Paradise Falls

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In the 1970s, a group of determined mothers uncovered the deadly secret of Love Canal, revealing one of America’s most devastating toxic waste disasters and igniting the modern environmental movement. Residents of a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, including Lois Gibbs and Luella Kenny, cherished their community, complete with an elementary school and playground. However, in spring 1977, they began to notice a sickly sweet chemical odor permeating their homes. This prompted the mothers to investigate, leading to the shocking discovery that their neighborhood was built atop Love Canal, a site filled with twenty thousand tons of toxic waste by Hooker Chemical in the 1940s and 1950s. As the waste leached to the surface, it triggered a public health crisis, with Kenny fearing for her son’s health. Journalist Keith O’Brien weaves together the untold stories of those who sought to help, including a local newspaperman and a scientist, alongside the indifference of city and state officials. The mothers’ relentless advocacy garnered support from the EPA and even President Jimmy Carter, ultimately capturing the nation’s attention. This electrifying narrative highlights the courageous efforts of these women, who fought against corporate negligence to protect their families and laid the groundwork for the environmental movement we recognize today.