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Allie Steele
Mrs. Morse
History 11
12 December 2011
Pollution in Poor Neighborhoods
Pollution is a bigger problem in poorer neighborhoods. Industries prefer to be located in
areas where the land is of lower value because it costs them less money. When an industry
locates in an area it will bring the value of the land down as well. The poor are unable to afford
to live in more expensive areas so they are more likely to have to live in a polluted area. It is
unfair that the poorer people have less opportunity than wealthier people to breathe clean air.
Researches shows that people living in neighborhoods with the highest levels of pollution are
poorer, less educated, and have a higher unemployment rate. These industrialized facilities are
not usually located in upper middle class neighborhoods. Many areas have suffered from poor
land use decisions. Environmental justice needs to be made a priority.
There are many possibilities that would help solve this problem. There should be
requirements to reduce pollution levels that are enforced. Current practices should be evaluated
and safety practices should be put into place. We need reforms to reduce environmental
injustices. We can stop building factories in poor areas. Environmental groups need to work
more with the people most affected. They need to understand the powerless people in a way that
changes the priorities and messages of the environmental organizations. We need to evaluate
new construction projects in the future that are expected to have an effect on air quality in these
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poor areas. We need legislation that supports lower pollution limits where neighborhoods are
shared with industries.
Solutions to this problem are not easy because there can be positive and negative impacts.
Solutions can be costly and in an economy like we have today it can be difficult to come up with
the funds needed to pursue them. Powerless groups are less able to fight back in their community
because they have less financial ability. People wanting to live in less polluted areas will drive
the housing costs up in the less polluted areas and down in the more polluted areas. Pollution
actually helps create lower income housing that the poor can afford. If the pollution problem is
evened out with the wealthier areas then the housing costs could go up in the poorer areas and be
less affordable. Then we have an issue of where do the poorer people find housing they can
afford.
There are positive aspects to these solutions as well. Evaluating current practices will
help us understand what is working and what is not. Making the quality of life more even for the
population is important for the under privileged. These are people that matter too. Cutting back
on pollution is better for the environment and for future generations. Pollution causes many
health issues and this can be costly to the health care system especially when the poor are the
ones who are less likely to be able to afford health care insurance. By improving pollution levels
in poor areas the poor will be healthier and not need as much health care. Our health care system
can benefit from less strain on it.
It is always a good thing when people in society feel they matter and are treated equally.
All human beings should be treated with respect no matter what race they are or how much
money they make. We are all interconnected and the more our society makes decisions based on
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this the better our society will become. Our choices should not put society in a position where the
powerless are at odds with the more powerful. This creates a society with tension and conflict
among the people. We are all one and decisions should be based on that idea. If we make our
decisions with this in mind we have hope of living in a peaceful society where there is justice for
all.
I know that I have a responsibility in this society just like everyone else. One of the
things I know I can do right now and in the future is make decisions that are best for the whole of
society and not just a particular group in society. In the future I can take part in organizations
that support environmental justice for all. I can take an active role in supporting communities
that are in need of our help.