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Environmental Justice


Before reading the material for this blog, I had no idea that environmental racism was even a thing. Because these individuals are low income and live in areas near toxic waste sites, they are exposed to more social determinants.  Living near these sites puts them at higher risk to health issues due to the air, water, and food that can all be affected. Due to the awful stench that permeates everything, it automatically makes surrounding organizations (schools, workplaces, and homes) unsafe.

 It’s extremely sad to read that there’s resistance to environmental law when this is a public health issue that has to do with our health and well being. Climate change is an important issue to address. Therefore, politicians should not resist in addressing this because climate change has the potential to multiply environmental risks, which can increase the price of food while intensifying devastating storms. There are a lot of questions up in the air in regards to climate change and environmentalists should not only focus on the technical aspect of it. They should also consider prioritizing vulnerable communities who suffer from economic power and racial inequality. After all, “the struggles of indigenous peoples are not optional or supplemental. They are at the heart of the work” (Purdy, 2016)

References:

Purdy, J. (2016). Environmentalism was once a social-justice movement. The Atlantic. Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/how-the-environmental-movement-can-recover-its-soul/509831/



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