Power, justice, and the environment : a critical appraisal of the environmental justice movement

Blurb

For almost 30 years, the environmental justice movement (EJM) has
challenged the environmental and health inequities that are often linked with social
inequities, calling attention to the disproportionate burden of pollution borne by
low-income and minority communities. The successes of the movement have been
celebrated, and the EJM's impact on the direction of environmental policy, research,
and activism is widely acknowledged. But the literature on environmental justice
lacks a real assessment of the movement's effectiveness. This book provides just
such a critical appraisal, examining the EJM's tactics, strategies, rhetoric,
organizational structure, and resource base. With chapters by both scholars and
activists, the book links theory and practice with the aim of contributing to a more
effective movement.Power, Justice, and the Environment looks first at the progress,
failures, and successes of the EJM over the years. A comparison with the Civil
Rights movement draws some provocative conclusions.The book next focuses on the
development of new strategies and cultural perspectives, considering, among other
topics, alternative models for community mobilization and alternative organizational
structure. Finally, the book examines the effect of globalization on environmental
inequality and how the EJM can address transnational environmental
injustices.