Author: almol

by

Orange County’s Environmental Racism Issue

Le, Lauren. (January 15, 2022). Orange County’s Environmental Racism Issue. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from Orange County’s Environmental Racism Issue | New University | UC Irvine

 

Despite efforts made by the state of California to mitigate the climate crisis, there are still many environmental hazards that are specifically affecting marginalized communities. In Orange County, it was recorded that lower income areas populated primarily by people of color had significantly higher pollution levels than other neighborhoods in the general area. In fact, areas housing people of color tended to have more issues like lead contamination or poor water and air quality. These pollutants can have devastating health effects, causing brain cancer among other things. Marginalized communities in the area also had higher concentrations of lead in their soil.

 

While California is making strides in terms of mitigating the ongoing climate crisis, it is not doing as good a job at mitigating the effects on marginalized communities. Communities made up of black, Hispanic, indigenous, and other minority groups have faced a long history of environmental injustice. Some efforts have been made to change this but overall, these communities have been disproportionately affected by climate change. This is a key example of the lack of environmental justice in America. This article was really concerning to me. Minority communities are being hit incredibly hard by pollution and other issues, and yet few are coming to their aid. Considering many of the communities are in low income areas, they need support, and it is up to those who are able (and the federal/state government) to help them. We can’t say that we are successfully mitigating the climate crisis until we reduce/eliminate the devastating effects of climate change on marginalized communities.

by

Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices

Irfan, Ans and Martinez, Deniss. (November 4, 2021). Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices (ehn.org)

 

Climate adaptation is incredibly urgent across the US and the world, but it is especially important in Indigenous communities. Despite this, Indigenous people have often been left out of climate policy, even though they are some of the most affected by climate change. Indigenous people have long been active in climate activism, and yet they are most frequently excluded. Climate change itself is rooted in colonialism and the exploitation of native people and their land. Currently, some of the best ways to help indigenous people with climate justice are land stewardship, long-term financing, land reparations, and indigenous decision making. 

 

Indigenous communities are some of the most affected by climate change. Their land and rights have long been exploited and degraded, and yet even today indigenous voices are not being listened to. This is just one example of environmental inequality, and how Indigenous people are often ignored in favor of white settlers and colonists. This should not be happening; indigenous people tend to be very educated on the environment and take care to show their land respect. Most white colonists cannot say the same. After reading this article, I realized just how often indigenous voices have been shut out. They have crucial ideas on climate adaptation and mitigation, yet they are rarely listened to. I feel that we (non-indigenous people) need to do more to uplift indigenous voices, especially on climate related issues, and we also need to try to remedy the environmental injustice faced by most indigenous Americans.

by

Water protectors in Hawaii confront dangerous environmental polluter: the US military

Steiner, Mark. (January 20, 2022). Water protectors in Hawaii confront dangerous environmental polluter: the US military. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from Water protectors in Hawaii confront dangerous environmental polluter: the US military (therealnews.com)

 

The US Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility has been leaking hundreds of thousands of gallons of petroleum into the aquifer that provides drinking water for thousands of Hawaii residents. This has been going on for years, even since the facility’s construction, and native Hawaiian residents have been speaking out about it to no avail. The facility didn’t pause operating until military families living in the area reported having symptoms of petroleum poisoning. Native Hawaiians have been fighting for their land and for their rights, but the US military is rarely held accountable for their operations in Oahu.

 

Upon reading this article, it is clear that native Hawaiians are being disproportionately affected by the issue of petroleum in their aquifers. Despite Hawai’ians speaking out their concerns for years, the US did nothing until families of their own members started complaining as well. This goes to show that the US military, and the US federal government in general, isn’t listening to native voices. I was really shocked after reading this article. I hadn’t heard anything about petroleum contaminating Oahu’s biggest aquifer before reading the article, despite it being a massive issue. It made me wonder why something so devastating hasn’t been more widely shared. The US military’s presence on the Hawaiian islands has caused a lot of lasting environmental damage, and yet it is rarely (if ever) spoken about. This is definitely a problem, and I feel that more should be done to hold the US military accountable for their actions against environmental justice for native Hawaiians.

by

Michigan community faces water crisis, calls for lead pipe replacement

Bohlke, Lily. (October 8, 2021). Michigan community faces water crisis, calls for lead pipe replacement. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from Michigan community faces water crisis, calls for lead pipe replacement | Detroit News | Detroit | Detroit Metro Times

 

Many drinking water systems across the US contain lead pipes. However, communities primarily made up of people of color are being disproportionately affected by this. Removing these lead pipes would be incredibly beneficial; since lead can affect children’s ability to read and write, removal of the pipes would benefit children’s education. Environmental agencies have been working to get safe drinking water for primarily black communities in southwestern Michigan, as the area has reported extremely high lead levels over the past few years. Many areas like this, with mainly people of color inhabitants, have been losing investments over the years, so it is crucial they get the support that they need.

 

This article is really closely tied to the topic of environmental justice, as it focuses on black communities (and other communities made up of people of color) being disproportionately affected by environmental crises. Lead contamination of drinking water is incredibly dangerous, and to make matters worse, some of these communities have been without safe water for years, and yet little has been done to fix this. I found the article to be really eye opening. I had heard of the “lead in water” issue in the past, such as what happened in Flint, Michigan, but I hadn’t realized that the crisis wasn’t one faced by all communities in the area. Upon learning about this, I’m upset to hear that our federal government hasn’t done much to fix this, despite multiple campaigns from environmental activists and the government’s general knowledge of the issue.

by

How much air pollution do you live with? It may depend on your skin color

McCormick, Erin. (December 15, 2021). How much air pollution do you live with? It may depend on your skin color. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from How much air pollution do you live with? It may depend on your skin color | Environment | The Guardian

 

The amount of pollution people are exposed to could be related to the color of one’s skin. When testing the levels of air pollution in various locations, it became clear that areas where people of color resided had more airborne pollutants. This disparity becomes even more apparent when one looks at urban areas; areas primarily made up of black and brown communities have significantly worse air quality and higher levels of pollutants in the air. While efforts have been made to improve air quality, there are still unequal levels of air pollution.

 

This article is related to environmental science and environmental justice because it focuses on air pollution; specifically how it disproportionately affects communities made up of people of color. Areas where a lot of people of color live have significantly worse air quality than areas where their white counterparts live do. I wasn’t entirely surprised hearing this since I had heard about this disparity before, but I was still upset to hear about it. Whether it’s purposeful or not, it is entirely unjust that frequently discriminated against communities have such poor air quality. That poor air quality can have lasting effects, causing health issues such as lung diseases. This article made me realize just how disproportionately people of color are being affected by the air quality; while many places have poor air quality, it is clear that black and brown communities are being forced to take the brunt of it.

by

In California, extreme heat and ozone pollution hit poor communities hardest

National Geographic. (2021, May 25). In California, extreme heat and ozone pollution hit poor communities hardest. Retrieved July 18, 2021, from In California, extreme heat and ozone pollution hit poor communities hardest (nationalgeographic.com)

 

When faced with high temperatures, the air often becomes thicker thanks to pollution and ozone. Both of these things together is a deadly combination. Many people find it difficult to breathe, and some even face hospitalization or death. Ozone pollution is most common in poor areas, specifically ones inhabited by marginalized communities. These communities are forced to live in locations with unhealthy air qualities, and they generally don’t have the resources needed to help protect themselves. This results in a higher likelihood of respiratory issues and other diseases in poorer areas.

 

Ozone pollution and increased temperatures are both issues that have become more and more prominent with time. Both are effects of climate change, a topic that environmental scientists have been working on for years. If ozone pollution continues to get worse, the environment will eventually not be able to survive in such a polluted and hot world. This is why many environmental scientists have been working on potential ways to combat climate change and reduce the amount of pollution in the air. One thing to note is that while ozone pollution does affect everyone, certain communities tend to be hit harder. Poor communities aren’t equipped to deal with the unhealthy air quality, and yet many of these communities are located in some of the most polluted areas. This is why environmental justice policies need to continue to be added. Without them, environmental inequality will only get worse, and many people will die. I found the article to be really informational and helpful for helping me understand some of the effects of environmental inequality. This enabled me to better understand why environmental justice is so important. I also found some parts of the article surprising, specifically how California has almost half of the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.

 

by

Can California avoid another toxic waste disaster?

Sacramento News & Review. (2021, June 8). Can California avoid another toxic waste disaster? Retrieved July 18, 2021, from Can California avoid another toxic waste disaster? • Sacramento News & Review (newsreview.com)

 

Many hazardous waste facilities are poorly regulated, some even operating with expired permits or contaminating the nearby soil and groundwater. They generally don’t take all of the necessary safety precautions either. This means that there is an increased risk for things like explosions or leakage of hazardous waste. Yet despite all of these issues, most factories are able to stay running, even after receiving numerous health citations. Additionally, most of said facilities are located in the poorest parts of California, meaning that the population is disproportionately affected.

 

The hazardous waste released from hazardous waste facilities is extremely bad for the environment. Living things that come in contact with hazardous waste often die or become sick. Due to all of its negative effects, many environmental scientists have been trying to find ways to either limit the amounts of hazardous waste being created, or create better disposal systems for hazardous waste. If it continues to be released in the environment, it will cause a lot of harm, especially to people who live near such facilities. People living near hazardous waste facilities tend to be on the poorer side, meaning that they don’t have access to resources or funds that could help protect them. This is a strong example of the effects of environmental inequality, and helps demonstrate why environmental justice is so important. When reading the article, I was surprised by how many hazardous waste facilities were located in California, and how a lot of them were poorly regulated. I had expected California to better enforce the regulations involving hazardous waste.

by

Premature or Precautionary? California is the first to tackle microplastics in drinking water

Cal Matters. (2021, March 15). Premature or Precautionary? California is the first to tackle microplastics in drinking water. Retrieved July 18, 2021, from California first to tackle microplastics in drinking water | CalMatters

 

Microplastics can be found in almost any living thing, since they are so plentiful in water and food. However, while the full effects of consuming microplastics are unknown, it is clear that microplastics are harmful to both living things and the environment. The California government plans to test the state’s drinking water for microplastics, and then attempt to reduce the levels of plastic in the water. New guidelines are being put in place to regulate the acceptable amount of microplastics in drinking water.

 

It is fairly common knowledge that plastic is bad for the environment. It takes incredibly long to decompose, and often contains toxins that can negatively affect living things and the natural environments around them. Just going off of that, it is clear that essentially drinking plastic will result in negative effects. As a result, a lot of environmental scientists have been studying ways to limit the amount of microplastics in water. Some areas are more affected than others, such as areas by waste facilities that are already in close proximity to large amounts of plastic. People (and animals) living in those types of areas are even more negatively affected by microplastics than the rest of the population. I found the article to be really eye opening. I had no idea how many microplastics are in our drinking water, and the article made me curious about what the potential effects of consuming microplastics might be in the long run.

by

Pesticide Caused Kid’s Brain Damage, California Lawsuits Say

U.S.News. (2021, July 12). Pesticide Caused Kid’s Brain Damage, California Lawsuits Say. Retrieved July 18, 2021, from Pesticide Caused Kids’ Brain Damage, California Lawsuits Say | California News | US News

 

Pesticides are used a lot in California, specifically in Central Valley where most of the state’s produce is grown. However, these pesticides, specifically ones with chlorpyrifos, are unsafe and should not be breathed in or brought into households. Despite this, the workers in Central Valley are constantly breathing in the pesticides, and the pesticides often go into the air and end up all over people’s homes. The chemicals in the pesticides can result in brain damage, primarily to children. Many parents with children negatively affected by the pesticides have been filing lawsuits in an attempt to get the products banned.

 

This article is very closely tied with environmental justice, specifically environmental inequality. A big factor for environmental justice is the vulnerability of a certain community. Usually, areas with higher rates of poverty and poor housing quality are more at risk for environmental hazards. This is especially true in Central Valley. Many of the agricultural workers and their families are below the poverty line, meaning that they are way more likely to face environmental inequality. This was made apparent by the amount of brain damage seen in children who live in Central Valley thanks to the pesticides being used. This is a huge example of the effects of environmental inequality, and how better environmental justice policies need to be put in place to help those affected. The article made me realize just how important environmental justice is. People, specifically kids, are being hurt every day because of the lack of environmental justice regulations in certain areas of California.

by

California Proposes Updates to Environmental Justice Tool CalEnviroScreen

Baker Botts. (2021, March 1). California Proposes Updates to Environmental Justice Tool CalEnviroScreen. Retrieved July 18, 2021, from California Proposes Updates to Environmental Justice Tool CalEnviroScreen | Thought Leadership | Baker Botts

 

CalEnviroScreen is an online database that is used to calculate and score information about the environment’s vulnerability levels to pollutants in California. The scores are used to create environmental policies and regulations that equalize residents’ exposure to pollution and other hazards. The database calculates where the environmental inequalities lie through various indicators, such as the amount of pesticides in a certain area. On February 22, 2021, The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment was released. The data from said assessment was put into CalEnviroScreen, which produced new scores that could be used in environmental decision making.

 

This article revealed CalEnviroScreen to be a really helpful tool to help promote environmental justice. Environmental inequality is such an important topic, and yet it is discussed way less than other environmental issues. Since environmental justice isn’t very frequently discussed, many people are unaware of just how unequal the environment’s pollution scale is. Some areas in California are way more at risk for things like pollutants or health hazards, and the only way to fix that is by bringing awareness to the issue and using tools like CalEnviroScreen. I found the article to be very helpful. I hadn’t been aware of just how many indicators led to environmental inequality. I also hadn’t known that tools like CalEnviroScreen were used to help combat environmental inequality. In addition, the article did raise a couple of questions for me. I’m curious about which areas in California are most affected by environmental inequality, and I would also like to know what is being done to help combat it.