Environmental Justice Lesson Group Responsibilities-
Each group member has been given a character sketch. You are all people with a particular interest in
protecting something. Maybe your chief concern is maintaining control over land and water that is
sacred to you. Maybe you are an avid outdoorsman who has seen the fish and wildlife disappear in the
area around your home. Maybe you are an escaped city dweller who is trying to get in touch with
nature and therefore believes we all need to live simply and practice sustainability. Maybe you are a
leader of a local workers union, who is not only looking to protect and create jobs, but also wants to
make sure that all workers have a safe working environment. You all come from very different
backgrounds and have different ideals, but if you work together you may find that you have the same
ultimate goal in mind.
As leaders of local civic organizations you have all come together to discuss four major environmental
concerns that you feel need to be addressed. Here are the issues you need to prioritize1. There has been an alarming growth in factory farms in your county. Along with this has been a
great increase in animal waste. This is a concern because of potential runoff of manure into
your lakes and rivers.
2. It has recently been discovered that a no longer operating manufacturing company in
Hometown (fictitious name), the county seat, had stored barrels of toxic waste in pits in the
back of its property in the 1960s and 1970s. This toxic sludge is now leaking out and threatens
the neighborhood’s drinking water. The neighborhood is Boondocks, clear on the other side of
town from the new developments and the line of motels and waterparks.
3. With the need in our country for cheap energy the wealthy power company is in discussion with
county officials and state DNR representatives to possibly build a coal or nuclear power plant in
a remote area of the county along the Raging River (fictitious name).
4. A large sand mine has been proposed on land owned by a prosperous farmer near Hometown.
Sand mining has become quite popular and there are many unknowns about it. It seems that
there is a full steam ahead attitude about sand mining and there has not been much done as far
as environmental impact studies.
Each of the four members of the group comes from different backgrounds.
Person #1-Native American
You are a member of the local Native American tribe. You believe humans have a sacred relationship
with the earth and it is everyone’s responsibility to be a good steward for the earth. Your ancestors
farmed, hunted and fished this land for hundreds of years. You want to protect the land that is on your
reservation, but also all of the land.
Person #2-Sportsman
You are the president of your local Fur, Fish and Game chapter. You are a card carrying member of the
National Rifle Association and a firm believer in individual responsibility and small government. In your
many years of living in the area you have been shocked with the changes that have occurred. There
seems to be much more green algae and weed growth in the lakes. Really good fishing is getting harder
and harder to find and it seems like the forests are shrinking every year. You used to think that the lack
of fish was due to Native American spearing, but you have seen firsthand the tribe’s efforts at
restocking. Now you are wondering if the hunting and fishing is changing for another reason.
Person #3-Environmentalist
You are the stereotypical environmentalist. You graduated from State University with a degree in
Environmental Studies. You moved to Hometown about three years ago to take over the county
recycling program. You try your best to live a simple life. You grow your own produce, are a strict
vegetarian and drive a hybrid car. However, you try to ride your bicycle as much as possible. Your straw
bale house is heated by solar panels. In the past year you have become much more vocal about what
you consider to be environmental neglect on the part of state and local officials. Sometimes you come
across a little strong.
Person #4-Labor Organizer
You spent the first ten years of your working life working at the manufacturing company that now
stands accused of dumping toxic waste in the ground. While there you became very active in the local
union’s efforts to gain safer working conditions for the employees at the plant. Your union work
succeeded in getting better conditions. However, a grim lesson was learned when the plant closed
down and relocated to a third world nation where there are no labor or environmental protections.
Undaunted, you continued to advocate for better working conditions for local laborers in agriculture,
logging, manufacturing, and construction. People know you well as a champion for the cause of the
working man. You have also been blamed for some companies deciding not to locate in your county.
Some community leaders even blame you for lost jobs over time. This is a fine line a labor activist must
walk.
Group TaskThe four members of the group have different ideas and come from very different backgrounds.
However, they all have the same big picture goal in mind. All four want to protect the land, water and
air of their home and still provide what they consider the best lives for their families and neighbors.
Using what you have learned about environmentalism, citizen activism and democracy along with the
readings distributed to you in class today you four are to respond to the following questions and
statements. Remember, because of your different backgrounds and missions you will need to negotiate,
compromise (everyone gives up something), form a consensus (a solution everyone is okay with) and
hopefully creatively problem solve (a solution that is better than anyone thought possible).
1. Define in your own words environmental discrimination.
2. Define in your own words environmental justice.
3. You are to prioritize the issues you want to deal with. In other words as a group decide which
of the four issues listed earlier need to be dealt with first, second, third and fourth.
4. Create a group name and mission statement or platform based on what you have read and
discussed. Remember all different perspectives should be considered and addressed. Feel free
to borrow from the readings, especially the “What is Environmental Justice?” reading.
5. List at least five things that your group can do to advance your cause.
6. What did your group members learn about forming environmental activist groups and the
environmentalist movement in general over the past five days?