Forty Years Ago Today Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

"Forty years ago today, America was robbed of one of history’s most consequential advocates for equality and civil rights. On this day, we mourn the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we celebrate his powerful and eloquent message of justice and hope.

Dr. King was a man of courage and vision. He understood that love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred. His words and deeds inspired Americans of all races to confront prejudice and to work to ensure that our country is a land of opportunity for all its men and women.

We have made progress on Dr. King’s dream, yet the struggle is not over. Ensuring freedom and equality for all Americans remains one of our most important responsibilities. As we reflect upon Dr. King’s life and legacy, we must recommit ourselves to following his lasting example of service to others."

George W. Bush

California EJ Movement Issues Climate Change Declaration

Several environmental justice groups have issed a 'Declaration Against Use of Carbon Trading Schemes to Address Climate Change.' The groups believe that such systems are inadequate to confront the climate crisis; marginalize front-line communities fighting environmental justice battles; and are designed to benefit corporate interests - not communities or the climate. Endorsing organizations include California Communities Against Toxics, California Environmental Rights Alliance, Carbon Trade Watch, Communities for a Better Environment, GreenAction, Rainforest Action Network, West County Toxics Coalition and many more.

Item #16 of 21 items in the Declaration states:

"[C]arbon trading is undemocratic because it allows entrenched polluters, market designers, and commodity traders to determine whether and where to reduce greenhouse gases and co-pollutant emissions without allowing impacted communities or governments to participate in those decisions."

The Declaration Resolves:

"that the California Environmental Justice Movement will oppose efforts by our state government to create a carbon trading and offset program, because such a program will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the pace called for by the international scientific community, it will not result in a shift to clean sustainable energy sources, it will support and enrich the state's worst polluters, it will fail to address the existing and future inequitable burden of pollution, it will deprive communities of the ability to protect and enhance their communities, and because if our state joins regional or international trading schemes it will further create incentives for carbon offset programs that harm communities in California, the region, the country, and developing nations around the world."

Environmental Justice Movement says NO to Carbon Trading!

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE V. CAP-AND-TRADE

Utne Reader: "Environmental Justice For All"

Los Angeles Times

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation : Childhood Obesity

Call for Proposals: Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation (RWJF) and this call for proposals is the first to reflect a new emphasis on supporting research to inform policy and environmental strategies for increasing physical activity among children and adolescents, decreasing their sedentary behaviors and preventing obesity. Deadline: May 14, 2008

Findings are expected to advance RWJF's efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by2015. RWJF will place special emphasis on strategies with the potential to reach racial/ethnic populations and children living in low-income communities who are at highest risk for obesity. Proposed studies must address one of the topics identified in the call for proposals. Childhood Obesity: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Route 1 and College Road, EastPrinceton, NJ 08543.

The State of Environmenal Justice In America 2008

Conference planning is going very well. This conference will bring together individuals interested in environmental justice from diverse groups at this noteworthy juncture in the history of environmental justice, through a process of dialogue and learning from each other, to:

1. Identify significant EJ success stories, strategies, and lessons learned, and how to replicate them.
2. Identify potential collaborations that can produce additional strategies and success stories.
3. Identify key dates and events in the history of environmental justice activities.
4. Identify emerging issues in environmental justice.
5. Develop an additional resource in Washington, DC for an annual environmental justice conference and other support to environmental justice efforts.

Expected outcomes:

• Rigorous analysis and discussion of environmental justice issues from diverse points of view.
• Better understanding of EJ successes and how to replicate them on the part of conference participants and other audiences (readers of conference related materials).
• Stronger commitment to EJ from key groups, agencies, business and industry, academic institutions and other entities.
• A comprehensive Conference Report including papers presented by conference panelists and others.

Projected audience:

The conference seeks to bring together federal employees, academics, business and industry, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, local community activists and others to participate in dialog on achieving equality of environmental protection. The conference will serve as an academic legal conference to advance scholarship regarding environmental justice. A related goal of this conference is to expose law students to the myriad and complicated aspects of environmental justice.

USDA Outreach Conference at Virginia State University

The USDA Outreach Conference at Virginia State University is scheduled for March 13, 2008. There will be sessions on grant writing opportunities. They will also highlight special success stories between farmers, community-based organizations, and USDA. If you would like more information or know of such a story and would like to see it highlighted, please contact Sylvia Montgomery Agricultural Liaison Officer, Virginia State University, P.O. Box 9081L, Douglas Wilder Bldg, Room 204B Petersburg, Va. 23806 Phone: 804-524-6967 Fax: 804-504-7074 smontgomery@vsu.edu

California EJ Movement Issues Climate Change Declaration

The California Environmental Justice Movement passed the following EJ Resolution on Climate Change:

BE IT THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement stands with communities around the world in opposition to carbon trading and offset use and the continued over reliance on fossil fuels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement will support conservation, regulatory, and other measures to address greenhouse gases only if they directly and significantly reduce emissions, require the shift away from use of fossil fuels and nuclear power, and do not cause or exacerbate the pollution burden of poor communities of color in the United States and developing nations around the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement will oppose efforts by our state government to create a carbon trading and offset program, because such a program will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the pace called for by the international scientific community, it will not result in a shift to clean sustainable energy sources, it will support and enrich the state's worst polluters, it will fail to address the existing and future inequitable burden of pollution, it will deprive communities of the ability to protect and enhance their communities, and because if our state joins regional or international trading schemes it will further create incentives for carbon offset programs that harm communities in California, the region, the country, and developing nations around the world.

Los Angeles Times Blog Covers Environmental Justice

In an article entitled, "Environmental Justice: Going Green's Not Just For Yuppies and Hippies," the L.A. Times Blog writes:

"... the number of environmental justice activists is growing and getting louder. Of course, this means some growing pains for the environmental movement at large. Most recently, a number of Californian environmental justice groups launched a campaign against carbon emissions cap-and-trade programs, over concerns that such programs would impact negatively the communities that are already disadvantaged. Many established environmental groups are not against cap-and-trade programs, as these carbon reduction programs are most politically feasible than carbon fees.

Still, the environmental movement's already showing a willingness to pay closer attention to environmental justice concerns. The Sierra Club, for example, released a statement concurring with some of what the environmental justice groups said: "We share many of the concerns of the EJ groups regarding pollution trading, like possible hot spots, loopholes and windfall profits."

Of course there are other points of view.

Religion and Environmental Justice Conference

This year, March 7-10th, over a thousand Christians are expected to gather in Washington D.C. to be advocates for justice and peace in the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference. This year the Eco-Theology track of the conference will focus primarily on global climate change and how its effecting all of God's creation. Highlights, so far, include:

Eco-Theology led by eco-theologian and author, Dr. Catherine Keller
Climate Change in the Asia Pacific
Bordering on Disaster: Social and Environmental Injustice on the Border
Climate and Church: How Global Climate Change Will Impact Core Church Ministries
Faithful Security: Nuclear Weapons, Contamination and Environmental Health

Updated information

You can register online

Contact: Adam Bray abray@ncccusa.org

Smart Growth Assistance and Achievement Awards

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance: Apply now. Deadline May 8, 2008. There are many distressed communities (urban or rural) that needtechnical assistance. The 2008 Request for Applications for Smart Growth ImplementationAssistance is now open. It will close on May 8, 2008.

National Award for Smart Growth Achievement: Deadline April 7, 2008 PLEASE NOTE: The category of "equitable development" is featured again this year. This category was first featured in 2006, and we need more applicants for this category. The best way to showthere is increasing interest in equitable development as a public policyissue is to apply. Carlton EleyU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Policy, Economics, and Innovation (1807T) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460 Email - eley.carlton@epa.govph - 202-566-2841fax - 202-566-2868. This competition is open to public-sector entities that have used smart growth principles to improvecommunities environmentally, socially, and economically. For the first time, private-sector entities may apply this year in two of the five categories. Smart growth development practices support national environmental goals by preserving open spaces and parkland and protecting critical habitat;improving transportation choices, including walking, bicycling, andtransit, which reduces emissions from automobiles; promoting brownfield redevelopment; and reducing impervious surfaces, which improves waterquality.This year, applications will be accepted in five categories:

· Overall Excellence in Smart Growth (open to public-sector entitiesonly)
· Built Projects (open to public- and private-sector entities)
· Policies and Regulations (open to public-sector entities only)
· Equitable Development (open to public-sector entities only)
· Colleges, Universities, and Medical/Hospital Research Institutions (open to public- and private-sector entities)

Interested parties are encouraged to submit applications for smart growth policies, projects, or programs that have shown significant activity between April 7, 2003, and April 7, 2008. Successful applicants will have used smart growth principles to create places that respect community culture and the environment, foster economicdevelopment, and enhance quality of life and public health. Up to five winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, DC, in November 2008.

Maryland State Minority Task Force Final Report

Senate Bill 350 (Chapter 520, MD. Annotated Code, Acts of 2006) created the Task Force on Minority Participation in the Environmental Community with a sunset date of July 2007. The Task Force was charged with evaluating minority participation in the environmental community and make recommendations for improved participation. (See: Final Report to the Governor and General Assembly)

Four main areas of concerns centered on: 1) the lack of minorities in key policy positions throughout the state government; 2) the lack of attention and funding support that traditional environmental organizations directed at minority issues and concerns; 3) the lack of minority participation in the efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake and Coastal Bay watersheds, and 4) the lack of public education programs directly connecting minority health issues to the disparate environmental conditions that prevail in some communities.

A key recommendation is the creation and funding of the Maryland Minority Environmental & Land Trust (MELT). The MELT would serve as a vehicle to implement and finance the various recommendations outlined in this report. The General Assembly would establish the trust with initial investments of $250,000 per year for the first five years. Additionally, nine agencies involved in environmental issues would contribute $100,000 annually in dollars or in-kind services for a 5 year period. Total funding for the first five years is $5,750,000. Additional recommendations include establishing an Inter-Agency Workgroup and a Steering Committee.

EPA RFP-Gulf of Mexico Alliance Regional Partnership Projects

Grants awarded under this announcement may involve Geospatial Information. An estimated amount of up to $3,000,000 for between approximately ten to fifty cooperative agreements may be awarded under this announcement to eligible applicants for projects that improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico by addressing improved water quality and public health, priority coastal habitat protection/recovery, more effective coastal environmental education, improved habitat identification/characterization data and decision support systems, and strategic nutrient reductions. Projects must actively involve stakeholders and focus on support and implementation of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts.

Eligible Applicants: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments. (More)

EPA National Achievement in Environmental Justice Awards

Deadline Extended: Nominations must bepostmarked by February 11, 2008.

The US EPA National Achievement in Environmental Justice Awards will recognize organizations for their achievement in addressing environmental justice issues or achieving the goals of environmental justice in a manner that results in positive impacts to a community. National awards for achievement in environmental justice will be given to organizations in 6 categories: 1) academic institutions, 2) business and industry, 3) community based organizations, 4) non-governmental and environmental organizations, 5) State and local government organizations and 6) Tribal government and indigenous organizations.

The goals of the Environmental Justice Awards Program include: the promotion of positive behavior on environmental justice issues by all stakeholder groups, document EJ models of success for others to emulate, encourage achievement of environmental results in communities having EJissues, and encourage collaborative problem solving by all stakeholder organizations. Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria: InnovationCommunity ResponsibilityCommunity, Equity, and Public Involvement Partnerships and Collaboration Environmental Justice IntegrationDemonstrated Results, Effectiveness/Sustainability. The Deadline for nominations must be postmarked by January 11, 2008.See attached flyer for more information or click here.

NIEHS Seeks Community Engagement Partnerships

Jan 19 Deadline. As a follow-up to a Congressional hearing in September 2007, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is planningto develop a unified program referred to as "Partnerships forEnvironmental Public Health" (PEPH). The intent of the program is to support a variety of research, outreach and education activities to prevent, reduce, or eliminate environmental exposures that may lead to adverse health outcomes in communities, with the active engagement ofthose communities in all stages of the work.

NIEHS currently envisions that this program would build upon the strengths of past and current research programs, as well as trans-NIH program announcements in this area, and:

* support hypothesis-driven research that engages community partners;

* support research to improve the theories and methods for working withcommunities to address environmental health concerns; and

* develop, implement and disseminate educational and outreach materials for usein communities.

To establish a vision for the PEPH Program in an appropriate and responsive manner, the NIEHS is seeking input from the lay public, environmental health researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, policy makers and others with a vested interest in the effects ofenvironmental exposures on public health. The NIEHS released a Request for Information (RFI) - posted online at http://www.blogger.com/ -with six open-ended questions that will help the institute advance itscommitment to environmental public health.

Please take a few moments to complete the questions in the RFI. You can send your responses to Mr. Liam O'Fallon (ofallon@niehs.nih.gov) byJanuary 19, 2008. The following are easy ways to submit your responses:

1. Download interactive Adobe Acrobat form that can be completed and submitted electronically;

2. Copy and paste the questions from the RFI into the body of an e-mail message and send your responses to ofallon@niehs.nih.gov ; or

3. Mail or fax your responses in a letter to the attention of Mr. O'Fallon (address provided in the RFI).

If you have questions about this Request for Information (RFI), please contact Mr. Liam O'Fallon ofallon@niehs.nih.gov. Please reference the RFI in your subject line.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE JOURNAL

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE A New Peer-Reviewed Quarterly Journal will be launched in the Spring of 2008. Call for Papers on: human health and the environment, occupational health, science and technology, land use, public policy, urban planning, legal history as it pertains to environmental justice, sociology and anthropology of environmental health disparities.

Environmental Justice will focus on the legal challenges threatening and adversely affecting our health and well being, especially minority and low-income populations. These challenges will continue to grow as more attention and social responsibility is directed toward redressing inequitable environmental practices and hazards. Legal challenges and lawsuits to ensure prevention of harmful policies, projects, and developments are within its purview, as are issues of compliance and enforcement, activism, and corrective actions.

Environmental Justice is a law journal but it extends to industry and public policy. Legal challenges abound, in both the public and private sectors. Studies that demonstrate the adverse health affects on populations who are most subject to health and environmental hazards are pertinent, as well as the complicated issues inherent in remediation, funding, relocation of facilities that pose hazardous risk to health, and selection for new locations. Questions of legalities in relation tothese concerns will be anticipated and discussed.

Environmental Justice will be published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPTS TO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE INAUGURAL ISSUE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 10, 2008. There will be a web-based manuscript submission system up and running by January 1 (seewebsite above ) or you can submit your papers directly to the Editor-in-Chief at: drswashumuc@aol.com

ACHIEVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AWARD

Deadline Extended: Nominations must bepostmarked by February 11, 2008.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting nominations for the Achievement in Environmental Justice Awards. Nominations must be postmarked by January 11, 2008. National awards for achievements in environmental justice will be given to organizations in 5 categories: 1) academic institutions, 2) community-based organizations, 3) non-governmental and environmental organizations, 4) State and local government organizations, and 5) Tribal government and indigenous organizations. Organizations should be nominated for their achievement in addressing environmental justice issues or achieving the goals of environmental justice in a manner that results in positive impacts to a community.

The award competition will be open to all organizations within theUnited States. The nominated entity must have achieved a significant milestone or accomplishment within the past five years (2002-2007). Nominated entities should address six selection criteria which reflect the goals of addressing environmental justice issues in a way thatpositively affects the community. The criteria are: (1) innovation;(2) community responsibility; (3) community, equity, and publicinvolvement; (4) partnerships and collaboration; (5) integration; and(6) demonstrated results, effectiveness, and sustainability. UPDATE: The awards will be presented by the EPA Administrator during a special public, media-covered event in June 2008. EPA will pay for the travel and lodging expenses of the representative who will attend the EJ Achievement Awards ceremony and receive the award on behalf of thewinning organizations.Award winners will receive national recognition for their significant EJ achievements.

EPA will publish a feature article in the Environmental Justice Quarterly newsletter focusing on the selected award recipients. Award winners will also be featured on the Office of Environmental Justice's Web site. National recognition may also open doors for the award winners to network and partner with other organizations across the U.S. that share a similar commitment to EJ excellence. For more information, visit: EJ Achievement Flyer or contact Lisa Hammond at (202) 564-0736 or at hammond.lisa@epa.gov .

Call For Presentations: EJ in America 2008 Conference

The second annual State of Environmental Justice in America 2008 conference planners are inviting individuals to submit a short abstract of no more than 150 words that describes a panel or individual presentation related to the current state of environmental justice associated with the topics listed below. (More)

Topic areas:
1) Success stories in assuring justice for communities
2) Land Use planning/sustainable community planning and development/smart growth
3) Just and sustainable energy policy/alternative energy production
4) Climate change/climate justice
5) Community participation in environmental decision making
6) Environmental justice in Indian Country
7) Building community capacity
8) Distribution of community benefits
9) Environmental justice and health disparities/access to public health benefits
10) Provision of infrastructure and resources in rural America
11) Facility siting and environmental justice
12) Environmental education
13) Conservation cooperation
14) Innovations in environmental justice legislation, regulation and litigation/environmental justice and legal case studies
15) Environmental justice considerations in emergency preparedness and homeland protection
16) Integration of environmental justice into Federal, state and local agencies policies and programs
17) Other topics of the submitter's choice, so long as they relate to environmental justice

The abstract should include the submitter's name and full contact information as well as reference the topic and number under which it is being submitted.

Submissions: Abstracts should be sent to: ejinamerica@hotmail.com

Relevant Dates:

Abstract Due: December 15, 2007
Notice of Acceptance Received: January 21-February 1, 2008
Response to Notice of Acceptance Due By: February 15, 2008
Presenters Contacted by Panel Managers: February 18-29, 2008
Presentations Due No Later Than*: March 7, 2008
Conference Dates: March 26-29, 2008
Conference Location: Washington, DC area

[*Note: If you are submitting a paper in addition to your presentation, papers are due at this time. Please be advised that all papers will be published as written.]

NY Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance Issues EJ Report

The New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (NYAREA) has issued an environmental justice report entitled, "Environmental Justice: A Growing Movement." In New York State the problem of respiratory illnesses is particularly acute. An earlier 2000 Abt Associates study estimated that in New York State in 2007 (with improvements in air quality taken into account from 2000), airborne particulate matter would be the cause of 1,200 premature deaths, 744 cases of chronic bronchitis, 481 hospital admissions, 273 asthma related emergency room visits, 2,180 cases of acute bronchitis, 23,300 asthma attacks, and more than 200,000 work loss days.

One of the major Environmental Justice issues in New York City is the connection between asthma and power plant emissions and automobile exhaust. In New York, the Council of the City of New York reported in May 2003 that “a recent study found that one in every four children in the South Bronx and Central Harlem was afflicted with asthma, one of the highest rates in the country.“ Laurent Lawrence, upper left, is coauthor of the report with Norris McDonald, President, African American Environmentalist Association.

NAACP Addresses Environmental Justice Issues

"The Crisis" magazine's July/August issue covers environmental justice. This special issue is entitled: "The Fight For Environmental Justice," and states that "In Spite of environmental protective laws, people of color bear the health burden of toxic soil, polluted water and air that is foul and contaminated.

On another front, Martin Luther King III presented testimony today before Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming to discuss how the impacts of global warming and oil dependence hit hardest on America and the world's most vulnerable communities. (More)

Call for Papers on "EJ: Making It A Reality"

The Lewis & Clark Law School Environmental Law Review is currently accepting submissions to be published in their upcoming issue "Environmental Justice: Making it a Reality," which will be dedicated entirely to articles exploring Environmental Justice topics. They encourage submissions that analyze or explore issues related to environmental justice.

Manuscripts must be received by December 21st to be considered for publication. If selected, your manuscript will be published in Volume 38, Issue 2 of Environmental Law, in May 2008. All submissions should be sent to envtl@lclark.edu Contact Editor in Chief Morgan Wyenn with any questions.

House Environmental Justice Bill Hearing

The Subcommittee on Environmental and Hazardous Materials is holding a hearing on Thursday, Oct 4, 2007 (10 am Rm 2322 Rayburn House Ofc Bldg) to discuss H.R. 1103, the Environmental Justice Act of 2007 and H.R. 1055, the Toxic Right-To-Know Act.

The discussion will cover the "Environmental Justice and the Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Program." Congressman Al Wynn (D-MD), right, is Chairman of the committee.

(More)

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