Gibbs, Lois (1946–)

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Gibbs, Lois (1946–)

American environmental activist. Name variations: Lois Marie Gibbs. Born June 25, 1946, in Buffalo, NY.

Discovered that her neighborhood in Love Canal, NY, was located on a 20,000-ton chemical waste dump (1978); after her children began experiencing health problems, organized her neighbors into the Love Canal Homeowners Association and began asking government to clean up Love Canal or relocate residents; despite opposition from Occidental Petroleum and at all government levels, won fight to close the hazardous dump when President Jimmy Carter issued order for paid evacuation of the 900 families in neighborhood (1980); founded Citizen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste (1981 [later renamed Center for Health, Environment, and Justice]) to advise others about problems associated with toxic waste and to teach the basics of advocacy.

See also autobiography Lois Gibbs: My Story (1981).