Environmental Discrimination

Discrimination has played a huge part in the history of the United States since its discovery. Starting with the separation of Native Americans and Whites to the slavery of blacks and whites, much of what has shaped our country into what it is today has been the history of these events. One current issue of segregation in this country is called Environmental segregation. In this form of segregation, communities in the Unites States who which are usually the poorest and full of minorities have been targeted as areas in which economically hazardous facilities have been built. Up until recently this type of segregation has not been recognized a major issue. The communities that are most commonly targeted are the ones with less political power, less environmental protection, less resources, and less time and energy to organize the community members to evacuate. According to the director of the North Eastern Environmental Research Project, Daniel Fabier, situation as such are called, "selective victimization (Fabier)."Also according to Fabier, these communities are the ones with the least amount of government recognition. One example of such a community is Camden, New Jersey. Because of its various toxic facilities, Camden has been given the title of having the city with the 2nd highest cancer rate in New Jersey, and the 8th highest in the nation alone. Four out of five children in this community have been diagnosed of having problems with breathing apparatus. Camden is also the home of 103 toxic facilities. Many of the residents have complained that the city once flourishing environment now has "bad air" and "poison water." With statistics as such one cant help but wonder why these people havent left these cities years ago. Maybe many of the residents have lived in the city for many years after generation in front of them, maybe the people just dont find it easy to just pack up and leave the place they call "home." Whatever the reason, something needs to be done about this type of abuse. Government agencies need to find a rural area in America, far from any human residents, in which they can safely place these toxic death traps. With these toxic facilities causing rising sicknesses among humans, the government should even looking into a new type of facility for these toxins. Putting their death traps in areas where children and humans alone are living is an extremely cruel thought and something needs to be done about it.