronto thinking my air is bad.

  • @paul6925
    @paul6925 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I've never heard of this before and I live a few hours away from this place. Would be a different story if they'd built it in Forest Hill (100k+ average incomes)

  • @bmead34
    @bmead34 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    I grew up across the river from sarnia. I know people all over that community who have died due to cancer and related illnesses. I never thought anything was wrong with the air until I moved to the other side of michigan. Shout out to Vice for giving these people a voice

  • @trevorbaker2875
    @trevorbaker2875 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    I spent two years working at the Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia, worst two years of my life. I developed allergies, something I had never experienced before in my life. During one particular bad spell of coughing, sore eye and impaired breathing I left town to go se some friends in Niagara. Within hours of being there I started feeling better and thought it was behind me. During the drive home about 10kms from Sarnia all the symptoms returned!

  • @danwilliams7571
    @danwilliams7571 9 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    It's quite interesting how Americans, generally, have this image of Canada as a shiny and pristine place. However, major polluting industries have taken advantage of this phony image and pillaged the land for financial gain. Money doesn't care about people, but people sure care about money. Marginalized and forgotten who have no finances to pick up and move to communities not subject to carcinogenic toxins, e.g., the communities where the industry executives live who profit from this activity. I heard the woman at the beginning make perfect sense. She wasn't asking the companies to relocate or close down. She wants them to be responsible neighbors and protect the community from their dangerous manufacturing industries. You can't expect those who profit from such destructive industry to police itself and protect its communities. They even lie to their own workers.

  • @mexicanmanjohn
    @mexicanmanjohn 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Imperial Oil spilled hydrochloric acid into the St. Clair river 2 days ago

  • @jamiemoffatt1930
    @jamiemoffatt1930 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I lived in Sarnia for 5 years. The amount of alarms that went off for chemical spills or fires in chemical valley was scary. I don't live there anymore but have a daughter there. The sulphur smell when entering the city is bad...

  • @TheCerealluvr
    @TheCerealluvr 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is SO heartbreaking... and inFURIATING

  • @PONCHODAGOD
    @PONCHODAGOD 9 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    These companies are horrible, where's your humanity. Human life means nothing anymore. After learning that it would be cheaper for people to die because of a failed ignition switch G M didn't even do a recall on cars they knew were defective until they were investigated by a independent company. I know it's wishful thinking but I hope I when the lottery tonight so I can buy my own island away from the madness.

  • @telutanoherdens3348
    @telutanoherdens3348 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    My mother grew up in Torino, Italy, when the FIAT car factory was still operating. The factory was in the middle of a suburb and just 5 minutes away from her neighbourhood - every morning there would be a chemical paint in the air, and the railings of her balcony would be coated black by all the smoke. 30 years after she left, many people in her apartment building have died of cancer, including my grandmother. In the 60s and 70s people didn't know about the effects but now we have no excuse

  • @Ezekial88
    @Ezekial88 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I've crossed through Sarina to the Blue Water Bridge maybe thousands of times and never noticed the smell, gonna keep my eyes open next time (and nose active)

  • @sobekflakmonkey
    @sobekflakmonkey 10 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    Shell needs to get out of Canada, please.

    • @chong3201
      @chong3201 10 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      why, we should encourage more companies to refine their products in Canada for a lot of issues, for one they have control and strict policies in Canada for the environment if these places were to more to Mexico and America the pollution would grow drastically, second of all it is great for the Canadian economy there are many more benifits to these places staying in Canada as well, what is your reasoning for wanting to see Shell Canada leave Canada?

    • @chong3201
      @chong3201 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      First off I never once claimed that we should not research to find a better way. What steps have you personally done in this movement you support? The simple fact is, our world is dependent on crude. Everything you own in some way shape or form crude is responsible for. Who would you like to see punished the people to whom are making the products you use every day? should McDonald’s be charged because people eat themselves into health problems? The biggest problem is, everyone is to blame you can pretend that you not involved but you are reasonable for it. you are too blame just like me and everyone else. And to address your second point pollution does not check in at immigration and is not racist towards natives, I strongly support industry in Canada as we have the most environmental laws in the world. Let’s look at the nuclear radiation problem in Japan you feel like this is only going to be Japan's issues? However what is the alternative in today’s world just turn off the power? The Natives, leased their land to the major refineries, was it a bad move yep for sure it was but that is on them. They can't blame the tenants they should be mad at their last two generations as they sold the land. If it came to my kids health I would not be building baseball diamonds right to a refinery when they have miles of land away from the plants. just saying

    • @calom4823
      @calom4823 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      *****
      We need fossil fuels to survive atm , tha tdelusional to think we can replace it ....

    • @sobekflakmonkey
      @sobekflakmonkey 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bobilator Realitywall we can, hoarding fossil fuels is a really bad idea, not mention its horrible for the environment.

    • @calom4823
      @calom4823 10 ปีที่แล้ว

      sobekflakmonkey
      As long Canada made $$ and we still have the highest environement protection law , i say go for it ! Time to made some $$ for the Canada !
      U dont like it ? Just leave canada problem solve .

  • @taylorperkins89
    @taylorperkins89 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    second time I've seen that oil rep in two unrelated videos

  • @hangglider15
    @hangglider15 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    My dad lived very close to chemical valley throughout his teenage years. His father worked in one of the chemical plants. During a chemical fire at one of the plants my grandfather inhaled a great amount of chemicals. He just died in his early 60s to complications from a lung disease that was caused by the inhaled chemicals.

  • @VirtualVernon
    @VirtualVernon 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sarnia is located at the southern mouth of lake Huron, when it enters into the river way canal. Across the Blue Water Bridge lies Port Huron Michigan, its directly across the river from Sarnia. Just like how Detroit is located across from Windsor Ontario. The fumes also travel across the river into Michigan, and inhaled by the residents that live near the river in Port Huron

  • @M0nkeyBoy1321
    @M0nkeyBoy1321 9 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    Wait, WUT. Someones gonna geta bitch slapping for allowing this to happen IN MY CANADAAAAAAAAAAA.

    • @andrew9371
      @andrew9371 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey Doods both canadians and americans need to take more control over our industry and also we need to move refineries away from population centres.

    • @tylertravis3614
      @tylertravis3614 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Proud Canadian I like it, I'm on ODSP - I have a chance of getting a job there. I may move there to find work.

    • @stevenking2980
      @stevenking2980 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm glad it's YOUR canada because nobody else wants it.

    • @stevenking2980
      @stevenking2980 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I don't care about the "united" K either

    • @stevenking2980
      @stevenking2980 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What does "have us" mean? So another country "has" you??? Hahahahahaj

  • @Matzieu1
    @Matzieu1 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Although we are not ready to move away from fossil fuels, petro-chemical entities have a moral duty of care about the the air quality for any adjacent communities. This report is dated, but the situation has not changed.
    The feds clearly don't care about these people, and we need to teach them a lesson come the fall election. This video has 170,000 view to date, and I hope a few will come out to express their anger come election time.

  • @TheJLJuke
    @TheJLJuke 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    I live in Toronto and I remember watching the morning news with my mom before school in grade 5 or 6 and hearing about this. That was 6 or 7 years ago now.

  • @MultiJamesman
    @MultiJamesman 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good reporting.

  • @tommyob4762
    @tommyob4762 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    This is bad but it's not as bad as the problems with radioactive leaks from nuclear plants. You can't smell the radiation but it's worse

    • @alucardhellsing1037
      @alucardhellsing1037 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      How this not being bad when you are poisoned everyday, every minute and every second.

  • @PaulBeet
    @PaulBeet 9 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I was in Sarnia and didn´t notice that smell.

    • @frantichornet0077
      @frantichornet0077 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Only on certain days but not often

    • @VicVanity
      @VicVanity 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      We get it over here in port huron

  • @calvindejong4566
    @calvindejong4566 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm only about 20 mins east of Sarnia. This needs more views

  • @inmotion81
    @inmotion81 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love how you protest but then get in your car and drive away haha

  • @bigtruck182
    @bigtruck182 10 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The geese were flying from what I could see , and geese don't always fly in a V buddy especially when there coming in to land learn about geese before you start talking about what you don't know and putting out misinformation . I do thank you for the videos and important work you do .

  • @melodymerlot3723
    @melodymerlot3723 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I also want to point out that out disposable society is not a sustainable one, last night my 3 yr old son played with grandfather's childhood toys, amazingly they have survived now almost 4 generations of kids yet are in working condition; fat chance the toys our kids play with will be around for our grandkids, everything is made to break, not to last.
    we have so much waste in our day to day lives, there are a lot of ways to get on track to a better future, but it needs to be a change we want and ask for as a nation

    • @bryandepaepe5984
      @bryandepaepe5984 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are right about things not being made to last and there is a reason for it. How many of the older toy company's are still in existence? Companies can only be profitable when they sell more products over a smaller time period.

    • @mythicnoetic
      @mythicnoetic 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Planned obsolescence

  • @bluecheese5599
    @bluecheese5599 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    THIS WAS FOR MY SCHOOL PROJeCT THANKS

  • @seratheeducatedfeline4227
    @seratheeducatedfeline4227 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Vice should do an update, almost 8 years on, see what, if anything, has changed.

  • @michaelroscoe6346
    @michaelroscoe6346 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Good stuff. I wish the swearing was censored, though. I'd love to use this as a teaching resource.

    • @leeofthevoid
      @leeofthevoid 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      if the kids your teaching are older then 7, i can guarantee you they've created more colourful language then whats in this vid lol

  • @alrobinson9779
    @alrobinson9779 8 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    i live here in sarnia. lol. guess wht. ive gone thru two rounds of intennse chemo no im not a native but i do live in chemical valley and have to fight all tht is cancer 6 years now. im white and got cancer. this almost seems like its only natives. we all breath same air.

    • @Undefined-on8jk
      @Undefined-on8jk 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Al Robinson is it getting beaten?

    • @alrobinson9779
      @alrobinson9779 8 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Yes hopefully it stays away 4.5 years now since last treatment. Just side effects to deal with now. Thnks for askin

    • @deanwilcox2517
      @deanwilcox2517 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Al Robinson this is devastating, may God be with ya'll

    • @demonpride1975
      @demonpride1975 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      and you are blaming chemical valley. i have lived in sarnia all my life, and i don't have cancer.

    • @HeavyProfessor
      @HeavyProfessor 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      demonpride1975 So? I take baths in gasoline to get the tar off me skin for 30 years and I don’t have cancer.

  • @teejay6346
    @teejay6346 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    thank you.

  • @nemo9540
    @nemo9540 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    If it was this bad 9 years ago I dread to imagine just how much worse it is there now. My heart breaks for that community 💔 😢

    • @CnekYT
      @CnekYT 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      it’s actually better in Sarnia now - unfortunately, other areas of Canada such as Fort McMurray have become a lot worse

    • @devonsykes2598
      @devonsykes2598 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      It’s a lot better now there was a lot of misinformation in this tho that park use to be a dump and that’s why it was contaminated it’s since been fixed and redone. Chemical valley had no part in that

    • @nemo9540
      @nemo9540 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @devonsykes2598 that's a relief Cancer is an absolute bastard to cope with, I've been fighting it for years now and it's completely destroyed my life.

  • @emperorhaz3856
    @emperorhaz3856 9 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Gasoline is a very old technology. If there was any humanity with our leaders money would not be an issue. There are tons of clean energy alternatives, but for the system in which we live, money rules our "progress". Its pathetic anyone would even defend oil companies, would you defend me if I decided to burn a bunch of plastic in my back yard 24/7? Even if I claimed it is how I made money I highly doubt my neighbors would appreciate it. If I am a giant unethical corporation its alright? The argument that some people are employed and feed their families is void when those same people could work for a cleaner and not to mention cheaper energy source for the community. Even if they had to find a different job all together then so be it, are you just that selfish? or are you just to stupid and pathetic to find an alternative way to make money that doesn't poison the rest of us. Some of you say its not that bad? ok well when your kids get cancer later on then will you change your mind?

  • @hcharleschadwick
    @hcharleschadwick 10 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The reality of the chemical valley is worthy of a good documentary. Unfortunately, this isnt it. As a kid I assumed documentaries had to maintain some level of impartiality. I have learned and thus was not particularly surprised by what I saw here. They also do cannot seem to focus on the threat from airborne particulate and the stuff they found in the ground in a park. Two clearly seperate issues but hey; most will not notice...If you hate industry and want your opinions supported this video is for you. If you want are looking for factual information with some relevance to the subject I suspect you will be disappointed. I suppose middle of the road documentaries do not win awards or get funded. Too bad that is normally where the truth is found!

  • @RomireIV
    @RomireIV 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    I grew up in Sarnia, Chemical Valley is in Sarnia.
    However Corrunna does have a smaller version of it, owned mostly by Shell, it is about a fifth the size as the one in Sarnia.

  • @Onehellofaguy
    @Onehellofaguy 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My city of Louisville, Kentucky, we have an electric plant that does the same here in the poor parts of town. My stepfather was killed by lung and brain cancer, he was only 53. There's numerous cases like his but since it's in a poor part of the city they don't care.

  • @elena-cq4ok
    @elena-cq4ok 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I have a house in Port Huron, MI which is right across the St Clair River from Sarnia. You can smell it when you’re by the river and it’s disgusting.

  • @gr8sl8m8
    @gr8sl8m8 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    3 RITES IN THE WORLD, this goes for all living thing on this planet. 1rst: shelter, 2nd: is watter and 3rd: is food. in that order aswell. thumbs up if you want your rights.
    ps, i got on my war paint.

    • @senorlopez1412
      @senorlopez1412 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      No, you aren't entitled to any of that

    • @ZeeProductions2001
      @ZeeProductions2001 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Due to totaltarialisam and

    • @ZeeProductions2001
      @ZeeProductions2001 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Senor Lopez yea before we all be came greedy smart business men for resources and easier way to do thing to get profit instead of attaining organic knowledge and selling it for better ecosystem and cleaner air with alge bio fuel

    • @senorlopez1412
      @senorlopez1412 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      No, they still worked for it. You are mental if you think there was a communist line of primitive men being handed food and water. You had to earn shit then and now.

    • @senorlopez1412
      @senorlopez1412 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Zee Productions I can't decipher this mess of a sentence

  • @xsidDviciouss
    @xsidDviciouss 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    i have the most beautiful view of chemical valley every time i step on my balcony to have a smoke

  • @Ozsut85
    @Ozsut85 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Today in Sarnia diesel was spilled into the St.Clair river which was covered up by later was disclosed. This documentary gives justice to how bad the pollution is. For those of you working in the Petrol-chemical industry have nothing but good things to say. That is understandable, but the fact is Sarnia has the highest rates of Cancer in Canada.

  • @vincentranellucci9784
    @vincentranellucci9784 10 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I really don't like his sarcasm. It's a documentary, say what you need to say. There's no need for crap like that in your work.

  • @sandchar
    @sandchar 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    When i go to sarnia i dont notice any smells even when i driving by the chemical plants, How ever oil springs has that AWESOME SMELL!!! of crude oil, i dont know why but i like it!

    • @evaone
      @evaone 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Are you ok

    • @priscillachapkylo934
      @priscillachapkylo934 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You're crazier than pcychopath so disgusting how people living wasteland heartbreaking.

  • @krazychan
    @krazychan 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yups, I totally agree, this was not a point that I have been arguing against. Unfortunately, the people who support these companies are the CEOs, people who have stakes in these companies, people who live no where near these plants and don't have to immediately suffer the consequences of the negligence that comes from them.

  • @vmwindustries
    @vmwindustries 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    She barely keeps getting tears back, "more clouds in the sky, the more people will die..." her children say...

  • @SarniaSteel
    @SarniaSteel 10 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Interesting video, However it shares, wrong facts and wrong information. very one is sided. If you were to interview the general public I am sure they could find flaws with almost every industry. Let alone the temperamental native population. The same native community that leased and have spent the last 70 years lining the reserves pockets with their "enemies" money. The same reserve that if they are so concerned with health problems it has not slowed them down from starting up cheap smoke shops every 45 ft. And it's great that you only told one side of the story. Even in the video a girl points to a steam header are say that's not just a cloud.. Well actually that is exactly what it was. You do not speak for the middle class of my city and how dare you refer to us in that sense. The middle class and this city was built by unions. The same unions that gave you the middle class. The same people that built chemical valley and feed our kids working there. Our tradespeople are some of the best in the world and our safety records are better than anywhere in country. The fact remains that until we can find a resource that provides that amount of, income/jobs and energy. they cannot get rid of oil. It is all great in theory to say that we should fine something more green, but being realistic that is almost impossible look at all of the things we use on a day to day basis from oil or by products of oil. shutting down this info structure would cause a global economic crisis. Even if it only effected the oil industry. I am not sure of the exact amount of people that work for, or use oil product that shutting down this industry would effect, but I am sure that the repercussions would greatly affect how much tax comes in and therefor effect our health care, education, policing ext. it is a very endless road and I wouldn’t think that there will ever be a suitable, sustainable resources to just replace it. However this does come at a cost the cost is it is not a pollution free process to create all these products that our society depends on. but ether does the usage of these products so the public is just as responsible for the pollution problem as the manufacture. It is more or less like this .Another huge misconception of this area in particular is the cancer studies, the amount of cancer in this area is due to the nuclear testing done in the 1950's in Ohio. Sarnia does have the worst air quality in Canada, however it is only one point higher then Montreal and the Toronto's core. . I realize that we are a much smaller city but if these facts are correct would you see similar cancer results in these places as well ? And the amount of testing to Sarnia's air almost doubles every other city in Canada there for it is not comparable to the rest of Canada, if the other Cities were tested the same they would see higher results from more information. Also there is a huge coal and other info structure across the river in the states that plays a major role in our results Not to mention this is in Canada that’s ranked third overall in the world for the best air, so that's a little like saying we are the worst player on a NHL team (your still a pretty good player) . I, like yourself have grown up here and I don’t even smell the refineries from my house. I worked in BC for almost 8 months and didn’t notice a smell when I came home, I think Vice really lowered my standards of their work after watching this video. I would love a true environmental engineer to comment on the protests and crap that has been going on here lately as it is a joke. Sarnia' refineries are safer to working then most restaurants. Also there environmental impact is much less than most if not all refineries North American wide. I think people need to step back and look at the whole picture before they get what they wish for. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Because if these places ever shut down so does our city and more than likely our country as we know it. You sound like a left wing CNN only showing one side of the story and should be ashamed yourself. Sarnia's blue collar worker

    • @chong3201
      @chong3201 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Awesome points man and one other thing to add who the fuck builds a ball park and a daycare next to refineries thats dumb