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Why does environmental racism exist? The reason is simple. Those with resources can raise awareness, money, and public attention to ensure that their communities are unsullied. This has led to an inequitable distribution of environmental burdens. Another method of keeping this inequity alive is NIMBY protests. NIMBY , or Not in My Back Yard, is the name for a movement of engaged citizens who are mostly protesting something objectionable that will happen to them, rather than its existence at all. Chemical plants, airports, landfills, and other municipal or corporate projects are often the subject of NIMBY demonstrations. And equally often, the NIMBYists win, and the objectionable project is moved closer to those who have fewer resources to fight it.
The area of environmental sociology is growing as extreme weather patterns and concerns over climate change increase. Human activity leads to pollution of soil, water, and air, compromising the health of the entire food chain. While everyone is at risk, poor and disadvantaged neighborhoods and nations bear a greater burden of the planet’s pollution, a dynamic known as environmental racism.
What celebrities come to mind when you think about environmental causes? Do you believe they are knowledgeable about their causes? What would lead you to believe or disbelieve a celebrity spokesperson?
How do you think the issue of e-waste should be dealt with? Should the responsibility fall to the companies that make the products or the consumer who buys them? Would your buying habits be different if you had to pay to recycle old electronics?
Can you think of a modern example of the tragedy of the commons, where public use without accountability has created a negative outcome?
NIMBY protests occur when concerned citizens band together to speak up against something that will impact them negatively. Is this a positive or negative trend? Give an example of a NIMBY protest and whether you support it or not.
Visit the Cleanups in My Community website: (External Link) to see where environmental hazards have been identified in your backyard, and what is being done about them.
What is your carbon footprint? Find out using the carbon footprint calculator at (External Link)
Find out more about greening the electronics process by looking at Greenpeace’s guide: (External Link)
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Bertolucci, Jeff. 2009. “How Green Is Your Apple?” Macworld , April 22. Retrieved December 14, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
Blanchard, Ben. 2007. “Coke Vows to Reduce Water Used in Drink Production.” Reuters , June 5. Retrieved December 14, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
Bullard, Robert D., Paul Mohai, Robin Saha, and Beverly Wright. 2007. Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty: 1987–2007 . United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice. Retrieved January 22, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Bureau of Indian Affairs. 2012. “FAQs.” Retrieved January 22, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Environmental Justice Case Studies. 2004. University of Michigan. Retrieved January 22, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Frosch, Dan. 2009. “Uranium Contamination Haunts Navajo Country.” New York Times , July 27. Retrieved January 22, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Greenpeace. 2011. “Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics.” November. Retrieved December 13, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
Hardin, Garrett. 1968. “The Tragedy of the Commons,” Science 162(3859):1243–1248. Retrieved December 10, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
Kamps, Kevin. 2001. “Environmental Racism, Tribal Sovereignty and Nuclear Waste.” Nuclear Information and Resource Service. Retrieved January 22, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Ogunseitanl, Oladele, Julie M. Stoning, Jean-Daniel M. Sapphires, and Andrew A. Shapiro. 2009. “The Electronics Revolution: From E-Wonderland to E-Wasteland.” Science 326(5953):670–671. Retrieved December 14, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
Papenfuss, Mary. 2011. “Cynical Chinese Taking Own Smog Readings.” Newser , December 8. Retrieved January 23, 2012 ( (External Link) ).
Turneffe Atoll Trust. 2008. “Improper Development: Recommendations of the Turneffe Atoll Coastal Advisory Committee.” Retrieved December 14, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
World Resources Institute. 2011. “Statement: A Climate Change Agreement in Durban.” December 11. Retrieved December 13, 2011 ( (External Link) ).
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