EcoJustice: Voices from the Grassroots

by soothsayer99

The environmental justice movement has set out clear goals of eliminating unequal enforcement of environmental, civil rights, and public health laws. Environmental justice leaders...have assisted public decision makers in identifying "at risk" populations, toxic "hot spots," research gaps, and action models to correct existing imbalances and prevent future threats... Grassroots groups have taken the offensive to ensure that government and industry do the right thing.

Environmental justice..means sharing in the benefits. Governments must live up to their mandate of protecting all people and the environment. Anything less is unacceptable. The solution to environmental injustice lies in the realm of equal protection of all individuals, groups, and communities. No community, rich or poor, urban or suburban, black or white, should be allowed to become a "sacrifice zone" or the dumping ground... The environmental justice movement challenges toxic colonialism, environmental racism, and the international toxics trade at home and abroad.

continued at Daily Kos....

Help Obama fight fossil fuel polluters.

by rb137

continued at Daily Kos....

Prop 23 Reinforces Race and Class Discrimination

by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse

California AB 32 is the Global Warming Solutions Act signed into law in 2006. AB 32 focuses on climate change and includes an environmental justice provision to address the killing and harming of poor and minority communities that is now the status quo. Prop 23 is a ballot measure to nix AB 32.  Some newspaper editorials oppose Prop 23, but the most recent July polls show a slim majority of no votes. One statewide poll showed 67% favor AB 32, but when the question is focused on Prop 23, support softens by at least 14, or a slim majority (53%) (pdf file).  A second statewide poll shows similar results on Prop 23:  yes vote (36%), no (48%) and undecided (16%).

As voters gear up for the election, we must continue work to defeat this anti-climate change and anti-civil rights measure.

continued at Daily Kos....

Death-march of the penguins {eKos Earthship Friday}

by eKos

Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series.

Beneath the fold you will find news and notes, community announcements, and our eco-diary roundup.

Peruse the eKos Library to find previously listed diaries. You can also follow eKos on Twitter.

Tonight's editor: patrickz

All views expressed by today's editor do not necessarily represent those of eKos or eKos listed diarists.

continued at Daily Kos....

Eco White Privilege

by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse

Thanks to the Fossil Fuel Privilege, everyone pays a Fossil Fuel Tax when we pay the external costs (e.g., health care, quality of life) as corporate welfare for the fossil fuel industry. But poor/minority communities pay far more for a "separate but equal" life of living in areas of the industrial dumping grounds where a number of contaminated sites and industries pollute air, water and land. Society wants the goods and services produced as long as the polluting industries are NIMBY.

Multiple studies document that polluting industries are more likely to be located in minority neighborhoods. For years, our government has acknowledged the disparate treatment with the adverse impacts on health, education and quality of life. Yet, instead of a law to prohibit this racism, our government provides the remedy of an unenforced policy.

continued at Daily Kos....

A Measure of Justice for Ivory Coast

by rebb

cross-posted at Intlawgrrls

Today a Dutch court handed down a really important decision in a case that has haunted me for years. It hasn't gotten the notice I think it deserves.  Particularly in light of the BP fiasco, this case is a reminder not to buy the nonsense that corporations can be trusted to do the right thing.  Indeed, this case is a cautionary tale of just how irresponsible and negligent supposedly responsible international corporations can be, and how they get away with it.

Four years ago, Trafigura illegally dumped toxic wastes in various locations around the city of Abjidjan in Cote d' Ivoire.  More than 100,000 people were sickened and 15 died from exposure to the wastes.

Today, a Dutch court found Tranfigura criminally liable for offenses associated with this incident.

continued at Daily Kos...