Environmental Justice

I wasn’t able to make it in time to the symposium where this topic was discussed, but I was able to picked one or two things from the question and answer session, and also from handbooks that were shared at the end of the panel discussion. From the handbooks, I noticed that there was one word that kept recurring—rights. Everybody is entitled to enjoy the human rights. However, it is the function of the government to ensure that the rights are implemented in fairness. If the government fails, the whole concept defeats its purpose. For example, Michele L. Roberts spoke about the failed implementation of human rights after Hurricane Katrina occurred. The government failed to substantially remedy the destabilizing effects of the disaster on the inhabitants of the Gulf Coast Region—quite unfortunate. However, the people that survived that tragic occurrence are saying there must be a climate change treaty which would subsequently lead to a healthy environment. Besides protecting human rights, the government should make legislations to reduce carbon dioxide waste, to mandate the use of clean energy, to make everyone contribute in drastic decision making, to stop racial, ethnic and gender discrimination, and to generally improve environmental, health, educational, and economic conditions. Again, the government plays the main role in making the United States a better place environment-wise. Therefore, justice on the path of the government would ensure environmental justice for all.