TIDBITS: WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE?
Most people in today’s world can actually “see” that the planet is in the middle of a large shift in the weather patterns. We have all experienced the extreme weather event this past winter that dropped the temperature well below zero in our area and the ongoing drought in the west that brought heat waves to the west coast and helped produce huge swaths of burning forest fires. We also saw pictures of the flood damage in Germany and the water filled subway tunnels in China. What is less easy to “see”, understand and deal with is the underlying warming of the globe that has led to these extreme events. That connection between weather and climate (weather patterns over time) is just one layer of the environmental problems. Going deeper, as Earth Stewards, we are encouraged to “see” the whole range of consequences on the land and infrastructure (human and non-human habitats), the social disruptions (displacements, homelessness, migration, and other related issues), the economic needs (immediate aid to rebuilding) and the demographic make-up of those effected. During spring flooding, we saw the dire consequences of folks who were living close to oil refineries who were now facing water quality and pollution problems caused by breaches in containment of toxins. We have been forced to “see '' thoughtless disregard for the possible drinking water pollution for Native Americans as a crude oil pipeline was to cross through their only source of clean water. Such examples are but a tip of the iceberg when we begin talking about the concept of environmental justice. Wikipedia states that there are two different concepts of environmental justice. One is “—a concept that describes a social movement that focuses on the “fair” distribution of environmental benefit and burdens.`` The second definition of environmental justice is that it is an interdisciplinary body of social science literature that includes theories of understanding laws, policies, and governmental operations as they are applied to the human environment. This study would include the importance of race, age, socio-economic status, gender and sexual orientation in considering impacts of climate change. Hopefully, this understanding of environmental justice might enable society to prevent injustices in the future.
Thus, whenever we undertake the process of understanding the science of climate change and how to slow it and care for the planet, we need to also consider the cost and burdens of the human injustices that make the extremes of climate change even more unbearable. Stay tuned for more on what can be done—Just recognizing that environmental justice exist is a beginning.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION: Look around you today and see if you notice any examples of environmental injustices. Pray about solutions.
SOURCES: Https://.www.wikipedia.org (search for environmental justice concepts, https://.www.envorganizing.org/what-is-the-concept-of-envronmental-justice