Buttonwillow; Resistance and Disillusion in Rural California.

Chapter four is another story about environmental racism. This one occurred in Buttonwillow, California, in the early 90's. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I think alot of the materials in these storys is repetition. Both Kettleman City and Chester had almost identical problems. Don't get me wrong, I think these stories are both fascinating and interesting to read about, but I'd would also like to read about social justice from other viewpoints as well.
But there were also some interesting comparisons of social justice between the American government and the Mexican government in this chapter. A phrase that really got stuck with me was Montoya's view on the U.S. government; "More than anything, I was disillusioned. Because I really believed  that the United States government was different than the Mexican government." "The only difference is that, in Mexico they do what they do outside the law. And in the U.S. they want to make the laws legitimate what they do. In other words, they want to make things appear legal."
Would you prefer living in a country where the government was open about corruption, or would you choose a country which concealed it with laws?

Chapter 3, Environmental Racism: Beyond the Distributive Paradigm.

In this chapter, the author brings us closer into the field of environmental racism. To be honest, I must say that I didn't find this chapter really necessary. The chapter is more or less like a long and heavy summary on how environmental hazards runs their distributions, and how environmental racism can occur as a result of this. Although the chapter brings up some interesting issues such as: "Which Came First, the environmental hazard or the racial makeup of the neighborhood?" I feel that most of the issues in this chapter has been explained more than enough in the previous chapters.
I hope this book doesn't continue to tell me how environmental hazards choose to dump toxic waste in colored society's. But instead show me some new approaches or solutions in the chapters to come.

My reflection on Chapter 2; "The Political Economy of Environmental Racism."

In chapter two the author take us on the inside of the oppressed colored community in Chester, Pennsylvania. It's shocking to read about how the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) gave more and more waste companies permission to operate waste burning in Chester. These companies showed no mercy to the inhabitants of Chester and brought hundreds of truckloads with waste through the poor neighborhoods of Chester every day.
One can clearly see the hidden threads that bind the policy, law and rich waste companies in Pennsylvania together. It makes me sick to see how the wealthy and educated people can be so ignorant. They don't care about the poor people's health as long as they can get their hands around some extra cash.
It's inspiring to see groups like CRCQL fight against such ignorant people against all odds. CRCQL never gave up, despite being apart of the oppressed colored community, and despite many downfalls.

My reflection on chapter one; "A History of the Environmental Justice Movement"

It was exciting to read about the history of the Environmental Justice Movement, I would have never guessed that the Environmental Justice Movement  flourished from so many different movements. Like the grassroots anti-toxics movements that blossomed out of the Civil Rights Movement in the early 80's. And how both World War II and the Vietnam War have affected the movement. It's suprising to hear that academics played such a crusial role i both sparking and  shaping the Environmental Justice Movement. 

- I liked the fact that some of the leaders from the Civil Rights Movment later lent assistance to the Environmental Justice Movement.

Nativ American actevist brought experiences of centuries of struggle for self-determination to the Environmental Justice Movement.