In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water.
Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she realised something was going on. This is significant because it affects technology and could influence future decisions and outcomes. Understanding this story helps readers grasp the wider forces shaping technology today.
- 01In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she realised something was going on.
Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she realised something was going on. People email Brockovich all the time because of what happened in 1993, when she was instrumental in suing Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on behalf of residents of the town of Hinkley, California, whose groundwater had been contaminated. The case resulted in a settlement of $333m – then the largest ever payout for a direct-action lawsuit. When she was immortalised by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, she became the hero we didn't know we needed, a modern day Joan of Arc. She had won against PG&E with no formal legal training.The emails she received a few weeks ago were about datacentres. In April, she put a callout on her website asking for anyone with concerns about one near them to get in touch. Within a month, 3,862 people had replied. Tech companies have needed datacentres to power their technology 'for ever', she says, but the new ones being built to power AI? 'This feels like Hinkley on steroids.'
In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she real
Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she real This development builds on a longer history of events in technology.
Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it's globalWhen Erin Brockovich woke to find 30 emails from people from the same town, she realised something was going on.
- 01The core development: In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it
- 02Watch for follow-up developments in the coming weeks.
- 03Consider how this connects to related stories in the same category.
Erin Brockovich
Guardian Tech
The core development: In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it
decades
nounMeaning: A group, set, or series of ten , particularly:
Example: a decade of soldiers
datacentres
nounMeaning: A facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems.
Easy meaning: A facility used to house computer systems and associated components
squeezed
verbMeaning: To apply pressure to from two or more sides at once.
Easy meaning: To apply pressure to from two or more sides at once.
Example: I squeezed the ball between my hands.
settlement
/ˈset.l.mənt/nounMeaning: The act of settling.
Easy meaning: The act of settling.
scandal
/ˈskændəl/nounMeaning: An incident or event that disgraces or damages the reputation of the persons or organization involved.
Easy meaning: An incident or event that disgraces or damages the reputation of the persons or organization involved.
Example: Their affair was reported as a scandal by most tabloids.
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