From Political Ecology to Environmental Justice

1
From Political Ecology to Environmental Justice

• Research in political ecology has shown us that
  environmental conflicts are
• POLITICAL ISSUES
• STRUGGLES OVER LIVELIHOOD (NOT just the
  protection of wildlife and scenic places)
• Case studies revealed examples of indigenous
  peoples (or groups marginalized within global
  economic and political systems) engaged in
  struggles to maintain control over their home
  territories and their rights to utilize resources
  central to their survival.
• ? Specific branch of research in environmental
  anthropology dedicated to documenting and
  supporting these struggles in the U.S. and abroad
  ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

2
What is Environmental Justice?

• EJ is BOTH
• A THEORY proposes that low income and minority
  communities are disproportionately exposed to
  environmental risks and harm posed by economic
  and industrial development and other degrading
  human activities
• A SOCIAL MOVEMENT
• links social justice and environmental
  concerns environmental movement that speaks to
  the concerns people of color, indigenous peoples,
  low income communities, etc. (alternative to the
  traditional environmental movement dominated by
  middle class, predominately white constituency)
• environmental anthropologists engaging in
  this research often see themselves as POLITICAL
  ACTIVISTS, research is APPLIED (designed to
  assist in these struggles)

3
Defining EJ

• Began with a narrower conceptENVIRONMENTAL
  RACISM people of color are more likely to be
  exposed to toxic levels of environmental harm and
  other environmental risks due to
• Intentional Discrimination i.e. Kettleman City
  communities targeted intentionally for
  waste-facilities, etc. due to their lack of
  political and economic power conscious
  decision-making process based, exploiting
  inequalities economic blackmail
• Institutional Discrimination historical
  patterns of discrimination and inequality in
  legal structures, lending practices, salaries,
  access to education and political opportunities,
  etc. built into the STRUCTURE of society, part
  of business as usual (covert, difficult to
  subvert), i.e. minorities less likely to receive
  home loans must rent or buy in areas where
  property values are lower (i.e. toxic
  environments)
• ? Focus on exposure to TOXICITY waste-disposal
  facilities, factory pollution, lead paint, etc.

4
Defining EJ

• Concept has become BROADER over time
• gets at the CLASS elements of injustice (people
  of color AND low income communities)ENVIRONMENT
  AL JUSTICE the equitable treatment of all
  people, regardless of race, income, culture, or
  social class, with respect to the development,
  implementation, and enforcement of environmental
  laws, regulations, and policies includes equal
  access to environmental decision-making processes
  (NOT just non-discriminatory outcomes)
• Defines the environment as the place where we
  live, work, play, and pray includes urban and
  built environments no separation between human
  and natural worlds