Environmental Justice Conclusion
The environmental justice movement is quickly gaining momentum. There is a large list of organizations founded to fight environmental discrimination and racism. Though each caters to its own particular interests, they all combine to fuel a progressive march toward equal environmental/human rights. The movement has united weak minority communities, giving them a platform to convey the truth about environmental racism and its detrimental effects. Events like Hurricane Katrina have helped bring to light issues that these communities face; however, despite the rising awareness of the injustice and increase political pull of activist organizations, there is still many barriers to reform.
Throughout history, there have been certain ethnic groups that have been discriminated against unfairly in the process of environmental legislation. The Native Americans have arguably suffered the most out of anyone because as soon as the Whites came to America, they began to persecute Native Americans and have never ceased doing so. We have destroyed their homeland and ruined their way of life. Small communities like the White Earth Land Recovery community have been trying their best to re-adopt their way of life and at the same time improve the environment through energy conservation projects and sustainable communities. It will take a concerted effort by everyone, especially Whites, to erase the damages done to people like the Native Americans.
A growing environmental justice movement in North America distinguishes the links between environmental damage, race and class. Honor the Earth addresses the discrimination against Native Americans, who have been traditionally exploited because of issues of race and poverty. For example, Native American reservations have been continually exposed to low doses of radiation due to the high level of nuclear activity around them. Honor the Earth works to empower Native Americans in the push for environmental justice. Significant steps have been taken in areas of energy justice, fund raising, and the education of the youth. As it is with tackling issues of racism, classism, and sexism, environmental justice can only be accomplished through the combined endeavors of everyone, regardless of whether or not they have been discriminated against.
