Pollution in the Mississippi River from the Latino community’s point of view

The contamination of the Mississippi River affects the Latino communities in the various states where it flows, as they consider it to be part of their lives. In a survey, they expressed their concern about the garbage in the rivers and asked the authorities to take the issue seriously in order to avoid contamination and for Latinos to participate in the solution.

My colleague Gerardo Guzman presents some of the other concerns and results of this survey.

Millions of Latinos maintain a close relationship with the Mississippi River, not only for the recreational and cultural benefits but also for economic reasons. However, as a recent study revealed, pollution of the important tributary puts that intimate interaction at risk. Vanessa Muñoz, Waterways Manager for the Hispanic Access Foundation and co-author of the survey, talks about it.

The survey, called “Latino Voices of the Mississippi River,” found the presence of trash, microplastics, chemical waste and other toxic substances to be the greatest threats to the river’s health.

The study surveyed Latinos in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin, the states through which the Mississippi River flows.

The survey corroborated that the Mississippi is part of the Latino culture and lifestyle. In fact, nearly half of the respondents live within 10 miles or less of the river. Six in 10 go walking, biking or hiking and 48% attend festivals or volunteer at community events on or near the river.

Vanessa Munoz emphasizes, however, that the magnitude of concern and support for the protection of the delta was extremely clear and forceful.

Considering how ingrained the Mississippi River is in the lifestyle of the Latino community, it is not surprising that they support river conservation initiatives and greater action by elected officials and Congress.

Now with this first survey on Latinos and their relationship with the river, Munoz assures that authorities will have further proof that “River conservation initiatives can have much better results if the officials in charge would make a greater effort to engage and help remove the barriers that prevent Latinos from taking part in those programs and becoming passionate advocates for the river.”

Hispanic Access Foundation already has other activities planned based on the results of this study.

FOR THE NOTICIERO LATINO BUREAU GERARDO GUZMAN REPORTED.

Remember that this is part of the “Cuando se Seca el Arroyo” Series, funded in part by The Walton Family Foundation.