Glenn S. Johnson

Environmentalism and Public Policy: Environmental Justice: Grassroots Activism and Its Impact on Public Policy Decision Making

A growing body of evidence reveals that people of color and low-income persons have borne greater environmental and health risks than the society at large in their neighborhoods, workplace, and playgrounds. Over the last decade or so, grassroots activists have attempted to change the way government implements environmental, health, and civil rights laws. Grassroots groups have organized, educated, and empowered themselves to improve the way government regulations and environmental policies are administered. A new movement emerged in opposition to environmental racism and environmenttal injustice. Over the last decades or so, grassroots activists have had some success in changing the way the federal government treats communities of color and their inhabitants. Grassroots groups have also organized, educated, and empowered themselves to improve the way health and environmental policies are administered. Environmentalism is now equated with social justice and civil rights.

Grassroots Activism in Louisiana

This paper refects on African American activism and Community Based Organizations (CBOS) in Louisiana where a number of communities were targeted to become sacrifice zones for toxic waste inthe United States. It is hoped that an examination of African American activism in Louisiana will result in greater awareness and mutual respect among environmental, civil rights, and social justice groups as well as among political leaders, corporate elites, and governemental officials. As environmental grassroots activist address individual community concerns they are also promoting human rights, efficacy, and greater stakeholder participation and public involvement in environmental decision-making