Environmental Studies: Ethics, Ideas and Nature: Environmental Justice

In this article written by Stacia Ryder, the connections between environmental justice and disaster vulnerability are discussed. Starting her argument discussing the background of environmental justice, Ryder brings the concepts of environmental justice to her discussion of disaster vulnerability and its origins. She connects the two ideas using the concept of class and money. As money is an extreme indicator of environmental justice, as well as the lesser discussed disaster vulnerability. Ryder’s main argument shows that disaster vulnerability is a part of environmental justice, where those who suffer from injustice are also most predisposed to suffer from disaster vulnerability.
This article adds a different idea of environmental justice that is often not talked about. Environmental justice issues most often center around access to clean resources, not as much about disaster vulnerability. Ryder makes an incredibly strong argument through her use of highly publicized environmental justice events. Drawing her argument from all aspects of environmental justice; social, economic, political, etc, brings more strength to demonstrating the connections between environmental justice and disaster vulnerability. She draws relationships between systems of oppression, appealing to ethos, pathos and logos. I recommend this source for those interested in expanding their perception of environmental justice. - Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023

Luke W. Cole provides a historical overview of the implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in advocating for minority rights in the grander issue of environmental justice. Cole argues that the Title VI complaints process, which allows individuals and groups to file complaints with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when discrimination isn’t properly addressed in federal activities and programs, hasn’t been used nearly enough in environmental justice efforts. Cole traces the construction and growth of Title VI complaints, from their origins in the 1970s to their more recent use in environmental justice cases and examines the challenges and limitations of this approach. This article offers useful insight into the potential for legal tools like Title VI complaints to advance equity and justice to bolster solutions proposed by intersectionality ideologies and draw connections between the evolution of civil rights and environmental justice. This approach can be related to the works of Cezar Chaves, Beverly Wright, and Robert Bullard, who have advocated for the rights of minority groups and their communities. - Annotation by Gabe Effiong, Spring 2023

This article discusses the impact of emerging chemicals on the health and well-being of indigenous Peoples specifically indigenous women, girls, and future generations. The article describes that the states and industry knowingly permit, produce, release, store, transport, export and dump hazardous chemicals that can damage the endocrine system, the immune system, neurodevelopment, reproduction, and cause disease including all forms of cancer. This is a complete violation of environmental rights and risks the safety of indigenous people. This is an issue that calls for environmental justice as more than 85% of the chemicals that these indigenous people are being exposed to have never be assessed for possible effects on human health. This article conveys the need for immediate action on this issue and states community led organizations that are working to help solve this environmental disaster.
The author emphasizes the importance of recognizing the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people when addressing this environmental issue, as well as the need for stronger regulations and policies to protect the health of these communities. Overall, the article calls for accountability and urgent action to address the serious health and environmental consequences of exposure to emerging chemicals for the indigenous community. I found that this article is a perfect source for the discussion of environmental justice as the author is a member of the indigenous community and brings an experienced unique perspective to the conversation. This article also is based on extensive research and uses both educational and policy/legal sources that helps support its arguments and brings expert information on how these chemicals are affecting indigenous people, specifically women. It also states that this issue of pollution affects the indigenous community because of the lack of authority and lack of involvement of indigenous women in the decision-making processes around environmental issues. I think this article gives a new perspective into the conversation of environmental justice than that of what we have discussed in class as it draws attention to reproductive and women’s health issue and rights within pollution. - Annotation by Samantha Horning, Spring 2023

Yale Environment 360 with interviewer Jeremy Deaton speak with Beverly Wright a leading voice in environmental justice and activism as well as an advisor to the white house about her thoughts on where we are going wrong when it comes to environmental justice but also how we can improve in the future for not just one but all communities as a whole. As she states her concerns on where we are now, having to do with the level of attention and finances we are putting into the conversation and act on environmental justice and at the moment there is simply not enough people or resources to really give it all we’ve got. Wright also states the facts that when it comes to liquefied natural gas the majority of those emissions ends up in poor and minority communities which is detrimental to those communities and their hopes of moving forward and not having to deal with these harmful gases. Her hope from the Biden administration is to create a way for any project of importance that will “not harm any communities”, “will not contribute to the climate crisis” and “will not perpetuate racially disproportionate burdens of pollution” and if we can manage to do these three things then we can avoid making the same mistakes all over again. I think that this interview adds a lot to the conversation as it shows where we stand today and especially with the current administration we are working with, this is really important for those who are looking for a way to relate but believes there is nothing they can do, and I think that Beverly Wright gives them a clear solution and an entryway into the conversation. I would also recommend this interview as a source as it is clear in its goal and statement and is an incredibly trusted source by its academic review. - Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023

A main focus of modern sustainability literature is the politics of intentionally accelerating transitions to sustainability. Community and coalition-building efforts can have a powerful effect on decarbonization efforts. The main goal of this text is to identify synergies between the on-the-ground environmental justice movement and environmental justice literature. Fitzgerald addresses this by examining three key areas of overlap: “the praxis of building coalitions, understandings of power and appreciation of justice”. Just and sustainable practices are increasingly important in the world we find ourselves in. Thus, this paper strives to outline the groundwork for more significant dialogue between academic research and practical efforts within the environmental movement.
In the same way that Cesar Chavez's "Wrath of Grapes" boycott speech is a passionate call to action for the farmworkers' movement, this text emphasizes the power of collective action. I would recommend this source to anyone looking into coalition-building surrounding environmentalism. This source will play a key role to support the argument that there is a disconnect between scholarly literature on the environmental justice movement, and the actual movement itself. In order to effectively tackle the climate crisis and fight for environmental justice, we must ensure there is greater collaboration. - Annotation by Allie Burch, Spring 2023

In this post to “Medium” leading climate writer Mary Annaïse Heglar shares an emotional prose piece that speaks on Black Americans' experiences throughout history. As a Black woman born in Alabama, she feels a connection with the soil and the history it shares with the generations before her. A central idea delves into similarities between the treatment of her race and the environment in this country. To express this shared trauma, Heglar points out that the system that relied on bringing her race to disrepute for slavery is the same one that fueled the vast disregard for the environment for economic growth. Evelyn White’s “Black Women and the Wilderness” publication conveys that this generational trauma is also deeply felt in wilderness spaces. This outlines a pattern of societal reconfiguration that reconciles this system’s egregious maneuvers in the name of economic hegemony.
To this day, Black Americans feel the centuries of abuse and intolerance that linger in both the soil and the sustained disregard apparent in the countless instances of environmental injustice, especially in the South. Though this piece doesn’t address cases of environmental injustice specifically, it is a poignant read that offers context for the U.S. Environmental Justice movement. - Annotation by Bronwyn Combs, Spring 2023

NowThis News is a progressive news organization that was founded in 2012, which typically posts videos online about current news events. In this video, environmental impacts on communities of color are discussed with a focus on the communities in south Memphis, which is a predominantly black community that has suffered countless issues from environmental injustice. Throughout the video, community members are interviewed including Justin J. Pearson—co-founder of the Memphis Community Against the Pipeline, Dr. Reginique Green—a local doctor, and other locals from the area. The video discusses issues of toxins produced from nearby industrial factories, increased death and illness rates, a proposed pipeline that would run through the area, and the redlining that has occurred for generations. The Wrong Complexion for Protection by Robert Bullard discusses how issues like these arise due to a lack of enforcement of laws and regulations when it comes to environmental degradation in minority communities. This video highlights countless examples of why environmental justice is needed, since those living in this area are suffering and dying due to a lack of action. This video also gives concrete examples of how the environmental justice movement is being driven by community leaders and the importance of community in the fight against environmental injustice. - Annotation by Anonymous, Spring 2023

Just a Kid From Baltimore, is a film that follows athlete Evan Gill on his journey climbing all 58 Colorado mountains with elevations of at least 14,000 feet in 2020. The difficult undertaking provides Gill with a space to reflect upon his upbringing in an impoverished area of Baltimore, while highlighting the lack of opportunity in the field of outdoor recreation and education for his community. Gill reveals the inequities in access to wild areas and opportunity to such places as an underrepresented outdoor athlete of color.
Outdoor athletes have more recently come to the forefront of the environmental canons with various films and projects that highlight the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues. However the majority of these voices tend to be white and affluent individuals who were able to choose to have experiences in the outdoors as they were financially able to. Just a Kid From Baltimore begins to fill this void as Evan Gill exposes the inequities that exist between different groups of people based on financial and racial status in relation to outdoor access. The literature currently under the Wilderness category of the LibGuide highlights diverse voices that are similar to Gill, while Just a Kid From Baltimore highlights the power that outdoor recreation can have on communities. - Annotation by Aden Ray, Fall 2023

Sally Khalil’s article discusses the neglect and inequality that women face in the Middle East and North Africa. Khalil does so by stating the conditions under which women are expected to live and follows with the effects that climate change has had on women. Her main argument is that women should be treated as equals and seen as humans as well as allowed to help the fight against climate change. I see a large contrast of perspectives between Khalil’s article and Brittany Wray’s “Generation Dread”. Khalil’s article adds a perspective of a woman who is smart enough to know that women are needed to help fight the climate change crisis in the Middle East and North Africa, however she is faced with the inequality of not being allowed to help. On the other hand, Wray’s writing focuses on and even recognizes her privilege as a white woman that is a science writer and graduate of a biology program, yet she is occupied with her mental health and emotions. Khalil reinforces the potential and need of women of color in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) in terms of climate control while she also counters the current notion that women could not be useful. I recommend this article, for it gives an accurate narrative that is not often heard: women of color on climate change in the Middle East and North Africa. - Annotation by Greg Booker, Spring 2023

Within this article posted to the Illinois Environmental Council, authors Harris and Simba, both women of color, discuss the injustices that still face black communities in the city of Chicago. Mayor Lightfoot and the city of Chicago have been making great strides towards building a cleaner city and mitigating climate change. However with all this new investment, many black communities are still heavily impacted by pollution, causing increased rates of asthma and cancer and little is being done in support of these people. This has been a common theme discussed in class where minorities and people of color are disproportionately impacted by climate change and the issues that come with it. Both authors do a great job going over the issues related to land use and water access and have a great expertise on these issues. Another reason I feel this article is so effective is due to the proposed solutions and answers that these women have come up with, all of which I believe are great ideas. - Annotation by Connor Mack, Spring 2023