America: I'm causing trouble for environmental organizations

Chapter 43: Assistance from the Time of Immediate Transmigration

"You mean, you were fired by your association?"

"right."

"What are your association's higher-ups thinking? Someone as talented as you should be promoted." Martin simply couldn't understand it.

"Go look in the homeless community in Detroit, there are plenty of talented people there," Meng Ran replied, while snapping a picture of a bird in the treetop.

His photography skills have reached the level of "Advanced Photographer".

The next stage is [Top Level].

He will eventually become a genius.

"So, you've switched careers and become a photographer?"

"It's just a hobby," Meng Ran said with a wry smile.

"Theron also loves photography, but she prefers to photograph...people," Martin suddenly said with a strange expression.

"Is it portrait photography?" Meng Ran didn't think anything of it in a negative way.

"You can talk to her when you have time, maybe you can be her model," Martin said, suppressing a laugh.

"I always felt like you had ulterior motives." Meng Ran finally realized something was wrong.

"You're overthinking it. Let me try the camera." Martin couldn't resist taking pictures when he saw Meng Ran taking so many.

Meng Ran didn't refuse and handed him the camera.

Martin raised his camera, taking pictures as he said, "Since you've resigned, why don't you go to Canada? Theron's father is really rich; you can realize your ambitions there."

That's a sincere suggestion.

Although the two had some initial conflicts, through spending time together, he came to believe that Meng Ran was very reliable. He likes to make reliable friends.

"I can go to Canada, but not now."

Meng Ran's mind is currently preoccupied with how to handle the situation involving Howard and Eunice. She has also been consulting and communicating with relevant lawyers for the past few days.

The communication yielded a positive result.

If Howard handled the waste without providing adequate protection for the workers, he would be in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

He could face up to five years in prison.

Let's assume, then, that Howard did manage to ship this waste overseas through some channel.

That would also violate several environmental laws, including the Resource Conservation and Recycling Act and the Basel Convention, and would also result in a prison sentence of several years.

The only problem now is, where do we find the evidence?

Clarissa had been subtly inquiring for several days and knew the name of the company Howard was working with. But she still had no clue where the waste would be disposed of.

In addition, there is the most crucial point.

That means Howard's work was also subcontracted.

In other words, even if it's illegal, it's the outsourcing company's responsibility. How can the responsibility be shifted to Howard?

Is the only hope that after the profits from the dinner are distributed to the two directors, they might provide some useful information?

Meng Ran scratched his head, realizing the weakness of his own power.

After all.

The problem is that the network of contacts is not large enough or strong enough.

It seems necessary to maintain more contact with the policewoman "Megan Cole," who might be his "cousin."

I'm thinking about it now.

Suddenly, a man's voice rang in my ears: "Hey! Bane!"

Turning around at the sound, Meng Ran was somewhat surprised.

The person who called him was none other than "Mike," the reporter from the Detroit Free Press who had just traveled back in time to film the "Protect the Bullfrogs Protests."

Mike stepped forward, smiling, and extended his hand, saying, "Do you remember me?"

"Of course, but I'm even more surprised that you remember my name." Meng Ran smiled and shook hands with Mike. He was indeed very surprised because he had never dealt with Mike alone before.

"Don't say that, buddy. I was really impressed by the topic you suggested last time: 'Girl Saving a Bullfrog'."

"Oh, I'm so honored. Thank you for remembering." Meng Ran was surprised again. He had even forgotten about this topic himself, but he didn't expect Mike to remember it.

"I should be thanking you. To be honest, I'm working on this topic right now," Mike said, a slightly embarrassed look suddenly appearing on his face.

"You mean you're filming a news story about a girl saving a bullfrog?"

"No, no, no, that's your idea, so naturally I can't use it. But your reminder has made me realize that there are indeed many children like the ones you described in Detroit."

As he spoke, Mike suddenly became excited: "Do you have time? I have some information I've collected in my car, you can take a look."

"Uh..." Meng Ran really wasn't interested.

Looking at Mike's expectant face, he hesitated for a moment, then said to Martin, who was taking pictures not far away, "Martin, I'm going to talk to my friend about something. You can do as you please."

"OK." Martin waved his hand.

The two walked to Mike's car.

He opened the trunk, pulled a bunch of photos out of a bag, and handed them to Meng Ran.

"Look, most of these children are around 10 years old."

"They don't look like it, because they are all lead poisoning patients, and heavy metals have affected their development."

As Meng Ran listened to Mike's introduction, she frowned as she flipped through the photos. Most of the photos were of Black people, interspersed with other people of color.

I didn't see any white or Asian people.

This also aligns with Detroit's population demographics.

As Meng Ran flipped through the photos, she stopped because the picture in front of her was of a well-built African-American stripper.

"You have quite a wide range of interests," Meng Ran joked, just as she was about to flip the photo over.

Mike reached out and stopped her, explaining, "No, no, no, this is the main character. Her name is Tessa, she has an 8-year-old daughter, and she is also a lead poisoning patient."

"You know, many people in Detroit live on welfare, and most parents simply can't afford to help their children with lead chelation therapy."

"Some bastards even hope that kids will die quickly so they can sell them to medical institutions for money."

"..." Meng Ran looked at Mike, then at the photo in her hand, her mouth opening and closing, but she didn't know what to say.

"But Tessa was different. She was a great mother who insisted on helping her daughter with treatment. She worked in a car factory handling waste during the day and went to a strip club at night..."

"Wait!" Meng Ran suddenly shifted her gaze from the photo to Mike's face.

"What's wrong?"

"You mean, Tessa works at a factory during the day processing waste from a car manufacturing plant?"

"Is there a problem?" Mike asked, puzzled. Detroit is the Motor City, so is it strange to work in the related industries?

"Where is it processed? Which company are you employed by?"

"I don't know." Mike shook his head. "Does it matter?"

"Can you take me to see it?" Meng Ran didn't answer whether it was important or not.

"No problem, tomorrow?"

"No, no, no, not now." Meng Ran couldn't wait until tomorrow, since he didn't have any work to do at the banquet anyway.

"Now!" Mike exclaimed. "Are you kidding me? I have to film the news about the dinner later."

"I've arranged for Clarissa to give you an exclusive interview so you can get a breaking news story."

"Really?" Mike's face lit up with joy. There were quite a few reporters here tonight, and if he could get an exclusive interview, it would be a great achievement.

Why would I lie to you?

"The problem is, Clarissa is your boss, can you arrange her schedule?" Mike asked hesitantly.

"Trust me, I mean what I say. Let's go, let's contact Tessa right away." Meng Ran pushed Mike into the car without further ado. Then she jogged to her own car.

A few minutes later...

Martin returned to the banquet hall alone.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the busy Clarissa.

"Where's Bane?" Clarissa asked instinctively.

"I'm gone."

"Gone?"

"They just left."

"Where did you go?"

"I don't know." Martin shook his head and walked towards Theron.

Clarissa was left standing there, her eyes darting rapidly from side to side.

Why did Bane suddenly leave?

Is he... angry with me because of what just happened?

After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and dialed Meng Ran's number, tentatively asking, "Martin said you left, you...you are...."

"Oh, I ran into Mike and went with him to take care of something. It's related to Howard dealing with the waste," Meng Ran explained simply.

Clarissa breathed a sigh of relief and immediately asked, "So, are you coming back?"

"I'll try my best. You can handle the dinner party, right?" Meng Ran wasn't sure if she could come back tonight.

"You absolutely must come back, I... I have a gift I want to give you."

"Don't mention it, I don't need any gifts. Just make sure the dinner goes well. I need to keep in touch with Mike; that guy drives really fast."

After saying that, Meng Ran hung up the phone.

Clarissa heard the call end, and the breath she had just relaxed was jolted back up.

Her mind was in complete turmoil, and she couldn't be sure whether Meng Ran's words were true or false.