User:Grace.jana07/Environmental racism in the United States/Ericklemusss Peer Review

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Grace.jana07 - contributions to Environmental racism in the United States


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 * User:Grace.jana07/Environmental racism in the United States
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 * Environmental racism in the United States

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edits *are big with strikethroughs

my comments *are small

"History" section:

The true origins of the environmental justice movement are unclear. Though there were isolated Throughout the twentieth century, victims of people harmed by environmental racism and unjust land use unsubstantiated occupation of land have held protests and filed lawsuits against industry polluters and inattentive governments.

Comments/Reasoning: I changed the verbiage just because of the Wiki neutrality policy! I agree- I think that these people are victims and the land use is unjust- but these adjectives are not necessarily objectively true despite I agree with them.

These efforts were scattered and did not become coordinated '''until the late 1900s. In 1968, grassroots environmental activists from several tribal nations met in Minnesota and formed an organization known as the American Indian Movement (AIM), which has since risen to prominence, staging sit-ins and protests against the building of oil pipelines through indigenous lands.'''

Comments/Reasoning: All I did was add a comment after "prominence"!

"Water Pollution" section:

Through the 1940s and 1950s, the US Military responded to wartime industry by erecting uranium mines in the southwestern deserts. The nearest residents were almost exclusively Native American tribal members, who make up just 4% of today's US population and are among the most affected racial minorities in terms of environmental racism. Navajo and Hopi drinking water supply in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico continues to this day to be affected by runoff and pollution from neighboring mines.

'''Also in 2015, the Gold King Mine spill contaminated 3 million gallons of water in the Colorado River, which served as a primary source of drinking water for the Navajo and Hopi nations downstream. The Navajo and Hopi subsequently recorded dangerously high levels of arsenic and lead in their water supply. Through the following litigative proceedings, the US EPA appropriated just $156,000 in reparations to those affected by the Gold King Mine spill.'''

Comments/Reasoning: I deleted "to this day" because it is implied with the word "continues"! I also think it may be good to explain how it continues to be affected as well, if that information is available?

I also deleted "just" before $156,000 because it implies a small amount-- if you want to show that it is a small amount, maybe you can include what the source thinks is a good amount or something similar?

"Tribal Outreach" section:

The US EPA holds annual conferences, such as the Tribal Leaders Environmental Forum (TLEF), with Native American tribal leaders; EPA employees and tribal representatives meet in issue-based listening sessions and exchange environmental policy suggestions. The USDA has had a role in implementing Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign in tribal areas by increasing Bureau of Indian Education schools' participation in federal nutrition programs: they, by develop ing community gardens on tribal lands, and developing build tribal food policy councils,. This is combined with measures to and provide Rural Development funding for community infrastructure in Indian Country. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is working to update its policy on protection and management of Native American Sacred Sites, an effort that has included listening sessions and government-to-government consultation. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has also consulted with Tribes regarding management of reintroduced species where tribes may have a history of subsistence-level hunting of those species. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is exploring a program to use meat from bison s raised on tribal land to supply AMS food distribution programs to tribes. The Intertribal Technical Assistance Network works to improve access of tribal governments, communities and individuals to USDA technical assistance programs. Federally recognized tribes are also eligible to apply for "Treatment as State" (TAS) status with the EPA, which gives the tribe jurisdictional authority to enforce their own environmental programs, regulations, and quality standards over nearby polluters or over the state in which they reside.

Comments/Reasoning: I deleted the second "over the" because I think it is a tad repetitive!

"Mapping" section:

USFS has established several Urban Field Stations, to research urban natural resources' structure, function, stewardship, and benefits. By mapping urban tree coverage, the agency hopes to identify and prioritize EJ Environmental Justice (EJ) communities for urban forest projects.

Another initiative highlighted by the agency is the Food and Nutrition Service and Economic Research Service's Food Desert Locator. The Locator provides a spatial view of food deserts, defined as a low-income census tract where a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. The mapped deserts can be used to direct agency resources to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other food assistance programs.

'''The US EPA database EJ Screen is publicly available. EJ Screen maps the United States with socioeconomically determinant factors including income level and race, as well as environmental health data including rates of asthma and cancer occurrence in a given area. Where there is high correlation between socioeconomic determinants and detrimental health impacts, "EJ communities" are noted.'''

Comments/Reasoning: I think it would be good to specify that EJ is an acronym for Environmental justice-- though it can be implied by reading, I think it should be explicitly stated!