“Environmental racism” may not be a term people encounter in their daily lives, but to Robert William Collin, a law professor at Willamette University, environmental racism is what he tries to fight every day.
Collin defined environmental racism as the adverse effects of environmental decisions on people of color or low-income communities.
On Wednesday, Collin spoke on environmental justice at a lecture hosted by the Coalition Against Environmental Racism. The lecture happened to share the title of Collin’s first law review on environmental justice, “EJ in OR: It’s the Law.” Through the efforts of Collin and others, Oregon Senate Bill 420 was established to incorporate issues of environmental justice in state law by establishing the Environmental Justice Task Force.
“The environmental justice mantra is: ‘We speak for ourselves,’” Collin said.
Collin seeks to combat the unequal distribution of environmental quality among race, which he said disproportionately affects people of color. He explained that some of the basic concerns of the field of environmental justice are issues that directly or indirectlyaffect every one of us: lead poisoning that affects more African-American communities than others, or poisonous levels of metallic elements in fish and proximity of hazardous waste sites to communities with people of color. One issue that Collin mentioned that directly concerns the Eugene area is the storage of biofuel in Latino neighborhoods.
Collin is clearly motivated by love of his work.
“I try to remain bias-free,” he said. “I’ve never taken any money or royalties … I don’t let anything I do be a secret.”
CAER, the hosting group, is a student group focused on introducing the issues of environmental racism and environmental justice to the student body.
“CAER tries to provide a local focus through its events.” Karen Musgrave, CAER co-director, said.
Last year, the organization volunteered with Huerto de la Familia, a local community garden for low-income Latinos. The organization has also worked with the Oregon Toxics Alliance concerning the biomass from Seneca Sawmill in Eugene. The student group is also planning future events for the University community.
“CAER will hold its 17th annual conference this spring, featuring national speakers and workshops that all address the concerns of environmental justice,” CAER Co-Director Erin Ferguson said.
University student Maddie Allen, an environmental studies and Spanish double-major, said she is interested in environmental law because of its challenge.
“It’s hard to get things done since environmental problems are so hard to deal with,” Allen said. “Environmental law is a way for me to make an impact as an individual on a local or statewide scale.”
Collin stressed not to take his word on things, but rather to challenge professors and lawmakers.
“I encourage people to challenge the idea beyond the institution,” Collin said. “You have a moral obligation to act.”
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Student-run group fights environmental racism
Daily Emerald
November 10, 2010
McKenna Johnson
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