Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1991 TAG: 9103130252
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA WHITMARSH/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
"The system often doesn't work for people, but [it works] for industry," Castelli said. "Corporate interests dictate laws and co-op agencies, and make sure to be served first by them. The people be damned. The environmental issue is really a justice issue."
Presently, Castelli is working with Jerry Underwood and the people in the Bradshaw Road section of Ironto in Montgomery County to keep Roanoke County from building a rail spur to haul trash through the middle of their valley.
He also advises citizens of Fries in Carroll County who oppose the dumping of industrial sewage into the New River.
Recently, in his native Floyd County, Castelli, 28, successfully participated with a local group who worked to keep their landfill private.
Last year, he was a workshop trainer at Smith Mountain Lake for Pure Virginia. He also advises individuals with specific problems related to the environment.
The clearinghouse, with national headquarters in Falls Church, is a network for environmental justice, not just another environmental group, Castelli said.
"We work mainly with minority and low-income people, who often take the brunt of industrial pollution, both on the job and at home," said Castelli, who works out of an upstairs office over Action Video rentals at U.S. 221 and Virginia 8.
Members of the clearinghouse, he says, are regular folks, mostly women. Forty percent of the funding comes from churches, 30 percent from membership and the remainder from grants.
Castelli said this means the base of support is where it belongs - at the grassroots.
The clearinghouse trains people to be local leaders. A workshop will be held in Southwest Virginia in the spring to teach people how to run their own organizations, build community support and effectively promote sensible environmental practices in their localities.
Castelli graduated from Floyd County High School in 1981. His father is a car salesman at Hokie Honda in Blacksburg and his mother is a local hairdresser.
He started working with the Georgia Environmental Project in 1986, and did legislative, voter registration and lobbying work.
Castelli had enjoyed a good working relationship with Lois Gibbs, founder of the clearinghouse, but when she approached him in 1988 Castelli was hesitant.
"I was exhausted," he said. "I was working 24 hours a day."
But Gibbs finally persuaded him to work for the clearinghouse.
"She can talk anybody into anything," he said.
Castelli based himself in Floyd because he likes it here.
"I could really have chosen anywhere in southern Appalachia," he said. "But I like Floyd people. I love the Blue Ridge. This is home."
And now, three years later, Castelli is still sold on the project.
"Our main goal is to build a strong environmental justice movement, teaching regular folks to use the process to control their daily lives. They have a right to a clean environment. We help them by teaching them how to get it."
by CNB