Blog about your observations/thoughts regarding environmental justice.
Minorities in the US are faced with many injustices daily. They have a higher risk of death and disease and often find themselves living below the poverty line and exposed to various toxins. Social determinants, racism, and justice movements are all interwoven. Reading about environmental justice made me realize how closely racism and social determinants are related. The social determinants of people of color are decided by the different types of racism they face, such as environmental racism which is seen with lack of green space in poor communities and institutional racism, which sees people of color affected by higher rates of disease and incarceration.
I think it is in the best interest of those in the environmental justice movement to align themselves with other movements, such as Black Lives Matter. People of color are exposed to various types of racism, injustices and health risks, that even if they overcome one, they remain susceptible to other various others.
So true how even when people of color overcome one of these barriers, they still have many others to overcome. It almost feels as though there is no hope for those who are a minority. Almost like in your biomonitoring post, people of color may feel hopeless in trying to better their lives when so many factors are working against them. Bringing awareness to issues like these to communities most affected may do more harm then good, but finding practical solutions and using environmental justice to bring change is one of the ways to bring hope and inspire. The Black Lives Matter movement is a great example of fighting against these injustices, especially as it relates to environmental health and inequalities.
ReplyDeleteHi Lorena,
ReplyDeleteRelated to the environmental justice I read a topic “environmental justice movement” mentioned that how Native American of Standing Rock has taken the initiative as environmental activists, rose their voice for social and environmental justice and surprised everyone by blocking the proposed route of the Dakota Access Pipeline through the traditional Sioux Lands in the United States. To improve environmental justice, people need to know about their rights. Social and environmental justice activists are responsibility to engage people in different types of environmental movement through awareness and capacity building.
Thank you,
Sayed