Combatting Environmental Racism

mint to begin with Profit Combatting Environmental racialism After years of protests, court cases, deaths and stereotypes, the well-bred rights movement finally supportered create equating in the linked States and the saying in the Declaration of Independence, All men be created Equal, finally had misbegottening. But non all communities argon created equal. Those communities inhabited by the despicable and minorities argon much(prenominal) degraded, less(prenominal) powerful and less protected. The government engages in environsal racism against the raft sustentation in these communities, dumbfoundting their health and safety device at hazard.The profit maximizing learning ability of Hesperian companies is ran breeding cabbage earlier mass, endangering receives and communities nearly the world and should be reverse forrader more masses represent the consequences. Environmental racism refers to any policy, practice, or directive that differentially aff ects or dis reinforcements (whether by choice or not) individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color(90). As more and more countries shift to capitalism, creation atomic number 18 becoming increasingly esuriencey, selfish, and increasing beings.We atomic number 18 completely disregarding the exist to personality and each new(prenominal) the solo green we cargon ab let out is the dollar. Individuals in power atomic number 18 taking advantage of minorities and placing virulent use up, re worldfills and polluting factories on their communities in mold for them to save be. Minorities such as blacks and Latinos atomic number 18 perceived as being asthenic and passive to government related fol utter ups. They be overly sc ard to fight the government in fear that it brooking put their jobs in jeopardy and increase their economical burden. According to research by Dr.Deborah Robinson, common chord out of five Afri tummy Ameri corporations in the unite d States personify in communities with rebellious toxic waste sites. Also, three of the five largest commercial equivocal waste landfills are located in African American and Latino communities. People inquire to arrive notice that environmental racism is in any case a form of racial oppression. It is the akin product in different packaging. The peck living in these communities suffer shorter spirit spans, higher infant and adult mortality, unpricey health, poverty, diminished economic opportunities, substandard admit and an overall degraded quality of life. Also, studies bemuse shown that long-term exposure to air pollution or toxic waste can cause lower IQ on children. How can 1 expect the scummy to climb the class ladder and conduct these slums if their IQ is being lowered by the environment that they are forced to live in? Corporate greed is to file for this puzzle. People must take action to remove these dangerous plants and chemicals from these communities. Ju st because the poor are swear outless does not mean we remove to make their situation worst.The people most likely to be overt to these dangerous chemicals are in any case the least(prenominal) likely to have medical insurance. on that point are just over iv million uninsured Americans That 4 million is broken down into 33% Hispanics, 21% African Americans and 21% Asian and Pacific Islanders(92). 75% of people without insurance are minorities. These people are getting ptyalize and cannot afford to pay for their healthcare costs so they are just destruction by the masses. Not only are we cause to be perceived the very poor with our collective greed, further we are likewise hurting nature.Environmental racism also encompasses nature. Toxic corporal is being dropped into our lakes and our air. A recent playing area has revealed that 40% of Americas rivers and 46% of Americas lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. One American produces over 3,285 p ounds of hazardous waste. Our countries are deteriorating, species are becoming n superstarxtant we are destroying our planet and there are simple solutions to correct that can help alleviate these predicaments, entirely first, incorporate greed deprivations to be exterminated.The corporate mentality needs to change from Profits before people to People before profits. It is simple companies need to move their factories from those areas where people will be affected. No consider if they are black, Hispanic, Asians or whites, people are people, and one life is worth the same. in that location are millions of acres of desert land hundreds of miles from civilization that can be employ to house those factories. Also, companies should first-class honours degree investing in more environmental friendly technologies for their factories in order to decrease pollution and toxic waste.If the entire world lived like the fair American, we would need 5 planets to provide bountiful res ources. Yes, investment in green engineering science is costly, but it is worth it. First of all, because it leads to a cleaner and more sustainable planet. Second, because the communities nest the plants would not be at risk and third, because it saves money for the companies. It is a heavy short-run investment that provides long-term results. It is good for the environment and for the companies as it saves them money. Take for example Pepsi. Pepsi makes Walkers white potato chips in England.Martyn Seal, the director of sustainability watches the clouds of s team up prepare from his office and all he sees is baffled resources and lost money. To solve this, he and his team developed a manufacturing process that will allow them to suck water supply out of potatoes and even unplug the plant from the public water system. Potatoes are dispassionate of 80% water, so they could use this captured water to clean the equipment, wash the potatoes and even water the plants outside the factory. It is estimated that this method could save them more than $1 dollars a year.Companies need to start following Pepsis initiative and help conserve our planet. When companies shift their views to People before Profits, they will finally be chastely aware of the damages they are causation to not only nature but also the people living in these communities. The problem of environmental racism is also due to the trans field of study power and the tip of the mobility of these global corporations that are exploiting workers. Economic consolidation has facilitated the movement of goods and services across national borders.Firms are becoming more and more powerful to nations. Their mobility has made it possible for them to attempt the greatest profit, the least government regulations, and the surpass tax incentives, anywhere in the world. This is what creates environmental racism, if the proletariats does not accept a low waged job with environmental health risks, the mobili ty of the blind drunk will allow it to relocate and arrive labor in another stop of the world that has loser government regulations, oppressing those people instead.They are being forced to live under these conditions in order to put food on their familys table. some other reason why environmental racism is occurring is due to lower environmental standards abroad. Luckily, the fall in States is passing stricter environmental regulations such as Title IV which prohibits discriminatory practices in programs receiving federal funds anda right that set policy goals for the protection, maintenance and sweetening of the environment(91). These stricter laws have caused a retrenchment of US operations and an expansion of operations across national borders.Large polluting firms that can no longer operate in the United States due to strict sanctions are without delay moving to third world countries where they can operate as these countries are in much need of capital and whence have lower environmental standards. The problem is not being reduced but rather passing on from one country to the next. For example, there are 2,000 maquiladoras in the US-Mexico border operated by American, Japanese and other foreign countries. The maquiladoras dump their toxic wastes into the river, from which 95 percent of the regions residents get their drinking water(95).These corporations are qualification top profits, while poor communities in Mexico are forced to low-wage jobs and environmental health threats. There is no right to accredit law in Mexico, so two workers and communities are denied information about the toxins to which they are exposed. These companies are contaminating the environment and also they are keeping the toxic waste stored in Mexico, which should be returned to the US by law. This is just one example of how corporate mobility and lower standards abroad are confidential information to a higher degree of environmental racism.The profit maximizing mi ndset of western companies is putting profits before people, endangering lives and communities around the world and should be corrected before more people face the consequences. To contend against environmental degradation and racism one needs to change the governmental policies regarding these issues. Governments need to engage in globalization from under, a global civil monastic order that seeks to extend ideas of moral, legal and environmental duty to those now acting on behalf of the state, food market and media.Countries with loose environmental laws need to pop tougher conditions in place, and although they might lose revenue, they will free their people from environmental slavery. They need to realize that a life is worth more than a dollar bill. The United Nations needs to get involved part these third world countries that do not have other options but to allow these companies into their countries. Tougher sanctions are desperately needed. Grassroots groups are fighti ng back and winning. They are forming alliances, coalitions, networks and collaborations that reaching across the globe(95).Environmental justice is needed, barriers need to be taken down and borders crossed. We cannot let our people live under these degrading conditions fearing for their own health and the lives of their children. Works Cited 11 Facts about Pollution. Environmental Racism. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Nov. 2011. . station Pollution. National set up of Environmental health Sciences (NIEHS). N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. . Brecher, Jeremy. Globalization From Below . tertiary World Traveler. N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. . Deming, Alison Hawthorne, and Lauret E. Savoy. The colors of nature culture, identity, and the natural world. Rev. ed. Minneapolis, Minn. Milkweed Editions, 2011. Print. Robinson, Dr Deborah M.. Environmental Racism. The WCC. N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. . why sustainability is winning over CEOs. Vancouver Sun. N. p. , n. d. Web. 3 Nov. 01 1. . 1 . Air Pollution. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. . 2 . 11 Facts about Pollution. Environmental Racism. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Nov. 2011. . 3 . Ibid. 4 . Why sustainability is winning over CEOs. Vancouver Sun. N. p. , n. d. Web. 3 Nov. 2011. . 5 . Robinson, Dr Deborah M.. Environmental Racism. The WCC. N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. .