Warren County, North Carolina, doesn’t seem the most likely place for the environmental justice movement to have started. It’s a small, rural county northeast of Raleigh, and might have stayed just that if not for a decision to dump a toxic landfill in its midst in 1978. The response of Warren County’s primarily black residents … Continue reading
Tag Archives: environmental justice
Pope Francis’ Radical Guide to Climate Change
Pope Francis released an encyclical on the environment in June, and your first thought was probably, “Should I care?” Your second may have been, to quote 1920s presidential candidate Al Smith, “What the hell is an encyclical?” Quick answers: 1) yes, no matter who you are, and 2) read on. Let’s start with the basics, … Continue reading
A case study in environmental mismanagement: The Buckeye Lake Dam Conundrum
Ohio isn’t know for it’s lakes. In fact, unless you are from central Ohio, you probably have no idea that a Buckeye Lake exists. Buckeye Lake is one of the largest lakes in Ohio. It began as a swamp that was converted to a reservoir via an earthen dike built to divert the Licking River … Continue reading
While You Were Voting
If you’re an American who follows the news, you know that it’s been all midterm elections, all the time over the past few days. And that’s great: this was a major election and it’s encouraging to see citizens taking an interest. But in the midst of the election blitz, a new report on climate change … Continue reading
MLK Meets the Research Lab
As the new year unfolds, you may still be searching for ways to add purpose to your 2014. Fortunately for the introspective, the arrival of Martin Luther King Day means that you are guaranteed to encounter many quotes from the great civil rights leader over the next few days. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most … Continue reading