Clinton

Making Environmental Justice Happen
What the individual can do to ensure justice in the environment


When I started this class, I had very little experience with environmental work, much less environmental justice. One thing I hoped for was a better understanding of what I could do, and what an individual in society could do, to make environmental justice a reality. Our stakeholders provided many ideas. On this page I have tried to bring them together to create a comprehensive action center. This isn't as hard as it seems! Take 30 minutes here to readup on a current local issue pertaining to the environment (#4), find a local organization to connect with (#2) and still have time to write a letter to your elected officials (#1) to share your opinion with them (remember to register to vote first, #3!!!). Then as you interact with others, educate them about what you have done (#5). I encourage you to check out the links, and to take part in environmental justice work in your community.

1) Contact your representatives All these people need to hear what you think about the environment. Without hearing you, they can't speak for you. The US President The US Vice President Your national Senators Your national Representatives Your state Representatives Your State Senator
	2) Find a Local Community Organization We talked with two community organizations about their efforts to take actions of Environmental Justice. They emphasized the need for organizing a coalition to build power, leadership and create positive changes. You can become involved in coalitions through these two organizations (PACE-EH and EJAG) or many others.
3) Vote Register to vote Learn about voting Keep up with current ballot measure
	4) Educate yourself Read up on current events Learn principles of Environmental Justice Talk with your friends and family. (See #5)
5) Educate Others Talk with your neighbors, colleagues, friends, relatives... Send emails, hold dinner parties... Have discussions, listen to other people's concerns... Give them options (like this website!) for getting involved... Any talk is good talk. Be creative! The options are wide open!
	More Links to Organizations and Resources The Environmental Justice Resource Center A great Environmental Justice Annotated Bibliography The Environmental Justice and Health Union Site Environmental Defense Org Environmental Justice Links and Tools Community Coalition for Environmental Justice

Where this website comes from Through this course I began to understand the multiple elements going into issues of the environment and natural resource use. To every conflict there are at least two sides (usually more), and each one is valid, emotional and holds claims to credibility and honor. A recurring question throughout the course for me was ‘which one is better?’ But to answer that question is to assume only one side can win. Through Terre Satterfield's book, "Anatomy of a Conflict", I learned that there usually is at least a third level to a conflict, a solution born out of conflict of all sides. Stakeholders talked about the need for people to come together and find a solution, something happening in some conflicts (like the I-5 debate in Portland) but the burden is still placed on underrepresented groups to make a stink. The ideals of justice around the environment and environmental factors need to be supported by all members of society, and positive actions taken to find solutions to achieve success for all sides involved. A recurring theme among all the people we talked to was the need for action. Environmental Justice doesn't happen by sitting around talking. This resonated very strongly with me as I hope to take action around issues of social justice, and especially environmental justice. In our active world, its not enough to just feel a certain way, we also have to act on that through our day to day actions, our jobs, our leisure activities, and our issues that we get involved in. A business person working in corporate America can be part of Environmental Justice, a suburban parent can be involved too, but it takes more than just feeling the need for change. There are many places to get involved, and this site is just one attempt at bringing things together and encourage people to get involved in their world.

Webpage created by Clinton Downs for AREC 499: Environmental Justice Spring Break Class (Oregon State University, 2004)