part 1: Term Paper on Environmental Racism

Cross Cultural Relations Term Paper

Environmental Racism Based on the Conflict Theory of Sociology

By: Katherine Watson

January 16, 2010



1. The struggles among the classes of society have been going on for centuries. It has been said that the, “nature of the social structure influences not only the distribution of power resources (economic, political, and social) but also the accessibility of those resources to groups who seek upward mobility” (Parrillo, 2008, pg. 56). In any case, I believe that the Conflict Theory of Sociology can best set the stage for why there are so many cases of environmental racism throughout the world.

The definition of environment racism is the, “racial discrimination in environmental policy making and the enforcement of regulations and laws” (Robinson, 2000). Some sociologists blame the uneven distribution of wealth on capitalism and globalization but others feel that the only way to counter this type of racism is through environmental justice. Karl Marx and W.E.B. Du Bois were two of the first sociologists to coin the theory of conflict sociology (Schaefer & Lamm, 1998). The basis for the conflict theory relies on the assumption that, “social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between different groups," (Schaefer & Lamm, 1998). This can be tied all the way back to Herbert Spencer’s survival of the fittest theory; if there are limited resources then only a select group will reign dominant based on natural physical characteristics and with human beings it becomes more complex. Of course I doubt Darwin counted on individuals like Bill Gates or the Walton family to set the bar so high. Nevertheless, we do live in a world where things such as inequality still influence the hierarchy of wealth and power; many things need to happen to offset this imbalance. The Marxist conflict theory viewed social order as being maintained through a forceful nature instead of an overall group cooperation. Marists also thought that there couldn’t be any predictability in social fluctuations which I don’t completely agree with but the main point of the conflict theory still holds true when it comes to environmental racism; that there is always going to be conflict when one group has more than another.

Karl Marx believed that in order to break away from discrimination and inequality, the workers needed to motivate themselves to be individual thinkers. He argued that they were helping create the conditions of their own unfair situations by remaining a part of the capitalistic machine (Marx, 1971). The conflict theory in modern terms challenges Marx’s view and blames the machine for creating the unfair circumstances for minorities, which in turn, turns these workers against each other as they fight for the means to survive (Parrillo, 2008, pg. 11). It has turned into a vicious circle of minority against minority while the dominating groups remain in power and continue to take advantage of the situation. W.E.B. Du Bois was a remarkable spokesperson for black equality and was way before his time regarding his philosophies and theories about civil rights. He studied tirelessly to try to find a more scientific reason behind the unjust treatment of African-Americans. He wrote a book called, The Philadelphia Negro, "It revealed the Negro group as a symptom, not a cause; as a striving, palpitating group, and not an inert, sick body of crime; as a long historic development and not a transient occurrence" (Encyclopedia, 2008).

The First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held in October of 1991 drafted and adopted 17 key principles of environmental justice. The first one refers to the “sacredness” of resources and how everyone has the right to be free from “economic destruction” (TFNPCES, 1991). The second principle describes the demands of public policy to be within the best interest of all those who are a part of the community; equality in the decision making processes of policies with freedom from discrimination. The third creed involves ethical behavior regarding the use of renewable resources in the interest of sustainability. The fourth principle states that environmental justice includes protection from “nuclear testing, extraction, production and disposal of toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threatens the right to clean air, land, water and food” (TFNPCES, 1991). The fifth principle enforces the right of the people to determine the outcomes and uses of their environment via, political, economical and cultural means. The sixth principle, “demands the cessation of the production of all toxins, hazardous wastes, and radioactive materials, and that all past and current producers be held strictly accountable to the people for detoxification and the containment at the point of production” (TFNPCES, 1991). The seventh principle asked for the right to partake, as equal members, in the decision making of things such as needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The eighth item reemphasized the right of the community members to be able to work in a safe environment without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood and unemployment. It also affirmed these rights to people who work from their homes. The ninth principle targeted the right of protection to sufferers of environmental injustice to receive full compensation for damages done to them via environmental racism. The tenth principle addresses the breaking of environmental laws by the government as not adhering to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on Genocide. The eleventh principle points out the importance of honoring treaties of Native People of the U.S. in re-affirming sovereignty and self-determination. The twelfth act, “affirms the need for urban and rural ecological policies to clean up and rebuild our cities and rural areas in balance with nature, honoring the cultural integrity of all our communities, and provided fair access for all to the full range of resources (TFNPCES, 1991). The thirteenth principle demands the enforcement of principles of informed consent, and the ceasing of experimental testing of drugs on people of color. The fourteenth principle is clear on opposing the detrimental activities of large companies. The fifteenth principle also opposes military occupation and use of lands, peoples, and cultures. The sixteenth principle emphasizes the need of more specific education that addresses the history and struggles of people of color. Finally, the seventeenth principle demands that people in general choose consumption options that hurt the planet less and consume less precious resources in order to lessen the amount of waste created. It also suggests that we make lifestyle changes in order to secure a more sustainable future (TFNPCES, 1991). These principles point out, there is a lot people can do to decrease environmental racism, not just for people of color. More specifically, the current issue I will address, shines the spotlight on living conditions in certain areas of the United States, though there are also many other cases of environmental racism going on throughout the globe it is important to show specifically, who is affected.