Warren and Booker lead candidates at environmental justice forum

[BlueMTexpat]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/09/warren-booker-environmental-justice-forum-south-carolina

Only six candidates turned out for the first ever presidential forum on environmental justice at South Carolina State University on Friday night.

Issues such as lead-contaminated water, food deserts, childhood asthma and proximity to polluting chemical plants and industrial pig farms disproportionately affect low-income communities, tribal nations and people of colour.

The Democratic candidates who participated were Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker; former members of Congress John Delaney and Joe Sestak; the billionaire Tom Steyer; and the author Marianne Williamson.

Warren, who launched an ambitious climate and environmental justice plan last month, said a third of the $3tn she has pledged to spend combating global heating over the next decade would be ring fenced for communities devastated by generations of environmental racism.
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This forum was hosted by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and leaders from frontline and tribal communities, civil rights, youth and environmental organizations. The same caucus will host a forum on gun violence and mental health next month.

[BlueMTexpat]

1. In a related article, Elizabeth made excellent points

about "redlining" at the same forum.

Why Elizabeth Warren Just Mentioned Redlining at a Climate Forum https://earther.gizmodo.com/why-elizabeth-warren-mentioned-redlining-at-a-climate-f-1839730917

At the first-ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice Friday night, Senator Elizabeth Warren didn’t shy away from how the environment is directly related to other issues that people of color in the U.S. face—like housing. During her time on stage, she called out the legacy of segregation and slavery in the U.S.

More specifically, she mentioned redlining, the practice where the Federal Housing Authority discriminated against black and brown communities by deeming them risky investments. And that’s got everything to do with the environmental injustice communities face today.

“[Redlining] created a black-white wealth gap that continues even to this day because of the generational effects,” Warren said.

That’s not all redlining did. Research presented at the Annual Thoracic Society Conference earlier this year shows that redlining may be behind the disproportionate health issues communities of color face. In California, some communities with a history of redlining, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, suffer from higher asthma emergency room visits, this research found. ..

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There's a bit more at the link.

Warren doesn't hesitate to hit the nail right smack on the head.

[George II]

2. I know one candidate is holding his own "environmental forum" in Iowa last night and today.

[BlueMTexpat]

3. Hmm!

He missed a good opportunity to meet with a truly staunch bloc of Dem voters!

That's his loss.

[George II]

4. Yes indeed. I think, though, he's more comfortable with the demographics of Iowa than South Carolina

[BlueMTexpat]

5. Well stated!

[Eric J in MN]

6. And you say the same thing when Biden and Warren

...campaign in Iowa.