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Description: Petrochemical production along the
Mississippi River in Louisiana, uranium mining in New Mexico, and
organophosphate pesticide use in California are all examples of environmental
degradation where minority racial groups (African American, Native American, and
Latino, respectively) were disproportionately affected by these environmental
disasters. Although still popular among many mainstream environmental
groups, the idea of environmentalism as only wilderness protection and wildlife
preservation is outdated. It is critical that we redefine environment as
where we live, work, and play-- and acknowledge that the people who are
affected most by environmental destruction are minorities. Who benefits
from the continued omission of issues of racism, wealth, and power in the
discussion of environmental degradation? How can we reframe the
conversation so that we examine the problem in its entirety? What are the
best ways to discover innovative solutions?
Goal: Environmental degradation is experienced more by minorities and
poorer countries. Selectively reserving dangerous projects for the most
economically strained population is a great social injustice. In this
discussion, experts will address why environmental degradation is an issue and
what you can do to improve its effects.
Panelists:
Martha Dina Arguello
Martha Dina Arguello, Executive Director of PSR-LA, is a leader in California’s Environmental Health movement. As the co-convener of Californians for a Green and Healthy Economy, she is actively engaged in developing and watch-dogging the implementation of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative. She is also leading the way in engaging women’s health, reproductive health and justice groups in California’s efforts to pass a ban on the use of BPA in baby products. PSR-LA is an active member of Californians for Pesticide Reform, and is leading the Healthy Homes campaign aimed at reducing the use of pesticides in low-income neighborhoods.
Elizabeth C. Yeampierre
Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, a Puerto Rican civil rights attorney born and raised in New York City is Executive Director of UPROSE, Brooklyn’s oldest Latino community based organization. In 1996, Elizabeth helped shift UPROSE’s mission to organizing, advocacy and developing intergenerational indigenous leadership through activism. In reaching these goals, UPROSE focuses environmental, economic and social justice.
Elizabeth received her BA in Political Science from Fordham University and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. She is admitted to practice in the States of New York and New Jersey.
Eizabeth is part of the New York City environmental justice leadership responsible for getting NY State’s first Brownfield legislation and NYC’s Solid Waste Management Plan passed. In Sunset Park, Brooklyn she facilitated an aggressive urban forestry initiative, helped double the amount of open space and developed a project that resulted in the retro-fit and re-powering of 12 diesel trucks for a local business. She successfully organized a community coalition that defeated a 520 mega-watt power plant application. Elizabeth created a community participatory model that resulted in a community led greenway design for the waterfront. $8.4 million dollars have been allocated for the greenway and park and $36 million dollars in Brownfield remediation funds for the waterfront park. (the largest brownfield grant in New York State History) Elizabeth secured $1,000,000 for emission reduction projects that have been distributed throughout the community. Elizabeth serves on Mayor Bloomberg’s Sustainability and Long Term Planning Advisory Board, and served as a Commissioner on the historic NYS Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. Elizabeth is the first Latina chair of the US EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Elizabeth is the recipient of the 2010 El Diario La Prensa Mujeres Destacada Award, 2009 NYC City Council Women’s History Award: Women in Environmentalism,
2007 NRDC, Earth Day New York Environmental Advocate of the Year Award,
the Municipal Art Society Yolanda Garcia Community Planner Award, 2007
American Planner Association Paul Davidoff Award,
2006 US EPA Quality Award,
2004 National Latina Leadership Award from the National Foundation of Women Legislators
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