SPU Day of Common Learning Environmental justice “in much of the developing world, people are not safe”

Should Christians care about justice with respect to the environment? The earth needs just treatment, yes, but focus of this session is on environmental justice for the poor and marginalized Luke 18:7-8 “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Empirically verifiable facts Vulnerability to environmental hazards correlates with low income Minority populations are usually more at risk than majority populations Children are particularly vulnerable Environmental degradation can harm human health

What do we mean by “environmental justice”? E.P.A. Environmental Justice division defines it: “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. “ from "A Fierce Green Fire" Robert D. Bullard is the Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. He is often described as the father of environmental justice. Professor Bullard received his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University. He is the author of seventeen books that address sustainable development, environmental racism, Dr. Robert Bullard

Environmental racism in U.S. African Americans are 79 percent more likely than whites to live in neighborhoods where industrial pollution is suspected of causing the greatest health dangers. A Commission for Racial Justice study found that three of the five largest waste facilities dealing with hazardous materials in the United States are located in poor black communities. This study also showed that three out of every five African American and Latinos live in areas near toxic waste sites, as well as live in areas where the levels of poverty are well above the national average. Poverty-stricken Native American communities face some of the worst toxic pollution problems in the country. Children of color who live in poor areas are more likely to attend schools filled with asbestos, live in homes with peeling lead paint, and play in parks that are contaminated. These same children are nearly 9 times more likely than economically advantaged children to be exposed to lead levels so high they can cause severe learning disabilities and neurological disorders.

A New Field in Global Health

why are the poor more vulnerable to environmental negatives?

Environmental justice Health and Healthy Environment are Linked but bottom billion are disadvantaged on environmental issues Natural disasters Environmental justice Waste Siting (NIMBYism) Pollution, clean water Deforestation global warming

Does Global Warming Impact the Bottom Billion Disproportionately? WHO report: “Many of the major killers such as diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, malaria and dengue are highly climate-sensitive and are expected to worsen as the climate changes.” Increasingly variable rainfall and weather extremes, flooding

Issues with disaster relief and global development Poor are more vulnerable to flooding, landslides, earthquakes, storms Governments for bottom billion may not provide good infrastructure for assistance For aid chain, disaster relief provokes donor response but donor fatigue may set in later

Sanitation- World Toilet Day at SPU fall 2014

Examples of environmental health reports/manuals from gov’t Healthy Homes

“Cancer clusters”- breast cancer example

Cancer clusters: controversial science American Cancer Society and CDC: “greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a defined geographic area over a period of time.” In order to see if there is a greater number of cancers than expected, the number of cases seen is compared to what is typically seen in a similar group – such as a group with the same age, gender, and ethnicity. The cancers should either be all of the same type or types of cancer that are known to have the same cause.

Both EPA and CDC deal with environmental health

“We’re living with the legacy of Boeing, what they dumped in the soil around us,” says Davis. “We’re living with the legacy of the Duwamish—taking a totally normal river and straightening it—and the dumping that happened there. I don’t know what kind of soil my house is sitting on. I just don’t know.”

Tacoma Health Dept-dirt alert arsenic and lead Link to 2014 EPA conference on public health in Duwamish: Duwamish Just Health Action Tacoma Health Dept-dirt alert arsenic and lead Duwamish and PCBs Polychorinated biphenyl from chlorine. Banned 1979 used to coat pipe, make flurosc lights, tansformers etc

Let’s see if your new house’s address is going to help you be healthy