Ecojustice Panel Discussion, “The Nature of Environmental Justice,” with Silvia Hood Washington, Brentin Mock, and Aaron Mair

On Thursday, March 12, Williams College held a panel discussion titled, “The Nature of Environmental Justice.”  The panel included: Dr. Sylvia Hood Washington, an epidemiologist and editor and chief of Environmental Justice, Brentin Mock the justice editor for the online environmental magazine, Grist, and Aaron Mair, an urban environmental activist and strategist based in Albany, New York. Unfortunately, Al Huang could not make the panel as planned that evening.  Professor of English, David L. Smith, moderated the panel’s discussion.

The panel began with Professor Smith explaining the five question topics to be discussed. The topics presented were: The definition of environmental justice, the environmental justice movement more broadly, the panelists themselves and their own professional activities and politics, how undergraduates can increase academic campus activism, and the future of the environmental movement. 

When the first topic was presented, Dr. Washington began the response. She pointed out that when fighting for the environment, as we need to put the same amount of effort into saving human beings as we do our trees, rivers, and animals. Dr. Washington spoke a lot about environmental issues that are greatly impacting human health. For example, in communities with high levels of radon exposure, there has been an increase in brain and lung cancers. Another example she gave was high levels of lead in older homes that has been harming the bones of women. When these women move the area, they feel better.  However, when they are pregnant, the lead seeps to their uterus and can impact their unborn child. Dr. Washington referred to this as “multi generational assault,” or “multi generational injustice.” She was very passionate about the idea that environmental problems were impacting future generations already.

Mr. Mair explained that we are the generation of justice. The basic civil rights montra is equal protection under law. In 1987, there was a clear correlation between toxic waste and race. A study showed that if you were a person of color, you were at a greater risk of being impacted by environmental degradation. This study proved that there was a large problem and that environmental justice is a necessity. But where does this justice begin? It begins with any American citizen seeking equal protection, environmentally, socially, etc. When a certain group is targeted, there is injustice. Laws must apply equally to all communities.

Mr. Mock began his statement by quoting Henry David Thoreau’s Slavery in Massachusetts (Can be seen here: http://thoreau.eserver.org/slavery.html). According to Mr. Mock, we have had this racial injustice that has been staring us in the face since the beginning. But we have been focusing on saving rivers and trees. Human rights and human lives need to be at the center of justice. Natural things are a distraction. When the BP oil spill occurred, everything impacted was given a monetary value. We do not have a policy for restoring damage to human beings.

Dr. Washington chimed in on the conversation again, bringing up that environmental justice is so much more than just an inconvenience. It is something that has impacted people’s lives down to the very fiber of their being. According to Dr. Washington, scientists now believe that environmental problems are connected with the health of individuals living in impacted areas. 15 percent of violent behavior has been traced back to chemical exposure in the womb; thus creating violence in neighborhoods. She believes that the impact of toxic pollutants or waste creates new human beings. How can you compensate that?

Professor Smith chimed in to move onto the next question expanding on the idea of environmental justice and the movement itself more broadly.

Mr. Mair began the panelist’s response to this question: He explained that he became a member of the Sierra Club because his community had an incinerator in the middle of it and it was causing harm to surrounding families. He grew up in a city area and wants his kids to have a good understanding of the way he lived. Mr. Mair grew up in an area with only Black Americans. It did not matter what one’s salary was, there was no class division. He explained to the audience a very important lesson he learned growing up. Do not stand along, he said. It is important to realize that there is strength in numbers, which is why he joined the Sierra Club. Specifically, the Sierra Club due to its lack of diversity. Organizations are weak without diversity.

Mr. Mock replied that the brand of environmentalism has been mainstream, and much of it has been marginalized. A lot of this has to do with funding. Who gets funded to tell their story? Who gets to determine the agenda? He stated that people of color should be in charge of some aspects, not just a part of it. People question whether black lives matter.  Of course they do, he said. We are all related. Michael Brown was shot for walking in the street. In one city, 95 percent of people charged with walking in the street were black. Walking in the street is land use. Land use is environmentalism.

Dr. Washington began her statement explaining her past experiences. In the 60’s and still in the 70’s she felt the heavy impact of racial segregation. Dr. Washington grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents wanted their kids to play outside and experience nature. But in black neighborhoods, there was no nature, specifically no trees. They understood that their communities were unsustainable. So, in the 1960’s, they had landfills cleaned up and planted trees. They made it clear that whoever you are, you are capable of making a community sustainable and that they understood what that meant. They understood that new sicknesses were not always their fault. She explained the idea of “Vocal Geography.”  Who can be heard? There are many ideas in many places, but the problem is who is allowed to be heard. Groups who can make environmental justice happen are very selective in who they would like to be heard.

Professor Smith continued the panel discussion by introducing the next topic, campus activity. Specifically, how would you advise undergraduate students to get involved on campus? 

According to Mr. Mair, become a part of an association. He suggested forming a Sierra Club Student Organization.  There is strength in numbers. Mr. Mair explained that students need to step into situations, then step back and to help those who do not have the ability to help themselves. He said to allow people to speak in their own voice, and to be the microphone that allows them to do that.

Dr. Washington added, to understand that environmental justice matters on so many levels. Violation in communities happens on the political level. We need to understand that we are all human beings, and therefore all equal.

Mr. Mock added that he did not find out about environmental justice until five years ago. He claimed that therefore, his education had failed him. He believes that no matter what class or major, environmental justice should be involved, because it is always an aspect. He told us to ask our professors how the classes we take relate to environmental justice and if it does not relate, drop the class. There was laughter from the audience on this note, but his point was definitely clear.

Professor Smith moved the conversation further along, asking about the future of the movement. He explained that the term and interest in environmental justice have been around for over a decade now. What are the prime challenges to movement changes, internally and externally? What environmental issues will drive it? How patient can we afford to be?

Dr. Washington responded that she has been an environmental advocate since 1979. People with diabetes and other diseases cannot deal with rising temperatures. On top of that, they are all located in the same, unhealthy areas. There is no healthy food and people are dying from heart attacks. This creates an unsustainable situation for people who have already been exposed. Who can afford to build a rooftop garden on an apartment to cool down the building? Who has money to deal with carbon dioxide? The situation is a nightmare. We need more nature because climate change is impacting our health.

Mr. Mock commented that the future of the movement involves the idea of “Black on Both Sides” album by Mos Def. Asking what will happen to one thing is the wrong question. If we do not do anything, we are going to die.  If everyone is active, we can change it. We must act: not now, right now, really, yesterday. Today we are suffering from carbon emissions that occurred 50-60 years ago. 9/10 of people of color are place in less fortunate and less environmentally friendly areas. We have to deal with this, not just our rivers and our trees.

Mr. Mair stated that “The Future is You.” Choose your politicians. This is the single factor that gives us the situation we live with. They give us everything. They either help or they do nothing at all. Politicians can work with the industry that makes America the most backward nation within the first world. “As a scientist, I urge you, be a part of any green group and start talking about redistricting.” The middle class needs to be valued. People must persuade others to act in their interests. Redistricting is a very important topic. It all comes down to politics and political science of how to move America forward. If you focus only on science independent of politics, Mr. Mock claimed, you will miss the point.  Politicians are who set the research agenda. He said that researchers need to care about politics, not only about research and science. The earth will do fine, it is the human species that we should be worried about. It is true that species are crashing around the planet, but our existence as humans is up for debate as well. Mr. Mock enforced the idea of Micro Strategy: Be involved and be a part of an organization. We are the justice generation today. We need to make sure that movements are diversified. We must go after bad scientists and bad politicians. “In us, if there is to be a better tomorrow, there is hope.”

Dr. Washington added that she came to the industry as an environmental chemist. At the time, her company needed to comply with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. However, she explained, that when President Reagan was elected, books were thrown in the air and everyone celebrated that they would not have to abide by these rules any longer. The entire company shifted with one election. Politically, mindsets shift so quickly. She added that we need to look at the ecological cycle as well. Pollution created in an area of poverty, or an area populated only by black Americans does not stay in the same area. It precipitates in others. “We are all on the same planet. We must be committed to that planet.  Look at human beings and create a system that you can survive in.”

Mr. Mock spoke briefly about legislation negatively impacting environmental justice. He pointed out that we must pay attention to legislation and cases involving environmental justice.

Professor Smith wrapped up the discussion by stating that many issues do not go to court at all. Multi-national corporations are a huge problem, but for them it is just business as usual. The panel concluded with a few questions. Then a few members of the audience retreated to the Faculty House for a reception and dinner to discuss the ideas further. 

By Caroline Beckmann ‘17

 

(L-R) Brentin Mock, Dr. Sylvia Hood
Washington, and Aaron Mair.