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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. 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.

Summary

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.

Short answer

After reading this section, will you change the way you treat your household waste? Explain.

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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?

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Can you think of a modern example of the tragedy of the commons, where public use without accountability has created a negative outcome?

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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.

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Further research

Visit the Cleanups in My Community web site: (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)

References

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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) ).

DeKok, David. 1986. Unseen Danger: A Tragedy of People, Government, and the Centralia Mine Fire . Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

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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) ).

Greepeace. 2012. "Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics." November. Retrieved December 17, 2014 ( (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) ).

NASA. 2014. “NASA Finds 2013 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend.” NASA, January 21. Retrieved October 27, 2014(http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20140121/).

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) ).

Troilo, Pete. 2012. "Yes, We Can? Obama's Global Climate Change Initiative." International Development . Devex, January 30. Retrieved October 27, 2014 (https://www.devex.com/news/yes-we-can-obama-s-global-climate-change-initiative-77363).

Turneffe Atoll Trust. 2008. “Improper Development: Recommendations of the Turneffe Atoll Coastal Advisory Committee.” Retrieved December 14, 2011 ( (External Link) ).

United States. 2011. “Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing.” Washington, D.C: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce. Retrieved October 29, 2014 (http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%204.18.11.pdf).

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Source:  OpenStax, Introduction to sociology 2e. OpenStax CNX. Jan 20, 2016 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11762/1.6
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