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Silent Spring Published
Rachel Carson is an inspiring leader in the movement against pollution. Her groundbreaking book, "Silent Spring," was published in 1962 and drew attention to the effects of certain pesticides on the environment and human health. Rachel Carson and her book are often credited with helping to spark the modern environmental movement and the fight against pollution. -
Warren County PCB Landfill Protests
In North Carolina, residents of predominantly African-American Warren County protested a landfill in their community. This event is considered one of the early instances of environmental justice activism, highlighting the disproportionate burden of pollution on marginalized communities. -
Environmental Justice Executive Order
President George H.W. Bush signed Executive Order 12898, titled "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." This order required federal agencies to consider environmental justice in their policies and programs, acknowledging the need for equitable protection from pollution. -
Hurricane Katrina
The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans brought attention to the intersection of environmental justice, climate change, and disaster response. The hurricane disproportionately affected low-income communities, leaving a larger trail of pollution in the predominantly African-American communities, highlighting the vulnerabilities of marginalized communities in the face of environmental disasters. -
Flint Water Crisis
The lead-contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan, gained national attention and became a symbol of environmental injustice. The crisis disproportionately affected the city's predominantly African-American population, drawing attention to the connection between race, poverty, and environmental harm / pollution.