Dear History Lover:

          With Earth Day in the rear view mirror (April 22), it is important to look ahead in the direction of environmental justice. While Earth Day commemorations aim to bring awareness to environmental changes and catalyze positive action, the systemic practice of environmental injustice is often overlooked. The disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities to environmental hazards and the inequity of environmental benefits often affects under-served, minority, and indigenous populations. 

          Studies show that low-income neighborhoods and minority communities are more likely to be situated near toxic waste facilities and landfills, exposing residents to high levels of pollution and hazardous substances. For example, the Pata-Rat settlement on the outskirts of Cluj-Napoca, Romania houses approximately 2,000 Roma; a once nomadic (now sedentary) group, who settled in Europe, originating from northern India, Armenia, and Turkey. The Roma live in housing situated around a huge, open-air dump with extreme levels of air, water, and soil pollution.

          Similarly, research indicates that the United States' communities of color often experience increased exposures to air pollutants, such as PM2.5— tiny particles containing inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, and other compounds from the earth’s crust that are absorbed into the deepest parts of the lungs and the blood. This is due to pollution sources' proximity to neighborhoods. Take, for instance, Bridgeport, CT, where Jaysa Hunter-Mellers was hospitalized at 6 years old due to a severe asthma attack resulting from exposure to fumes produced by a power plant. Many of Jaysa's classmates had difficulty breathing due to the plant's emissions.

          Zooming out to the international spectrum, some marginalized and low-income populations in developing nations lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation, leading to public health issues, such as cholera, dysentery, and parasite infestations within the body. The Mirador open-pit mine in Southern Ecuador pollutes nearby rivers with 

toxic metals, heavily affecting the Shuar indigenous people, who have inhabited the area for centuries. A study found that 62.6% of Shuar people had intestinal parasites in their stool and 98.1% had been exposed to Hepatitis A. While often contributing least to environmental pollution, the Shuar bear a much greater share of its negative consequences.

          The causes and factors contributing to disproportionate environmental risk may be rooted in systemic corruption, power imbalances, and prejudices. Longstanding discrimination concentrates minority communities into environmental hazard areas. The lack of economic influence limits these communities from advocating for policies and protections that hold polluters accountable. In particular, the Niger Delta southern region of Nigeria faces severe environmental injustice due to oil spills and gas flaring by

multinational oil companies. The United Nations determined that in some areas of Ogoniland, soil pollution extended to depths of 16 feet and contaminated groundwater was saturated with benzene— a chemical that causes dizziness and headaches when inhaled. The presence of benzene was recorded at up to 900 times greater than regulatory standards. Despite a legal suit in 2023 that saw nearly 14,000 Nigerians sue Shell in a London high court, gas flaring still persists in many oil-producing communities within Nigeria. 

          Reflecting the community action of the Nigerian people, Jaysa Hunter-Mellers, from Bridgeport, CT, who was discussed earlier in this newsletter, similarly catalyzed activism after her hospitalization. Jaysa and her mother joined the Healthy Connecticut Alliance, fighting and testifying for the closing of the power plant that made the 6 year-old and her classmates sick. By the time Jaysa was 11, the power plant had been permanently shuttered, in part, due to her actions. 

          Many people do not share Jaysa’s ambition to catalyze dramatic change. Their health concerns may result in significant economic consequences and apply great strain to healthcare resources. The high cost of medical treatment, along with devaluation of assets, contributes to the perpetuation of cyclical poverty and environmental degradation. However, the discussion regarding climate justice is led by a diverse array of groups and individuals. Local and community-based organizations have emerged to advocate for those who are disproportionately impacted. The NAACP has pushed for policies addressing the outsized burden on communities with demands for clean water, reduced emissions, and community pollution monitoring (i.e environmental neighborhood watch). For example, Ruth Santiago, a community attorney from Puerto Rico, serves on a council to directly influence policy-making and climate activist Vanessa Nakate fights for accessible water in her

hometown of Kampala, Uganda. These change-makers are fighting on the front lines to combat the distorted impact of climate change.

     In April, we celebrated Earth Day, which serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet and its resources. The environmental movement has long advocated for policies promoting sustainability and the three “R’s” (“Recycle, Reduce, Re-use”). By acknowledging the historical intersection of environmental risk, corruption, and discrimination, we can strengthen diverse communities, cultivate the planet’s resources, and magnify our chance for a healthier future.