Environmental Racism

By Monal Khokhar
 What is Environmental Racism?
Minority or low-income community
face more environmental risk
(Waste dumping site in residential
area)

Trading of hazardous waste from

industrialised nations to poor country –
for cheap labour (electronic waste for
dismantle, other waste for recycling)
 Causes:
• No supporting organization
• Lack of political power
• Not enough money power
• Unawareness
• Low literacy rate Discrimination
• Rich community shift away Issue
from industrial area

• Lower Environmental
Standards
• Profit to improve economy
 Three forms of
Environmental Inequity
1) Geographic Inequity TOXIC
2) Procedural inequity RACISM
3) Occupational/Social
Inequity
 Intra-nation –municipal landfills, incinerators, hazardous
waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities- water, air
National and land pollution
Cases: • Shell oil refinery – affect African Americans in Norco,
Louisiana and the Africans in the Niger Delta
• The Bhopal tragedy, India – 1984 (poor workers)
• Union Carbide plant, West Virginia, gas leak- 135
residents affected
Env. Conflict site of the US
• 1982, North Carolina – toxic waste landfill
• Flint water Crisis
• South Durban – toxic hub of Africa
 International Cases:
In late 1980’s international attention of Transnational
hazardous waste movement by 7 incidents in Africa for
disposal of waste

• Nigeria – Earliest case of illegal dumping of toxic & radio

active waste, polychlorinated biphenyls
• 1988, Guinea-Bissau - $600 million for 15million ton of toxic
waste
• China & southeast Asia – 50-80% of the US electronic
waste exported
• The US-Mexican border
• Minorities (Blacks) in the U.S. & Africa
 Risk of Exposure:
• Cancer, birth defects, development illness
• Lead poisoning in children
• Asthma and respiratory illness
• Unsafe, exploitative workplace
• Contamination of site & properties
• Decaying house conditions
• Food contamination with heavy metals
 Environmental Justice/Equity

“The fair treatment and meaningful

involvement of all people regardless
of race, color, national origin, or
income with respect to the
development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies. “
 Steps towards Equity
• The World conference 2001, domestic & international remedies for
environmental racism identified
• Movement started in the United States
• Brundlandt report – intergenerational responsibility and justice
• The international regulation of hazardous Waste Exports under Basel
Convention
• The Ban amendment
 Principles for Justice
1) Guarantee the right to
environmental protection

2) Prevent harm before it occurs

3) Shift the burden of proof to

polluters

4) Redress existing inequities

5) Eliminate the intent standard

 Review and Recommendation
• Redefine environmental protection
• A holistic approach to Environmental
A long way to
protection
• Awareness campaign and public have success in
engagement Environmental
• Strengthen legislation and regulations Justice
• Strategies to combat economic blackmail
• Close corporate loopholes
• Establish International co-operative
agreement
• Organise globally
Thank you
Questions & feedback