1. Loss of genius: besides sometimes paying for care, society is impacted by this issue through the loss of BIPOC lives and perspectives. If only part of our community is allowed to survive and thrive, then we cannot expect to be as successful, because we lose all of the ideas in these minds. Pollution can cause mental defects or decrease intelligence, hindering our progress as a people, even through seemingly commonplace diseases like asthma preventing oxygen from getting to the brain. (Deaton, 2019)
2. Mental health: besides the physical toll on the victims, we must also acknowledge the scars that environmental racism can leave on communities and families. Death, especially such unnecessary death, will always take a deep emotional toll on those who have lost a loved one. Trauma also extends to those who experience racism, hatred, and discrimination, which can damage self-esteem and make victims feel threatened and unwelcome (Fountain, 2019)
3. Cost: it can cost time and money to look after an unwell relative as well. Depending on access to healthcare, another area in which racism plays a big role, outcomes can be vastly different. With or without insurance (but especially without), extra medical bills due to environmental racism for BIPOC and their families can be an undue burden, as racism has led to poverty in many of these communities. The 20% of Hispanics that are uninsured will make up 5% of the total US population by 2050, so this cost is only going up, and will harm more and more people. (Ndugga et al., 2021)
4. Health: Having toxic waste or dirty air in their environment negatively impacts BIPOC in terms of their health. One common detriment is asthma, and Black populations are indeed 5 times as likely to visit the ER due to asthma than white people, and Hispanic and AAPI communities are twice as likely to have asthma (Asthma and allergy foundation of America, 2020). However, health problems can also include cancer, lead poisoning, susceptibility to COVID, and countless other issues.
5. Article 2: describes specific communities in Louisiana suffering from environmental racism and calls out the reason-petrochemical plants. (effects= death, grief, etc.)
6. Article 1: addresses connections between environmental racism and redlining, as well as the denial and greed that often occur to perpetuate this issue. (cause= money, greed, racism)
7. Article 3: tells the story of an African American community in Philadelphia that suffered environmental racism, but organized and protested against an oil refinery until their needs were resolved (solution=organizing)
8. solution 1: organize cleanups! people can organize or fund projects, protests, etc. to remove pollution if possible or get harmful industries out of their communities and especially communities of color. Raising awareness and supporting victims are key to solving this issue (Yale Sustainability, 2020)
9. Related Catholic Social Teaching: preferential option for the poor and vulnerable! People are taking advantage of the vulnerable for their own profit instead of protecting them.
10. Related Catholic Social Teaching: solidarity, as we should (but don't always) have empathy for these victims' suffering, whether or not we have had similar experiences
11. Related Catholic Social Teaching: call to family, community, and participation. Organizers respond to the call to protect and support their community and participate in its politics in a beneficial way.
12. Lack of awareness: Often, when a problem is difficult to solve, we ignore or avoid it. Such is the case with environmental racism, as many more privileged suburban families feel that they have earned what they own by themselves, unaware of the support that has been given to them to help them do so. The apathy of those in the best situation to provide help is detrimental, and is perpetuated by segregation (see above) which inhibits interracial interactions and dialogue and can lead to stereotyping. Many people have limited views of racism that don't factor in redlining and environment (Pulido, 2010)
13. Discrimination: This cause goes without saying, as environmental racism is racism. The effects of racism, specifically of systemic racism like redlining, have purposely created enclaves of BIPOC in poor areas (Klein et al., 2020). If it were not for the existence of these types of racism, it would not even be possible to expose mainly BIPOC to pollution. Such segregation is perpetuated by a society that won't put the work in to actively heal its wounds; a society in which some consider a preferential option for the poor discrimination.
14. Consumerism: Why do we have over 220 billion pounds of pollution in the first place? Although most people don't want pollution in their community, demand for goods encourages businesses to keep on polluting (Colquette et al., 1992). This fact causes environmental racism because the "solution" is often to roll over more marginalized communities with less of a voice. It is perpetuated by our economic structures and specifically our value of ever cheaper and more convenient goods, which discourages environmental action.
15. Lack of inclusion: This issue specifically addresses that even when pollution and discrimination are addressed, they are often addressed separately. If environmental issues are not discussed by equality movements and racism is not addressed by environmental movements, then little progress can be made towards awareness of environmental racism, the intersection of these issues. Therefore, it is crucial to include BIPOC voices in environmental movements. The lack of inclusion might be perpetuated by fears of detracting from goals, but in truth these issues are very intersectional and uplift each other. 95% of board members on environmental organizations are white, and it will take effort and money to fix these disparities, since currently there is a cycle where BIPOC don't feel welcome, so they don't join, so other BIPOC don't feel welcome, etc. (Toomey, 2018)
16. Solution 2: alternative energy/industry. When performing step 1, it is important not to just make the pollution someone else's problem. Support businesses decreasing their carbon footprint or using alternative energy! Green energy will create 3.3 million jobs in the US alone, which if designed wisely can help lift BIPOC out of poverty, an awesome added bonus. (Beecham, 2020)
