Give Us Your Ideas
Darrell is a Baptist missionary in Macedonia, and he writes:
"I recently ran across your website while looking for organizations dealing with environmental justice from a Christian perspective. I have noticed that there are virtually no scientists employed by environmental justice firms/organizations. I find this very puzzling, since achieving environmental justice would seem to be impossible without an understanding of the science behind the environment. If you have the time, I'd appreciate your thoughts on why science seems to play such a minor role in the environmental justice movement."
Darrell raises a good point. Science is indeed a significant part of the environmental justice movement, but he's correct: you don't always see a lot of scientists working in environmental justice organizations.
The reason is that, like EnviroJustice, these organizations tend to be small and simply don't have the resources to employ scientists on a regular or full-time basis.
However, the use of science is critical in environmental justice.
Most environmental justice organizations are created to deal with particular issues in their local communities and as such, they use scientists primarily in dealing with environmental impact reports and in studies around a particular project or area. The environmental justice organizations then use the work of the scientists to generate and mobilize support.
Although EnviroJustice is global in scope, we are also local in focus, and as part of our Contra Costa Justice Campaign for Safe, Sustainable, and Just Communities, we will be utilizing the work of scientists in analyzing and offering comments on the draft environmental impact report for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse project.
We are also active members of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, again expressing our committment to the use of science both in environmental justice matters and as a matter of faith.
Do you know of a place that needs the assistance of EnviroJustice?
Do you have an area that EnviroJustice should pursue?
Do you have any great ideas?
Do you have any burning questions?
Let us know!!!!!