With a strong case of multiple chemical sensitivity, the Rev. Sharon Kiesel of Montville Township has to avoid perfumes, dryer sheets and any other chemical that may compromise her immune system — including those in the environment.
“That’s what I’ve struggled with every day,” Kiesel said. “I was homeless because of it. ... It’s a living hell.”
Now, with the proposed Nexus pipeline running near her house, Kiesel fears her condition will leave her homeless once again. She said three different doctors advised her to move if the project moves forward because of exposure to pollutants.
“I feel angry because no one is listening to the voice of the victims,” Kiesel said. “We have to educate people on the truth that’s out there. It will harm people.”
Kiesel voiced her concerns at the Ohio/Pennsylvania Communities Rising Tour, which made its first stop at the Fraternal Order of Eagles hall Friday night in Medina.
The four-stop tour was organized by several grass-roots organizations that say they are dedicated to standing up to government and corporate entities that try to override peoples’ rights to their own well-being.
The groups include the Ohio Community Rights Network (OHCRN), the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) and Sustainable Medina County.
The tour began in Medina County because of widespread opposition to the Nexus pipeline, a high-pressure natural gas pipeline proposed by Spectra Energy that would run from Columbiana County in Ohio to Canada.
Opponents list a number of concerns over the projects, including health risks, safety issues, environmental impacts and lowered property values.
“The government is supposed to be working for us, not working for corporations,” said Kathie Jones, the co-founder of Sustainable Medina County. “We’ll do what we need to protect ourselves.”
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in December that it has determined there are no major environmental issues that would keep the Nexus pipeline from being built.
Nexus has also disputed opponents’ claims that the pipeline poses significant risks to property values, pointing out in past confrontations that studies and filings with the FERC show no evidence of lowering values.
More than 50 people showed up to listen to solutions from speakers who have had firsthand involvement in resisting initiatives that pose harm to the environment and personal health.
The speakers suggested first steps such as trying to change city or county laws to prevent pipelines from running through the area.
For the past two years, Jones has tried to do just that. She started a petition to put a Medina County charter on the ballot, but she said the initiative was struck down twice by Secretary of State John Husted. Jones said she plans to try again this year.
“The law right now is on the side of oil and gas companies,” said Thomas Linzey, the executive director of CELDF. “Eventually, the structure of the law has to change.”
Solutions beyond that, though, take a considerably larger amount of risk, as demonstrated by the night’s keynote speaker, Ken Ward.
Ward was one of five people who shut off an emergency valve for Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain oil sands pipeline in protest last October. He now faces criminal charges and jail time when he goes to trial in May.
Although the harsh charges surprised Ward, he said he doesn’t regret his actions.
“I take it as a compliment,” Ward said. “It means we did something effective.”
Overall, Tish O’Dell, the OHCRN state coordinator, said the goal of the night was to join like-minded people and inspire them to continue fighting for their rights.
O’Dell said organizations around the state have used their right to try to pass laws preventing environmental harm. While some have been opposed in the courts, O’Dell said they still make a point nonetheless.
“Abolition didn’t end slavery with one lawsuit, and women didn’t get the right to vote with one amendment,” O’Dell said. “Even if a court overturns one of them, big deal. ... That’s when you need to push full steam ahead.”
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theresa_Cottom .