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Alison Goddard
Third Year Environmental Health Science Major / Disaster Management Minor
How did I get involved with IMPACT?
  • My freshman year RA and I were talking about organizations to get involved with on campus and I mentioned that I liked doing community service. She told me about IMPACT and the absolutely wonderful experiences she had on her trip and I knew I had to sign up. I went to Indianapolis, Indiana and had one of the best (and coldest) spring breaks of my life! I had an absolute life changing experience where I met all kinds of people with all different kinds of perspectives and learned more about service and social justice than I ever had. I’ve taken so many perspective and life changing moments out of my trips that have allowed me to be a more open and understanding member of society.
Why am I interested in my trip focus?
  • Environmental Justice is a topic that fits so perfectly into my major and is also something I’m super passionate about and combines my two loves of the environment and public health. The environment has always been a hot topic in many circles, however, in many cases Environmental Justice and the work done in the movement goes largely unnoticed. Issues such environmental racism, toxic waste sites, and low water/air quality standards plague many communities across the United States. I am very excited to learn more about the issues, and how to combat them though education and service.
Fun Fact?
  • I love crafty things so I taught myself to knit and cross stitch!
Contact me: akg63040@uga.edu
Jordan Meaker
Third year Journalism and International Affairs major/Spanish minor
How did I get involved with IMPACT?
  • I heard about IMPACT during my Honors seminar class that I took as a freshman, and I was interested and decided to apply for a trip. Right before the trip departure date, I got so nervous and was convinced I would be better off staying home instead. But going to Fort Myers, Florida for Environmental Awareness and Advocacy ended up being the best decision I’ve made in college so far! I was so glad I took that leap of faith because I met some amazing people and learned so much about the environmental movement. IMPACT opened so many doors for me and has taught me how to bring the lessons I learn on a trip back to my everyday life.
Why am I interested in Environmental Justice?
  • As I’ve learned more and more about the Environmental Justice movement, I’ve discovered it isn’t a cut-and-dry issue. Environmental Justice is an interesting topic because it acknowledges the fact that the environment we live in impacts our lives in many ways, from the air we breathe to the food we eat and so many more aspects. Many people face injustice and inequity in communities around the world when it comes to the state of their surrounding environment. I am interested to see how these Environmental Justice issues play out in New Orleans, an area that has been hit so hard by environmental catastrophes.
Fun fact?
  • I love tater tots and I run an Instagram blog solely dedicated to reviewing tater tots. ​
Contact me: jordanmeaker@gmail.com
Environmental Justice: What is it?
The Environmental Justice movement finds its origins in Warren County, North Carolina, in 1982. The people of Warren County took a stand after the state government decided to move 6,000 truckloads of soil laced with toxic PCBs into the town’s landfill. The residents and allies halted the trucks by lying in the road, blocking their path to the landfill. Weeks of nonviolent marches and protests followed. While the people lost the battle and the waste eventually made its way into the landfill, a new social justice movement was born. This Warren County protest is considered to be the catalyst of the Environmental Justice movement. Read more here
Key Terms
Facts
Environmental Justice "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies”

Environmental Racism “ is racial discrimination in environmental policy-making and enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the presence of life threatening poisons and pollutants for communities of color, and the history of excluding people of color from leadership of the environmental movement.” (Chavis, 1994)

NIMBY US Legal: “is the abbreviation for ‘not in my backyard.’ This phrase is used to describe the response that is made by neighborhoods and communities to proposed changes or development close to them”
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Sacrifice Zones are communities, most often made up of low income people and/or people of color, that is located right next to or very close to heavily polluting industries (Lerner)

Sustainability “Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations”  

Meaningful Involvement "means potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; that the public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision; that the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process; and that the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected
  • Many tactics of the Environmental Justice movement were taken from the Civil Rights movement, including protests, sit-ins, strikes, and other forms of nonviolent resistance
  • In the 1980s and 1990s, many studies were published that addressed environmental racism — the process whereby environmental decisions, actions, and policies result in racial discrimination or the creation of racial advantages
  • In 1983, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study that illuminated a strong correlation between the placement of hazardous waste landfills and the race and socioeconomic status of the surrounding communities
  • The issue of environmental justice in New Orleans has been influenced by natural disasters, polluting industries, and environmental racism. One area of Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge has been dubbed “Cancer Alley due to a vast array of petrochemical plants in the area
  • There is a plant located In LaPlace, Louisiana, that manufactures neoprene and emits 99% of the nation's chloroprene pollution. The EPA has determined chloroprene likely causes cancer in humans. Read more here
  • A study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute found the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans followed patterns of environmental injustice. Environmental injustice was exposed in the disparity between the abilities of poor and rich people to rebuild their homes and recover from Katrina. The study states “The recovery of socially and economically vulnerable storm victims continues to lag behind mainstream society.” Read more here
  • Even in 2018, 13 years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, rebuilding and cleanup efforts continue. Residents in communities like the Lower Ninth Ward, a predominantly African-American neighborhood, face obstacles in returning to their homes
  • A study by The Data Center found that the number of households in the Lower Ninth Ward is only 37 percent of pre-Katrina levels as opposed to 90 percent for all of New Orleans
  • ​Additionally, residents face fraudulent contractors and new homes that are built with toxic materials and infested with termites. Read more here
Local Athens Environmental Justice Organizations
  • Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful: “Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) is a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering community support and education regarding issues that affect the health and appearance of our environment … the mission of KACCB is to educate and empower citizens and businesses with the resources to take action as environmental stewards of litter prevention, waste reduction, and beautification.”
  • Athens Land Trust: “Athens Land Trust conserves, empowers and sustains communities through responsible and visionary land use.” ALT focuses on three areas of land use: land conservation, affordable housing, and community agriculture.
  • Georgia River Network: Founded in 1998, Georgia River Network serves as the voice of Georgia's rivers and works to empower everyone to enjoy, connect with, and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers. We connect citizens to Georgia's rivers by providing fun, meaningful and educational water adventures. This is often where responsible river stewardship begins. We are also the only organization in Georgia that provides specialized water trail development assistance
  • Bag the Bag: “The mission of Bag the Bag is to reduce plastic waste and advance the mindful use of commodities in Athens-Clarke County and on the UGA Campus. Bag the Bag strives to raise awareness about the ecological and economic dangers of single-use plastic items while promoting sustainable alternatives. Our current focus is on the single-use plastic bag. We believe that we should all be seeking innovative change to our world's greatest problems. Through the approaches of education, advocacy, outreach, and recycling, we aim to create a community-wide dialogue on consumption and waste reduction."
  • Georgia Climate Change Coalition: “Through education, advocacy and action, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition aims to increase awareness about climate change and its projected impacts; work in  partnership with all Georgians and stakeholders to promote solutions and adaptations to the climate crisis; actively support local, state, national and international energy/climate change initiatives and legislation; serve as a clearing house for climate information.”
  • Sandy Creek Nature Center: “Sandy Creek Nature Center is a gateway to outdoor exploration. The property features 225 acres of woodlands and wetlands with over 4 miles of trails, including an ADA interpretive trail and connections to the North Oconee River Greenway and Cook's Trail.”
  • Other Organizations: ServeUGA, Students for Environmental Action, UGArden, Habitat for Humanity, Speak out for Species, The Lunchbox Garden Project

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How does Environmental Justice Intersect with Different Social Justice Issues?