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'''Environmental justice''' is the confluence of social and environmental movements, which deals with the inequitable environmental burden born by certain groups such as racial minorities, women, or residents of developing nations. It is a ] effort to analyze and ] the ] that have traditionally thwarted ]. Environmental justice proponents generally view the environment as encompassing "where we live, work, and play" (and sometimes "pray" or go to school are added); thus, the movement seeks to redress inequitable distributions of environmental burdens (pollution, industrial facilities, crime, etc) and access to environmental goods (nutritious food, clean air & water, parks, recreation, health care, education, transportation, safe jobs, etc.). Self-determination and participation in decision-making are key components of environmental justice. According to a compilation of thoughts by several notable EJ organizations, root causes of environmental injustices include: "institutionalized racism; the commodification of land, water, energy and air; unresponsive, unaccountable government policies and regulation; and lack of resources and power in affected communities"<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink =http://www.environmentalhealth.org/BuildingHealthyCommunities.htm | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.environmentalhealth.org/EJReport.pdf | title =Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up: Environmental Justice in California | format =PDF | work = | publisher =Environmental Health Coalition | accessdate =2007-04-24}}</ref>. '''Environmental justice''' is the confluence of social and environmental movements, which deals with the inequitable environmental burden born by certain groups such as racial minorities, women, or residents of developing nations. It is a ] effort to analyze and ] the ] that have traditionally thwarted ]. Environmental justice proponents generally view the environment as encompassing "where we live, work, and play" (and sometimes "pray" or go to school are added); thus, the movement seeks to redress inequitable distributions of environmental burdens (pollution, industrial facilities, crime, etc) and access to environmental goods (nutritious food, clean air & water, parks, recreation, health care, education, transportation, safe jobs, etc.). Self-determination and participation in decision-making are key components of environmental justice. According to a compilation of thoughts by several notable EJ organizations, root causes of environmental injustices include: "institutionalized racism; the commodification of land, water, energy and air; unresponsive, unaccountable government policies and regulation; and lack of resources and power in affected communities"<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink =http://www.environmentalhealth.org/BuildingHealthyCommunities.htm | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.environmentalhealth.org/EJReport.pdf | title =Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up: Environmental Justice in California | format =PDF | work = | publisher =Environmental Health Coalition | accessdate =2007-04-24}}</ref>.
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==External links== ==External links==

* - EMI/Cape Wind is proposing a polluting diesel power plant across from an elementary school in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a poor community primarily made up of Latinos, blacks and immigrants already struggling with environmental injustice. * - EMI/Cape Wind is proposing a polluting diesel power plant across from an elementary school in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a poor community primarily made up of Latinos, blacks and immigrants already struggling with environmental injustice.

* an open-access TWiki on environmental justice launched by students at the ] during the Fall 2006, with an original focus on the ] * an open-access TWiki on environmental justice launched by students at the ] during the Fall 2006, with an original focus on the ]

* *

* from ] * from ]

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⚫ {{More sources|date=April 2007}}


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Environmental justice is the confluence of social and environmental movements, which deals with the inequitable environmental burden born by certain groups such as racial minorities, women, or residents of developing nations. It is a holistic effort to analyze and overcome the power structures that have traditionally thwarted environmental reforms. Environmental justice proponents generally view the environment as encompassing "where we live, work, and play" (and sometimes "pray" or go to school are added); thus, the movement seeks to redress inequitable distributions of environmental burdens (pollution, industrial facilities, crime, etc) and access to environmental goods (nutritious food, clean air & water, parks, recreation, health care, education, transportation, safe jobs, etc.). Self-determination and participation in decision-making are key components of environmental justice. According to a compilation of thoughts by several notable EJ organizations, root causes of environmental injustices include: "institutionalized racism; the commodification of land, water, energy and air; unresponsive, unaccountable government policies and regulation; and lack of resources and power in affected communities".

In the early 1980s, environmental justice emerged as a concept in the United States. It is difficult to pinpoint a particular date or event that launched the Environmental Justice Movement, as the movement grew organically out of dozens, even hundreds, of local struggles and events and out of a variety of other social movements.

Definition

Participants of Central and Eastern European Workshop on Environmental Justice (Budapest, December 2003) defined environmental justice (and injustice) in the following way:

"Environmental Justice:
A condition of environmental justice exists when environmental risks and hazards and investments and benefits are equally distributed with a lack of discrimination, whether direct or indirect, at any jurisdictional level; and when access to environmental investments, benefits, and natural resources are equally distributed; and when access to information, participation in decision making, and access to justice in environment-related matters are enjoyed by all."
"Environmental Injustice:
An environmental injustice exists when members of disadvantaged, ethnic, minority or other groups suffer disproportionately at the local, regional (sub-national), or national levels from environmental risks or hazards, and/or suffer disproportionately from violations of fundamental human rights as a result of environmental factors, and/or denied access to environmental investments, benefits, and/or natural resources, and/or are denied access to information; and/or participation in decision making; and/or access to justice in environment-related matters."

History

An official history of Environmental Justice has yet to be found. It has been suggested that the idea of Environmental Justice was birthed during the struggle beginning in 1982 around the Warren County PCB Landfill. Robert Bullard has been called the father of environmental justice. Hazel Johnson has been called the mother of environmental justice.

Organizing on a large scale occurred for the first time in 1991 with The First National People of Color Environmental Justice Summit held in Washington, DC. The Second National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit (also called Summit II) occurred October 23-26, 2002 also in Washington DC. Part of the materials produced at the summit included a timeline for Environmental Justice milestones.

Principles of Environmental Justice

The following principles were adopted by delegates of the Firsts National People of Color Environmental Justice Summit in 1991. These principles were developed to serve as a "guide for organizing, networking, and relating to government and nongovernmental organizations."

1) Environmental Justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction.
2) Environmental Justice demands that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of discrimination or bias.
3) Environmental Justice mandates the right to ethical, balanced and responsible uses of land and renewable resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for humans and other living things.
4) Environmental Justice calls for universal protection from nuclear testing, extraction, production and disposal of toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threaten the fundamental right to clean air, land, water, and food.
5) Environmental Justice affirms the fundamental right to political, economic, cultural and environmental self-determination of all peoples.
6) Environmental Justice demands the cessation of the production of all toxins, hazardous wastes, and radioactive materials, and that all past and current producers be held strictly accountable to the people for detoxification and the containment at the point of production.
7) Environmental Justice demands the right to participate as equal partners at every level of decision-making, including needs assessment, planning, implementation, enforcement and evaluation.
8) Environmental Justice affirms the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work environment without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood and unemployment. It also affirms the right of those who work at home to be free from environmental hazards.
9) Environmental Justice protects the right of victims of environmental injustice to receive full compensation and reparations for damages as well as quality health care.
10) Environmental Justice considers governmental acts of environmental injustice a violation of international law, the Universal Declaration On Human Rights, and the United Nations Convention on Genocide.
11) Environmental Justice must recognize a special legal and natural relationship of Native Peoples to the U.S. government through treaties, agreements, compacts, and covenants affirming sovereignty and self-determination.
12) Environmental Justice affirms the need for urban and rural ecological policies to clean up and rebuild our cities and rural areas in balance with nature, honoring the cultural integrity of all our communities, and provided fair access for all to the full range of resources.
13) Environmental Justice calls for the strict enforcement of principles of informed consent, and a halt to the testing of experimental reproductive and medical procedures and vaccinations on people of color.
14) Environmental Justice opposes the destructive operations of multi-national corporations.
15) Environmental Justice opposes military occupation, repression and exploitation of lands, peoples and cultures, and other life forms.
16) Environmental Justice calls for the education of present and future generations which emphasizes social and environmental issues, based on our experience and an appreciation of our diverse cultural perspectives.
17) Environmental Justice requires that we, as individuals, make personal and consumer choices to consume as little of Mother Earth's resources and to produce as little waste as possible; and make the conscious decision to challenge and reprioritize our lifestyles to insure the health of the natural world for present and future generations.

Criticisms and Responses

Traditionally the environmental movements have been concerned with purely ecological issues including wilderness preservation, endangered species, overpopulation, recycling, and energy consumption. The environmental justice movement is seen by some as an attempt to shift the focus of the environmental movement away from these issues toward more anthropocentric concerns such as racism, classism, and sexism since these forms of oppression lead to unequal burdens of environmental pollution being felt by people of color, women, and low-income people. However, it should be noted that the Principles of Environmental Justice adopted at the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in 1991 suggest that environmental justice is not solely concerned with anthropocentric issues since several principles stress the ecological interconnectedness of all species, including humans (see Principles of Environmental Justice)


See also

References

  1. "Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up: Environmental Justice in California" (PDF). Environmental Health Coalition. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |authorlink= (help)
  2. http://www.cepl.ceu.hu/
  3. Pezzullo, Phaedra. "The Beginnings of a Movement: A Story of Hope". Sierra Club. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. Dicum, Gregory. "Meet Robert Bullard, The Father of Environmental Justice". grist: Environmental News and Commentary. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. "Unsung Sheroes and Heroes On The Front Line For Environmental Justice: The "Mother" of the EJ Movement". Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. "Environmental Justice in the 21st Century". Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. "People of Color Environmental Summit II". Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. "Environmental Justice Timeline - Milestones" (PDF). Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. "Principles of Environmental Justice". Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. "Environmental Justice in the 21st Century". Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Retrieved 2007-04-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

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