Kochs will dish out millions for polluting this Texas town

[Pooky 3,781]

I don't really care

Especially when I have seen the effects of environmental racism first hand. Say whatever you want.

So, which is it? An entire sociology course, or first hand experience?

[lostinblue 1,989]

I don't really care

Especially when I have seen the effects of environmental racism first hand. Say whatever you want.

When liberals cannot win they just pull the race card every time. environmental racism.... That's a new one. This is something we will be hearing about in the next presidential election?

[luckytxn 2,264]

I will to if I have maybe real experience and not some nutjob course they teach. Maybe reread what I posted before to refresh your memory.

You are clueless. I took an entire sociology course whose curriculum was dedicated to the subject and covered environmental racism. You go tell the people of West Virginia that it's simply not true. Don't tell me what's not true.

[luckytxn 2,264]

But Koch is always upgrading their plants. They are known as a good neighbor also. Koch was one of the few smaller refiners that did spend a lot on safety and perform all their maintenance and upgrades as needed. They are an outstanding employer. Why the assassination on a great American company?

It's cheaper to pay the fine than upgrade the equipment. That is why we keep having problems.

[luckytxn 2,264]

OK. We can just agree to disagree. I have a lot of experience in this subject and always will so if any have any questions about the region or whatever feel free to ask. I may answer.

I don't really care

Especially when I have seen the effects of environmental racism first hand. Say whatever you want.

[lostinblue 1,989]

But Koch is always upgrading their plants. They are known as a good neighbor also. Koch was one of the few smaller refiners that did spend a lot on safety and perform all their maintenance and upgrades as needed. They are an outstanding employer. Why the assassination on a great American company?

They (Koch's) support the values that made America great. They stand in the way of progressives everywhere and their agenda....

[luckytxn 2,264]

The Koch families contribute heavily to the Republican party, so what? Democratic party has even more billionaires funding them. Why not the outcry about them? It is their money and let them spend it as they want. I don't support either of their parties anyway so they have no effect on me.

They (Koch's) support the values that made America great. They stand in the way of progressives everywhere and their agenda....

Edited March 23, 2014 by luckytxn

[Pooky 3,781]

The Koch families contribute heavily to the Republican party, so what? Democratic party has even more billionaires funding them. Why not the outcry about them? It is their money and let them spend it as they want. I don't support either of their parties anyway so they have no effect on me.

But the Koch Brothers are the bogeymen that get named. Harry Reid named them in the Senate, then called them un-American. To the Democrat Party, they are the embodiment of the enemy. If you're on the left in the media, it's time to pile on whenever the opportunity arises.

[luckytxn 2,264]

OK. That makes sense I guess. I am sure Reid loves his billionaire donors though.

But the Koch Brothers are the bogeymen that get named. Harry Reid named them in the Senate, then called them un-American. To the Democrat Party, they are the embodiment of the enemy. If you're on the left in the media, it's time to pile on whenever the opportunity arises.

[Pooky 3,781]

OK. That makes sense I guess. I am sure Reid loves his billionaire donors though.

But those billionaires donate to the Democrat Party, ergo, they cannot be EVIL.

Unlike those dastardly Koch Brothers.

[deleted-05292014 331]

So, which is it? An entire sociology course, or first hand experience?

Both. Is that difficult for you to comprehend?

[deleted-05292014 331]

When liberals cannot win they just pull the race card every time. environmental racism.... That's a new one. This is something we will be hearing about in the next presidential election?

Well I'm not surprised you have never heard of it. People with limited world views tend to think that just because they have not heard of something it automatically doesn't exist.

[Pooky 3,781]

Both. Is that difficult for you to comprehend?

Not at all. But when you mention one, then, when challenged, back in to the other, it looks rather like changed your story. And there are enough posters here who do just that.

Sometimes, it pays to ask the question.

[deleted-05292014 331]

http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-environ-082508-094348

The article reviews two decades of scholars' claims that exposures to pollution and other environmental risks are unequally distributed by race and class, examines case studies of environmental justice social movements and the history and politics of environmental justice policy making in the United States, and describes the emerging issue of global climate justice. The authors engage the contentious literature on how to quantitatively measure and document environmental injustice, especially the complex problems of having data of very different types and areas (such as zip codes, census tracts, or concentric circles) around polluting facilities or exposed populations. Also considered is the value of perspectives from critical race theory and ethnic studies for making sense of these social phenomena. The article concludes with a discussion of the globalization of the environmental justice movement, discourse, and issues, as well as with some policy implications of finding and understanding environmental justice. One unique feature of this review is its breadth and diversity, given the different approaches taken by the three coauthors.

http://archive.gao.gov/d48t13/121648.pdf

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in the U.S., there is a correlation between the location of hazardous waste facilities and the ethnic background of an area's residents. In predominantly minority areas, voter registration and education are often lower than average, and citizens are less likely to challenge proposals or seek financial compensation for environmental and health damages.^[8] Implementing techniques to stop hazardous waste sites requires time, money, and political influence or backing. Resources such as meeting places, access to private and public records, and funding for technical assistance are also required for action.^[9] Minority groups may not have full access to these tools and resources creating challenges for the groups in fighting against the placement of toxic sites. Further, controversial projects are less likely to be sited in areas expected to pursue collective action.^[10] Some studies also suggest that the lack of protest could be due to fear of losing area jobs.^[11] Non-minority communities are more likely to succeed when opposing the siting of hazardous waste and sewage treatment facilities, incinerators, and freeways in their areas.^[12] Non-minority communities have better chance at accessing these tools and resources used to prevent placement of toxic sites and also negative impacts of environmental policy decisions.

Books

Packing Them In: An Archaeology of Environmental Racism in Chicago, 1865-1954

http://www.amazon.com/Packing-Them-Archaeology-Environmental-1865-1954/dp/0739110292/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610438&sr=8-9&keywords=environmental+racism

Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility

http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Communities-Environmental-Industrial-Residential/dp/1479861782/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610498&sr=8-12&keywords=environmental+racism

From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement

http://www.amazon.com/From-Ground-Environmental-University-Paperback/dp/0814715370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610498&sr=8-1&keywords=environmental+racism

When Bill Clinton signed an Executive Order on Environmental Justice in 1994, the phenomenon of environmental racism--the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, particularly toxic waste dumps and polluting factories, on people of color and low-income communities--gained unprecedented recognition. Behind the President's signature, however, lies a remarkable tale of grassroots activism and political mobilization. Today, thousands of activists in hundreds of locales are fighting for their children, their communities, their quality of life, and their health.

From the Ground Up critically examines one of the fastest growing social movements in the United States, the movement for environmental justice. Tracing the movement's roots, Luke Cole and Sheila Foster combine long-time activism with powerful storytelling to provide gripping case studies of communities across the U.S--towns like Kettleman City, California; Chester, Pennsylvania; and Dilkon, Arizona--and their struggles against corporate polluters. The authors effectively use social, economic and legal analysis to illustrate the historical and contemporary causes for environmental racism. Environmental justice struggles, they demonstrate, transform individuals, communities, institutions and even the nation as a whole.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You are wasting your time if you believe information and rationale discussion will help you explain the obvious.

Remember that education is overrated, and until something like this happens on my backyard, it is someone else's problem.

http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-environ-082508-094348

The article reviews two decades of scholars' claims that exposures to pollution and other environmental risks are unequally distributed by race and class, examines case studies of environmental justice social movements and the history and politics of environmental justice policy making in the United States, and describes the emerging issue of global climate justice. The authors engage the contentious literature on how to quantitatively measure and document environmental injustice, especially the complex problems of having data of very different types and areas (such as zip codes, census tracts, or concentric circles) around polluting facilities or exposed populations. Also considered is the value of perspectives from critical race theory and ethnic studies for making sense of these social phenomena. The article concludes with a discussion of the globalization of the environmental justice movement, discourse, and issues, as well as with some policy implications of finding and understanding environmental justice. One unique feature of this review is its breadth and diversity, given the different approaches taken by the three coauthors.

http://archive.gao.gov/d48t13/121648.pdf

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in the U.S., there is a correlation between the location of hazardous waste facilities and the ethnic background of an area's residents. In predominantly minority areas, voter registration and education are often lower than average, and citizens are less likely to challenge proposals or seek financial compensation for environmental and health damages.^[8] Implementing techniques to stop hazardous waste sites requires time, money, and political influence or backing. Resources such as meeting places, access to private and public records, and funding for technical assistance are also required for action.^[9] Minority groups may not have full access to these tools and resources creating challenges for the groups in fighting against the placement of toxic sites. Further, controversial projects are less likely to be sited in areas expected to pursue collective action.^[10] Some studies also suggest that the lack of protest could be due to fear of losing area jobs.^[11] Non-minority communities are more likely to succeed when opposing the siting of hazardous waste and sewage treatment facilities, incinerators, and freeways in their areas.^[12] Non-minority communities have better chance at accessing these tools and resources used to prevent placement of toxic sites and also negative impacts of environmental policy decisions.

Books

Packing Them In: An Archaeology of Environmental Racism in Chicago, 1865-1954

http://www.amazon.com/Packing-Them-Archaeology-Environmental-1865-1954/dp/0739110292/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610438&sr=8-9&keywords=environmental+racism

Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility

http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Communities-Environmental-Industrial-Residential/dp/1479861782/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610498&sr=8-12&keywords=environmental+racism

From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement

http://www.amazon.com/From-Ground-Environmental-University-Paperback/dp/0814715370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395610498&sr=8-1&keywords=environmental+racism

When Bill Clinton signed an Executive Order on Environmental Justice in 1994, the phenomenon of environmental racism--the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, particularly toxic waste dumps and polluting factories, on people of color and low-income communities--gained unprecedented recognition. Behind the President's signature, however, lies a remarkable tale of grassroots activism and political mobilization. Today, thousands of activists in hundreds of locales are fighting for their children, their communities, their quality of life, and their health.

From the Ground Up critically examines one of the fastest growing social movements in the United States, the movement for environmental justice. Tracing the movement's roots, Luke Cole and Sheila Foster combine long-time activism with powerful storytelling to provide gripping case studies of communities across the U.S--towns like Kettleman City, California; Chester, Pennsylvania; and Dilkon, Arizona--and their struggles against corporate polluters. The authors effectively use social, economic and legal analysis to illustrate the historical and contemporary causes for environmental racism. Environmental justice struggles, they demonstrate, transform individuals, communities, institutions and even the nation as a whole.