From: shunkw <shunkw@sbcglobal.net>
To: shunkw <ShunkW@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Monday, 11 May, 2009 3:17:40
Subject: [issuesonline_worldwide] Now It's Official: The Poor and People of Color Get the Dirty Air
Now It's Official: The Poor and People of Color Get the Dirty Air
Posted by Nina Jacinto <http://www.wiretapm ag.org/bloggers/ jacinto/> at
11:21AM
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Last week, researchers at the University of Massachusetts and the University
of Southern California released a study that confirms what many people are
all too familiar with: toxic pollution falls disproportionately on
lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color. The 28-page report,
entitled "Justice <http://www.peri. umass.edu/ justice> in the Air", is one
of the first to examine the disparities between the health risk from
industrial air toxins faced by people of color and the poor and their
proportion of the population. Birmingham,
<http://www.nbc13. com/vtm/news/ local/article/ central_ala. _community_ gets_f_f
or_air_quality/ 70502/> Alabama ranks first among metropolitan areas in the
race-based rankings: people of color are burdened by 65% of the health risk
but only make up 34% of the population. Baton Rouge, Memphis and Chicago
follow closely behind. Birmingham also tops the class-based rankings:
low-income individuals account for 24% of the health risk but make up 13% of
the population (PDF
<http://college. usc.edu/geograph y/ESPE/documents /justice_ air_web.pdf> ).
Baton Rouge, Tacoma, Gary, and Milwaukee-Waukesha are metropolitan areas
that are featured in both top-ten rankings. This suggests that while there
is some correlation between income, race, and environmental injustice, there
must also be distinct racial and socio-economic examinations of how
communities are impacted by environmental hazards.
Another unique component of the report is its study of industrial companies
whose pollution has disproportionately affected low-income communities or
communities of color. These results are particularly significant because
they allow race and class to be taken into consideration when assessing
corporate environmental responsibility. National Oilwell Varco, ExxonMobil
and the Hess Corporation are among the top ten in both racial and
socioeconomic toxic rankings. More than 50% of the health risk falls on
people of color for each corporation.
While "Justice in the Air" highlights how medium-sized cities with heavy
industry face the highest race and socioeconomic disparities with regards to
air pollution, it also correlates with the conclusions that have been made
from more general studies. The American Lung <http://www.lungusa. org/>
Association recently released a
<http://www.stateoft heair.org/ 2009/key- findings/ executive- summary.html>
study containing a list of the most
<http://money. cnn.com/2009/ 04/28/real_ estate/most_ polluted_ cities/index. htm>
polluted cities, which include Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento, Dallas,
and Houston. The power plants, refineries, industrial waste facilities, and
freeways that pollute cities like Los Angeles are predominantly in
low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Across the board,
research is pointing to an important conclusion: if policymakers and
organizations intend to work towards healthier and cleaner communities, they
must recognize the existence of systemic environmental racism and classism.
An effective environmental justice movement will consider the intersections
of race, culture, class and geography in its creation and implementation of
laws, regulations and policies.
For a wonderful and brief account of environmental justice activism
happening in the Los Angeles area, check out this short film from the
Sundance Channel <http://www.sundance channel.com/ thegoodfight/ topics> about
the work being done by Communities For A Better Environment (CBE
<http://www.cbecal. org/> ). It interviews Executive Director Bill Gallegos
and community organizer Roberto Cabrales about their work in fighting for
cleaner air in Southeast LA.
part one:
part two:
http://www.wiretapm ag.org/blogs/ race/44176/
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