Short Wave Biden Promises To Grapple With Environmental Racism
Feb 4, 2021
Rebecca Hersher, an NPR climate reporter focused on environmental racism, dives into how communities of color face greater pollution and health risks than their white counterparts. She examines the federal government's role in creating this injustice and the Biden administration's efforts to rectify past failings. Hersher discusses specific case studies, like pollution from hog farms, and emphasizes the need for authentic engagement with affected communities to bridge the gap between promises and action in environmental justice.
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Environmental Justice Defined
- Environmental justice means fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regarding environmental laws.
- It acknowledges that past unfair treatment based on race or income must be considered.
Historical Roots of Environmental Injustice
- European colonizers exploited people and resources, creating environmental injustice from the start.
- Enslaved and indigenous people were forced to live in polluted, environmentally degraded areas.
Early Environmental Justice Protests
- Protests against environmental injustice began during the Civil Rights movement, including the United Farm Workers' demonstrations.
- Native Hawaiians and North Carolina residents also protested against military land use and toxic waste landfills, respectively.