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Dialogues@RU is published annually
by the
Writing Program at
Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey
Volume One
Spring 2002
Trading
Human Health For Profit -
Page 4
by Nicole L. Warren
Concerned, angry citizens in Chester, Pennsylvania united and took action. These citizens have demonstrated their topophilia by strengthening the "affective ties with their material environment" (Tuan 93), by fighting further damage to their surroundings. Formed in 1992, under the leadership of Zulene Mayfield, Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (pronounced "circle" and henceforth referred to as CRCQL) has been deemed "one of the most active environmental justice groups in the county" (Pokempner 31 March 2001). Since its inception, CRCQL has waged and won several battles against companies seeking permits to construct more waste facilities in Chester, as well as forcing existing sites to become legally accountable for the damage they cause. In addition, CRCQL educates their community about health risks associated with the pollution, and offers information outlining preventative measures. Many residents do not have the financial resources to relocate, and must learn to adjust their lifestyles to Chester's toxic environment. It is extremely doubtful that Chester will be waste facility and pollution free, especially as long as its neighboring, wealthy suburbs can benefit from the current facility placements.
Zukin reminds that among other things, the success of a city or suburb is dependent "on how they manipulate symbolic images of exclusion and entitlement"(7). Part of that manipulation is to present an image of a clean, healthy, safe community, complete with waste removal and other environmental amenities. Placing a waste site in the center of a city or suburb next to the local art museum would discredit, and even destroy, the worth of the area. The property value would decrease; halting any new industry (with the exception of more waste sites), and visitors and residents would avoid the city because of the stench, unsightliness, and health hazards. Capital would be lost, the symbolic economy would be ruined, and the illusion revealed. Survival of the illusions of a symbolic economy is dependent on a city's' "urban oases", created by a collection of attractions, such as museums, college campuses, nature spectacles, architectural wonders, and ornamental landscaping (Zukin 9). Just as "a sidewalk café takes back the street from casual workers and homeless people" (Zukin 9), Chester allows other communities to secure their environmental amenities. But while wealthier residents in the suburbs enjoy their luxuries, Zulene Mayfield and her neighbors must host waste treatment plants. Already excluded from residing in the main city or the suburbs, by fault of their race and economic status, Chester residents play an undesirable role in the symbolic economy of their Pennsylvania County.
Aggravated and offended by their role as Delaware County's trash can, CRCQL successfully challenged the actions and decisions of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). Their most notable effort has been a lawsuit filed against the PA DEP, after they granted another permit to a soil treatment facility. In 1996 CRCQL filed a civil right suit against them alleging that the department's "permit decisions with regard to Delaware County had a racially discriminatory impact" (Pokempner), and in doing so violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs receiving federal funding, including local and state agencies. CRCQL could not prove discriminatory intent, and the case was dismissed. But they persevered, and appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court took the case, but in 1998 the soil treatment facility decided not to build, and the case was held moot, leaving the status of such litigation unclear. So for the moment, communities like Chester will continue to suffer, securing the illusion of the suburbs and main cities as "sites of visual delectation…and urban oases" (Zukin 11). CRCQL has become an exemplary model of how the force of strong, endearing topophilia can create a place that productively defies the oppressive practices of their government. Tuan would regard such a place as having "become the carrier of emotionally charged events or perceived as a symbol" environmental justice in action (Tuan 93). Chester began as "waste dump" protecting the cleanliness of its nearby suburbs, and later emerged as a symbol of hope for other communities who may be suffering as Chester is. CRCQL continues to fight for the improvement of the environment in their neighborhood, but now focuses more on educating residents on identifying and addressing health risks caused by the pollution (i.e. their Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, established with money won in one of their law suits). Zulene Mayfield and her neighbors defied their wealthier counterparts who underestimated the power of ordinary citizens, thinking they were incapable and perhaps unworthy of successful bouts for their human rights.
Communities affected by environmental racism have allies in influential parties who are invested in securing human rights for all inhabitants of earth. At the World Conference Against Racism in August of 2001, environmental racism was recognized as "a human rights violation […] caused by government and private sector policy, practice, action or inaction which intentionally or unintentionally, disproportionately targets and harms the environment health, biodiversity, local economy, quality of life and security of communities, workers, groups, and individuals based on race, class, color, gender, caste, ethnicity and /or national origin"(WCAR). Part of a proposed plan of action, to aid in the dissipation of environmental disparities, lies with demanding governmental responsibility and action. In order for the government to eliminate their deficiencies and take the necessary action, they must recognize and respect "the fundamental rights of all people to clean air, land, water, food, and safe and decent housing"(UNCHR). Zulene Mayfield is aware of the clout of the United Nations, and admits environmental racism is "a human rights issue. I mean, at many times we [CRCQL] had early on played with the idea of petitioning the UN for violations of the human rights act, because conditions here concerning the environment we felt were that bad" (KWRU March 1999). The United Nation's Commission on Human Rights also recently revised their resolution on the Adverse Effects of the Illicit Movement and Dumping of Toxic and Dangerous Products and Wastes on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, affirmed that this practice "constitutes a serious threat to the human rights to life and health of individuals…" and urges all States to adopt and implement policies relating to such damaging practices. This recognition will have an impact on the struggle to eliminate environmental injustices, but it will also require the continued efforts of grass roots organizations, and wide spread recognition from officials and citizens.