Undoin' the 70s: A Conversation about the Federal Rollbacks with an Environmental Justice Lens
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<p><span style="color: black;">This chat with Rasheeda Green (</span><a href="https://www.allroadscross.com/podcast" target="_blank" style="color: black;">Crossroads Podcast</a><span style="color: black;">) and Seema Thomas (Urban Development Consultant) is an open conversation about the origins of the EJ movement, why it continues to be important as Federal rollbacks continue to occur during this pandemic, dig into some local issues here in the DMV, and why we need to keep this conversation going.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><em style="color: black;">“What many of these cities have in common is that their Black populations most affected by the virus are located in sacrifice zones. Sacrifice zones are areas located close to polluting facilities. Residents here are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from cars and trucks, petrochemical plants, and toxic waste facilities. Exposure to these pollutants causes an increase in the likeness of death from COVID-19. A Harvard study found that a small increase in long-term exposure to a higher amount of particulate matter makes an individual 15 percent more likely to die from COVID-19 compared with someone who is exposed to less pollution. Many people in these areas have been exposed to high levels of pollution for decades.</em></h4><h4><em style="color: black;">Environmental racism has been an issue throughout US history. Disproportionate exposure to pollutants leads to a number of adverse health effects in communities of color and low-income communities. And the same discrimination that leads to polluting facilities being located in these communities also creates food deserts, limits access to healthcare, and drives up the cost of utilities. The current pandemic has exacerbated all of these stressors on people’s lives. Many families are facing loss of income and are at risk of having their utilities shut off. People who can’t even pay their rent aren’t likely to risk medical bills by going to the hospital and seeking treatment for COVID-19 symptoms.”</em><strong style="color: black;"><em>- </em></strong><a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2020/04/covid-19-dim-spotlight-environmental-justice" target="_blank"><strong>Sierra Club</strong></a></h4><h4><br></h4><h4>Keep this discussion going with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/crossroadspodcast/" target="_blank" style="color: purple;">@crossroadspodcast</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SeemaPThomas" target="_blank">@seemapthomas</a></h4><h4>Check out https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice for grant opportunities addressing Covid-19 on EJ communities</h4><p><br></p>