Bayard Rustirt President, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, *-' . O « Eddie N. Williams President, Joint Center for Political Studies Agency 20460 "Black trade unionists have been environmentalists for a long time. We fought for years against unsafe and unhealthy working conditions that claimed the lives of thousands of workers and left others maimed for life. Those conditions existed as long as they did because too few people really cared. "I am now finding that the same type of apathy exists in some quarters toward condi- tions in our inner cities and the environment as a whole. I am talking about those who would halt or curb spending to clean up the environment because they mistakenly think such expenditures are too_costly and would cause massive layoffs. "The truth is that there are no wiser economic investments than those made to improve the quality of our air, water and land; provide clean liveable cities and protect public health. Even' if that were not true, I would find it unthinkable that a Nation as wealthy as ours would invest its resources only in areas that are profitable rather than humanitarian." "The increased interest in the environmental ills of our inner cities could not have come at a better time. There is no doubt that environmental problems contribute heavily to the decline in the quality of life of our urban communities and discourage private and corporate citizens from invest- ment to reverse the decline. "Throughout the course of development of our cities, we have paid out untold billions in roads, schools, construc- tion, education and other public services. We should view these expenditures as an investment to be protected and to be used for future ex- pansion. The present situation is analogous to a corporation paying out all of its earnings in dividends instead of reinvesting for future growth. Such a practice is not accep- table in the business world and I don't think it should be accepted in the public sector. "The elimination of environ- mental hazards in our urban areas will not only protect ' present human and physical resources, but also create an attractive climate for residen- tial and business expansion." United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Public Awareness IA-107) Washington DC 20460 OPA76/8 Reprinted December 1978 SERA Pollution: A Common Concern ------- Pollution: A Common Concern The people of this country failed for a long time to recognize the damage being inflicted upon the natural en- vironment. As a result, some of the nation's most produc- tive land and waterways were needlessly contaminated and the air in the urban areas became hardly fit to breathe. Just as other Americans, Blacks did not see the conser- vation of the natural environ- ment as a vital issue. They were more concerned with unemployment, hunger, poor housing and inadequate health care. They saw the en- vironment as the province of wildlife enthusiasts and con- servationists—people who worried about animals and trees. But perspectives have changed. Many Black leaders now recognize that a clean environment must be a part of their efforts to improve the quality of life for Blacks and other Americans. They have committed themselves to this goal and they are showing their dedication by speaking out. EPA is charged by Congress to protect the Nation's land, air and water systems. Under a mandate of national environmen- tal laws focussed on air and water quality, solid waste management and the control of toxic substances, pesticides, noise and radiation, the Agency strives to formulate and implement actions which lead to a compatible balance between human ac- tivities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. This Is one in a series of EPA booklets on public constituencies and the environment. \ ------- Dorothy Height President, National Council of Negro Women M. Carl Holman President, National Urban Coalition Vernon Jordan President, National Urban League Parren Mitchell U.S. Representative (D-MdJ Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus "Because we, as women, make most of the consumer decisions in our households, we're in a good position to help improve the environ- mental conditions in our homes and neighborhoods. In doing so, we will be setting an example which instills in our children a concern for the environment. But first, we must become aware and con- cerned ourselves. We need to learn more about the causes of pollution and how to com- bat them. "We already know that there is much we can do on the individual level. As con- sumers, we should be selec- tive, choosing non-polluting, energy-efficient products. As concerned citizens, we can make our concern known to industries which endanger our natural resources by their manufacturing processes. And as homemakers, we can conserve water and fuel, and reduce noise as much as possible, "Everyone stands to win if the quality of our environ- ment is improved. I hope Black women, whether they work in or out of the home, do their part toward achieving that goal." "Inner-city residents and minority-owned businesses are not receiving the full share of government dollars being allocated to communities and contractors of various kinds to clean up the environment. These dollars largely are going elsewhere and to others. Meanwhile, our urban centers are losing the opportunity to gain badly-needed jobs and income and a chance to make them safer, healthier and more attractive places to live. It is time this trend was reversed. Environmental funds are available to all com- munities and minority-owned businesses under the law. Citizens and business owners must take more initiative, along with their advocacy organizations, in seeing that they and their communities also focus attention on the receiving of these funds. We must make the environ- ment our business. By ignor- ing the tremendous toll air, water and noise pollution are having upon our communi- ties, we are missing out on both the ecological and the economic benefits of the na- tion's environmental pro- grams." "Black people, the most ur- banized group in the nation, have a stake in clean air and water too. We need jobs, but we also need to be healthy enough to hold those jobs, and that means adopting energy sources that will minimize pollution. And, we need jobs, not only in the plants and factories of America, but at policy-making levels in ail facets of business and government. "Let's not forget that poor people care first about finding a job and working. Since en- vironmental protection is creating new jobs, it is the responsibility of government agencies to be sure that Blacks are being recruited and trained for those jobs. White some commitment to under- standing the needs of the poor has been made, what is needed are massive programs which make known the true impact of environmental con- trols on the lives of the inner city poor, and a demonstra- tion that urban environmen- talism can also mean jobs." -, "Improving the environment of the Nation's urban com- munities is going to require the unified efforts of Con- gress, Federal, State and local agencies, environmentalists, planners and individual citizens. Black and white. "The skills and knowledge of people in alt of these walks of life must be used to find new and innovative ways of reclaiming the wasted resources of our inner cities. We have too many com- munities in dire need of more recreational areas while buildings stand vacant and valuable land is used for open dumping. Or we have com- munities with potentially desirable commercial areas that cannot be used because of insufficient sewage treatment facilities. "Solving these problems is going to mean that we are going to have to become more efficient in the way we use our land, dispose of our waste and move people and goods from one place to another. The job can be done if we all pull together." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency !.••>•• ••.,•"-•„ Room 2404 PM-211-A •01 M Street, S.W. Washington, DO 20400 ------- Benjamin Hooks Executive Director, National Association for the Advance- ment of Colored People Dr. Carlton Goodlett President, National • Newspaper Publishers Association Coretta Scott King President, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change Richard Hatcher Mayor, Gary, Indiana. "Most Blacks will agree that there are many things left on the civil rights agenda — jobs, decent housing, better health care and improved educational opportunities. Now, an increasing number of us are seeing the need to add another priority to that list — a safe environment. "The importance of a healthy environment to the goals we are trying to achieve has become quite obvious. We can't have good schools and good health, decent housing and safe working conditions if our neighborhoods, homes and workplaces are not en- vironmentally sound. "Giving the environment the attention it deserves does not mean that we are aban- doning or delaying our drive for full equality. It simply means that we are taking a stronger stand against sub- standard and inhumane living conditions." "The Black press has become ever-conscious of the increas- ing number of environmental problems facing inner city communities. For example, during the past few years the minority press has done an excellent job of warning inner city residents about the danger of children getting lead poisoning from eating old, peeling paint. "The time has come, how- ever, for us to expand this type of coverage. We need to alert our communities to other environmental hazards: lead poisoning from auto emissions, and the high death rate, especially among Black men, from cancer, emphyse- ma and other respiratory ailments traceable to in- dustrial and construction ac- tivity. "The public must begin doing something about these problems, and it is our job as newsmen to get them to do so." "It is unfortunate that few blacks have taken an interest in the environmental movement. Certainly, Blacks have more firsthand knowledge than anyone else about the mental and physical pain that unsani- tary and unsafe living condi- tions can cause. "I believe everyone should be concerned about clean air and pure water, and about making our communities-more healthy and more liveable. When we talk about human rights, we should not forget to include the right to a de- cent and clean environment, not only for ourselves but for future generations." "Environmental pollution weakens the health and shortens the lives of city dwellers. Poor people, white, brown, black, need to be pro- tected. The poor are paying more for pollution, in terms of damaged lives, just as the poor are paying more for the shoddy merchandise they buy on credit at usurious rates, just as the poor are paying more for the dilapidated homes they buy at inflated prices in declining neighbor- hoods. "A strong federal commit- ment is needed to deal with pollution as well as poverty. Housing discrimination, job discrimination, and in- discriminate air pollution have combined to form a poi- sonous prison from which poor people cannot escape. It must be recognized that en- vironmental problems cannot be isolated from the racism and discrimination remaining at the root of American society." ------- |