Segregation in 2019

Blog #8    

Is there evidence of environmental racism in your community/state/country?

o   Have you heard of environmental justice before? 

§  I had never heard of environmental justice. I asked myself after this module how I could be so naive to think that this could be happening? I was shocked to learn that sites labeled for clean-up are prioritized by socioeconomic status and that penalties for breaking environmental law were lower near sites of minorities when compared to other sites. This is disturbing and awful. I do not understand how you can link value of land and the value of human life and well-being.

§  To hear Peggy Shepard speak about some communities that do not have the wealth or complexion for protection and thus are “sacrifice zones” and are targeted for the deprotonate pollution is just unreal in 2019; how can this be happening?

o   Have there been any environmental events in your area that would fall under the purview of environmental justice? 

§  A large lawsuit that was filed in 2015 involved members of the central coast community against central coast regional water quality. The lawsuit filed states that Contaminated water filled with nitrate pollution seeps into community aquifers from irrigated agriculture operations. Drinking this polluted water harms residents of these communities especially those in vulnerable populations by causing birth defects, cancer, thyroid, lung and kidney diseases. The lawsuit states that residents have the right to know where contaminated drinking water is located within their community.

o   When you hear the phrase "social determinants of health" do you think of environmental justice as one of them?

§  I hadn’t thought of environmental justice as a part of social determinants of health. When I think of social determinants of health, I think of everything that goes into the health of the person.  In researching I was able to find this graph that does include socioeconomic factors which after this module, I understand makes up a large portion of one susceptibility to toxins and a toxic environment, whether intentional or by chance.

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o   How can we incorporate environmental justice into our work to address the negative social determinants of health?

§  I seem to have a difficult time answering these questions. At my current workplace, I do not have the tools or even the information to properly educate my patients or help to make a change. What I can do as a future provider is to be more active in my community to help those at risk. I hope to take time to volunteer at local clinics. At these clinics I will be able to educate some of our vulnerable populations and help to hopefully make a difference.

In the News:

       To learn more about Environmental Justice I went back to its history and found that Robert Bullard also known as the “father of environmental justice” in the 1970’s, highlighted and brought forward the burden of pollution suffered in minority communities. From this research, I searched for a current in the new article and found a wonderful article that highlights not only his history but a wonderful perspective on the roots of this injustice. I agree that everyone is entitled to equal environmental protection. I find it just incomprehensible that companies could put human lives in jeopardy for profit. I wonder how this has happened for so many years and continues to happen today, its disgusting and heartbreaking.  

     Demarcation on race and class are used by companies and organizations to target communities consider compatible with pollution. Excuse my language but WTF. What this means is a community that is labeled no worthy of paved streets, proper water lines, and sewers. The article mentions that America is still segregated and so is pollution. I hate to agree with statement, but it’s true. As a provider I need to learn how to be an advocate for these vulnerable populations, even if I am not located within one of these communities.