1) The document discusses environmental justice, equity, and racism. It explores how environmental problems disproportionately impact vulnerable groups, such as minorities and low-income communities, who face greater health risks and limited participation in decision making. 2) Environmental justice aims for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or income in developing and enforcing environmental laws and policies. It seeks to address adverse health impacts and environmental burdens on marginalized populations. 3) The case study of the North River Sewage Treatment Plant in West Harlem, New York highlights issues of odor and health problems faced by the predominantly minority and low-income neighborhood from the plant. Community groups advocated to address the problems.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE, EQUITY
& RACISM
SOC 439
UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
DEPT OF SOCIOLOGY
Lecturer: Dr Nelson Sello
May 9 2016
Author: Mr Koketso Kanekane

2. In the world of today characterized by and faced with various inequalities and environmental
problems, these problems are caused and affect us differently. The most vulnerability to the effects
of these problems are influenced by economic factors and are gendered, affecting especially
women than men. According to (Frechette, 2002), environmental problems do not affect everyone
equally. Environmental injustice occurs whenever innocent people bear disproportionate
environmental risks, have unequal access to goods like clean air, or have unequal voice in
imposition of environmental risks. (Frechette, 2002) goes on to argue that most minorities and
poor people are victims of environmental injustice, either because of their increased health risks
or because of the way their rights are limited.
Environmental Justice as defined by (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2016) is
the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national
origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies. In peace with this, (Washington, 2012) argues that
environmental Justice covers the adverse and disparate health impact and environmental burden
that affects marginalized populations all over the world. To mention but a few environmental
justice principles are1; 1) It affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the
interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction. 2) It demands
that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of
discrimination or bias. 3) Mandates the right to ethical, balanced and responsible uses of land and
renewable resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for humans and other living things. 4)
Calls for universal protection from nuclear testing, extraction, production and disposal of
toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threaten the fundamental right to clean
air, land, water, and food. The Environmental Justice Movement emerged in the 1980s in reaction
to discriminatory environmental practices including toxic dumping, municipal waste facility siting,
and land use decisions which negatively affected communities of color2.
(Miller, 2003, p. 228) “Environmental justice is defined as a broad conceptual frame word used by
organizations and groups that seek and promote social justice whereas environmental equity is
defined in the face of social inequalities implicit on environmental policies, asserts (Rios, 2000).”
1 These principles were drafted and adopted by Delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental
Leadership Summit held on October 24-27, 1991, in Washington DC, United States of America.
2 See more at http://www.avoiceonline.org/environmental/history.html Accessed 8April 2016

3. (Ewall, 2012-2013) The “equity” versus “justice” framing is more than mere semantics. It
represents the fundamental difference between the concepts of “poison people equally” and “stop
poisoning people, period!”
Environmental Justice Case Study by Deborah Kolben: North River Sewage Treatment Plant, New
York (West Harlem)3
Problem, In West Harlem, a predominantly minority and low-income neighborhood located on the
northern section of Manhattan in New York City; in 1985 the North River Sewage Treatment Plant
was constructed in West Harlem. The Plant stretched eight blocks along the Hudson River from
covering 8 streets. Members of the community complained about overbearing odors4 emanating
from the North River Sewage Treatment Plant ever since its construction. The plant processes over
170 million gallons of raw sewage a day, causing offensive noxious smell, itchy eyes, shortness
of breath, and other symptoms often related to asthma and other respiratory ailments. Residents
complain about not being able to go out on their terraces or open up their windows. The community
board, Community Board 9, and WE ACT (West Harlem Environmental Action) became active
lobbyists for control of the plant. These groups continued to put pressure on the administration and
in 1991 an investigation was finally conducted. The problem of smell was addressed and an
investigation and money was allocated to address the problems found. The problem has then been
solved by strictly monitoring the plant though problems related to asthma still need to be addressed.
Environmental justice and equity are the best approaches to go about if we want unified,
sustainable, healthy and permanent community based developments. Professor Paul Mohai5
maintains that “The long history of environmental justice activism in the United States can provide
an important guide for activists and researchers across the Globe to learn about strategies that
vulnerable communities have used in the past to help improve conditions within their
communities.”
3 Visit http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/ny.html Accessed 9 April 2016 for more
5 From the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan.
https://discardstudies.com/2015/01/18/map-of-40-most-influential-environmental-justice-conflicts-in-the-us/
Accessed 9 April 2016

4. References
Ewall, M. E. (2012-2013). Sustainable Development Law and Policy,Volume XIII, Issue 1:Exploring
How Today’s Development AffectsFuture Generations Around the Globe. Washington: American
University.
Frechette,K. S. (2002). Environmental Justice: Creating Equality,Reclaiming Democracy. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Miller, J. R. (2003). Encyclopedia of Human Ecology: Volume 1: A-H. Denver and Oxford: ABC-CLIO.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2016, April 14). United States Environmental
Protection Agency. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency Web site:
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
Washington, S. H. (2012). Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Retrieved from Liebert Pub Web site:
http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/environmental-justice/259/