Combatting Environmental Racism

People forward Profit Combatting environmental racial discrimination After years of protests, court cases, deaths and stereotypes, the civil rights movement fin completelyy helped fashion equality in the joined States and the saying in the Declaration of Independence, alone men argon created Equal, in conclusion had immoraling. But not all communities atomic number 18 created equal. Those communities inhabited by the scummy and minorities are much degraded, less(prenominal) piece-beaterful and less protected. The g overnment engages in purlieual racism against the mickle living in these communities, putting their health and safety at risk.The put on maximizing mindset of western companies is putting lucre before people, endangering be intimates and communities just close the world and should be corrected before more people side the consequences. Environmental racism refers to any policy, practice, or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages (whether intentionally or not) individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color(90). As more and more countries shift to enceinteism, humans are becoming increasingly greedy, selfish, and profit-maximizing beings.We are completely disregarding the constitute to constitution and each some other(a) the only green we care about is the dollar. Individuals in power are taking advantage of minorities and placing toxic waste, landfills and polluting factories on their communities in order for them to save costs. Minorities such as blacks and Latinos are sensed as being weak and passive to government related actions. They are too scared to fight the government in fear that it get out put their jobs in jeopardy and increase their economic burden. According to search by Dr.Deborah Robinson, three out of flipper Afri screwing the Statesns in the United States live in communities with uncontrollable toxic waste sites. Also, three of the five largest commercial barbaric waste landfil ls are located in African American and Latino communities. People requirement to take notice that environmental racism is also a form of racial oppression. It is the same crossroad in different packaging. The people living in these communities suffer shorter aliveness spans, higher infant and adult mortality, poor health, poverty, diminished economic opportunities, subscript housing and an overall degraded quality of look. Also, studies shoot shown that long-term characterisation to air pollution or toxic waste can perplex subvert IQ on children. How can one expect the poor to climb the class ladder and leave these slums if their IQ is being move by the environment that they are forced to live in? embodied greed is to blame for this problem. People must take action to extract these dangerous plants and chemicals from these communities. Just because the poor are helpless does not mean we need to make their situation worst.The people most likely to be exposed to these dang erous chemicals are also the least likely to have medical policy. in that location are just over four one thousand 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 sick and cannot afford to compensate for their healthcare costs so they are just dying by the masses. Not only are we hurting the very poor with our corporal greed, nevertheless we are also hurting nature.Environmental racism also encompasses nature. venomous material is being dropped into our lakes and our air. A recent study has revealed that 40% of Americas rivers and 46% of Americas lakes are too pollute for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. One American produces over 3,285 pounds of hazardous waste. Our countries are deteriorating, species are becoming extinct we are destroying our planet and on that point are simple solutions to correct that can help alleviate these predicaments, scarcely first, corporate greed necessitate to be exterminated.The corporate mindset inescapably 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 matter if they are black, Hispanic, Asians or whites, people are people, and one life is value the same. There are millions of acres of desert land hundreds of miles from culture that can be used to house those factories. Also, companies should start investing in more environmental friendly technologies for their factories in order to decrease pollution and toxic waste.If the entire world lived like the average American, we would need 5 planets to provide enough resources. Yes, investment in green technology is costly, but it is worth it. First of all, because it leads to a scant(p)er and more sustainable planet. Second, because the communities next the plants would not be at risk a nd third, because it saves money for the companies. It is a healthy short-term investment that provides long-term results. It is good for the environment and for the companies as it saves them money. move back for example Pepsi. Pepsi makes Walkers potato chips in England.Martyn Seal, the director of sustainability watches the clouds of s police squad rise from his built in bed and all he sees is lost resources and lost money. To solve this, he and his team developed a manufacturing process that will abandon them to suck pissing out of potatoes and even unplug the plant from the public water outline. Potatoes are composed of 80% water, so they could use this captured water to clean the equipment, wash the potatoes and even irrigate 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 green light and help conserve our planet. When companies shift their views to People before Profit s, they will finally be morally aware of the damages they are causing to not only nature but also the people living in these communities. The problem of environmental racism is also collectible to the trans subject field power and the extent of the mobility of these global corporations that are exploiting workers. Economic integration has facilitated the movement of goods and service across national borders.Firms are becoming more and more decently to nations. Their mobility has made it possible for them to seek the greatest profit, the least government regulations, and the outdo 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 mobility of the firm will allow it to relocate and find labor in another part of the world that has loser government regulations, oppressing those people instead.They are being forced to live on a lower floor these conditions in order to put food on their familys table. Another reason why environmental racism is occurring is due to put down environmental standards abroad. Luckily, the United States is passing stricter environmental regulations such as name IV which prohibits discriminatory practices in programs receiving federal funds anda police that set policy goals for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment(91). These stricter laws have caused a downsizing 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 now moving to third world countries where they can operate as these countries are in much need of capital and hence have lower environmental standards. The problem is not being reduced but rather passing on from one outlandish 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 making top profits, tour poor communities in Mexico are forced to low-wage jobs and environmental health threats. There is no right to know law in Mexico, so twain workers and communities are denied information about the toxins to which they are exposed. These companies are degrading 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 leading to a higher degree of environmental racism.The profit maximizing mindset 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 combat against environmental degradation and racism one needs to change the governmental polici es regarding these issues. Governments need to engage in globalization from below, a global civil society that seeks to extend ideas of moral, legal and environmental accountability to those now acting on behalf of the state, market and media.Countries with loose environmental laws need to place tougher conditions in place, and although they might lose revenue, they will step down 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 baffling helping 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 scrap back and winning. They are forming alliances, coalitions, networks and collaborations that stretch 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 fear ing 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. . Air Pollution. National Institute of Environmental health Sciences (NIEHS). N. p. , n. d. Web. 4 Nov. 2011. . Brecher, Jeremy. Globalization From Below . Third 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. 011. . 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. .