What is Environmental Justice?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency describes environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.”
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Quick Informational Videos about Environmental Justice
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What was the Event that Ignited the Environmental Justice Movement?
The first well-known demonstration for environmental justice began in 1982 when those in Warren County, North Carolina held a demonstration against the city's plans to dump contaminated soil in a nearby landfill. Even after 6 weeks of protests and over 500 arrests, the community lost the battle and the toxic waste was deposited in the nearby landfill. Their story did however draw national attention and inspired others who had similar experiences. After many other battles fought, the government was held accountable in 1992, when George H.W. Bush founded the EPA.
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Lois Gibbs: The Inspiration
Lois Gibbs is an American environmental activist. She is most well known for her work in the “Love Canal incident”. Love Canal is a neighborhood in New York that experienced decades of dumped toxic chemicals prior to becoming a housing development. The toxic waste was not discovered until after the city gained attention for its high rate of health problems in the 1980's. Gibbs’ son had fallen ill due to the toxic waste, influencing her to organize an investigation as to why her son and neighbors were falling ill. After Gibbs and her organization proved the existence of the leftover pollution and fought for the clean up and compensation of the residents, congress passed the Superfund act (CERCLA). Love Canal was the first superfund site and has been cleaned and since taken off the list.
Gibbs’ story was inspiring to many because she was not an activist of any sort before environmental injustice affected her, showing that one individual’s action can make a monumental difference.
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Gibbs’ story was inspiring to many because she was not an activist of any sort before environmental injustice affected her, showing that one individual’s action can make a monumental difference.
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National Campaigns Fighting for Environmental Justice
Earth Justice- A nonprofit legal team that represents public-interest clients for free across America. “Earth justice is committed to expanding our work and partnerships with communities disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and climate change."
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League of Conservation Voters Education Fund- LCVEF “works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities.” They also work to inspire communities to speak out against environmental injustices.
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Environmental justice foundation- EJF connects with those who are the victims of environmental injustices to investigate and expose human rights abuses. “By looking at environmental security through a human rights lens, we can mobilise concern, garner support and drive international action for lasting change.”
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Farmworkers and Environmental Justice
In the US, there are over 2 million farmworkers. The average farmworker “is low-income and Hispanic, and is at a disproportionate risk from exposure to an environmental contaminant pesticides.” When employers profit from less pesticide regulations, they lobby to keep regulations down. The EPA has enacted extra pesticide regulations in order to minimize farmworker health risks; however, there are many social factors that work against increasing pesticide regulations for the health of farmworkers. Furthermore, when regulations are not enough, or are totally ignored, there are other political and social factors that limit farmworkers access to healthcare. This instance has been on the rise due to the anti-immigration policies enacted recently in the US, driving undocumented farmworkers further underground.
Women also make up a lot of the farmworker force. Women's bodies readily absorb the chemicals of the pesticides and pass them along to their children. Prenatal pesticide exposure has been linked to birth defects and other health complications. “However, it must be pointed out that fault for chemical exposure does not lie with women deciding to work in a dangerous agricultural job, because most agricultural workers are from marginalized backgrounds and can only find jobs as unskilled laborers. The fault lies with large agricultural corporations who do little to protect their workers from the chemicals they use in their fields in efforts to maximize output.” source, source, source |
Farmworker Justice- A non-profit organization that seeks to empower migrant farmworkers to improve their living and working conditions, immigration status, health, occupational safety, and access to justice.
Farmworker association of Florida- FWAF does community organizing, education, and advocacy to build power among farm worker and rural low-income communities to respond to and gain control over the social, political, workplace, economic, health, and environmental justice issues that impact their lives. |
Environmental Racism
The phrase ‘environmental racism’ was coined by Benjamin Chavis. He defined it as “racial discrimination in environmental policy making, the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities, and the history of excluding people of color from leadership of the ecology movements.” There are a few factors that make up environmental racism, including lack of affordable land, lack of power, and poverty. These factors lead vulnerable communities to be unable to resist corporations and governments. When voices are silenced, it is difficult for any influential changes to be made. This leads to the following occurrences in black and brown communities.
“A comprehensive study of particulate emissions across the United States, published in 2018, found that Black people were exposed to 54% more particulate matter emissions (soot) than the average American.”
“A comprehensive study of particulate emissions across the United States, published in 2018, found that Black people were exposed to 54% more particulate matter emissions (soot) than the average American.”