February 16, 2016

"Let’s Make 2016 the Year of Justice"

A Call for Environmental Justice Milestones, by Dr. Robert Bullard, "Father of Environmental Justice."

 "Clearly, in 2016 we still need to focus on environmental justice and shine a spotlight on environmental racism now more than ever."

See this important blog on the website of Dr. Bullard, posted Feb. 16, 2016:
Let’s Make 2016 the Year of Justice: A Call for Environmental Justice Milestones

"In 2014, the nation commemorated some important milestones in our historic march toward justice and equality for all Americans.  We marked the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision (May 17, 1954), 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, and 20^th anniversary of  Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898 signed by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1994.

In commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the EJ Executive Order, a call was made in 2014 to lift up the accomplishments and milestones of the Environmental Justice Movement over the past five decades 1964-2014. A lot has happened since February 2014.  That’s why we are now collecting environmental justice accomplishments, victories, news, celebrations and important events for the period 2014-2016 for an update of the EJ Milestones.

For example, in March 2015, the nation commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the Selma March or “Bloody Sunday.” The same year, Dumping in Dixie, the nation’s first environmental justice book published in 1990, tuned 25 amid rising income and racial inequality.  Race is the “elephant in the room” when it comes to the growing inequality gap.

Clearly, in 2016 we still need to focus on environmental justice and shine a spotlight on environmental racism now more than ever.  The Flint water crisis unfolding before our eyes today provides a textbook case for why we must build justice and equal protection into environmental decision making.  The Flint disaster was caused by government officials placing profit over people. It’s time for justice in Flint.  The NAACP has offered a 20-point plan to address the disaster.  Flint is not an isolated case as much of America still has the “wrong complexion for protection.”

In 2016, we have an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate some important environmental justice milestones and work on finishing other struggles.  An important struggle is underway to save Mossville, Louisiana, a 225 year old black community founded by former slaves, that’s now threatened to be wiped off the map by a giant South African chemical plant.  More than a dozen chemical plants encircle this tiny black community and have stolen the residents’ health.  And now an unfair industry buyout is threatening to steal their wealth, their homestead and their history."...

Read full article here