Ch 4 Enviromental and Social Justice
social justice refers to_(who?)which will enable people to lead a_(2)
Also, refers to a set of institutions like education, health care, social security, and labor rights, which will enable people to lead a fulfilling life and be active contributors to their community
Who formulated a theory of social justice that remains very consistent with our modern view of justice?
Aristotle
Who is often credited with the first formulation of the concept of distributive justice?
Aristotle
What was the first major publication on this topic?
Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality by Robert D Bullard
what organization is involved in environmental justice?
EPA
what is a solution to brownfields?
EPA Brownfields Revitalization
In response of the reunion with the Congressional Black Caucus, the EPA created the_, which produced a_that supported_and made_
Environmental Equity Workgroup, which produced a report in Jun 1992 that supported the allegations and made 10 recommendations for addressing the problem
In the United States, which was one of the first governmental organizations developed to respond to such inequalities?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
what does social justice focuses on?
Focuses on integrating environmental concerns into a broader perspective emphasizing social, racial, and economic justice
environmental justice movement in the US was inactive during President_'s administration. In fact, environmental justice policy at the federal level has not made much progress in the past 10 years
George Bush
how the disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences applies to our society? (example)
Hazardous facilities are likely to be located in areas where most residents are non-Caucasian and poor
why brownfields need to be cleaned?
Many brownfields are in economically disadvantaged communities
brownfields
abandoned or underused properties, generally consisting of industrial or commercial facilities, which often contain environmental contamination dues to the prior use or storage of hazardous substances
Environmental justice is rooted in the notion that_
all people are entitled to the same degree of protection from environmental hazards and to equal access to the decision-making process
food deserts
areas where inexpensive, nutritious food is virtually nonexistent
How Aristotle originally referred to procedural justice concept?
as the need for all individuals to have an equal share in ruling and being rule
Distributive justice it is mot often involved in the concerns of_
-disproportionate public health and environmental risks borne by minorities and lower-income individuals
what does the constitution of the United States says about the justice in the first amendment?
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or *the right of the people peaceably to assemble.*"
However, much needed attention to environmental justice was raised by hearings held in the senate, which focused on the EPA's handling of environmental justice matters, and by the release earlier that year of the updated_
"Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty: 1987-2007" report
what does the constitution of the United States states about justice in the permeable part?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish *Justice* ... and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
USDA estimates that_million people live in food deserts; more than_ of those people (_million) are low-income
- 23.5 -half -13.5
Regarding food deserts: at least _ persons and/or at least _% of the census tract's population live more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (_ miles, in the case of non-metropolitan census tracts).
-500 -33 -10
The environmental justice movement in the U.S. (what addresses, explain why this was important, what people did in response to this?)
-Addresses environmental racism: waste sites and other industries occur in poor, nonwhite areas -Wealthier, politically active white communities get roads, public buildings, water, and sewer projects -People create citizen groups and watchdog agencies
Environmental race
-Any government or corporate policy, practice, or directive that intentionally targets certain communities for least-desirable land uses, resulting in disproportionately negative effect on the environment of individuals, groups, or communities based on their race
Why the Bhipal incident is an international injustice?
-Because European country where the pesticide was manufactures prohibited the production of the pesticide's active ingredient (one of the most toxic known in its country) but shipped the manufacturing to a developing country that lacked the regulatory safety controls of the parent country
What is one of the causes of food deserts?
-Began in 1970s, when hundreds of supermarkets began to move away from minority urban neighborhoods into suburban communities that provided accessible parking and more affluent customers -In addition, the recent proliferation of large-scale "supercenters" primarily located far from inner-city neighborhoods, are taking the place of smaller grocery stores. Thus, the smaller grocery stores that had been servicing the food needs of local residents closed down and further food desertification took place
"Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty 1987-2007: Grassroots Struggles to Dismantle Environmental Racism in the United States" (Who perform the study and what indicated?)
-By the United Church of Christ's Commission for Racial Justice -The report indicated that minority and low-income populations were more heavily concentrated around facilities that use, store, or generate contaminants than what previous studies had found
During 1990, the Congressional Black Caucus, a coalition of academics, social scientists, and political activist, met with_officials to discuss their allegation that _
-EPA -minority and low-income populations suffered greater risks from environmental hazards than non minority populations
Examples of Social and Environmental Injustices(5)
-Food Deserts -Housing -Education -Location of landfills -Brownfields
List the local and global environmental (in)justices
-Food deserts -Brownfield contamination -The bhopal disaster
why brownfields were not included in superfund? what was used to remediate this?
-Hazards not serious enough to be on Superfund NPL still impair $2 trillion worth of real estate -The Brownfield Act (2002) gives grants for site assessment and remediation work
How Aristotle first formulated the distributive justice concept?
-He explained it as involving the distribution of honor, wealth, and the other divisible assets of the community, which may be allotted ("asignado") among its members
Describe the roles of EPA from beginning to today (3)
-In its early years, EPA acted primarily as the nation's environmental watchdog, striving to ensure that industries met legal requirements to control pollution. -In subsequent years, EPA began to develop theory, tools, and practices that enabled it to move from controlling pollution to preventing it. -Today EPA aims to make sustainability the next level of environmental protection by drawing on advances in science and technology to protect human health and the environment, and promoting innovative green business practices.
define corrective justice (include other name and its concern)
-Involves fairness in the way in which punishments are assigned for breaking laws and how damages to individuals and communities are addressed through the duty of the responsible party to repair the losses for which it is responsible -Also known as "retributive justice" -It is concerned with punishing or rewarding an individual
What is the focus of distributive justice?
-It is on the fair distribution of outcomes, as opposed to focusing on processes by which those outcomes are achieved
Environmental Justice is defined as
-It is the fair treatment and involvement of all people -Equal enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies regardless of race, color, etc.
What are the effects of Methyl isocyanate in the human health?
-Methyl isocyanate is used to produce pesticides and is extremely toxic to humans and even from short-term exposure
The Executive Order 12898 (official title, what it aimed? (2))
-Officially titled "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations" -It aimed to promote nondiscrimination in federal programs that affect human health and the environment, and to increase public participation in decision making by minority and low-income communities in matters relating to human health and the environment
What was created as a result of one of the 10 recommendations made by the Environmental Equity Workgroup?
-One of the recommendations was to create an office to address these inequities and, thus, the office of Environmental Equity was established
What is an example of an effort to addressing procedural injustice in environmental context?
-President Bill Clinton's Executive Order
The EPA's mandate is to: (2)
-Protect the environment against pressures from other governmental agencies and industry -Protect the public
public participation in decision making
-Pursuant to the Executive Order on environmental justice, to increase public participation in decision-making, federal agencies must solicit public recommendation and allow public participation in developing and implementing environmental justice strategies, and must create accessible and understandable public documents
explain the Affluenza defense case
-Rich Texas Teen Ethan Couch Gets Probation For Killing 4 Pedestrians While Driving Drunk -He and friends stole two cases of beer from a store; had seven passengers in his Ford F-350, was driving 70 mph in a 40 mph zone when the accident occurred, and had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit -Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of 20 years in juvenile hall with parole available after 2 years -Instead, the judge sentenced him to 10 years of probation after he confessed to intoxication manslaughter; he will spend time in a long-term, inpatient rehabilitation center after his father agreed to pay the $450,000-per-year bill -A psychologist called as an expert defense witness said the boy had "affluenza," suffered by very wealthy individuals who do not take responsibility for their own actions; the defendant grew up in a house where the parents were preoccupied with arguments that led to a divorce -However, in March 2012 the same judge, Jean Boyd, sentenced a 14-year-old black boy to juvenile detention for killing someone with one powerful punch -The 14-year-old received a 10-year sentence; but, like many inmates, he probably won't serve that entire sentence -Still, is this justice? -Too often, those with money and power can avert harsh sentences, while the poor find themselves receiving maximum time and penalties
How corrective justice applies in the environmental context?
-corrective justice refers not only to fairness in allocating punishment to polluters, but also includes the duty of compensate individuals and communities that were negatively affected by their actions, including cleaning up and remediating resulting contamination
what are the problems of having food desserts in low-income and minority communities?
-Since many urban residents, especially low-income areas, lack personal vehicle, they are unable to travel easily to distant supermarkets and often depend on small, local convenience stores where prices are high, products often consist of highly processed food, and fresh fruit and vegetables are of poor quality or nonexistent -Unfortunately, it is often easier and less expensive to purchase fast food and low-nutrition processed foods than it is to buy fresh fruits and vegetables -As a result, the current generation of inner-city youth rarely eats fresh foods, generally does not know how to cook them and, in many cases, cannot even identify them
What did the Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality by Robert D Bullard indicated and how the book starts?
-That solid waste facilities were predominantly and disproportionately located in minority neighborhoods -The book starts with the premise that all Americans have a basic right to live in a healthy environment and chronicles the efforts of African-American communities, empowered by the Civil Rights Movement, to link environmentalism with issues of social justice
Explain how the lifestyle of the riches and poorest communities pose the greatest threat to the sustainability of our natural resources, but for very different reasons
-The affluent communities consume vastly more than their share of resources, more than the planet can provide from everyone -The poorest have little alternative but to use resources in a short-sighted way based on their circumstances -When people must choose between resource conservation and staying alive, they cannot integrate sustainability considerations
Brownfields revitalization
-The clean up of, and reinvestment in, brownfields that helps protect the environment, reduced blight, and takes development pressures off of green spaces (agricultural, recreational, and ecological reuse) and working lands
What fact became one of the major catalysts for the environmental justice movement?
-The discovery that minority and low-income populations were being exposed disproportionally to increased levels of hazardous and contaminated substances solely because of their geographical proximity to contaminated sites
Define procedural justice (include its focus)
-The equal right to treatment in terms of the political decisions about how goods and opportunities are to be distributed -Its focus is on the fairness of the decision-making processes rather than the outcomes
environmental justice includes_(2)
-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 -No group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences
Define distributive justice
-The right to equal treatment in terms of equitable distribution of goods and opportunities
How the victims felt when the arrangement between US-based union carbide agency pay out a compensation to Indian government?
-The victims were not consulted in the settlement discussions, and many felt cheated by their compensation of between $300-500
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (what it is, when founded, responsible for what?, its goal)
-United States federal agency established in 1970 that is responsible for upholding environmental justice -Its goals to provide an environment where all people receive the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards as well as equal access to the decision making process to maintain a healthy environment
Brundtland Commission (part of? what it did?)
-a United Nations commission responsible for creating the classic definition of sustainability: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
brownfields (2 definition)
-abandoned properties, often containing environmental contamination -abandoned, idled, or underused industrial or commercial facilities
what information is available by the USDA about food deserts? (include definition given by USDA)
-according to the USDA, urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food -Instead of supermarkets and grocery stores, these communities may have no food access or are served only by fast food restaurants and convenience stores that offer few healthy, affordable food options
The EPA brownfields program provides funding for_(3)
-assessment of brownfields -clean up of brownfields -environmental job training to enable local community members to participate in restoring their own neighborhoods
What is one example of a environmental justice movement in action related with brownfields? who sponsors it?
-brownfields revitalization -EPA
In the environmental context, distributive justice involves the equitable distribution of both the_
-burdens resulting from environmental hazards -the environmental benefits provided by governmental and private sector programs
Allegations have been made that Union Carbide has refused to_. As recently, a New York federal court dismissed all claims by Indian plaintiffs against Union Carbide for any_. The lawsuit sought damages to pay for_
-clean up site, provide safe drinking water, fairly compensate the victims, or disclose the composition of the gas leak, information that doctors could use to treat the surviving victims properly -environmental fallout from the gas leak -removal of pollutants from the site, compensation to residents whose water source was contaminated, and monitoring of the health of local residents
What current environmental justice concern relates directly to a key goal of sustainability? (include how we can create sustainable solutions to this problem)
-climate change has been shown to create unequal impacts on minority populations, indigenous population, the poor, and developing countries -Thus, to develop sustainable solutions to deal with the negative effects of global climate change, we must also address the inequalities of the risks and burden the disadvantaged groups in our society face
Brownfields are the result of the location of_(7)
-deserted gas stations -vacant automobile repair shops -old factories -mills and foundries -landfills -dump sites -junkyard
An ethical approach to sustainability suggests that society not only has an obligation to_, but also that it has an obligation to foster _, while maintaining_
-eliminate wasteful uses of resources among the affluent -equity among the disadvantaged -environmental resource protection
social justice (other name and definition)
-equity -The belief that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, income, or culture
As one of the 3 pillars of sustainability,_is a key of a sustainable society because we cannot achieve sustainability without addressing the_
-equity -economic and social inequalities that exist within our country and globally
what are examples of social and environmental injustices?
-food deserts -brownfields
One example of an environmental justice issue that prevails throughout the United States is the overabundance of_in_(what type of communities?)
-food desserts -minority and low-income urban communities
what are the actions of brownfield act? (gives_, limits_, created _)
-gives grants for site assessment and remediation work -Limits liability for owners of contaminated land -Cleanup has created over 75,000 jobs
what factors, under the perspective of environmental justice, interact in creating sustainable and equitable communities? (8)
-housing -research -environment -training -capacity building -health -federal agency contacts -transportation
The EPA is responsible for_, with that responsibility, it has the authority and obligation, to consider and address_
-implementing and enforcing a verity of laws and regulations affecting our environment -with that responsibility, it has the authority and obligation, to consider and address environmental justice concerns
What area did the Brundtlant Commission advanced in understanding? (include what it argued regarding the poorer and rich countries)
-it advanced an understating of the link between economic growth of the poorer nations and global environmental protection -It argued that poorer countries must have the opportunity to develop economically top support sustainable practices, and that richer countries must develop policies that promote environmental conservation with economic development
What the Executive order did? (by President Clinton) what the executive order acknowledge? (include how they relate with the 4 traditional notions of justice)
-it directs governmental agencies to ensure greater public participation and access to information for minority and low-income population (related with procedural justice) -It acknowledge the importance of social justice by directing federal governmental agencies to consider the economic and social implications of the agencies' environmental justice actives (related with social justice)
what social justice focuses on?
-it focuses on integrating environmental concerns into broader perspective emphasizing social, racial, and economic justice
Environmental issues are found in which cases?
-permitting facilities -enforcement -clean up of polluted sites -brownfield redevelopment
In the United States, within the are of distributive justice, a long history of research shows a correlation between low-income groups and _
-pollution -the burdens of climate change, such as flooding, desertification, and extreme storms, are likely to be felt most severely by the most economically disadvantage people in the world
Thus, to become sustainable, we must develop policies and make decisions that not only aim_, but that also consider_
-safeguard our natural resources -how to ensure that all members of society benefit from the results equitably
What is the primary goal of the environmental justice movement?
-social justice
Environmental justice can be seen as the combination of_
-social justice -environmentalism
The historical context of the Environmental Justice Movement is grounded in the_
-struggles of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in US, in which African American communities in the 1980s began venting their long-standing frustration amid accusation of environmental racism because they have been disproportionally exposed to higher environmental risks than other communities -Groups began questioning the locations of landfills, hazardous waste facilities, and industrial activities
As we have seen, the concept of environmental justice, and later smart growth, both have roots in_and developed in part as a response to dissatisfaction with the lack of_
-the civil rights movement -public investment in urban renewal, particularly in low-income and minority neighborhoods
Environmental justice encompasses 2 key concepts:
-the concept of environmental equity, which focuses on the idea that environmental hazards should not be disproportionately distributed among specific segments of population -environmental racism, which abhors any policy or practice that differentially affects the environment of individuals or communities based on their race
The integration of social justice and environmentalism; encompasses two key concepts:
1) Environmental equity 2) Environmental racism
What are the 4 traditional notions of justice?
1. Distributive Justice 2. Procedural Justice 3. Corrective Justice 4. Social Justice
The integration of social justice and environmentalism. Encompasses two key concepts:
1. Environmental equity, which focuses on the idea that environmental hazards should not be disproportionately distributed among specific segments of the population, and 2. Environmental racism, which abhors any practice that differentially affects the environment of individuals based on their race.
What are some possible uses for the Brownfields in Mesa? (6)
1. Parks (open space) 2. Community gardens (addresses food deserts) 3. Solar or wind farms (renewable energy) 4. Transportation center (environment & economy) 5. Library/community services 6. Small businesses (economic growth)
The EPA deals with: (5 standards)
Air, water, solid waste, pesticides, radiation standards
what are the advantages of cleaning brownfields?
1. Rehabilitation of brownfield sites provides centrally located, prime lands for facilities 2. Protects suburban or greenfield lands (natural ecosystems) 3. It also puts the new development back on tax rolls 4. It turns a liability into a community asset 5. It creates jobs and stimulates local economy 6. EPA Initiative promotes use of green building practices.
In 1987: percentage of minority people that reside in neighborhoods with hazardous waste dumps? How this improved in 2007?
1987: 60% of minorities reside in neighborhoods with hazardous waste dumps 2007: 56% of minorities live within 2 miles of hazardous waste facilities
when the office of environmental justice was created?
1992
what happened in 1994 regarding president Clinton?
1994: Clinton's Executive Order focused attention on environmental and health conditions in minority and low-income communities
what the article 25 of U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares?
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services
how brownfields hamper expansion and redevelopment?
Expansion or redevelopment is hampered by hazardous waste contamination
when environmental justice will be achieved as defined by EPA?
It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
How minority communities are affected environmentally?
Minority communities are affected disproportionately more often than other segments of society by the presence of industrial facilities, waste treatment plants, and landfills, which are predominantly located in close proximity to the communities in which these groups live and work
what environmental justice things regarding the unequal distribution of environmental hazards?
No group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences
How president Clinton acknowledged the importance of social justice?
President Clinton acknowledged the importance of social justice by directing federal governmental agencies to consider the economic and social implications of the agencies' environmental justice activities
On February 11, 1994, what President Bill Clinton signed?
The Executive Order 12898
social justice also refers to the ability the people have to_
The ability people have to realize their potential in society
What are the negative consequences of having food deserts?
The lack of access contributes to a poor diet and can lead to higher levels of obesity and other diet-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease
Another example of the disproportionate environmental impact on low-income and disadvantaged communities in the United States is the overabundance of_in the cities and neighborhoods in which these population live and work
brownfields
Issues of environmental justice gained global attention in 1987 with the_
brundtlant commission
Because of the stalemate at federal level, what has been done?
considerable efforts have been made at local levels to develop environmental justice policies
what are the notions of justice? (4)
distributive procedural corrective social justice
In which movement the EPA was made?
during the The Modern Environmental Movement
Scales of justice balance between_
earth vs money
The way in which EPA chooses to enforce its authority can be significantly affect the achievement of _
environmental and social justice
The result of these studies, as well as subsequent ones, showing that minority and low-income communities are disproportionately victimized, lends direct support to the notion that_
environmental justice is at the cornerstone of efforts to remake present-day cities into sustainable cities
explain the "social" notion of justice
everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, income, or culture
explain the "correctives" notion of justice
involves fairness in the way punishments are assigned for breaking laws and how damages are addressed through the duty of the responsible party to repair the losses for which it is responsible; it is concerned with punishing or rewarding an individual
what the browinfields revitalization focuses on?
it focuses on correcting the environmental harms disproportionately suffered by minority and low-income communities
another example, this time concerning the perpetuation of a global environmental injustice, was the December 1984 _
leakage of 27 tons of lethal methyl isocyanate from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal India, resulting in one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes
The_pose the greatest threat to the sustainability of our natural resources, but for very different reasons
lifestyles of the richest and poorest communities
Some statutes direct the EPA to consider _in setting environmental standards
minority and disadvantaged populations
Brownfields most frequently are located in_
poor, primarily, minority communities
These laws require that EPA consider a variety of factors such as_(3)
public health social costs welfare impacts in its decisions
Over time, the environmental justice movement has succeeded in_.
raising public attention and spuring some government efforts on these issues
In the United States, as well as many other places across the globe, issues of distributive justice primarily focus on concerns about_ (3)
rampant poverty and racism, as well as debates about the fairness of affirmative action policies that grant preferential treatment to particular racial or gender groups
what is the primary goal of environmental justice?
social justice
Environmental justice has its roots in the_
tenets of environmental law, civil rights law, and societies' struggles to achieve social, racial, and economic equally
urban farms
the growing, processing, and distributing of food and other products through intensive plant cultivation and the raising of animals in and around cities
One example of such an injustice in corrective justice is
the prevalence of brownfields in minority and low-income neighborhoods
explain the "distributive" notion of justice
the right to equal treatment in terms of the equitable distribution of goods and opportunities
explain the "procedural" notion of justice(2)
the right to equal treatment in terms of the political decisions about how goods and opportunities are to be distributed; focus is on the fairness of the decision-making processes
Why Bill Clinton signed the Executive Order 12898?
to focus federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority and low-income populations with the global achieving environmental protection for all communities
Brownfields often leave a _on the land
toxic imprint
food deserts
urban and rural communities where inexpensive, nutritious food is virtually nonexistent, or is located in supermarkets generally farther than 10 miles away
What is one of the solutions to food deserts?
urban farms are beginning to take shape, not only growing and providing accessible and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, but also educating children and adults about where food comes from, how it's grown, and its nutritional benefits
When sustainability has the best change of being successful?
when it foes hand-in-hand with fostering equity for the disadvantaged members of our society, in term of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice
