A Rough Guide: The Black Path 5 March 2009
In April 2008 residents and decision makers walked the Black Path. Part of the Teesdale Way, the path tells a story of Teesside's industrial heritage and pride but starkly highlights at what cost?. Alongside the dramatic landscape live some of the poorest communities and evidence of a degraded environment that impacts beyond what the eye can see...
Using the Black Path as a focus this short film looks at the impact of Teesside's heavy industry on its communities and environment.
Without doubt industry has given wealth and pride to the area but that came about through production methods using the huge environmental resources that the area had to offer. Such progress brought thousands of workers to Teesside and but a lack of regulation on industrial processes caused serious environmental degradation and health impacts.
As late as 1970 2 tonnes of cyanide per day were discharged into the River Tees (EA ,Tees Estuary Present & Future 1999 p68).
We've learned a lot since then and industry is claiming to take up the clean, green, energy challenge posed by climate change. Will this happen, when, will communities and the environment benefit will environmental and social justice prevail?
© Friends of the Earth
