188: Not in My Backyard: A Critical Review of Environmental Racism

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

 Episode 188

Not in My Backyard: A Critical Review of Environmental Racism

Surveys of community needs from around the world show that almost everyone wants the same thing. We all want a safe place to live and even raise a family. We want a healthy, natural environment, access to education, healthy food, housing, clean water, and fair use of land and local resources.

How would you feel if you lived in a community where such things did not exist? You lived in the midst of heavy air pollution, environmental contamination, and lack of basic services.

And yet these situations are more frequent than most of us recognize. The underlying cause is environmental racism. So join me for episode 188 where we are going to discuss a critical review of environmental racism, what that is, why it exist, and what we can do about it.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E188 which is called……….

Sustainability question of the week

Does it really make a difference what I eat?

Good news story of the week

There is now a portable factory that uses the power of the sun to produce zero emissions plastics. And this device is small enough that it can taken almost anywhere in the world.

This new start up company, founded by Karl von Kries, is called Light Manufacturing. The technology is known as Solar Rotational Molding. Raw plastic is placed in a mold and blasted with sun light from 30 special mirrors.

Karl got this idea while working with another company and seeing their astronomical utilities bills. After some investigation he actually set up a company to simply prove the idea would not work. But, it did. There were some challenges after the initial start-up. But by 2014 they were producing high quality plastics and secured several critical patents.

Von Kries sees one of the best ways to use this technology is providing rural areas in poor countries with critical plumping equipment such as pipes and rainwater catchment tanks.

So the round of applause this week goes to Karl von Kries for his new invention of solar rotational molding. One more step toward a sustainable future.

Now let’s move on to this weeks episode on environmental racism. 

As most of you know in some of my podcast episodes I will discuss targeted social issues regardless of the sensitive nature of some of these topics.  The reason I want to bring up environmental racism is because so many people are unaware of this issue. Yet if we are to set ourselves on a path to build a sustainable future that is equal, just, and fair for everyone, then we must include even the most marginalized populations in our society.  Often times it is this segment of our society that suffers the most due to the transgressions of more privileged people from developed countries. 

There have been numerous surveys of communities around the world that reveal a rather unsurprising trend.  Nearly 87% of people say that quality of environment in their community as a whole was a top priority. Yet even for those of us that live in the developed world, we fail to recognize that there are many communities that as a whole have a poor quality of life due to what is called environmental racism. 

You would think in our modern culture that such things would not be an issue. Yet in the US and the European Union approximately 50% of the people of color say racism is an everyday part of their life.

Because of my personal experience and background I am acutely aware of the affects of racism and how it can be deeply rooted in a culture. I grew up in a time of federally mandated desegregation, race riots, and civil rights protests. I personally saw and felt the effects of blatant public segregation and the tremendous cultural movement set on a path to change that.

Due to these kinds of experiences I forget there are people in the world that are completely oblivious that such attitudes still exist today. Just recently I was having a conversation with someone that was completely appalled that I had actually experienced racism.

While most of us these days are acutely aware of the concepts of cultural diversity and inclusion there is a much more subtle form of racism that tends to slip under the radar. And that is environmental racism. While many of us may find overt racism to be appalling, this form of racism is often hidden from sight but far more damaging. There are numerous communities in the US, as well as around the world, where a safe community just does not exist.

A couple of years ago I was dealing with a client that was angry with their neighbor. The dispute centered around their dog, a property line and a new fence. As these clients were sharing the story that epitomized the example of a bad neighbor. They called that neighbor a NIMBYist. Later in the conversation I had to ask them to explain what they were talking about.

NIMBY is a term that originated in the US. It is an acronym for “not in my backyard.” It is used to describe actions taken by a person or a group of people that oppose development in their area because they believe it would be detrimental. Examples of such development would be factories, incinerators, cell phone towers and even urban development in rural areas.

Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it is not. I do remember reading an article some time ago about numerous communities in the US that have protested and blocked solar farms from being installed near their communities. But the effects of this attitude of “not in my backyard” extends far beyond privileged communities.

We start to see a completely different story when you move beyond class and property and consider social exclusion and racism. When you consider the overt concepts of racism most people are fairly sensitive about it these days.

However environmental racism is often more subtle and hidden from view. It is something that occurs when marginalized communities, as well as those of people of color, experience a disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, pollution, and ecological degradation. On an international basis this is seen when the environmental burdens of mining, oil extraction, and industrial agriculture are placed on indigenous people and poorer nations that are largely inhabited by people of color.

To make matters worse, environmental regulations do not equally benefit all of society. Specifically, people of color such as African Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asians and Latinos are disproportionately harmed by industrial and agricultural toxins in their jobs. In the US in particular, some communities are continuously polluted while the government pays little to no attention at all.

Even environmental protection laws often fail. This is because the focus of most regulations is to protect and benefit humans, not the environment that humans live in. The regulations typically assume human superiority over nature and natural processes.

Eventually, these discriminatory practices were brought to light. Policies, regulations and laws burdening the environment in marginalized communities were brought to the forefront starting with the environmental justice movement that had its roots in the civil rights movement. Environmental justice gained national attention in 1982 when a Black community in North Carolina was designated as a site for waste disposal that was known to contain carcinogenic compounds.

Around that same time line, civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis coined the term “environmental racism” which placed emphasis on the reality that environmental hazards disproportionately affect communities of color.

Why does this problem exist?

The next obvious question is why does this problem exist. Well, it is a combination of a number of political, social, and economic factors.

-Discriminatory practices

The Federal Housing Administration from 1934 to the 1960s sponsored redlining. This is the practice of drawing redlines on a map the designate hazardous neighborhoods. Land use decisions based on this practice allowed industry to build facilities in or near these neighborhoods. Over time this forced individuals and families to live in areas with fewer resources and more environmental hazards.

-Lack of representation

Historically people of color simply were not included in decision-making processes involving the environment. Consequently, they had little control over discriminatory environmental practices.

-Lack of accountability

While environmental regulations help limit damage, enforcement is often an afterthought. Communities often have prolonged exposure to environmental hazards without their knowledge because no one is ever held accountable.

-Profits over people

Quite often companies will build dangerous facilities in impoverished areas with fewer regulations to make more money. Placing corporate interests before those of the communities results in environmental racism.

-It is less expensive for corporations to pollute communities of color

When a corporation violates an environmental law, they get fined. Research clearly shows that those fines are lower if it involves a community of color, especially Black communities and poor communities.

These lower fines lead to more pollution. Eventually this lower the land value so more corporations move in which creates a vicious cycle.

-Political factors

Marginalized communities are often ignored because they are underrepresented in any sort of decision making process. This results in less enforcement of environmental regulations and thus perpetuates environmental racism.

Lack of diversity perpetuates the problem

Many would argue that a lack of diversity in climate conservation organizations, as well as in the government sector, means that communities of color are not at the forefront of the organization.   

Typically, larger environmental organization capture the most funding. These organizations across the board are typically white.

-Environmental racism is expensive

Energy and utility bills are also an indicator of environmental racism. Research conducted by the University of California, Berkeley’s Energy Institute found that Black renters paid $273 more per year for energy cost compared to white.

Residents of Detroit and other cities near the Great Lakes, which are predominantly Black, pay a lot more for their water compared to residents of Phoenix which pumps its water from 300 miles away.

Examples of Environmental Racism

Between Baton Rouge, Louisiana and New Orleans, Louisiana is an area of land 85 miles long known as Cancer Alley. The majority Black community of 45,000 residents are typically poor and illiterate. The residents here face enormous health risks due to over 50 toxic chemicals circulating in the air as a result of over 150 chemical plants in the area.

Across the river from Manhattan is the Bronx. There is a small community called Mott Haven that is also known as Asthma Alley. It has some of the worst air pollution in the United States. Residents have to contend with the exhaust from hundreds of trucks, emissions from 4 nearby highways, a parcel depot, sewage works, and air pollution from the nearby printing presses for the Wall Street Journal. Asthma affects 17% of children ages 13 and under. They need hospitalization at 5 times the national average and 21 times higher that other NYC neighborhoods.

Pahokee, FL

This city is home to primarily Black and Latino residents. It is also home to a large sugar cane industry. The industry has the practice of burning the fields before harvest which aerosolizes large amounts of hazardous debris that the residents refer to as “black snow.” This debris increases the risk of lung cancer, asthma and cardiovascular disease. The decision to place the sugar cane fields in this area was economic.

Standing Rock, ND

In 2016 a 1,200 mile pipeline was built to transport crude oil. The initial proposal was for the pipeline to cross the Missouri River north of Bismarck, which is primarily a white community. The Army Corp of Engineers rejected this plan due to possible threats to the state capital’s water supply. Instead they approved a route that went underneath the water supply for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. That decision is still in court.

Cheraw, SC

Up until the 1970s Burlington Industries regularly disposed of PCBs in a creek behind the manufacturing plant. The predominantly Black community still feels the affects of that even today.

Uniontown, AL

In 2008 more than a billion tons of hazardous coal ash spilled into the Emory River in Kingston, TN. People who assisted in the clean up later developed leukemia, lung cancer, and brain cancer. Two years later the Tennessee Valley Authority moved four million cubic yards of coal ash into Uniontown. This is predominantly a low-income, Black community.

And then there Flint, Michigan. The home of lead laced drinking water.

Warren County, NC. The home of PCB contamination.

Houston, Texas, specifically Harrisburg and Manchester which are predominantly Latino communities. There are 21 toxic release facilities in the area that annually release over 484,000 pounds of toxic chemicals into the environment.

But these practices don’t stay within the confines of the U.S. In parts of western Malaysia 50% of the waste found at dump sites come from other countries. Other countries such as Indonesia Vietnam, India, Thailand and Taiwan are also subject to similar waste dumping practices all under the guise of “recycling.” So marginalized communities abroad are also affected by the wasteful practices of developed countries.

Impact of Environmental Racism

The key point here is that the impact of environmental racism on marginalized communities is profound and wide ranging due to a combination of factors.

-Contaminated water, air pollution, long-standing soil contamination and toxic waste lead to a full array of detrimental health affects. Exposure to arsenic, asbestos, benzene, mercury, dioxin, causes  developmental disorders, miscarriages, birth defects, respiratory diseases and cancer.

-Constant exposure to environmental toxins is going to affect physical health. Research has clearly shown a significant relationship between physical health and psychological well-being especially among low-income Black communities that are situated near toxic waste sites.

-Environmental racism is one of the leading causes of death in communities of color

This is directly related to air pollution and extreme heat. As average temperatures continue to rise, the “urban heat island affect” is worse in the inner city. This is the result of more concrete and asphalt, as well as fewer trees, green spaces and parks. These are the same areas that were segregated decades ago by the practice of redlining.

-Minority communities existed in many areas prior to the development of industry, waste disposal and chemical plants. For example, in the late 70s and early 80s in the Houston area, 75% of the cities incinerators were in Black neighborhoods even though they made up only 25% of the population. This goes back to the path of least resistance.

-There are also social and economic impacts. Those living in or near areas impacted by such pollution have limited economic opportunities. Businesses are hesitant to invest in environmental hazardous communities. This limits economic development and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

Solutions to this problem

There is no doubt that if we are going to build a sustainable future that is equal and just for everyone, we have to include even the most marginalized communities in our society. Addressing the inequities created by environmental racism is part of the equation. Some of the key steps in addressing this issue are things such as:

-Raising awareness through education. Educators should be sharing with their students about the affects of environmental racism.

-Various organizations can provide support for affected communities and advocate for policy changes. There are several organizations that are already working to spotlight many of these environmental inequities including the following:

Climate Justice Alliance which works to fight extractive industries that harm the environment and communities.

Deep South Center for Environmental Justice which advocates and promotes environmental justice policies

Movement Generation focuses on ecological and sustainability challenges in communities of color. 

Support Legislation. This is crucial in addressing environmental racism.

Promote Organizational Diversity. Diverse and inclusive teams of people are going to listen to all voices. This promotes a work place culture that drives corporate values and civic engagement that results in change.

Volunteer for Grassroots organizations conducting research, supporting community outreach programs and even providing legal assistance.

Obviously actions are needed on multiple levels: individual, community, organizational and governmental, in order to solve an urgent problem that affects millions of people around the world. Addressing this problem means standing for environmental justice in order to bring about a fairer society.

Numerous studies have revealed one glaring disparity. Low-income, minority, and communities of people of color are disproportionately exposed to ash, soot, toxic dust, fumes, soil and water contamination and other pollutants due to hazardous facilities locate in or near their homes and communities. In 1983 a General Accounting Office study found that 75% of hazardous waste sites in eight different states were built near low-income communities of color. 

This is an obvious example of systemic racism that exists largely because of policies and practices that have historically favored the health and well-being of white communities. And it is important to recognize that the answer to such issues in our society are rooted in the environmental justice movement.

I distinctly remember when I was much younger, working construction and living paycheck to paycheck, how I would dream of someday having my own home. I wanted my own place and my own space so that I could feel some sense of personal security. Years later I have managed to achieve that. But, how lucky am I to have done so.

Likely many of you have achieved the same sort of thing or your version of it. But we tend to forget there are thousands to millions of people around the world that will never know that feeling.  That is the very reason I feel the need at time to speak up about certain issues. In this case, environmental racism.

Everyone should have the right to clean water, clean air, and healthy communities. And finally this is now being recognized as a global problem. A recent United Nations report stated, “There can be no meaningful solution to the global climate and ecological crisis without addressing systemic racism.” And this because the global north likes to sends its trash to the global south.

Perhaps the solution to this problem is largely systemic but that should not prevent us from learning about environmental hazards in our own communities and doing something about it.

So the next time you start feeling like a NIMBY and start to say “not in my backyard” maybe you should first question where else is it going to go. Maybe you should first look at your own behavior that may be contributing to the underlying problem. After all there is a whole array of toxic products that we use in our homes everyday that come from the very industries responsible for such widespread pollution in impoverished communities. At the least, every one of us could make the effort to completely detox our homes and refuse to use the very products that cause the problem.

At the very foundation of sustainability is the choices that we make. Our choices do make changes. And our choices can help to bring about some environmental justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr once said, “Without justice there can be no peace.” So, let’s work on dishing out some justice and bringing about a peaceful and sustainable future.

Sustainability question of the week.

Does it really make a difference what I eat?

Yes it does!. Of all the things we do as humans our agricultural activities produce some of the greatest impact on the planet. The environmental impact of food production varies greatly depending on the type of food you consume.

Meat, especially beef, has far more impact relative to a plant based diet. You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian in order to eat sustainably. But you can certainly cut down on your meat consumption or eat meat that has less of an environmental impact such as pork, chicken, and turkey.

One of the easiest sustainable choices to make is to pay attention to what you eat.

Well folks that’s about it for now.  I hope you have enjoyed this episode. Be sure to join me next week. Remember you can also find me at adventuresinsustainableliving.com