What Is Meant By ‘Environmental Racism’?
Environmental Racism is also known as Ecological Apartheid. The term- Environmental Racism refers to making policies or taking decisions related to the environment in a way that effects a certain group of people more negatively than other groups of people. The effect of environmental racism is disproportionate as only one community of people are made to bear the burden of wastes generated by another community.
Also see, Environmental Justice: Ensuring Equity and Sustainability for All
Environmental racism is seen in the acts of building landfill dumping sites, toxic waste disposal sites, hazardous waste dumping in areas that are predominantly occupied by people of color or lower class. People belonging to a poor socioeconomic background are discriminated against as they are forced to live in hazardous conditions alongside dumping sites and landfills. Whereas other groups of people that are well off or of a different race are privileged enough to live in cities whose collective waste is being dumped in the poor neighborhoods.
Causes of Environmental Racism:
- Lack Of Investment: the number once factor that leads to environmental racism is governments and authorities not wanting to invest in lands. These lands are supposed to be purchased and allotted for the purpose of waste disposal or other waste management activities. Since land on which people of color or poor communities are living on is not just cheap but also easier to usurp, since no one has actual power to stop them, they are used as waste dumping site for urban cities.
- Lack of Political Power: since the poor community are often so marginalized and under represented; they do not have a figurehead to lead them or help their voice or concerns reach the government. Being unable to make their case, this lack of political power and leader for the community leads to the government exploiting the people and their land.
- Poverty: being poor itself is a crime since no one has the concern for what is happening around them. People have no actual power or any idea of what is happening to their areas as they are striving to meet basic necessities. Even if they do raise their vice against injustice they are silenced in one way or another as their pleas fall on deaf ears.
Related: The Disastrous Link between Poverty and the Environment - Capitalistic Greed: Wanting to save money, not wanting to spend on acquiring land when free land is available occupied only by people who have no say in what happens to them. This serves as a great opportunity for corporate greed to exploit these people and risk their health and lives.
Solutions And Suggestions To Combat Environmental Racism:
- Inclusion of marginalized community members in local unions, councils and governments. The alienation of people of color and other minority community is what is the leading cause of rampant environmental injustice. Before calling for national and international reforms, we need to take a look around us at how we are treating the minority around us. We can start by giving them the opportunity to represent their people and amplify their voice by providing them with a platform. Afterall, change begins at the lowest level.
Check out: What is Climate Justice and Why Is It Important? - Hold the authorities accountable whenever you see an injustice being carried out. If enough members of the community take action and raise their voices it will be a concern for those in power who thrive in people’s complacency. Speak up when you see any act of injustice or unfairness being carried out.
Also read: Environmental Journalism Now Crucial And Dangerous Than Ever - Care for your neighbors. If you live nearby a community of people belonging to a minority group, help them as you can. This may include educating them on their rights, raising awareness and even starting a community funded project which can help improve the overall community. Such as installation of trash cans to prevent littering, clean up drives etc.
- Boycott, divest and sanction those policies or acts that harm the community of marginalized people. Boycotting has a power that can bring people in power to their knees if done unanimously and consistently. Boycott will at the very least force the authorities to think of appeasing the people to some degree.
You may also be interested in: Why Ecocide Should Be Made an International Crime?
Also check out, What Is Green Colonialism? – Everything You Need To Know
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