Poor and the Polluted

Los Anglos Factories by Doug McKnight

Many of us live comfortably and when we do so we think nothing about pollution accumulating. When pollution is being produced it's not usually anywhere near our homes so we tend to think nothing about it. In reality, pollution is a constant threat to our lives but even a greater threat to those who live around it. Who lives around it? The people who can't afford a good neighborhood or the ones who end up where the community does not care as much to their living conditions or just don't want them around. Who are these people that live this way? Minorities.

According to an article by cbslocal.com a new plan in Los Angles is being looked to be put into action. The plan is said to use tax rebates to lure green businesses to poor areas. The whole plan is to lure cleaner companies to low-income industrial neighborhoods and better the greater good area.

Black neighborhood in California photographer unknown

Poor areas are home to heavily polluting businesses not only in California but all over our nation. Businesses such as metal recyclers, chrome-platers, rock cutters and auto body shops are often close to home for these poor communities in which have mostly minorities. Why is this? We look to Robert R. Higgins and his writing on Race Pollution Mastery of Nature. Higgins explains right of the bat, the economic, institutional and racial causes for inequalities in living conditions of poor communities. He explains because of our society's dominant culture ethic and project of mastering nature these inequalities towards minorities occur in their living conditions. Which brings us to "social pollution", basically the social norm of society in which creates bias beliefs and concludes in segregation in neighborhoods."The idea of “social pollution” has historically helped to segregate and subordinate people of color, especially African-Americans, who, in the univer- sal logic of pollution taboos, appear as threats to the structure and organizing principles of social order." 252 The dominant race (Whites) view minorities (mostly blacks) to be as Higgins states, "uncivilized, lazy..." The "social pollution" of that view creates several situations in which the minorities live in poor conditions of pollution. The ones who are "socially polluted" are a little threat to and invisible to white citizens of centers of power. Therefore, we think nothing of those communities of minorities. They become polluted space and invisible to white communities. The living standards of those in charge are good and healthy, the people who are not at the social class level of white americans suffer. All in all, the focus is on white citizens and making sure we are living healthy. The minorities are put in the dust and ignored. Their places of work which tend to be industrial or labor jobs tend to pollute their homes and still are not a concern to the white communities. Minorities are invisible and irrelevant in our society's eyes. This new plan might be a start in changing the views of others on what is important.

by Schyler Duvall
links used-
http://losangoles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/21/plan

https://ecampus.unt.edu/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Related links-
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452037/ns/us_news-environment/

http://baselinescenario.com/2009/05/05/pollution-race-and-poverty/

http://www.platts.com/weblog/oilblog/2009/05/08/environmental_injustice_minorities_and_poor_at_greatest_risk_from_refinery_pollution.html

Do the Dump

                                                                           The Dump


                                                                       By Sean Elezovic



                                           

E-waste, the digital dump, is a process in which manufacturers of electronics produce products that are projected to be timeworn within a small amount of time. An exquisite example is the constant cell phone upgrades available; from the plain, block-like cellular devices of the 80’s, to the touch screen generation of today, cell phones have a very small life span. After these life cycles come to pass, the electronics in question are disposed of. Well, how? Certainly mercury, among other potent chemicals used in cell phones, laptops, and flat screens cannot be disposed of as easily as say, a broken lamp, right? Well, the corporate mongers seem to think so. Through cost effective strategies, they envelop communities in China, India, Niger, to just name a few, and dispose of their “dirty laundry” onto these unsuspecting, worldly neighbors.

The simpletons that find cheap work in these aforementioned communities are unaware of the hazards of physically destroying electronic junk to filter out the worthwhile fortune resting in the midst of the wreckage. The toxins are then released upon the very air they breathe, not to mention the chemicals’ chance of pouring out onto the workers’ skin is superbly high. What can be done about these atrocious work conditions and careless manners of disposal? Distributive Justice makes sense in that these burdens of chemicals should be equally disbursed. Not just China, Niger, and India should take the full throttle effect of these toxic electronic components, but Europe, the Americas, and Oceania should partake too!

To receive Distributive Justice, though, Procedural Justice has to start occurring for the gears to start running. These tycoons that feel no sympathy, and surely no empathy, need to get a stern lecture. A sit down is needed, so that the mediating process can begin and the tycoons, if not willingly, then forcibly, will come to terms with this digital dumping and its negative effects on associations around the globe. Saturation & Least-Resistance Strategy commandeers a plan with the least amount of obstacles and problems for a collective bargaining ploy. This cuts out time we don’t have to respond to the alarming rate of pollution to Gaia. This leads us to Restorative Justice; a form of offender accountability, that is used as leverage into receiving more than just an apology. This is quintessential to put the fear of God back into these do-as-you-please fellows whom seem to suffer from egocentric megalomania. These corporate powerhouses with their impending loss of their beloved delusions of grandeur and frightening repercussions that await them quickly offer up services, clean up messes, among other sympathetic actions to please: the poisoned, sick, and suffering many from the high amount of poor waste management. The Saturation & Least-Resistance Strategy should reduce waste if everything can go according to plan, but realistically is that even possible? A new plan has to be put in motion so that we can at least make the attempt to find out, but before any of the later stages of this brainstorm can take place, the hands of the guilty have to be forced for an effect to take place in the first place. Recognition Justice simply isn’t enough. One person does make a difference but how far does that really go if you do not coerce the villain into acting? Is the Principle of Commensurability awakened in only a few worldwide or are we ready for a bright, reinvigorating, new world order? “Ethical theory considers, among other things, the responsibilities each one of us has toward others and the rights we possess that others must not encroach upon.” Is this a relative close cousin to the Principle of Commensurability that Summers’ reading refers to? Do most denizens of earth have the drive to commit to an Earth Day, every day? Recognition Justice shouldn’t be taken lightly, however. It is a process where more individuals are needed to take notice and needed to take place for a movement to begin, but who says earth isn’t ready? A “Green” movement, involving more options for the consumer without unnecessary chemicals such as mercury is pertinent to a better tomorrow. The more, the merrier in supporting and voicing a healthier assembly of our electronics. Rally the troops, multiply, infect others with the needed willpower to overcome the odds. The corporations with greed in their eyes and dollar signs in their bellies are definitely to blame, but the blame game will not resolve a thing. It takes desire too.

Other than the previously mentioned types of justice, the next one has been adamant for more than just a while—Environmental Justice, which is the type of reparation that prevents unfair acts of prejudice against poorer communities to occur. Environmental Justice can be easily kept up with if the “Green” picketing continues. Why should the “little guy” be forced to suffer as opposed to well off communities? An instance easily remembered was the February winter storm in North Texas of ’11. In the wake of the Superbowl in Arlington, TX, blackouts were needed to supplement just enough power for people to function routinely about the house through the frozen over generators. An environmental injustice took place in that many poorer communities such as: Terrell, Garland, and Lewisville were bombarded with more blackout time than powered on. Whereas the richer communities of: Plano, Frisco, and Arlington remained powered on for more than half of an hour--a truly remarkable coincidence? Or was it unfair play? Why don’t we ask Jerry Jones? He is a man who used his affluence to keep the lights on at Cowboys Stadium throughout the whole ordeal. A stadium with no players, or games, or fans, just the media, and they were allowed power over the spoiling food of a not-so-well-endowed, single mom of two in Mesquite. “Poorer citizens may very well be drawn to lower property values, and more affluent citizens may enjoy even greater mobility in moving away from burdens before experiencing the loss of property value and self-esteem.” This was the quote of a written assessment made by writer Figueroa. It shows how the less than fortunate have to suffer while the richer neighborhoods reap the benefits. Why did the suburbs of Dallas see such a high range of discrimination against stereotyped residencies? Only the electric companies and their providers can answer that. The rest of us are just meant to speculate on what happened and what keeps happening in commonwealths across the nation.

The Toxic Waste and Race in the U.S. has reached a twenty-fourth year, and is still up and running. It remains a constant reminder of our highest polluters to date. The EPA has always guaranteed to keep the highest standard of protection against any hazardous materials or chemicals from polluting our streets and jobs—which would include poorer suburbs like the ones mentioned earlier. They are doing everything that is in their power to keep these major corporations from downsizing spending and leaving all of the clean up to the consumer. Their itch they want scratched is a halt to the constant Moore’s Law of incoming technological advances ousting their obsolete compatriots in a matter of months which ultimately drops tons of unneeded waste on nations worldwide. Superfund Sites are the locations these toxic dumps of waste lay. NIMBY is a pejorative of substance used to denote the true distaste citizens on high “Green Alert” show to proposed new toxic plans for their beloved community. Silicon Valley didn’t know what they were getting themselves into way back when. Other locales ought to know better by now. Even though a community may be small, poor, or unknown to the public eye, it does not mean they should allow themselves to be bullied by the “fat cats” that seem to do as they please. Not In My Back Yard has been fairly effective in repelling unwanted factories, chemical plants, and other polluting firms from their respective communities. Some see it as a blessing that a new building that offers employment is coming soon to their area but these are the individuals that have unfortunately not been properly educated on the issue. It is not about money, it is about health. Most of the factory workers that make computers and TV’s become deathly ill to the point of no return and eventually die. Bringing home the bacon from such a high level of toxicity in a lethal environment will be hazardous to anyone’s health. It is not worth the trouble, no matter how much they pay. Can a check really be worth the loss loved one’s will endure? Tell that to the sea of people that have gone through such an ordeal and see how you feel then.

The basic narrative to digital dumping is one of a sorrowful overtone with hopelessness attached to it. It is unnecessary to abdicate the true power every one of us has—the power to overcome smog, chemical wastelands, ill-fates of factory workers, and even corporate takeovers. The only thing keeping any one of us from success is our own prerogative. Keep that in mind as you take your next step to class or work and you walk by an individual on their cell phone, knowing that it is only a matter of months before Moore’s Law kicks in and that the very cell phone you glanced over at will be wasting away in another Superfund Site.

The Patriarchal of Meat

          Have you ever watched a television show, and heard the wife of the household, ask the husband “what he wants for dinner”, and the husband would reply, “a big fat steak would be nice”. Though this conversation may happen anywhere besides on television, the importance of it has a much more rigorous meaning. In an in class reading, the article “The Sexual Politics of Meat”, by Carol J. Adams, makes a good reference to the humanism context of man’s actions. Meat eating has been around for decades. In with its consumption has come the identification of society males as being a “constant for men, intermittent for women…” (Adams, pg 36). In a worldwide patriarchal custom, some cultures forbid women from consuming fish, seafood, chicken and eggs. This view also dehumanizes women from the equality of male and female. In today’s time, the phrase “meat” can take on a sexual context, when using reference to women.



        Meaningless this should not be the view that society should get, but in corresponding to this phrase, people can argue that animals should not be referred to in this way either. However, the absent referent to animals is both present and absent, this sometimes can occur on the objective of women. In a media piece discussed in class entitled “'I didn't think of Iraqis as humans,' says U.S. soldier who raped 14-year-old girl before killing her and her family” by Mail Foreign Service [Dec. 2010], the absent referent is present. In the passage, “An Iraq War veteran serving five life terms for raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her parents and sister says he didn't think of Iraqi civilians as humans after being exposed to extreme warzone violence” . “'If I thought that was an OK thing now, I wouldn't be much of a human being,'” ( pg 1), Green said. This quote truly reveals the explicit question of what morally counts as a "human", and what is socally constructed and categorized as an "animal". Adams explains, “Rape, in particular, carries such potent imagery that the terms is transferred from the literal experience of women and applied metaphorically to other instances of violent devastation, such as the “rape” of the earth in ecological writings of the early 1970’s”.
        In females relationship with animals there is only a few aspects that keeps us from being separated. That is the dehumanization of animals; which is broader and gruesome and also the male gaze. A male gaze at a female makes a broader point. In class we viewed a slide showing a soldier holding a prisoner by a rope that is tied to his around his neck. A quote by Theodore Adomo is portrayed below it stating "  .

       The possibility of [murder] is decided in the moment when the gaze of a fatally-wounded animal falls on a human being. The defiance with which he repels this gaze—‘after all, it’s only an animal’—reappears irresistibly in cruelties done to human beings, the perpetrators having again and again to reassure themselves that it is ‘only an animal'." This quote relates to the view of the male gaze, when men look at women, and women look at themselves, this determines not only the relationship between men and women but the relations that the women have with themselves. 

       For example in the picture below, a female is viewed in many manners, on the controversial a pig is only viewed as “meat”. However this leads to the question  "does being classified as a human carry any weight in itself?". Just Like the way the 14 year old girl was dehumanized and treated less than the soldier all because she was an Iraqis

Credit: Courtesy of PETA

Unknown Photography.

         Nevertheless, it is what makes meat a important symbol and celebration of male dominance. In a way gender inequality is produced in a individual, because in most cultures such as the United States over a century ago, meat was performed by men. In our economy now, the commodity of meat is so plentiful that we no longer have this same view. As in the media piece, Green states that “I thought I'd be neglecting my duty if I didn't. “' 'You've got a career, you've got a job. It gives you opportunities to do things with your life.” Although this is not a justifiable answer to taking human lives, it is an elimination that many people would use to justify the killing of animals for meat. Adams states that “Men who decide to eschew meat eating are deemed effeminate; failure of men to eat meat announces that they are not masculine” (pg 44).

            He also makes a good reference between these dualistic views. “Sexual violence and meat eating, which appear to be discrete forms of violence, find a point of intersection in the absent referent. Cultural images of sexual violence, and actual sexual violence, often rely on our knowledge of how animals are butchered and eaten” (pg 54).

"Peta ad- which while it promotes kindness to animals, does not look very kind to women."

         Like the woman who asked her husband what he wanted for dinner, someday she might become his dinner. Explaining that there is just a thin line that keeps animals and women separated.Like the way the young girl was killed by the soldier. Although male masculinity is reassured by the food that they eat, a woman or animal shouldn’t have to be a part of this process.




For More Info and References:


Adams, Carol J. "The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist- Vegetarian Critical Theory." New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc. , 2003. 36-45.



Service, Mail Foreign. "'I didn't think of Iraqis as humans,' says U.S. soldier who raped 14-year-old girl before killing her and her family." 21 December 2010. MailOnline. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1340207/I-didnt-think-Iraqis-humans-says-U-S-soldier-raped-14-year-old-girl-killing-her-family.html.


http://www.easyvegan.info/tag/sexy-meat/

By Briana Echols