HOME NEWS EPA Environmental Justice Success Stories Report 2002 – 2003
A new report by EPA, "OSWER Environmental Justice Success Stories Report: FY 2002-2003," provides descriptions of successful environmental justice projects undertaken in OSWER headquarters and in the regional waste programs. A key goal of this report is to share information on these projects in the hope that they will inspire emulation and enhance the quality of life in the communities touched by them. The purpose of the report is not just to report on these activities, but also to encourage staff and stakeholders to read this report for models that might be applied to local environmental challenges.
For additional hard copies of the report, please contact OSWER’s EJ Coordinator, Kent Benjamin at 202-566-0185 or via e-mail at benjamin.kent@epa.gov.
Kenyan Receives Nobel Peace Prize  Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Green Belt Movement organized poor Kenyan women to plant and maintain 30 million trees, at once battling the deforestation to which they are disproportionately vulnerable, providing thousands of jobs, and inspiring similar movements in other East African countries. This is the first time an environmentalist has won the award in the 103-year history of the Nobel Peace Prize. The peace prize committee expanded the scope of the prize in 1991 to include those who worked to improve the environment. Maathai currently serves as Deputy Minister for the Environment in Kenya's government. Supreme Court Backs Cheney On Energy Documents Thursday, June 24, 2004 -- The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, ruled that the Bush administration does not have to reveal secret details of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force that assisted in preparing a national energy strategy in 2001. To date, Congress has not passed any of the recommendations. The Sierra Club and Judicial Watch sued to get the records under a sunshine law because they believe the general public and environmental groups were excluded from participating in the meetings. The petitioners contend that the industry representatives acted as members of the government panel, which included Cabinet secretaries and lower-level administration employees. The 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requires government panels to conduct business in public, unless all members are government officials. Court case: Cheney v. U.S. District Court, 03-475. TRI Report June 2004 -- EPA has released the 2002 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) report. Analysis shows a 5% increase in overall toxic emissions. You can get more information on the new EPA report at http://www.epa.gov/tri . The latest data is at http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/ AAEA at National Press Club For Earth Day April 22, 2004 -- AAEA President Norris McDonald spoke at the National Press Club Press Conference on Earth Day that addressed Eco-Imperialism and Eco-Segregation: How tradiitonal environmental groups are largely segregated and thier policies hurt poor people and minorities in the U.S. and throughout the world. The press conference, organized by Paul Driessen, author of Eco-Imperialism, included Niger Innis, Congress of Racial Equality, John Meredith, Project 21, Dr. C.S. Prakash, Tuskegee University, Dr. Sallie Baliunas, TechCentralStation.com, and Dr. Roger Bate. CORE Sponsors Eco-Imperialism Seminar In NY January 20, 2004 -- The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) recently held a forum on how the global green movement is waging a war on the developing world's poor. The forum examined how bans on DDT and biotech foods are causing millions of deaths from malaria and starvation in Africa. Niger Innis, CORE National Spokesman, opened the meeting with a description of how environmental groups perpetuate poverty and misery in developing countries through eo-centric policies. Deroy Murdock, Senior Fellow, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, was the moderator for the forum. CORE National Chairman Roy Innis also attended the forum. AAEA President and President Bush When AAEA President Norris McDonald met with President Bush in the East Wing of the White House at a social event, he mentioned that AAEA is working hard to get the Clear Skies Initiative passed in the U.S. Congress. President Bush responded, "The country really needs the Clear Skies Initiative and I appreciate your work in trying to get the bill passed in Congress." 
AAEA President Norris McDonald & President Bush In the East Wing  and later the same day AAEA Briefs Rev Al Sharpton For Presidential Debate 
African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) President Norris McDonald recently briefed democratic presidential candidate Rev Al Sharpton at his New York Headquarters on environmental issues in preparation for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) presidential debate in Los Angeles, California on June 26, 2003. They reviewed the Energy Justice Act of 2003 and Environmental Justice Act of 2003 drafted by AAEA. They also covered a wide range of other environmental issues from off shore oil drilling and air pollution to forest policy and water resources. It will be interesting to see how much support Rev Sharpton receives from the environmental community. The environmental movement is now a $6.4 billion per year multinational industry. LCV is the largest green group contributor to political candidates. However, the LCV PAC only contributed $6,000 to the entire Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in the 2002 elections. LCV also did not contribute very much to the Republican Party, but contributions to House Republican congressional candidates far exceeded contributions to the CBC. McDonald first met Rev Sharpton at the Hall of Justice Headquarters in Harlem in 2002 with Marsha Coleman-Adebayo in the campaign to pass the No Fear Act of 2002. Rev Sharpton's Headquarters mysteriously burned down on the same day he was away in Washington, DC filing as a candidate for the presidency. He is currently using a temporary office in midtown Manhattan. Rev Sharpton was instrumental in the passage of the "1st Civil Rights Legislation of the 21st Century." The legislation was dead until Rev Sharpton agreed to come to Washington, DC where he, at the request of the No Fear Coalition, led a Freedom Rally at Freedom Plaza, Freedom Ride and visit to the U.S. Senate.
National Association of Black Journalists The NABJ 28th Annual Convention & Career Fair in Dallas was excellent. NABJ sponsored two environmental workshops at the conference: 1) Environmental Justice and Black Journalists and 2) Children's Health: Covering Environmental Hazards in the Community. The EJ workshop was organized by David Padgett, GIS Expert and Tennessee State University professor. Dick Gregory, Godfather of the Environmental Justice Movement, also spoke at a health workshop. Mr. Gregory is a founding board member of AAEA.  Participants at the convention included Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush and former basketball player/sports journalist Charles Barkley, among others. I talked to Charles briefly after his presentation.
Every major and many smaller news organizations participated in the convention, from all of the major television networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) and cable channels to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times to the Society of Environmental Journalists and The Wall Street Journal.
|
Important Announcement
