U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM
Black Environmental Justice Advocates to Turn World Spotlight on
Discrimination in U.S. Environmental and Health Protection

 

Thursday, August 23, 2001 (Washington, D.C.) - The National Black Environmental Justice Network (NBEJN) is preparing to bring attention to environmental racism at the World Conference Against Racism, which takes place in Durban, South Africa from August 24 through September 7, 2001. The Network will report on U.S. policies and laws that perpetuate the significant toxic pollution burdens and health hazards that are having devastating effects on people of color communities. Environmental racism will be a key issue in governmental and non-governmental forums.

"Environmental racism is wasting away whole communities of color in the U.S. and abroad who suffer from high levels of toxic pollution. We reject the arguments by industrial polluters that the poor health suffered in our communities is just the cost of doing business. We are participating in the World Conference Against Racism because it is the first step in pushing for new policies and laws that can prevent our families and our children from living in communities that have become the dumping grounds for military and industrial facilities," said Damu Smith, NBEJN Coordinator.

At the World Conference, NBEJN member Dr. Robert Bullard, Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark-Atlanta University, will lead a discussion on environmental racism at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development forum. NBEJN members were successful in urging the inclusion of environmental racism at the World Conference Against Racism, which has meant raising awareness among other non-governmental organizations in the U.S. and around the world on this form of racism. NBEJN members will participate with other non-governmental organizations in the drafting of a Declaration and Program of Action. These documents will be used to steer international and domestic policies developed at the World Conference Against Racism.

One of the major issues NBEJN will report on at the World Conference is the U.S. Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision in Alexander v. Sandoval that deprives citizens of legal redress under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on claims of discriminatory effect or disparate impact. The decision is highly controversial as it essentially re-writes over 30 years of judicial opinions on Title VI disparate impact cases. Alexander affects environmental racism cases alleging the use of federal funds to permit hazardous facilities to cluster around communities of color creates a discriminatory effect prohibited by Title VI. The decision also impacts over 60 civil rights/environmental racism complaints filed by community groups that have been pending with the Environmental Protection Agency for several years.

"NBEJN is working at the international level because we have a political climate in the U.S. that is hostile to citizens seeking an end to environmental racism and other forms of discrimination," said Monique Harden, NBEJN International Policy Counsel. "The move by the Bush administration to boycott the World Conference Against Racism won't dampen the activism taking place at the Conference. In fact, it is likely to fan the flames for stronger anti-discrimination laws and policies in the U.S.," she said.

Contact: National Black Environmental Justice Network (NBEJN), Monique Harden, International Policy 504-430-0296 (cell)