Why Towns Can’t Say No
Even if it’s a stretch to claim that the fight against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is "the new civil rights movement," this is an excellent article explaining why towns and neighborhoods can’t legally say No to bad proposals. In short, it explains how the system is rigged for corporate "developers."Continue reading
Startling stats on wealth in America
[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=QPKKQnijnsM&feature=youtube_gdata_player]
Washington Post: Diversity is Lacking in Mainstream Enviro Groups
People of color are missing from mainstream enviro groups, says the Washington Post:
http://goo.gl/cJNtW
And Lois Gibbs responds with this blog entry saying that counting heads is not enough — it’s about getting resources into the hands of those who need them most.
http://goo.gl/jTqcr
Let’s hope the funders will listen to Lois.
Editorial: Walking While Black in New York
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/23/opinion/walking-while-black-in-new-york.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Testimony in a stop-and-frisk trial has pointed to disturbing conduct by the police command.
Inequality and the Environment
Union Beach Residents Face Limited Options After Sandy
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/03/13/union-beach-residents-weigh-limited-options-after-sandy/
Caught without mortgages and insurance, many Bayshore bungalow owners can’t afford to rebuild or remain.
Matthew Tejada: An Advocate for Environmental Justice at EPA
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/YaleEnvironment360/~3/oD633q-Geto/
Matthew Tejada brings on-the-ground experience to his new job as director of the Office of Environmental Justice at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Tejada, 33, took over his EPA post this month after leading Air Alliance Houston, where he helped organize communities along the Texas Gulf Coast to fight air pollution from chemical plants, oil refineries, and the shipping industry.
In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Tejada explains how he sees his role at the EPA as an advocate for environmental justice, a concept that first emerged in the 1980s and focuses on the pollution burdens often placed on poor and minority neighborhoods. Tejada tells e360 why he thinks his work as a community advocate will help in his new job, why it is important for environmental organizations to build coalitions with grassroots groups, and how he sees “similarities across environmental justice communities, whether they’re in Puerto Rico or in Kansas.”
Low- and Middle-Income New Jerseyans Priced Out of Rental Market
Advocates argue that administration’s $1 billion post-Sandy rebuilding plan won’t make much difference long-term.
Behind Soda Industry’s Win, a Phalanx of Sponsored Minority Groups
Organizations representing African-Americans and Latinos were among the loudest voices arguing against restrictions on sugary drinks, and many had benefited from tens of millions of dollars in donations from the beverage industry.