Resisting Global Toxics (Part 2)

The second part of the book highlights the various NGOs around the world that take part in fighting environmental injustice in various ways. I found it comforting to know that there are such groups in my own country but the funny thing is I don't hear much about them in the media - as in newspaper. And it's not because I don't read the newspapers back home...in fact, I read them religiously. But I think I remember hearing about the incinerator proposal plan for the place in Semenyih in my home state of Selangor. Semenyih is about 40-45 minutes from where I live and although its not as big as my town, it is a good-sized town. It is good to know that the plant proposal did not go through and that such news is actually heard in the international community inspite of not being covered much locally.

I think Malaysia has the potential in being a country that strongly advocates environmentalism and environmental justice in the South East Asia region. But until then, I think we still have a lot to learn especially from our neighbour countries such as the Philippines. After reading about some of the stories of environmental justice advocacy going on in the Philippines, I am encouraged to see the amount of progress going on in their country.

The case-study in the book regarding Haiti was interesting but at the same time, disturbing. It was bad enough that the ship dumped the waste onto the beach and said that it was non-hazardous but what was disturbing was the fact that the parties involved dragged their feet in cleaning up the waste. It took them more than 10 years!! I was surprised that it was not a huge international controversy/scandal as it should've been. And the mayor of the city of Philadelphia at that time who was Al Gore, did not do much about it...unless I misread something. So he was/is an advocate of environmentalism (ie. global warming etc.) but he is not an advocate for environmental justice?

I guess this is where the disconnect comes between environmentalists and environmental justice advocates. Maybe...maybe he couldn't get the grant but he personally felt compelled to do something but he couldn't just make the decision although he was in that position of power. After reading that little excerpt, I supposed it tarnished my image of Al Gore and that added even more to the fact that I was already a slight skeptic in the first place. I've always wondered what was his motivation in doing what he is currently doing. Hmm...

I think my posts are going to be more political because that's what people are talking about these days. By the way, has anyone watched "An inconvenient truth"? What did you think about it?