M3.3 Environmental Justice

-


Blog about your observations/thoughts regarding environmental justice.
It is upsetting and and frustrating that certain populations have to face these environmental justice issues, particularly African Americans. The 8 horrifying examples given by Chiles (2015) are just that -- horrifying. These are an imposition on their basic human rights. When it comes to clean air, safe communities, appropriate living spaces, good schools, or non-contaminated food and water, everyone should have access to them. Unfortunately, it has been an uphill battle for those who live in black neighborhoods. 
How does this fit into the concept of "social determinants"?  How does it connect to the "Black Lives Matter" movement?
Social determinants of health include a multitude of factors - community, social support, access to education, jobs, or opportunities, access to healthcare, public safety, and more. African Americans face environmental injustices and multiple health disparities. Living in poverty, around toxic waste and air pollution, takes a heavy toll on their lives. The "Black Lives Matter" movement works against this environmental injustice (as well as many other racial issues Blacks sadly still face) and fights for equality. As with all issues, it is essential to educate those being affected and encourage them to advocate for change. As David Pellow said in 2016 and beyond: Justice jumping genres, “We need to be building something positive, not just opposing something bad" (Bienkowski, 2016). 

Comments

  1. Ashley SubramaniFebruary 9, 2018 at 5:17 PM

    It is upsetting to see that specific races were exposed to such environmental injustices. Each person is entitled to a happy and healthy life.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

M5.4 Blog about your CCR & water quality

-
Answer the following questions: What is the source of your drinking water?  According to SF Water, San Francisco gets 85% of our water from the Hetch Hetchy watershed. The rest of our water comes from the Alameda and Peninsula watersheds. In April 2017, SF also started using groundwater from the Westside Groundwater Basin aquifer. Where does your water ORIGINATE? (It is treated at a water treatment plant, but what watershed or aquifer is the sources of the water?)  The Hetch Hetchy watershed. What chemicals were found in your water that were higher than expected?  Most of the chemicals listed were well under the maximum contaminant level goal or the maximum contaminant level. However, I was surprised to know that byproducts of disinfection were still found in the water, like haloacetic acids. I also saw that even though the range for Giardia lamblia was <0-0.11, I thought it was a bit scary because it was still detected. What chemicals did you NOT expect to ...
Read more

Environmental Health News, Week 13: Diesel Ban in Europe

-
There is a small environmental organization, called Deutsche Umwelt Hilfe (DUH) or Environmental Action Germany, that is advocating for reducing air pollution in the European Union. In February, the German Federal Administrative Court banned older diesel fueled cars in certain cities and areas in Germany. This is a big step for the EU as diesel powered cars are used more than gasoline cars. According to the article, diesel cars are a major contributor to air pollution: 60% of nitrogen dioxide in Germany comes from motor vehicles, with three-quarters of that from diesel. Nitrogen dioxide levels and particulate matter levels are almost double the EU limits in cities like Munich. This pollution creates carcinogens and is associated with premature deaths, cardio-pulmonary diseases. Some say that this is the beginning of the end of diesel in the EU. "Paris, Copenhagen, London, and Madrid had already announced they are considering bans on some diesel cars beginning in 2020. " Whi...
Read more

M6.4: Industrial Farming

-
The Vanishing of the Bees and Dirt!: The Movie Before watching "The Vanishing of the Bees", I had only heard about this issue. I never thought to look deeper into it, but after watching this film, I see that it is an extreme issue that is directly related to our actions. "Dirt!: The Movie" further reveals that as a species, we are causing extensive harm to the planet and the environment. One thing that stood out to me was the use of pesticides. Pesticides harm our bees, and other pollinators, but they also harm the earth. As we continue to use these harmful chemicals, we kill our pollinators, destroy our soil, and ruin our environment. Big agriculture seeks to create monoculture and sustain human demand, but in reality, none of this is sustainable at all. From the dirt, to the bees, to the water, to us, we need to think of ways to preserve the environment and work with it to improve for the future. Factory Farms  According to the map, there are no factory farm...
Read more