Unbelievable: The Washington Post Covers Environmental Justice

Of course, The Washington Post environmental reporters did not cover environmental justice. Evidently they think it is beneath them. Cindy Skrzycki, regulatory and business columnist for Bloomberg News wrote the story. In an article entitled, "Environmental Justice Stalled, Report Finds," Ms. Skrzycki described the conclusions of the latest United Church of Christ report, "Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty."

Many of the authors of the original report participated in the EJ 2007 Conference, but Washington Post environmental reporters were nowhere to be found. Washington Post environmental reporterrs stay as far away from environmental justice issus as possible. However, if an owl sneezes in a Utah wildlife preserve, they are all over it. Thank you Ms. Skrzycki for doing their work for them. They usually leave it up to the Black reporters at the Post to cover environmental justice.

William K. Reilly Said He Really Wanted to Participate

Norris McDonald , right, spoke to former EPA Administrator Bill Reilly, left, after his testimony before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on the implications of the April 2 Supreme Court Decision on regulating carbon dioxide. Reilly told McDonald that he really wanted to participate in the EJ 2007 Conference but a previous commitment could not be rescheduled. Reilly was the mastermind behind the big TXU deal, which was in play during the time of the EJ conference.

As previously reported on this blog, Bill Reilly initiated environmental justice at EPA, establishing the Office on Environmental Justice. He also received a standing ovation from the environmental justice community at his last meeting with EJ stakeholders from all over the country. Reilly was EPA Administrator under President Bush 41 from 1989-1992.

Melinda Downing and Kurt Schmoke Share a Moment

Melinda Downing of the U.S. Department of Energy is pictured at left presenting a check on behalf of the EJ 2007 Conference to Kurt Schmoke, Dean of the Howard University School of Law.

That looks like a big check. Clearly Dean Schmoke has a very big smile on his face.

Howard U Minority Student Summer Enrichment Program

Howard University Academic Reinforcement for Minority Students Middle School (5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th grade) Summer Enrichment Program June 25 - August 3, 2007.

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 1, 2007

The Academic Reinforcement for Minority students (ARMS) Middle School Summer Enrichment Program (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades) is designed to attract students who express an interest in the Health Professions Careers. The program's goal is to encourage and inform students at an early age of careers in the Health Professions; in addition, assist young students in planning and preparing for secondary education. The curriculum includes Math/Sciences and English classes, Health Fairs, Seminars, Workshops and Educational Field Trips. Students must exhibit leadership skills as well as an interest in mathematics/science and technology. Participants will be challenged to achieve greater accomplishments.

Contact Dr. Andrews at 202-806-4211.

PROGRAM COST
$100 per week for six weeks, including lunch except Fridays during field trips

8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

Spring Has Arrived Once Again For the EJ Movement

It was appropriate that the banner for the conference was stationed between two blooming cherry trees at the Howard University School of Law. The environmental justice bulbs planted in the Fall turned into a beautiful conference tulip and wonderful session daffodils. Now we intend to plant crops that will feed the hunger for environmental justice.

Registration - Volunteers Made It Very Pleasant

Registration went very well because of the professionalism of the enthusiastic volunteers. While John Rosenthall and Michelle Hudson, right, were dashing left and right, the registration volunteers exercised calm resolve to assure smooth matriculatio. Thank you.

EJ 2007 Conference Judged a Complete Success

The wrap-up conference call among conference stakeholders and organizers included a post-conference evaluation. The consensus was that the conference was a complete success. In fact, in many categories the conference exceeded expectations. Although the electrons of the atom were praised, the nucleus of John Rosenthall and Melinda Downing were lauded for their success in the face of numerous challenges. This proton and neutron team kept the atom stable and functioning properly. The group almost broke out into 'Kum Ba Ya.' The back slapping was merited.

Discussion proceeded to plans for the 2008 conference. A permanent structure was announced to sponsor annual environmental justice conferences. This is refreshing news because a decade is too long to wait. Hopefully, there will be expanded cooperation for future success because the issue is vitally important to America.

University of Michigan EJ Symposium in June

The University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment is hosting a symposium from June 7-9, 2007 that will focus on diversity in academia as well as domestic and international environmental justice research. The conference will bring together researchers who are academics, postdoctoral fellows, students, policymakers, environmental justice practitioners, and grantmakers to participate in plenaries, panels, and poster sessions. All conference participants are encouraged to make presentations about their research.

Ahmina Maxey, Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative (MELDI) School of Natural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michigan440 Church St Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1115Phone: 1(734) 615-2602 URL: http://www.umich.edu/~meldi/index.html

EPA Office of Environmental Justice Seeks New Director

Apply Today. The U.S. EPA is seeking a new Director for its Office of Environmental Justice. Office of Environmental Justice Director Barry E. Hill announced his departure in March 2007.

OEJ consists of a professional staff of fifteen. It functions as a matrix organization around three major areas, each managed by an Associate Director. These areas are: Policy Development and Inter/Intra-Agency Coordination; Outreach; and Administration and Resources Management.

The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) provides a central point for the Agency to address environmental and human health concerns in minority communities and/or low-income communities--a segment of the population which has been disproportionately exposed to environmental harms and risks. OEJ works to address this issue through a number of initiatives that emphasize building both external and internal networks. OEJ works within EPA to ensure that the Agency considers environmental justice issues by working with individual program offices and with the regions.

Phone: (202) 564-2515, Fax: (202) 501-0740, Toll free (800) 962-6215, Email:
environmental-justice-epa@epa.gov

Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/index.html