TORI: I’M TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT, MICRO CLASSICS ARE FOUND IN OUR DRINKING WATER, FOOD, AND OUR BODIES.

A LOCAL DOCTOR JOINS US ON THE POTENTIAL DANGERS FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THEN EDGAR B HERWICK III JOINS ME ON THE OFFICIAL START OF SPRING.

IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT PLASTIC IS EVERYWHERE.

OUR WATER BOTTLES, GROCERY BAGS, TOOTHPASTE TUBES AND THE PACKAGING THAT COVERS NEARLY EVERYTHING WE BUY.

IT ALSO ENDS UP IN THE OCEAN, BOOTS AND OUR BODIES IN THE FORM OF MICRO PLASTICS.

IT’S SOMETHING LOCAL DOCTOR PHILIP LANDRIGAN WARNS CAN BE EVEN WORSE FOR OUR HEALTH THAN WE REALIZE, WRITING THAT INACTION IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.

HE IS DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE COMMON GOOD AT BOSTON COLLEGE.

JOINS ME ALONG WITH KIRSTIE PECCI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUST ZERO.

WE’VE ALL SEEN THE CLIPS OF THE TURTLES WITH THE PLASTIC STRAW STRUCK IN THEIR NOSE AND THE BEACHES LITTERED WITH PLASTIC BOTTLES.

I WANTED TO PLAY THIS LIP OF SIX-YEAR-OLD BELLA EXPLAINING THE ISSUE IN A DOCUMENTARY, THE PLASTIC PROBLEM.

>> PLASTIC GETS INTO THE OCEAN AND THEN FISH EAT IT AND THEY GET SICK.

TORI: I THOUGHT SHE SUMMED IT UP PRETTY WELL, BUT I IMAGINE YOU BOTH HAVE MORE TO ADD.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME, IS NOT JUST THE FISH AND THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE AIR AS WELL, HOW PERVASIVE IS THIS PROBLEM, AND WHAT ARE MICRO PLASTICS?

KIRSTIE: UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE PLASTIC IS THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY’S PLAN B, AND BECAUSE PLASTIC IS VERY, VERY TOXIC, WE HAVE MICRO PLASTICS EVERYWHERE NOW.

OUR TEXTILES ARE ABOUT 60%, TWO THIRDS PLASTIC.

MICRO PLASTICS, VERY SMALL BITS OF PLASTIC, WHICH IS HOW PLASTIC BREAKS DOWN, OR IN THE AIR FROM OUR DRYERS, IN THE WATER FROM OUR WASH, AND THEN OUR FOOD IS SO PERVASIVELY PACKAGED IN PLASTIC THAT WE ARE SEEING BITS OF PLASTIC IN OUR DRINKS AND FOOD THAT ARE PACKAGED IN PLASTIC.

TORI: PLASTIC BREAKS DOWN INTO TINY, MINUSCULE LITTLE PIECES AND THOSE GET EVERYWHERE INTO THE FISH AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE 2016 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM REPORT SHOWED THAT BY 2050, THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC IN THE OCEANS BY WEIGHT THAN FISH.

SO WE KNOW IT GETS INTO THE FISH AND THEN WE EAT THE FISH.

WHAT DO WE KNOW GENERALLY ABOUT THE EFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO EAT FISH.

I DON’T KNOW IF YOU EAT FISH.

DR. LANDRIGAN: I LOVE FISH.

MICRO PLASTICS GET INTO THE FISH AND THEN THEY GET INTO US AND ACCUMULATE IN OUR BODY.

THEY HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN MANY TISSUES, AND:, IN LONG, IN ARTERIES, AND THE PLACENTA AND WOMEN.

TORI: PERHAPS THERE ISN’T ENOUGH RESEARCH ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS AND WHAT THE ACTUAL HEALTH EFFECTS ARE.

YOU SAID YOU EAT FISH.

IF IT IS ALREADY IN THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE AIR, I GUESS YOU MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY FISH, RIGHT?

BUT WHAT IS THE ACTUAL IMPACT ON US?

DR. LANDRIGAN: THERE’S A LOT OF HEALTH BENEFITS TO EATING FISH.

THE PLASTICS IN THE FISH ARE A HAZARD.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE PLASTICS ARE IN THERE AND THE MICRO PLASTICS GET INTO OUR BODIES, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF HOW.

THE PAPER THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE CHANGES ALL THAT.

THIS IMPORTANT PAPER WAS DONE BY A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS IN ITALY.

IT EXAMINED THE CAROTID ARTERIES OF PATIENTS WITH HEART DISEASE AND THEY FOUND THAT PATIENT -- PEOPLE WHO HAD MICRO -- MICRO PLASTICS IN THEIR CAROTID ARTERY IN THEIR NECK OR 4.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK, STROKE, OR TO DIE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THAT IS THE FIRST PAPER, THE FIRST REPORT THAT MICRO PLASTICS IN THE HUMAN BODY ACTUALLY CAUSE DISEASE AND DEATH.

TORI: OBVIOUSLY THERE IS MORE RESEARCH COMING, I WOULD HOPE.

DR. LANDRIGAN: I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF RESEARCH COMING AND IT WILL COME QUICKLY.

I’M SURE THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY SAY ONE PAPER DOESN’T PROVE ANYTHING.

IT DOESN’T PROVE CAUSE AND EFFECT, BUT IT SENDS A STRONG SIGNAL THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED, NOW MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED.

TORI: YOU TALKED ABOUT PETROLEUM, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE.

I THINK GENERALLY, OUR ADDICTION TO PLASTICS KIND OF BEGAN AFTER WORLD WAR II.

HE HAD BEEN TOLD DURING WARTIME TO SCRIMP AND SAVE AND REUSE EVERYTHING, AND THEN THIS MANUFACTURING BOOM HAPPENED AND CONTINUED.

WE WANT TO PLAY A COUPLE OF CLIPS OF ADVERTISING THEN AND MORE RECENTLY.

>> THE INGENIOUS ALCHEMY OF COAL AND OIL PROVIDES THE MATERIAL, INGENIOUS MATERIAL -- MACHINE REIT MOLDS THE MATERIAL INTO A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS.

ARTICLES FOR HOUSEHOLD USE, AS WELL AS TOOLS FOR INDUSTRY.

>> KEEPING US SAFE AND OUR FOOD FRESH.

PLASTICS MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

TORI: THERE IS A STRONG LOBBYING EFFORT HERE AS WELL.

KIRSTIE: WE DIDN’T CHOOSE THIS, AND NOW IT IS A MISNOMER.

THIS WAS FOISTED UPON US.

THIS IS A CHOICE THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY MADE TO SELL PRODUCT.

IF YOU CAN SELL A SINGLE USE PRODUCT, YOU CAN SELL IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE RISE OF PLASTIC CUPS AND ARE BEVERAGES SOLD IN PLASTIC BOTTLES AND ALL THE PLASTIC PACKAGING THAT WE SEE, YOU CANNOT BUY FOOD NOW WITHOUT IT BEING IN PLASTIC.

THAT’S NOT A CHOICE.

WE ARE SEEING THE SUBSIDIES AND THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY POWER AT PLAY THERE.

THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS IS WILD THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY WILL SAY THIS IS ONE STUDY, THIS IS THE CUSP OF A WHOLE WAVE OF STUDIES WE ARE GOING TO SEE, IN MY OPINION.

WHILE THAT IS CORRECT THAT THIS IS JUST ONE STUDY, WE KNOW ALREADY THAT PLASTIC POLLUTES AT EVERY STAGE OF ITS PRODUCTION, USE, AND DISPOSAL OR RECYCLING.

IN OTHER WORDS, FRACKING IS VERY TOXIC, THE CHEMICAL SPILLS, WHEN THE TRAINED REALM AND AT PALACE TEAM HAPPEN, CHEMICALS WERE USED TO MAKE PLASTIC AT THE TRAIN CONTAINS.

THE MANUFACTURING, THE CRACKERS, NOT JUST MICRO PLASTICS, THE CHEMICALS ARE LEACHING INTO THE FOOD WE EAT.

FINALLY, WE HAVE FIVE INCINERATORS IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT BURNED ABOUT 450,000 TONS OF PLASTIC EACH YEAR.

CHEMICALS FROM THAT, THOSE INCINERATORS AND THAT BURNING ARE HORRIFICALLY DANGEROUS.

SO AGAIN, WE KNEW PLASTIC WAS BAD ALREADY.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN, QUITE LITERALLY.

TORI: YOU MENTIONED THAT PLASTIC PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO BE ON THE RISE IN YOUR EDITORIAL.

DR. LANDRIGAN: THAT’S RIGHT, 99% OF PLASTIC COMES FROM GAS, OIL, AND COAL.

IT HAS GROWN 200 TIMES SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II.

REDUCTION IS ON TRACK TO DOUBLE BY 2040.

IT IS ON TRACK TO TRIPLE A 2060.

IF WE CAN’T BEND THAT CURVE, THE WORLD WILL BE AWASH IN PLASTICS.

WE WILL BE INUNDATED PLASTICS BY 2060 UNLESS WE CAN FIND A WAY TO CAP PLASTIC PRODUCTION.

TORI: THERE ARE SOME INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TOWARD THAT.

YOU HAD MENTIONED A UN TREATY THAT WILL BE MEETING IN APRIL TO TRY TO HAMMER OUT WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE GOAL IS AND WHAT KIND OF OPPOSITION THEY HAVE FACED?

DR. LANDRIGAN: I’M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS.

IN 2022, A GATHERING OF PEOPLE FROM ALMOST 200 COUNTRIES CAME TOGETHER AND PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT THE WORLD NEEDED A PLASTICS TREATY.

THE GOAL IS TO END PLASTIC POLLUTION.

THE NEGOTIATORS HAVE MET THREE TIMES SO FAR AND ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF APRIL IN OTTAWA.

PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY ARE SAYING THAT THE ONLY RATIONAL WAY TO CONTROL PLASTIC POLLUTION AND CONTROL THE DISEASES IT CAUSES IS TO PUT A GLOBAL CAP ON PLASTIC PRODUCTION, SIMILAR TO THE CAP ON CO2 PRODUCTION THAT WAS AGREED TO UNDER THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT.

OF COURSE THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY IS PUSHING BACK.

THEY ARE SAYING WE NEED MORE RECYCLING.

I LOVE RECYCLING, BUT PLASTIC RECYCLING IS A SCAM.

TORI: YOU HAD REFERENCED IN A BLOG POST A GUARDIAN REPORT FROM 2023 THAT FOUND THAT MICRO PLASTICS RELEASED IN THE WATER AMOUNTED TO 13% OF THE PLASTIC PROCESSED IN THE RECYCLING PLANT IN THE U.K.. THAT RECYCLING FACILITY COULD BE RELEASING UP TO 75 BILLION PARTICLES IN EACH CUBIC METER OF WASTEWATER.

SO RECYCLING IS ALSO A MASSIVE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE AMOUNT OF MICRO PLASTICS IN THE SYSTEM AS WELL.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, THEY IMMEDIATELY GO TOWARD RECYCLING, THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST OR MOST EFFICIENT PATH FORWARD.

KIRSTIE: THAT’S CORRECT.

THAT PART OF THE STORY THAT WE WERE SOLD, PLASTIC RECYCLING, MECHANICAL PLASTIC RECYCLING, CHOPPING IT UP AND MAKING IT INTO A NEW PRODUCT RELEASES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MICRO PLASTICS, AS YOU JUST EXPLAINED SO WELL.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MOST PLASTIC IS NOT GOING TO GET RECYCLED.

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING CAN BE RECYCLED IN A LAB DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT’S GOING TO BE SORTED, DRIVEN SOMEWHERE, AND THEN HAVE VALUE.

MOST OF THESE PLASTICS ARE A MIX OF DIFFERENT PLASTICS.

IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SOMETHING THAT IS TECHNICALLY RECYCLABLE IN A LAB, AND AS YOU SAID IS VERY TOXIC TO RECYCLE, VERSUS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST NEVER GOING TO GET RECYCLED.

SO THERE ARE LAYERS THERE.

TORI: WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE BEING PUT FORWARD THAT YOU SEE AS EFFECTIVE?

KIRSTIE: WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN PLASTICS ARE SO TOXIC AND CAN BE REPLACED SO EASILY, POLYSTYRENE, RESIN NUMBER SIX, THAT HAS BEEN BANNED IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS AND MANY STATES.

SO WE NEED TO PASS A POLYSTYRENE BAND ACROSS THE BOARD IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE WANT OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGES TO BE PACKAGED IN REUSABLE, REFILLABLE SYSTEMS AND GLASS.

ONE STEP TO GET TO THAT WOULD BE A DEPOSIT RETURN SYSTEM OF -- THAT WOULD MEAN THERE WOULD BE SORTING OF OUR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS AND EVENTUALLY REFILL OF OUR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, INCLUDING CLEAN GLASS.

THAT’S THE BEST WAY TO HAVE YOUR BEVERAGE DELIVERED TO YOU BY A CORPORATION.

BANS ARE ONE IDEA, SYSTEMS FOR REFILL AND REUSE ARE ANOTHER IDEA.

BOTH OF THOSE WORK REALLY WELL.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT ACTUALLY CLOSING THE LOOP AND WHEN YOU RECYCLE SOMETHING THAT IS IN LESLIE RECYCLABLE LIKE GLASS OR METAL, THAT IS FINE.

BUT JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LAST TICKET IS NOT RECYCLABLE AND TO TREAT IT A TOXIC MATERIAL THAT WE SHOULD BE PHASING OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

TORI: I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT SOME ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE SINISTER AND PERHAPS RATE THEM ON DANGEROUSNESS.

A SODA, SOME PRODUCE, THERE IS AN APPLE AND AN ORANGE WHICH I KNOW MAY CONTAIN MICRO PLASTICS.

A BEER, I READ THERE ARE MICRO PLASTICS IN THE ACTUAL BEER.

PLUS TOOTHPASTE, A SNACK PACK AND A LIPSTICK THAT I USED EARLIER.

KIRSTIE: FIRST OF ALL, ANYTIME YOU CAN BE USING SOMETHING THAT IS REUSABLE, NOT LIKE THAT BAG, BUT SOMETHING YOU CAN WASH AND USE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT IS ALWAYS YOUR BEST CHOICE, AND ANYTHING THAT DOESN’T HAVE PLASTIC IN IT.

EVEN IF IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THAT FRUIT HAS MICRO PLASTIC IN IT, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT IT IN A PLASTIC BAG, YOU ARE STILL AHEAD OF THE GAME THERE, I WOULD SAY.

DR. LANDRIGAN: SO MUCH OF THIS PLASTIC IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

AND IT IS A NEW CREATION THAT HAS BEEN FOISTED UPON US.

WHEN I WAS A KID, COKE CAME IN GLASS BOTTLES.

AS CHILDREN, THERE WAS A NICKEL DEPOSIT AND YOU WOULD BRING IT BACK TO THE STORE, IT WAS GREAT.

THIS STUFF IS USED ONCE AND IT GETS TOSSED AWAY.

IT JUST FEELS THE LANDFILLS, CREATES MICRO PLASTICS AND CAUSES POLLUTION.

IT IS A MANUFACTURED ADDICTION.

KIRSTIE: THERE IS SOME SNEAKY PLASTIC THERE, COKE IS AN ACIDIC DRINK, IT IS PROBABLY LEACHING CHEMICALS INTO THE DRINK.

ALSO THE CAPPING PROCESS, THERE’S AN 80%-90% CHANCE THERE IS MICRO PLASTICS IN THE CAPPING PROCESS.

REMEMBER THAT THAT BEER IS LINED WITH PLASTIC, THAT ALUMINUM CAN.

SO YOU’VE GOT PLASTIC THERE TOO THAT CAN ALSO LEECH THE BEVERAGE, WHICH IS TO ME LIKE GLASS IS KING.

THE SOAP IRISH SPRING AT LEAST IS IN A RECYCLABLE CARDBOARD BOX.

THERE IS A LOT OF SOAP YOU CAN BUY WITHOUT A BOX.

RIGHT NOW IT IS JUST THE FANCY SOAPS.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY ALL YOUR SOAP WITHOUT A BOX.

IT’S NOT JUST ON THE CONSUMER.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO POLICE OURSELVES SO UTTERLY THAT WE CAN EVEN PURCHASE SOAP.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND BUY A BEVERAGE OR SOAP WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT PLASTIC PACKAGING.

TORI: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT, HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING FOR THOSE WHO CELEBRATE AND FOLLOW THE ASTRONOMICAL SEASONAL CALENDAR.

THE START OF ASTRONOMICAL SPRING COMES WITH THE VERNAL EQUINOX, WHICH FOR US IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.

EDGAR B HERWICK III, HELLO.

EDGAR: I WAS THINKING WE WOULD DO SOME QUESTION AND ANSWER FUN AROUND THE IDEA OF THE EQUINOX AND THE WORD SPRING.

WE WILL USE IT AS A SPRINGBOARD INTO SOME QUESTIONS.

TORI: I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE.

EDGAR: THIS IS YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHICH OF THESE WORDS IS RELATED TO EQUINOX?

YOU’VE GOT OBNOXIOUS, NOCTURNAL, OR AQUARIUM.

WHICH WORD IS RELATED.

TORI: NOCTURNAL?

EDGAR: THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YOU GOT IT.

THE WORD EQUINOX COMES FROM LATIN AND IT MEANS EQUAL NIGHT.

ESSENTIALLY EVERYWHERE ON THE PLANET, YOU HAVE ALMOST EXACTLY EQUAL 12 HOURS OF NIGHT AND 12 HOURS OF DAY.

IN THE NORTHERN HUMANS FEAR IT IS THE VERNAL EQUINOX, THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS GOING INTO THE FALL.

EQUAL NIGHT, AND NOCTURNAL, THAT IS NIGHT.

NOCTURNAL BEING RELATED TO THE NIGHT.

SHALL WE DO ANOTHER ONE?

THE CITY IN QUESTION IS THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

TRUE OR FALSE, SPRINGFIELD NEWSPAPER, THE REPUBLICAN, IS OLDER THAN THE BOSTON GLOBE.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS TRUE OR FALSE?

TORI: TRUE.

EDGAR: THAT IS TRUE.

YOU ARE 2 FOR 2.

IT BECAME A DAILY IN 1844.

THE NAME THE REPUBLICAN, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHICH WAS THE ABOLITIONIST PARTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THEY ARE KIND OF RELATED.

THIS NEWSPAPER WAS FIGHTING FOR THE ABOLITIONIST CAUSE DURING THAT PERIOD.

CHARLES DOW, THE FOUNDER OF THE DOW JONES AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A BUSINESS REPORTER FOR THE SPRINGFIELD DAILY REPUBLICAN.

IT IS STILL A NEWSPAPER THAT IS STILL OUT THERE IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

QUESTION NUMBER THREE, THIS MAY BE THE TOUGHEST ONE BECAUSE IT IS NOT MULTIPLE-CHOICE OR TRUE AND FALSE.

THIS BOOK BY RACHEL CARSON IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE STARTING POINT OF THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT.

TORI: PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME ARE SCREAMING AT THEIR TV, SILENT SPRING.

EDGAR: THAT IS CORRECT.

THE TITLE WAS INSPIRED BY A LINE FROM A JOHN KEATS POEM.

INITIALLY THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE TITLE OF ONE OF THE CHAPTERS ABOUT BIRDSONG GOING AWAY.

BUT EVENTUALLY THEY SAID IT WAS A METAPHOR FOR THE WHOLE THING.

ONE OF THE INSPIRATIONS FOR THE BOOK TO BE WRITTEN WAS A LETTER WRITTEN BY ONE OF CARSON’S FRIENDS TO THE BOSTON HERALD, DESCRIBING HER PROPERTY AND BIRDS WERE DYING, AND THAT WAS A BIG IMPETUS FOR RACHEL CARSON TO WRITE THE BOOK.

IT WAS ALSO PUBLISHED BY LOCAL FIRM IN THE AREA.

SO A COUPLE OF LOCAL CONNECTIONS WITH THE BOOK.

TORI: LET’S DO ONE MORE.

EDGAR: WE WILL GO BACK TO TRUE AND FALSE ON THIS ONE.

YOU HAVE A 50% SHOT OF GETTING IT RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

A MAJOR REASON WHY BOSTON WAS ESTABLISHED WHERE IT IS TODAY IS THANKS TO A NATURAL FRESHWATER SPRING THAT SERVED AS THE MAIN SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE CITY FOR 200 YEARS OR SO.

TORI: PLEASE TELL ME IT’S NOT THE CHARLES.

EDGAR: WE CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY IT IS NOT THE CHARLES.

TORI: OK, I DON’T KNOW.

EDGAR: TRUE?

TORI: TRUE.

EDGAR: CORRECT!

WE BETWEEN DEVONSHIRE STREET AND WASHINGTON, THERE IS A LITTLE STREET CALLED SPRING LANE.

THERE’S A PLAQUE THERE, THAT IS WHERE THE SPRING ONCE WAS.

WHEN THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY CAME, THERE WAS A GUY WEAVING THERE AND HE HAD ACCESS TO THIS FRESHWATER SPRING.

TORI: WHERE CAN PEOPLE ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND SEND YOU STUFF TO FIND OUT?

EDGAR: THEY CAN SEND ME AN EMAIL AT CURIOSITY DESK@GBH.

ORG.

TORI: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A U.S. RESIDENT TAKES MANY, MANY YEARS IN MOST CASES.

DURING THAT TIME, IMMIGRANT APPLICANTS CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

THAT WAS THE CASE FOR GRACE TO LOOSEN AND HER FAMILY WHEN THEY CAME OVER FROM THE PHILIPPINES SHE SHE WAS JUST THREE YEARS OLD.

BRING YOU HER STORY NOW AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THAT SHOW AND THIS ONE.

GRACE: MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

HIS PLAN WAS TO COME HERE AND FURTHER HIS MEDICAL EDUCATION AND THEN GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES SO THAT HE COULD SET HIMSELF UP WELL.

HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD BE GONE FOR A FEW YEARS, SO HE SENT FOR MY MOTHER, MY OLDER SISTER AND I.

WE ALWAYS PLANNED TO GO BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES, SO MY MOTHER STARTED COLLECTING GIFTS TO BRING BACK HOME.

SHE COLLECTED BED SHEETS AND TOWELS AND EVEN CHARLIE HEBDO BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT WAS SO MUCH SOFTER HERE THAN IT WAS BACK HOME -- AND EVEN TOILET PAPER.

SOMETIMES YOU GO A PLACE AND THE PLACE CHANGES YOU.

MY FATHER STARTED TO DREAM AND TO WONDER WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO STAY HERE?

WHAT WOULD OUR LIVES LOOK LIKE AND WHAT WITH THE LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN BEAT LIKE?

SO HE TOOK A RISK AND TOOK THE EXAM FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES, AND HE PASSED.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND A WHOLE NEW FUTURE OPENED UP FOR HIM AND MY FAMILY.

HE OPENED A PRACTICE, HIRED A STAFF, BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE SUBURBS AND BOUGHT HIS FIRST NEW CAR, WHICH WAS A STATION WAGON, TURTLE GREEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR.

HIS IDEA IS THAT CARS ARE MEANT TO BE PRAGMATIC.

THEY SHOULD GET YOU FROM A TO B SAFELY.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WAS WE DROVE TO VISIT HIS BROTHER AND SISTER IN TORONTO.

FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE PHILIPPINES, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID.

WE PILED INTO THE STATION WAGON, WE DROVE TO THE CANADIAN BORDER.

THE BORDER PATROL TOOK ONE LOOK AT OUR STATION WAGON WHICH WAS PILED UP WITH OUR SUITCASES AND HE SENT US BACK.

I DIDN’T KNOW AT THAT TIME, BUT SOON AFTER THAT, OUR STATUS BECAME UNDOCUMENTED.

OUR STATUS BECAME THAT WE HAD OVERSTAYED OUR VISAS.

I PARENTS HIRED A LAWYER TO REGULATE OUR PAPERS, BUT THE LAWYER DIDN’T HELP, AND TOOK THEIR MONEY, BUT IT TOOK MAYBE 15 MORE YEARS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO FIX OUR STATUS.

BUT I DIDN’T CARE, I DIDN’T KNOW ANY OF THIS STUFF.

I WAS A KID, I WAS AN AMERICAN AS ALL MY FRIENDS WERE.

I WROTE IN THAT STATION WAGON TO ALL MY ACTIVITIES AND I HAD NO CLUE THIS WAS ALL GOING ON.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT WE DIDN’T LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

IF THERE WAS EVER A SCHOOL VACATION, YOU DID NOT FIND US IN THE SWISS ALPS SKIING OR IN CANCUN SWIMMING IN THE WINTER.

WE TOOK ROAD TRIPS IN THAT GREEN STATION WAGON.

WE DROVE TO FLORIDA, TO THE MIDWEST, WE WENT ALL OVER THE SOUTH, AND WE SAW HOW AMERICA WAS MADE.

WE LOOKED AT THE MONUMENTS AND THE BATTLEFIELDS.

WE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

WE SAW WHAT AMERICA WANTED TO REMEMBER AND TO MEMORIALIZE, AND WE VISITED ALL THOSE PLACES IN THAT CAR.

MY PARENTS DID NOT WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON FAST FOOD, SO MY MOTHER WOULD BRING A RICE COOKER ALONG ON OUR TRIPS.

I WOULD LOOK JEALOUSLY AT THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO WERE UNWRAPPING PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES AND POTATO CHIPS, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO EXOTIC.

THEY ALSO DIDN’T LIKE TO STOP VERY OFTEN.

ONE TIME I SAW THEM SWITCH DRIVERS WITHOUT EVER STOPPING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY.

MY FATHER KEPT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS AND KIND OF INCHED HIS WAY OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE.

MY MOTHER HELD ON TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOOKED STRAIGHT AHEAD UNTIL SHE WAS ABLE TO INCH THE REST OF HER BODY OVER AND PUT HER FOOT ON THE GAS.

WE ALL CHEERED WHEN THEY DID THAT.

IT WAS GREAT.

WE VISITED MONUMENTS AND BATTLEFIELDS, BUT MY FATHER’S FAVORITE THING WAS TO GO ON A FACTORY TOUR.

FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS USUALLY FREE ADMISSION, AND SECOND OF ALL, YOU WOULD WALK AWAY WITH THE FREE GIFT.

WE WENT TO A KELLOGG’S FACTORY AND THERE WERE THESE BIG, HOT BATS OF SERIAL VATS OF CEREAL.

WE WENT TO THE U.S. MINT AND WATCHED MONEY IT MADE.

WE DREAMED OF WHAT WE COULD DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY.

I REMEMBER THE CIGARETTE FACTORY IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

WE WATCHED ALL THIS MESSY GROUND TOBACCO IT PACKED NEATLY INTO WHITE CYLINDERS AND THEN INTO BOXES.

THAT DAY, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WALKED AWAY WITH A FREE PARTING GIFT.

I GOT MY FIRST CARTON OF CIGARETTES AT AGE NINE.

WE FINALLY GOT OUR DOCUMENTATION REGULATED, THIS WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS IN, AND MY FATHER WAS STILL DRIVING THAT GREEN STATION WAGON.

MY MOTHER FELT KIND OF EMBARRASSED BECAUSE HE WOULD PARK IN THE DOCTORS PARKING LOT AT THE PARKING LOT AMIDST ALL THE MERCEDES AND BMWS AND HE HAD THIS RAM CYCLE -- RAMSHACKLE GREEN STATION WAGON IN THERE.

FINALLY HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LET IT GO.

HE PARKED IT ON THE FRONT LAWN, PUT UP A CARDBOARD SIGN WITH THE PRICE ON THERE.

EVERY WEEK HIS HEART WOULD BE BROKEN.

NO ONE WANTED IT.

EVERY WEEK HE CROSSED OUT THAT NUMBER AND PUT A LOWER NUMBER ON.

WEEK AFTER WEEK THIS HAPPENED, UNTIL EVENTUALLY HE HAD TO PAY SOMEBODY TO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO COME AND TOW IT AWAY.

SO THAT GREEN STATION WAGON DID MORE THAN JUST BRING US ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND BRING US TO SCHOOL AND WORK.

IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE WE BECAME AMERICAN.

WE LEARNED WHAT IT WAS TO BECOME AMERICAN, AND WE BECAME THAT IN THAT CAR.

IT BROUGHT US SAFELY FROM NEW IMMIGRANT TO CITIZEN, FROM ALIEN TO BELONGING, FROM A TO B.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] TORI: YOU CAN CATCH MORE STORIES FROM THE STAGE MONDAYS AT 9:30 P.M. OR FRIDAYS AT 8:00 P.M.

TOMORROW YOU CAN CATCH STORIES IN PERSON AT THE STORIES FROM THE STAGE WOMEN IN ACTION EVENT.

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO, HAD TO GBH.ORG/EVENTS.

I’M TORI BEDFORD.

GOOD NIGHT.

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