On April 20th Key note speaker Manuel Pastor and students from ELACC facilitated a workshop on environmental justice.
“The reason why we chose environmental justice was to unite the disciplines on the campus on this common issue: the health-related environmental issues and the environmental problems we are facing today. They are the most pressing issues of our time and they affect the globe disproportionately.”
Assistant Professor of Geography, Aline Gregorio stated after explaining how environmental issues extend far further than not human issues such as forests and endangered species, to situations that communities in a close vicinity to Cerritos College are being affected by.
Gregorio is the adviser for Go Green Task Force and she worked with Dr. Ryan Goode to put together this event.
The event consisted of students from ELACC hosting a workshop about local areas harmed by pollution and a lecture by keynote speaker Manuel Pastor ,professor of sociology at US, on how college students can make themselves available to assist in the effort to fight for environmental justice.
Environmental justice is the maintenance of equality in regards to amending disproportionate effects of environmental hazards specifically to low income and the distribution of quality environmental amenities such as clean parks.
South L.A. at large takes on a large number of environmental burdens because of its socio-economic demographic of minorities who earn a lower income. These burdens become more problematic by nearly all measures when introduced to poverty.
Pastor said, “My lecture was about environmental disparities that exist, how research can be an important part of addressing these concerns, and what community organizing groups can do. One thing I called for a it today is for students to learn statistics and GIS (mapping on the computer). There is a lot of employment where you could do well and do good.”
Meaning that it is not impossible to find a compromise between industry and the environment.
Rosemary Diaz, a communications major from ELACC who is transferring to CSULA in the fall, provided ways for college students to lend themselves to the cause simply by looking for resources around campus to find better understanding and knowledge and the connecting that experience to their education.
“I think [environmental justice] relates especially to college students. I like to focus on young people because we are the ones who are pushing for extraction [on harmful corporations.] Everyone should have access to clean air, water, and soil.”
