Environmental justice is an integral part of the struggle to improve a healthy environment, especially for those who live in the area of pollution. Many minorities found themselves living in impoverished neighborhoods where pollution was high. Communities of color, which are shown to be poor, are targeted to inhabit areas that have a negative impact on the environment. It was great to see Bill Clinton address this issue in 1992, when he made it clear that environmental justice is something of importance. Environmental justice finally became known to the federal government and the Clinton administration began to advocate for it. There are also many justice organizations that have formed to address the issue.
I think it is highly important for us to recognize that many minorities live in neighborhoods that are surrounded by pollution. Although they live in areas that contain pollution, they should not be blamed for this pollution. I believe that it is difficult for those who have lived, worked and played closest to the sources of pollution and should not be ostracized for this. It could have been a generation issue as well; where the generation before that lived in the area and could have caused the start of the pollution. We must take into consideration that many racial groups could not be the cause of the pollution, but also different ages or sexes could as well.
Hi Snay,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to take your suggestion 1 step further. I agree that it's important for us to recognize that many minorities live in neighborhoods surrounded by pollution, but we must do more than simply recognize. As future providers, I believe it is our duty to empower these communities by providing them with the resources to demand cleaner spaces. In addition, we must also advocate for them. As you mention, many times it's a generational piece that we are unaware of. Oftentimes, I hear individuals suggest that POC simply "move" to better neighborhoods without understanding the many layers that prevent this from happening, such as race, financial stability, SES, and much more.
Hi Snay,
ReplyDeleteI think quite often it's easy to place blinders and not see the plight of others or to blame them for experiencing the injustices they are instead of trying to understand why it's happening to them. I agree with Nalleli once we get to the point of recognzing and understanding these injustices it is our duty to one another to help to correct and eliminate that injustice.