Funes, Y. (2023, September 20). The father of environmental justice exposes the geography of Inequity. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02613-6 

In the article, the work of Robert D. Bullard (a central pioneer of environmental justice) is discussed. Bullard’s research, conducted in the 1970s, revealed the link between a person’s environment and their health, particularly in marginalized communities. He uncovered the extent of environmental pollution in predominantly Black neighborhoods, shedding light on the concept of environmental racism. Bullard’s efforts have led to the establishment of the Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and the global recognition of environmental justice as a crucial issue. 

This article raises awareness about the unequal distribution of environmental hazards and the impacts they have on marginalized communities. Environmental justice is a critical aspect of environmental science, since it emphasizes the fair treatment and involvement of all individuals, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status. It is inspiring to see how one person’s research and advocacy efforts have sparked a movement and influenced international discussions on climate change and environmental reparations. It reminds me and other readers of the power of scientific research in addressing societal disparities and moving toward a more equitable and sustainable future.

“sacrifice zones”: The new “Jim Crow” that’s sickening and killing people of colour in US. (2023, October 13). Retrieved from https://www.newsclick.in/sacrifice-zones-new-jim-crow-thats-sickening-and-killing-people-colour-us 

The article discusses the concept of “sacrifice zones,” which are communities of color in the United States that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution and environmental hazards due to systemic racism. These areas, located near industrial facilities such as factories and power plants, have higher rates of health problems and environmental degradation. The article highlights the need for environmental justice and the actions being taken by the government to address these issues. 

In my opinion, it’s crucial to recognize and address the seemingly never-ending environmental injustices faced by communities of color. The concept of sacrifice zones stresses the deep-rooted inequalities and systemic racism that result in unequal distribution of environmental harms. I just can’t comprehend why communities already facing socioeconomic challenges are further burdened by such pollution and health issues. It’s so upsetting that it isn’t ensured that all people, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, have access to a clean and healthy environment.

Fossil fuel-related toxic pollution from petrochemical industries devastating lives in the United States. (2024, January 25). Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/united-states-lives-devastated-and-human-rights-sacrificed-by-toxic-fossil-fuel-related-pollution-from-petrochemical-plants-in-texas-and-louisiana/#:~:text=The%20predominance%20of%20Black%20and,neighbourhoods%20based%20on%20their%20racial 

The article from Amnesty International highlights the devastating impact of toxic pollution caused by fossil fuel-related activities in petrochemical plants located in Texas and Louisiana. The report reveals that communities living near these plants are consistently exposed to harmful pollutants, leading to severe health issues and violations of human rights. The article emphasizes the need to end the expansion of the petrochemical industry in these regions and advocates for a rapid transition away from fossil fuel usage. 

This relates to the field of environmental science because it sheds light on the detrimental consequences of fossil fuel-related pollution on both human health and the environment. It explores the links between industrial activities, pollution, and the well-being of communities living near petrochemical plants. It is disheartening to witness the disproportionate burden borne by low-income communities, predominantly consisting of Black and Latinx/Hispanic individuals, who face significant barriers to justice and access to healthcare. This article really highlighted the systemic environmental racism prevalent in the United States and reiterated to both me and other readers the great importance of holding corporations accountable for their actions and promoting sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

University, S. C. (2023, August 17). The Colorado River and environmental justice for the Navajo tribe. Retrieved from https://www.scu.edu/environmental-ethics/resources/the-colorado-river-and-environmental-justice-for-the-navajo-tribe/ 

The article explores the impact of the drying up of the Colorado River on states that rely on its water resources, with a specific focus on the environmental justice issues faced by the Navajo tribe in Arizona. The Colorado River provides water for 40 million people in seven states and has reached record-low levels due to overuse and climate change. The article examines the water rights allocation, the negotiations between states, and the exclusion of Indigenous groups, especially the Navajo tribe, from the conversation.

Environmental science relates to this article as it addresses the impact of climate change on water resources and resulting environmental justice issues. The drying up of the Colorado River due to chronic overuse and drought is a significant concern, affecting the water supply of millions of people. To me, this article brings attention to the urgent need for sustainable water management and the importance of considering the well-being of all communities in decision-making processes (particularly those most vulnerable to the consequences of environmental degradation). It truly is upsetting to see the effects of climate change leading to the depletion of vital water resources, with Indigenous communities disproportionately affected.

Fuller, M. (2023, August 31). Why Coastal Access is an environmental justice issue. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/why-coastal-access-environmental-justice-issue 

This article discusses the systemic injustices that have shaped beach access and the resulting need for change. It explores how racial discrimination and exclusionary laws have limited access to coastal areas, particularly for people of color. The article also mentions the ongoing impacts of historic racism and ongoing systemic racism on coastal access. It emphasizes the importance of equitable coastal access for physical and mental health, as well as the need for grassroots and policy-level solutions to address these environmental justice issues.

Coastal access is not only related to environmental science, but it is also an important environmental concern- directly affecting people’s ability to enjoy and benefit from coastal ecosystems. It’s concerning to learn about historical and ongoing barriers that prevent certain communities, particularly people of color, from fully enjoying and benefiting from coastal areas. It was also interesting to me that these issues and inequities are more prevalent in the South, in states such as South Carolina and Florida. To promote social equity, I think we should support grassroots efforts and support/advocate for policy changes such as MPA’s to address these differences and work towards a more just future.

Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement to Protect Environmental Justice Communities in West Oakland.

https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-settlement-protect-environmental-justice

Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the planned construction of a 18 acre marine terminal in Oakland. This is what is being known as the Eagle Rock Aggregates Terminal Project, aggregates being raw material used for construction. The settlement has negotiated commitments to mitigate the projects air quality impacts on the community less than a mile away. Bonta states that he will “continue fighting for the West Oakland community…going forward”. Because the area is low income, not much has been done about pollution in the area, especially from port projects. Requirements such as watering systems for aggregate stockpiles and protocols to use water to control fugitive dust” have been much more clear than the original vague and “limited watering requirements”. Another main source of pollution from the project is equipment and vehicle trips, so another agreement is that the project will switch to fully electric or zero emission vehicles to account for this. The last settlement agreement is that the project must stop using outdated air quality analysis for future projects and will be more transparent about their environmental impact. 

California Environmental Justice Organizers Are Writing the Future of Climate Plans

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/california-environmental-justice-organizers-are-writing-the-future-of-climate-plans/

The article begins with the author saying that they “don’t believe white people are going to save us” due to past issues such as colonizers that “decimated” people from Asia and the americas. While I don’t agree with this argument (it is not logically sound) I do agree that no matter your ethnic background, things need to be done to save our environment. There are more doors open for people with european descent than people of color, but stating that white people are never going to “save us” is talking in a lot of generalities and doesn’t really add much to the argument of the article, which is supposedly on environmental justice. The author claims that “real climate solutions had to come from Black people, Indigenous people, people of color on the ground who had firsthand experience with climate impacts and could propose solutions that would meet this existential challenge.”. Already in these first two paragraphs, there seems to be a lot of racial bias. While I agree that it is important to have people who have had experience with climate impacts, not all of these people are going to be black or indigenous. I understand that this article is about environmental justice, but the way the author is stating all of this seems to be blaming white people(i get it, they started industrialization which inherently led to all of this) but there is a lot of underlying hatred(?) That seems unneeded and i just wanted to bring that up. Not all people living in bad areas and bad climate conditions are people of color. There are a lot of these so-called “white people ” living in these areas, and just because someone is a person of color also doesn’t mean that they have had experience with that. Getting back to the article, it talks mainly about how climate efforts in the past have been met with a lot of derision and skepticism and how BIPOC organizers have envisioned how the environment could be so much better. These are efforts and ideas like the Fossil Fuel Phased Out(stop using fossil fuels), clean mass transportation(hopefully electric vehicles), and the grid of the future(electric bills, pollution control laws). 

California Water Agency Under Investigation For Discriminating Against Tribes, People of Color

https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2023/08/california-water-agency-investigation-discrimination/

One of the main issues this article covers is the failure to protect water quality in San Francisco bay and the San Joaquin delta. The Biden administration’s environmental justice office is “investigating whether California’s water agency has discriminated against Native Americans and other people of color”. They state that the state water agency has left the waters to basically deplete and go into an “ecological crisis”, and this has affected Native groups the most. Along with affecting the people, the rivers are also home to the Delta Smelt, an endangered species that has dwindled into a miniscule size. The fish show whether an ecosystem is healthy, and in this case, it is insanely unhealthy. Fishing is very important for certain tribes, so along with messing up the water, this ecological crisis has also put a damper on the amount of fish in the water, and therefore messes with the diet of these tribes. 

Earlier this year, we talked about the Delta Smelt and how it was basically extinct already and there wasn’t much we could do to save it because by the time the environment was stabler, they would already be long gone, and the ones kept in labs were different from the original fish. However, I still think that we should focus on the health of the delta and bay because there are still other species of fish and organisms that live there and call the area their home. If we don’t do anything about it, the condition will just worsen. The San Joaquin river also supplies water to 27 million californians. This is the water we are drinking. We as Californians are even advised not to drink the water from the tap because its so nasty. Why are we letting this continue? Why has it gotten to this point before people started actually caring? If it’s not even safe for human consumption, just think of the things living in it, or rather, no longer living in it. 

Seeking Environmental Justice in California’s “Lithium Valley”

https://earthworks.org/blog/seeking-environmental-justice-in-californias-lithium-valley/

Lithium extraction has started picking up steam in Southern California’s Imperial Valley. Companies here are trying to extract the lithium below the Salton Sea. Lithium extraction would be fine in and of itself, but these companies are using Direct Lithium Extraction which uses “chemical and physical processes that have never been used before” to get this lithium out of the geothermal power plants. While they have promised that the extraction will be environmentally friendly, when questioned, the companies have given vague answers that make people question their legitimacy. 

There are 5 areas of environmental impacts the author has highlighted. Air quality, freshwater consumption, Salton Sea degradation, hazardous waste and materials and seismic activity. They go on to say that communities should be aware of the impacts and the processes going on as this is their home. 

While I can understand the need for lithium – it’s used in batteries, and also for mental health(bipolar) medication – I think it is important to look at the pros and cons of extracting it. The companies in charge don’t seem to care about the environment and aren’t really communicating with the residents. Ultimately, it should be the residents decision to go through with this because they are the ones affected in the long term. For the longest time, the Salton Sea has been pushed aside and seen as a sacrifice that needs to be made, but I think that if companies are going to mess with the area, then they need to take more initiative and figure out ways to extract the lithium with the least damage done. So far, it doesn’t seem like they have much concern at all. 

Tigue, K. (2023, January 19). Six Environmental Justice Policy Fights to Watch in 2023. Inside Climate News. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19012023/environmental-justice-policy-2023/

This source illustrates how the US government has dedicated their spending, which is some 47-60 billion dollars, into the “nation’s communities hardest hit by climate change, industrial pollution and racist practices like redlining”. It explains how most of the money will go to families in need in the USA. The Environmental Protection Agency also stated that the first $100 million in grants would be for the community and local governments.

This is related to environmental justice because it is talking about the grants that the US government is giving to more disparate communities that are in need, because of climate change or other environmental factors as well as environmental racism.