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What is Environmental Justice?
What is Environmental Justice?
“It’s the principle that all people are entitled to equal environmental protection regardless of race, color or national origin. It’s the right to live and work and play in a clean environment. The current situation is not equal; it’s never been equal. Some people are more equal than others in the US – if you are poor, working class or a community of color, you get less protection, you get less enforcement of pollution laws. It’s rooted in racial discrimination in housing, land use planning and zoning. Lines of demarcation on race and class were used to confine and segregate individuals and communities. This historical pattern stands to this day.”
“It’s the principle that all people are entitled to equal environmental protection regardless of race, color or national origin. It’s the right to live and work and play in a clean environment. The current situation is not equal; it’s never been equal. Some people are more equal than others in the US – if you are poor, working class or a community of color, you get less protection, you get less enforcement of pollution laws. It’s rooted in racial discrimination in housing, land use planning and zoning. Lines of demarcation on race and class were used to confine and segregate individuals and communities. This historical pattern stands to this day.”
- Robert Bullard, Ph.D.
Source: The Guardian - Robert Bullard, Ph.D.
While this section of the website highlights rays of light within the Environmental Justice movement, it is critical to acknowledge that every environmental health issue must be considered from an environmental justice lens. We invite you to consider the ways in which environmental justice shows up in other sections on this website.
While this section of the website highlights rays of light within the Environmental Justice movement, it is critical to acknowledge that every environmental health issue must be considered from an environmental justice lens. We invite you to consider the ways in which environmental justice shows up in other sections on this website.
Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar from Unsplash
Energy Sources in Mississippi
Energy Sources in Mississippi
Nuclear power plants can often stimulate the economic health of a community through taxation. Although, this is not the case in Port Gibson, Mississippi, a predominantly Black community.
The Grand Gulf Nuclear Station has yet to create a fair distribution of environmental benefits or burdens for the residents of Port Gibson, Mississippi. Although, with a pledge for clean energy, the state may have an opportunity to bring justice to this issue.
Explore Mississippi Energy
Photo by Dallas Goldtooth from Indigenous Environmental Network
Pipeline Resistance
Pipeline Resistance
Oil and gas-carrying pipelines threaten the health of the nearby environment and communities.
Environmental activists have successfully leveraged collective activism to prevent the continuation of pipeline projects.
Explore Pipeline Resistance
Photo by TradingCardsNPS
Wastewater Disparities
Wastewater Disparities
Disparities exist in basic sanitation and wastewater treatment services for rural communities of color such as Lowndes County, Alabama- a predominantly Black community (Flowers et al., 2019).
While residents continue to fight for access to such services today, their research and self-advocacy has brought national attention to this environmental injustice; this critical work can be viewed as a ray of light and as a model to be utilized by other communities experiencing similar public health crises.
Explore Wastewater Disparities
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