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From Mapping Environmental Racism
to Mapping Self-determination:
A Road Map to Community Autonomy?

by Roberto Flores
Los Angeles, California

Method of Study

In this study, I take a radical social constructivists approach [26] that not only questions the objectivity and the purity of the scientific method but one that sees scientific objectivity as the subjectivity of the overall western scientific framework. The assumed limited utility of the scientific method to address social questions, such as those surrounding the perceived nature and impact of environmental racism begs for interpretations and victim-actors located in a social movement propels me to use a qualitative method of inquiry and discourse analysis as the best way to explore this question. Linder, (1997) [27] who describes this critical constructivist process of critique of science and liberalism as one done not from the binary reaction of previous phases but from a proactive critical response to the presuppositions of modernism, positivism and western thought. Linder encapsulated the interaction between traditional methods of science and government and the public this way:

Once we acknowledge the transition of the last few decades to a globalized economy of multinational production units, risk escalates from occasional side effect to potential ecological disaster. At the same time, the capacity for mitigation by any particular government action diminishes. Nonetheless, centralized efforts may be redoubled along lines that jeopardize the legitimacy of government action. Rulemaking proliferates and becomes more formalized. The expertise and its deliberations become less accessible or accountable to the public. Meanwhile, risks are being distributed throughout the society the way wealth used to be, threatening the credibility of the institutions that generate them. As a result, many of the bonds between individuals and social structures are weakened and broken, clearing the way for local opposition and new forms of organization on the left and right.

Discourse analysis is a method through which one can reflect in an in-depth manner on what is being storied. According to Beck (1992) this reflexivity consists of critically analyzing and questioning established hegemonic forms controlling the conversation over risks. This questioning creates the foundations for change. [28] In conducting these interviews I am not at all attempting to establish casual relationships nor to establish general theories. My aim here then is to offer a different view that will at minimally help us understand the particular struggle at South Gate from the point of view of those working within CBE.

I attempted to follow the framework of David Camacho as he suggested:

The study of environmental injustice must take into account the hierarchies of power that are inherent in a society. This point speaks to the importance of context, whereby any subject would be better understood if it were examined within the setting that both produces it as a subject and brings it to light as something to be studied. We attempt to place individuals within a frame of reference.

To accomplish this, I studied as many documents concerning the struggle that I could get a hold of and I conducted extensive interviews of 6 CBE member-organizers and one city council member. Four of the interviews were of CBE staff and 2 were of student members. At the end, because of time and space, I was not able to integrate all the interviews and focused on two CBE staff members and two students. I asked open question with which I attempted to draw out how they viewed (their story of) this struggle. Specifically, I addressed four major groups of questions:

1.Why do you feel that Sunlaw chose South Gate as the place to construct a 550-mega watt generator?

2.Do you think that this struggle is a struggle against racism? In which ways was Sunlaw racist? Do you think that in this case government agencies were racist? Do you think that the environmental mainstream organizations acted in a racist way?

3.What is CBE? Can you tell me what principles of CBE where in operation? What role did CBE play in the struggle?

4.What were the main factors that contributed to the victory of those that did not want the construction of the Sunlaw Power Plant?

In retrospect, the subject required a lot more time and space. For each hour of interviews, it took approximately 4 hours of transcription needed to study the interview. Hours needed to be spent with the people involved to build trust and openness. This type of analysis deserves a lot more.

  • References (back to top)

    Alejo, Edith, (April, 2001) City of South Gate, Office of the City Clerk, demographer

    Associated Press (Monday, March 12, 2001) Power Demand Less Than Asserted

    Bretting, J.G. and Prindevill, D-M. (1998)“Environmental Justice and the Role of Indigenous

    Women Organizing their Community.” found in Camacho, D.E. (1998)Environmental Injustices, Political Strugges Duke University Press. Durham & London

    Bradley, B. (April 27-May 3rd, 2001) Future Shmutz Natural gas dwindles, alternative energy pulls back by LA Weekly, found in http://www.laweekly.com/

    Brochure (no date) Communities for a Better Environment Creates Change

    Camacho, D.E. (1998) Environmental Injustices, Political Strugges Duke University Press. Durham & London

    Capek, Stella M. (1993. “The ‘Environmental Justice’ Frame: A Conceptual Discussion and an Application.” Social Problems 40: 5-24 cited in Bowman, A. O’M (1997) found in Kamieniecki, Gonzalez, G.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y

    CBE Mission Statement (no date) found at: click here

    City of South Gate, demographer (May, 2001) source: 2000 Census

    City of South Gate history (no date) found at http://www.cityofSouth Gate.org/thenewcity.htm

    City of South Gate, City Clerks office, phone interview of Oliver Mohica, (March 30, 2001)

    Esteva, Gustavo (April 19, 2001) Interview by Sophie Style of Z Magazine. Can be found at http://www.ainfos.ca

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Xochi Rubalcava, City Councilwoman and Vice mayor, South Gate California

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Alvaro Huerta, (CBE) coordinator

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    Flores, R.(March 25, 2001) Interview with Angelo Logan

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Yuki Kidokoro

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Bernett Serano

    Gonzalez, G.A. (1997) “Sustainability within the Liberal Paradigm.” In Kamieniecki, Gonzalez,.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y

    Greenwood D. J. & Levin, M. (1998) Introduction to Action Research SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA.

    Geertz, Clifford (1973) “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture,” found in The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books, Inc.

    Kamieniecki, Gonzalez, G.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y.

    LA Times, (Monday, April 23, 2001) Front page story

    Linder, Stephen H. (1997) “The Social and Political (Re) Construction of Risk” Found in Kamieniecki, Gonzalez, G.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y.

    Sandweiss, S. (1998) “The Social Construction of Environmental Justice” found in Camacho, D.E. (1998) Environmental Injustices, Political Strugges Duke University Press. Durham & London.

    Seidman, Irving (1998) Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A guide for researchers in Education and the Social Sciences, Teachers College Press, Columbia University. New York

    Torres, Lake and Zimmerman cited in Bowman O’M. A. (1997) “Environmental (In) Equity: Race, Class the Distribution of Environmental Bads.” Found in Kamieniecki, Gonzalez, G.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y.

    White, Harvey (1998) “Race, Class and Environmental Hazards” found in Camacho, D.E. (1998) Environmental Injustices, Political Strugges Duke University Press. Durham & London

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    Appendix I

    Delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held on October 24-27, 1991, in Washington DC, drafted and adopted 17 principles of Environmental Justice. Since then, The Principles have served as a defining document for the growing grassroots movement for environmental justice.

    The 17 Principles seem to emphasizes justice within the procedural, decision making, geographic citing, and inter and intra environmental mainstream movement relations.

    1. Environmental justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction.

    2. Environmental justice demands that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of discrimination or bias.

    3. Environmental justice mandates the right to ethical, balanced and responsible uses of land and renewable resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for humans and other living things.

    4. Environmental justice calls for universal protection from nuclear testing, extraction, production and disposal of toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threaten the fundamental right to clean air, land, water, and food.

    5. Environmental justice affirms the fundamental right to political, economic, cultural and environmental self-determination of all peoples.

    6. Environmental justice demands the cessation of the production of all toxins, hazardous wastes, and radioactive materials, and that all past and current producers be held strictly accountable to the people for detoxification and the containment at the point of production.

    7. Environmental justice demands the right to participate as equal partners at every level of decision-making including needs assessment, planning, implementation, enforcement and evaluation.

    8. Environmental justice affirms the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work environment, without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood and unemployment. It also affirms the right of those who work at home to be free from environmental hazards.

    9. Environmental justice protects the right of victims of environmental injustice to receive full compensation and reparations for damages as well as quality health care.

    10. Environmental justice considers governmental acts of environmental injustice a violation of international law, the Universal Declaration On Human Rights, and the United Nations Convention on Genocide.

    11. Environmental justice must recognize a special legal and natural relationship of Native Peoples to the U.S. government through treaties, agreements, compacts, and covenants affirming sovereignty and self-determination.

    12. Environmental justice affirms the need for urban and rural ecological policies to clean up and rebuild our cities and rural areas in balance with nature, honoring the cultural integrity of all our communities, and providing fair access for all to the full range of resources.

    13. Environmental justice calls for the strict enforcement of principles of informed consent, and a halt to the testing of experimental reproductive and medical procedures and vaccinations on people of color.

    14. Environmental justice opposes the destructive operations of multi-national corporations.

    15. Environmental justice opposes military occupation, repression and exploitation of lands, peoples and cultures, and other life forms.

    16. Environmental justice calls for the education of present and future generations which emphasizes social and environmental issues, based on our experience and an appreciation of our diverse cultural perspectives.

    17. Environmental justice requires that we, as individuals, make personal and consumer choices to consume as little of Mother Earth’s resources and to produce as little waste as possible; and make the conscious decision to challenge and reprioritize our lifestyles to insure the health of the natural world for present and future generations.

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    Footnotes

    1. See LA Times (Friday, March 9, 2001)

    2. Interview with Xochi Rubalcava, City Councilwoman and Vicemayor, South Gate California

    3. Edith, (April, 2001) City of South Gate, Office of the City Clerk, demographer

    4. Torres, Lake and Zimmerman cited in O’M Bowman’s article “Environmental (In)Equity: Race, Class the Distribution of Environmental Bads.” O’ M Bowman’s is published as a Chapter in S. Kamieniecki, Gonzalez, G.A., & Voz, O.R (1997) Flashpoints in Environmental Policymaking: Controversies in Achieving Sustainability State University of New York Press. Albany, N.Y.

    5. Capek, S. M. (1993) cited in Bowman, A. O’M (1997) op. cit.

    6. Geertz, Clifford (1973) “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture,” found in The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books, Inc.

    7. Seidman, Irving (1998) Interviewing as Qualitative Research: A guide for researchers in Education and the Social Sciences, Teachers College Press, Columbia University. New York

    8. Greenwood D. J. & Levin, M. (1998) Introduction to Action Research SAGE Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA.

    9. O’M Bowman (1997) Found in Kamieniecki et. al, op. cit.

    10. O’M Bowman p. 162 op. cit.

    11. Interestingly, these periods roughly correspond the three epochs put forward by Mazmanian and Kraft (1999)

    12. Bowman, A. O’M (1997) p. 164 op.cit

    13. Bowman, A. O’M (1997) p. 164 op.cit

    14. Bowman, A. O’M (1997) op.cit

    15. Bowman, A. O’M (1997) op.cit

    16. Bowman, A. O’M (1997) op.cit

    17. Bowman (1997) op. cit.

    18. Camacho, D.E. (1998) Environmental Injustices, Political Strugges Duke University Press. Durham & London, p.11

    19. Sandweiss, S. (1998) “The Social Construction of Environmental Justice” found in Camacho, D. E. (1998) op.cit.

    20. Sandweiss in Camacho, D.E. p.50 op. cit.

    21. Sandweiss, Stephen (1998) in Camacho, D.E. op. cit. p. 51-52

    22. Camacho, D.E. (1998) op.cit., p.12

    23. Bretting, J.G. and Prindevill, D-M. (1998) found in Camacho, D.E. (1998) op. cit.

    24. Camacho, D.E. (1998) op.cit.

    25. White, Harvey (1998) “Race, Class and Environmental Hazards” found in Camacho, D.E. (1998) op.cit.

    26. Linder, Stephen H. (1997) “The Social and Political (Re) Construction of Risk” Found in Kamieniecki et. al, op. cit.

    27. Linder, Stephen H. (1997) op.cit.

    28. Linder, S. (1997) op.cit.

    29. Associated Press (Monday, March 12, 2001) Power Demand Less Than Asserted

    30. San Francisco Chronicle (Sunday, March 11, 2001)

    31. Bradley, B. (April 27-May 3rd, 2001) Future Shmutz Natural gas dwindles, alternative energy pulls back by LA Weekly, found in http://www.laweekly.com/

    32. Bradley, B. (April 27-May 3rd, 2001) Future Shmutz Natural gas dwindles, alternative energy pulls back by LA Weekly, found in http://www.laweekly.com/

    33. City of South Gate history (no date) found at http://www.cityofSouth Gate.org/thenewcity.htm

    34. City of South Gate, demographer (May, 2001) source: 2000 Census

    35. City of South Gate, City Clerks office, phone interview of Oliver Mohica, (March 30, 2001)

    36. Brochure (no date) Communities for a Better Environment Creates Change

    37. CBE Mission Statement (no date) found at: click here

    38. Brochure (no date) Communities for a Better Environment Creates Change

    39. Brochure (no date) Communities for a Better Environment Creates Change

    40. Brochure (no date) Communities for a Better Environment Creates Change

    41. Interviews: Milton Hernandez Nimatuj, Yuki Kidokoro (March 25-28, 2001)

    42. Capek, Stella M. (1993. “The ‘Environmental Justice’ Frame: A Conceptual Discussion and an Application.” Social Problems 40: 5-24 cited in Bowman, A. O’M (1997) op.cit.

    43. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Bernette Serano

    44. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    45. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    46. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Angelo Logan

    47. Flores, R.(March 25, 2001) Interview with Angelo Logan

    48. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    49. Flores,R.. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Yuki Kidokoro

    50. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    51. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Yuki Kidokoro

    52. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview of Bernett Serano

    53. Press Telegram, (March 9, 2001) Plug pulled on S. Gate plant by Neda Raouf

    54. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    55. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Yuki Kidokoro

    56. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Yuki Kidokoro

    57. See LA Times, (Monday, April 23, 2001)

    58. Camacho, D. (1998) p. 12 op.cit.

    59. Flores, R. (March 25, 2001) Interview with Milton Hernandez Nimatuj

    60. Gonzalez, G.A. (1997) Sustainability within the Liberal Paradigm. Found in Kamieniecki et al (1993) p. 345op. cit.

    61. Esteva, Gustavo (April 19, 2001) Interview by Sophie Style of Z Magazine. Can be found at http://www.ainfos.ca

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    		•
    Published in In Motion Magazine July 29, 2001.