Preventing Environmental Racism

Environmental racism is defined as "the overwhelming likelihood that toxic-producing plants and toxic waste dumps are located where poor people, especially people of color live" (Eitzen, Smith, and Zinn 97). When I read this definition, I decided to do some research; what I discovered was alarming. According to Goldmanprize.org, "A recent report from the NAACP entitled 'Coal Blooded: Putting Profits Before People, ' found that among the nearly six million Americans living within three miles of a coal plant, 39% are people of color." Another interesting statistic I found was that 78% of all African Americans live within 30 miles of a coal fired power plant. Living situations like these are dangerous to the surrounding community; the chances

Recently, in an effort to solve this problem U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the first-ever standards for mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants. Another way to prevent environmental racism is by simply minimizing waste, preventing pollution, and using cleaner production techniques that apply to all citizens. Now, environmental classism is defined as "the poor, because of dangerous jobs and residential segregation, are more exposed than the more well-to-do to environmental dangers" (Eitzen, Smith, and Zinn 97). This is something that I have connected with environmental racism; the only difference is that classism focuses on the system of stratification and racism focuses on the race of the individual/family. Unfortunately, when companies come knocking at the door of low-income communities, they have a distinct advantage when looking for a place to put a factory and to dump waste. These companies target low-income communities because the families are desperate for jobs and lack the social status to push them out. So, as a solution to this problem, the government must "continue to enact comprehensive laws carrying severe criminal and civil penalties for harming the environment," also at the corporate level "it means rigorous inspections of companies and prosecution of violators" (Eitzen, Smith, and Zinn