AlmostEverythingYouNeedtoKnowAboutEnvironmental.PDFVIP

ALMOST EVERYTHING ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Photo by Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice Dear Friend, The United Church of Christ helped to birth the movement which we now call the environmental justice movement in 1987 when the UCC Commission for Racial Justice published its legendary study, Toxic Waste and Race. Indeed, Ben Chavis and Charles Lee even coined the terms “environmental racism” and “environmental justice.” Almost from that moment we have been asked why the church is involved in environmental racism. My answer is simple: look in the very first chapter of the book of Genesis. If we believe that God created the earth, then we must do everything we can to ensure that the earth, and all of its inhabitants, are protected. This guide to environmental justice and environmental racism will help you understand the process by which communities of color across this nation have become toxic waste sites. It will help you understand the connections between race and poverty and how our communities of color are more likely to be unhealthy places to live, work and play. Most importantly, we hope that it will help you to find ways to become involved in cleaning up our communities and in preventing new toxic waste sites from being dumped. For we know that toxic wastes released into the water and air of communities of color don’t just stay in them, they threaten every American everywhere. It reminds us of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Another World is Possible. But only if we all get busy and clean up this one! Sincerely, Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo