A new report released by the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative states that consequences of climate change extend beyond environmental, and into issues of human rights, race, and class. The research group says that climate change is especially harmful to African Americans, and low-income individuals.
The report maintains:
"Though far less responsible for climate change, African-Americans are significantly more vulnerable to its effects than non-Hispanic whites. . . .African-Americans are also more vulnerable to higher energy bills, unemployment, recessions caused by global energy price shocks, and a greater economic burden from military operations designed to protect the flow of oil to the US."
Following the release of the report, Congressman James Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, reiterated the sentiment that climate change disproportionately impacts blacks. To find out what the Democratic leader, had to say read more.
Speaking to the National Press Club, Congressman Clyburn said:
“It is critical our community be an integral and active part of the debate because African-Americans are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change economically, socially and through our health and well-being."
Some may think Clyburn is trying to morph environmental concerns into a race issue; but perhaps he just wants engage the black community in order to decrease the vulnerability. Those trying to raise awareness on climate justice point to Hurricane Katrina as an example of how marginalized individuals suffer more in times of climate crisis.
Do you think the African American community and disadvantaged people need a distinct voice in the climate change discussion?
Orlando Orlandini
Maison Martin Margiela
Rimmel
I don't think that it's surprising that any problem the world faces disproportionately affects the disadvantaged. I applaud Clyburn's efforts to engage new voices in the debate over climate change.
1I agree, Jude. I wonder if they did these studies within each income bracket. I doubt it's that minorities are necessarily affected more, regardless of income. My guess would be that it's just that lower income individual are disproportionately affected.
2"My guess would be that it's just that lower income individual are disproportionately affected."
I absolutely agree with you there, lil. It happens all over the world, regardless of what color the lower-income people are.
3Hogwash! Why can't they just go to their rooftop heliport and fly away?
4I completely agree with you two Jude and lilkimbo and I think this article would be a good way to tell the African American community that they should be part of the effort to be "green". I think there is a huge disconnect between the African American community and the white community when it comes to discussions about changing habits in efforts to make it more green, and rightfully so, you can't be worrying yourself about which lightbulbs to buy if you are trying to put food on the table. But a great article came out in Ebony magazine why blacks should do their part because we all live in this earth together.
5I think minority groups should be given a distinct voice in the climate change discussion: you can't go into poor neighborhoods and berate them for not using cfls because they're more expensive, or for buying processed over-packaged foods when it's less expensive or all that's available at nearby grocery stores.
6"I think minority groups should be given a distinct voice in the climate change discussion: you can't go into poor neighborhoods and berate them for not using cfls because they're more expensive, or for buying processed over-packaged foods when it's less expensive or all that's available at nearby grocery stores."
I basically agree with what you're saying, but I do think that it's less about race and more about economic class (although of course it's impossible to completely separate the two issues).
It just really goes to show that the environmental issues are also class issues.
7Yeah..us minorities gotta bear the ravages of climate change, but when it comes to aid..we are last on the list.
8Fo show ---I just have a question, why do you need aid?
9When disaster srikes!
10Strikes!
11Fo Show, what about the other issue of effects of climate change economically, socially and through our health and well-being without the disaster?
12From the immediate aftermath of a disaster to the point of designing policy on climate change... the unique situation of minorities are rarely considered!
13I am sorry, I do not understand your answer. Besides the aftermath of a dusaster (taking that out of the equation): why do you think AA are effected more due to climate change.
14Like I said-
15YOU dont understand because its a unique situation. You cant take disaster out of the equation..because thats the main point of discussion. Without disaster..we wouldnt be discussing climate change.
So you're saying all situations are disasters?
16I think that people would like to hear some specific examples of what you're saying, Fo show, as usual.
17Fo show ---I am just confused about your circle around the question. Is there any example you can provide? Thanks!
In the article that is hyperlinked:
“[W]hile individual storms cannot be linked specifically to climate change, scientists warn that warmer waters may foster-more intense storms,” the background paper on the commission’s efforts, authored by Michel Gelobter, Carla Peterman and Azebuilke Akaba said. “The flooding of New Orleans still highlights the vulnerability of the African-American community to types of extreme weather events expected with global climate change.”
So, while New Orleans was a disaster in itself. What should be proposed to help or even educate - or should that even be a solution.
18
19You wasnt born yesterday-
20What I stated was very clear and specific enough. Every last one of you know the details already. I dont have to post charts, and news clips to get my point across.
Throwing rhetoric bombs without anything to back them up, as usual.
21Good emoticon usage, Jude!
22Thanks, lil
23I asked you to clarify b/c I didn't understand. I thought this board was about sharing your opinions and perspectives. I guess not.
24You are clarifying the argument for me. Recognition of the acute difficulties that minorities face... is missing!
25I have recognition that minorities face difficulties but you never answered the questions.
26"You are clarifying the argument for me. Recognition of the acute difficulties that minorities face... is missing!"
Then ENLIGHTEN PEOPLE. That would be far more productive than slinging generalizations about, don't you think?
27I don't know Jude ---I'm utterly lost.
28You'll get used to it, bellaressa--this is Mr. Sho's usual M.O.
29It's a guy? mmmm. I never really read his post, I just scan by the the avs I recognize.
30Oh good--I'm not the only one who does that
31Was I wrong to admit that. I sometimes view others but sometimes some people make me smh alot with some statements.
32If you recognise...then why argue?
Plus you want me to answer a question about New Orleans!
New Orleans was a risky location to begin with... minorities shouldve been educated on this up front... by the wealthy. And lets not discuss the relief efforts!
33I think it's natural to pay more attention to people whom you recognize. Anyway, if someone posts enough, after a while of course they become one of those whom you'd recognize and read more closely.
And of course it's not wrong to admit that!
34Why is it the responsibility of the wealthy to educate minorities on which locations are risky?
Honestly, I'm guessing most of the people who lived in New Orleans knew that it was a risky location but either 1)They were willing to trade off the risks for the rewards or 2)Their family had always lived there and they couldn't afford a move.
35Fo I never asked you to answer about New Orleans.
As I stated here: So, while New Orleans was a disaster in itself. What should be proposed to help or even educate - or should that even be a solution. Comment 18.
Don't answer, I won't ask anything else of you.
Lil, you would be surprised at how many people don't know. You may think its common sense but some people really don't think about disaster - they are too involved in there day to day life.
36"If you recognise...then why argue?
Plus you want me to answer a question about New Orleans!"
This is all just skirting the question. Instead of questioning people who question you, why not just answer the question? That would prove that you HAVE an answer, and might teach people something.
Bellaressa asked you to elaborate. Instead of doing so, which might have benefited her, you treated her with condescension and refused to answer a question for which you should have the answer. This is not the first time this has happened, and I have to tell you, it makes it really hard for a lot of us to be able to take what you assert seriously (even when we want to and don't actually disagree with you).
Just sayin'.
37Regardless of what your throwing at me.
I'm simply stating the fact that minorities are often the worst affected but the last to be helped!
38Hypothetically speaking (of course), I am going to say that I am someone who is just 'looking' in on this board. Considering that you would obviously be 'speaking' to an unlimited amount of people who have know idea what being a minority means/is like/sums up to; why would you make posts that some people would not understand, Fo show? If at any point someone asks me about my postings, I respond in a way that I think would answer their question.
I made a posting on this board that I just read over and understood how someone could think that I was stomping over other issues and I in turn commented nicely to lilkimbo's response to said posting.
As for the article: I think it would be fantastic for the african american community to be part of the green movement. All companies have to do is start building better business options in their areas. As soon as decent civilization starts appearing in lower class communities (ie. better food options and prices that large spanish families can afford, better/greener clothing options that a chinese family who is just trying to pull along can afford, etc). When will the world fully understand that if you build it people will flock to it? Give those places, those cities, those countries good options and people will flock to it and learn to love it.
39Thank you silversnowflake!
40"New Orleans was a risky location to begin with... minorities shouldve been educated on this up front... by the wealthy. And lets not discuss the relief efforts!"
The city is 8 frickin feet BELOW sea level. It's a frickin' bowl. Please tell me the residents of N.O. weren't stupid enough to look at the ocean to see that there was a potential for disaster?
41Again, what you think may be common sense or what people should know - a lot of people don't know.
42your welcome. : )
43They never walked in my shoes. How could they understand?
By stating the fact that minorities are often the worst affected but the last to be helped...why do I have to answer questions?
Why arent we discussing any solutions?
44You also never walked in mine. So, how do you know what I have experienced? That is why when people ask questions of you ---what should be done or ask you to clarify ---that is called open dialog.
45"They never walked in my shoes. How could they understand?"
If you believe that they don't understand, then try to help them understand by giving them some facts they may not be aware of.
"By stating the fact that minorities are often the worst affected but the last to be helped...why do I have to answer questions?"
Because you have made a very strong and general assertion, and those generally have more impact when based upon verifiable facts.
"Why arent we discussing any solutions?"
To take the step of discussing solutions, one must first verify that there is a problem. You certainly haven't helped move the discussion along in that direction.
I'm off to dig up some statistics on natural disaster impact based on socioeconomic status vs. based on minority status/race.
46Minorities didnt know the true danger they were facing by living in this area...they are poor! There was no help with building levees, and dams to help prevent or educate. Maybe if all the money wasnt being used to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, it wouldnt have been such a poor relief effort! This argument can go on for ever!
47So, being poor affected their eyesight? They knew the dangers when they moved to the area.
48When looking at the issue of natural disaster impact from a global perspective, studies done by the U.N. state that:
“The capacity to survive and recover from the effects of a natural disaster is the result of ... the physical magnitude of the disaster in a given area, and the socioeconomic conditions of individuals or social groups in that area. Vulnerability is differentiated by social groups in almost all natural disasters. Altogether, it is estimated that 90% of victims and 75% of all economic damages accrue to developing countries (Thouret and D'Ercole 1996: 409).
...due to economic constraints, the poor are forced to live in precarious homes, made of flimsy, non durable materials, on the least-valued plots of land. ... Inappropriate location evidently invites serious social and environmental problems. ... During disasters, inadequate services and infrastructure further complicate survival efforts. Health risks are similarly accentuated. By comparison, the homes of the upper and middle classes are better constructed, built with hardier materials on more stable terrain and their residents enjoy better services; furthermore, they have more resources with which to rebound from disasters [2].
In short, poverty is a central component of vulnerability.”
In America, it happens that race and socioeconomic class are intertwined to the extent that it can be shown that, for instance, African-Americans were much more directly impacted by Katrina than other racial groups. However, globally--particularly in nations with much more homogenous racial profiles than America's--the problem can be pinned much more on socioeconomic status than on race.
49unDave, I understand what you mean but I see how your looking at this. There are some people in this world that still live in their enviroment, know only their enviroment, and even though its 2008 - they have not advanced with the times. I am not saying its wrong vs right, that they are ignorant, or stupid - that is just how some things are. You may believe (I am not sure so correct me) that these people should have been aware, tried to educate themselves,and had common sense but what you think is right is not always the case for others - their situations and lots in life are different - it's a different path. I wish that a lot of people here in the US were on the same path but it's just not the case.
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