Taking Action for
Health and Environmental Justice
I.E.S. Incinerators Campaign Starting To Win! (Oakland,
California)
Greenaction and allies
have won big victories in the campaign against the Integrated
Environmental Systems medical waste incinerators. When IES
refused to negotiate in good faith, Greenaction and allies took nonviolent
direct action on August 7 and September 5, and several people were
arrested blocking trucks trying to bring waste to the incinerators.
As a result of our pressure, IES has announced they will reduce burning
of medical waste by 70%. We will continue the campaign until IES agrees
to completely replace the incinerators with safer technologies to
protect workers' jobs and community health.
Green Energy and Environmental Justice Campaign
In response to the "energy
crisis," we are working across California and the country to
promote green, renewable, affordable and public power. Greenaction
organized a statewide strategy meeting of community and environmental
groups on July 21st. We have brought together dozens of organizations
to form the California Green Energy Environmental Justice Alliance
to support green energy and stop the onslaught of polluting power
plants being pushed by the White House, the Governor, and industry.
We co-sponsored a statewide rally for green energy at the State Capitol
on
September 9th.
Health and Justice for Bayview Hunters Point (San Francisco,
California)
Greenaction has joined
with community and youth organizations to fight for environmental
justice in this low-income neighborhood suffering from toxic
and radioactive pollution and high rates of cancer and asthma. We
have begun the campaign to shutdown the polluting PG&E Hunters
Point power plant, to oppose the expansion of Mirant's Potrero power
plant, and to support renewable energy, conservation and energy efficiency.
We support the community in pressuring the U.S. Navy to do a thorough
cleanup of contamination at the Hunters Point Shipyard. Greenaction
and community allies held a march and rally at the PG&E power
plant in August. We co-sponsored a town hall meeting September 29th
to discuss the environmental and economic injustices facing Bayview
Hunters Point.
Stop Bush's Plan to Drill for Oil in Arctic WIldlife
Refuge! (Alaska)
We have answered
the call for assistance from the Gwich'in Indian Nation in northern
Alaska and Canada to help stop Bush's plans to drill for oil
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Greenaction's Director traveled
to Arctic Village, Alaska to attend the Gwich'in gathering to show
opposition to the oil drilling plan. We have launched a nationwide
effort with the Indigenous Environmental Network to save the Arctic
Refuge, the caribou and other wildlife from the proposed drilling.
Stop Dumping on South Phoenix, Arizona
We
support this low-income community of color fighting the disproportionate
presence of toxic and waste facilities
that threaten public health and the environment. In August we alerted
residents to a new proposal for a medical waste storage and transfer
facility, and the company agreed to our request to hold a community
meeting to hear concerns. Greenaction is providing organizing and
technical support to South Phoenix residents who are tired of their
neighborhood being a toxic dumping ground.
Youth Environmental Justice Program
As youth involvement
is a vital component of environmental justice organizing, Greenaction
is engaging youth in our campaigns. Organizing youth events, conducting
workshops, developing curriculum, mobilizing youth for community action,
and networking with other youth groups has been the focus thus far.
In the future, we plan on expanding the program with ongoing youth
groups and a strong summer program, increasing the presence and leadership
of youth in the environmental justice movement. Greenaction and Literacy
for Environmental Justice are co-sponsoring a youth conference entitled
"Food Not Guns" to discuss the links between violence, environmental
health and food quality. The conference will be held in San Francisco's
Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood on October 13.
Stop Cancer Where It Starts!
Greenaction
is a member of the Toxic Links Coalition that brings together cancer
survivors, community, health and environmental groups to expose
the pollution links to the horrible cancer rates in the U.S.. Every
October, the Toxic Links Coalition sponsors the Cancer
Industry Tour of San Francisco's financial district where
we visit the corporate offices of polluters and their public relations
firms.
West Oakland Toxic-Free Neighborhood Campaign (Oakland,
California)
Greenaction and West Oakland
community groups are beginning an environmental justice campaign against
the Red Star Yeast facility that emits cancer causing chemicals and
odors. We pressured the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to
hold a public meeting regarding this facility. We will be working
with the community in a door-to-door education and outreach effort
to mobilize residents to stop the toxic threat from Red Star Yeast.
We are also monitoring the cleanup of toxic waste sites in the neighborhood.
Midway Village Fights for Health and Justice (Daly City,
California)
Greenaction supports
the residents of the Midway Village housing project living
on top of and next to cancer causing chemicals from the adjacent PG&E
facility. For years state and federal government agencies claimed
that no toxic contaminants remained near the surface at Midway Village,
but recently the State Department of Toxic Substances Control admitted
that high levels of toxics remain in the soil next to homes, the day
care center and a park. During recent state-sponsored "cleanup"
work at the site, Greenaction caught work crews violating safety procedures.
We will work to support residents demands for permanent relocation
away from this toxic neighborhood, along with just compensation and
lifetime medical care. Residents suffer from cancer, respiratory problems,
skin rashes and bloody noses.
Central California Environmental Justice Network Forming
Greenaction
is working with community activists and community organizations to
organize a regional network and sponsor a conference November 17th
in Fresno. Many low-income Spanish-speaking communities in this region
suffer from toxic dumps, pesticide spraying and other pollution problems.
California Communities Against Toxics (CCAT) Conference
Greenaction joined community
and youth groups in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood
to host this year's annual CCAT
statewide environmental justice conference, August 18-19.
CCAT was founded in the late 1980's by communities on the front lines
of struggles against pollution, and continues to help network, train
and empower communities to achieve environmental justice. The conference
attracted 200 participants.
Health Care Without Harm!
We are a leading member
of the Health Care Without Harm
Coalition working to transform the health care industry so
that it is no longer a source of environmental harm. We encourage
health care institutions to phase out use of pvc (polyvinyl chloride)
plastics and mercury containing products, and to stop incinerating
medical waste. We are working in partnership with community, health
and environmental allies as well as government agencies and hospitals
to educate other health care institutions on pollution prevention
and alternatives to incineration. Greenaction is co-sponsoring a Health
Care Pollution Prevention workshop on November 2nd in Oakland, California.
Mesa Verde & Blythe, California Environmental Justice
Campaign
We are working with these
low-income Latino and
farmworker communities to stop the Blythe Energy Project's proposed
power plants that would pollute the air, drain scarce water
resources and endanger the jobs and health of hundreds of farmworkers.
Greenaction joined the United Farm Workers Union and community groups
in sponsoring a large community protest, and we organized a successful
press conference in Sacramento that resulted in the voices of the
community being heard across the state.
Join the Greenaction Activist Network: (415) 248-5010,
or Email us at greenaction@greenaction.org to sign up and get
involved!
