Social Problems: Community, Policy, and Social Action
SAGE Journal Articles
A survey was made of all municipalities in the state of New Jersey (N = 566) to determine how many had brownfields sites that caused property devaluation and land-use changes beyond the site boundaries. Most municipalities (80%, n = 450) replied; 10% indicated that brownfields sites caused neighborhood impacts, and 3% reported land-use and neighborhood impacts more than one-quarter mile from the site and multiple land-use changes as a result of a brownfield site. Typically, this last group of neighborhoods also had neighborhood problems such as unsafe conditions and inadequate services. Policy suggestions for this group of highly stressed neighborhoods are discussed.
Questions to Consider:
1)The focus of this study was on TOADS, which are contaminated buildings and land that can ruin the surrounding neighborhood by polluting the local environment. Think about where you live or perhaps places you have visited in your lifetime. Have you witnessed these types of building or land? How have they affected the environment in your opinion?
2)How can environmentalists use the results of this study to make policy changes?
Chambers, S. (2007). Minority Empowerment and Environmental Justice. Urban Affairs Review, 28-54.
In Hartford, Connecticut, environmental health problems disproportionately affect poor and minority residents of the city. Minority group activists in Hartford have created a multiracial organization composed of urban and suburban residents to fight for environmental justice. The organization has achieved a measure of success in terms of governmental responsiveness to their concerns. This article highlights the strategies used by the organization to advance its interests.
Questions to Consider:
1)One of the notable findings from this study indicates that, “areas with the highest concentration of toxins happen to be located in Connecticut’s poorest cities where large numbers of minority residents live”. The authors of the article go on to note that there is a correlation between communities of color and location of hazardous waste facilities. Why is there a correlation between these two factors?
2)The Hartford Environmental Justice Network (HEJN) is an organization comprised largely of minorities from impoverished neighborhoods in Hartford, Connecticut. After reading this article which policies implemented by HEJN have been successful in tackling environment health problems? Which policies have not been successful? Why?
Botswana lacks a system covering all the critical steps from importation to final disposal or processing of hazardous and toxic waste owing to limited follow-up of the sources and types of hazardous and toxic waste, lack of modern and specialized treatment/disposal facilities, technical know-how, technically skilled manpower, funds and capabilities of local institutions to take lead in waste management. Therefore, because of a lack of an integrated system, there are challenges such as lack of cooperation among all the stakeholders about the safe management of hazardous and toxic waste.
Questions to Consider:
1)One of the results of this study states that, “safe and effective management of HTW is not only a question of regulation necessity, but also improved public participation and awareness at the early stages of planning for HTW management”. What strategies would you recommended getting the public more involved in regards to HTW management?
2)What are the consequences of having inadequate HTW management policies?
Numerous factors shape citizens’ beliefs about global warming, but there is very little research that compares the views of the public with key actors in the policymaking process. We analyze data from simultaneous and parallel surveys of (1) the U.S. public, (2) scientists who actively publish research on energy technologies in the United States, and (3) congressional policy advisors and find that beliefs about global warming vary markedly among them. Scientists and policy advisors are more likely than the public to express a belief in the existence and anthropogenic nature of global warming.
Questions to Consider:
1)One of the results of this study is, “People who value individualism and hierarchy are less supportive of action on global warming, whereas those who value egalitarianism and communitarianism are more supportive of action on global warming”. Why do you think this is so? What reasons could account for the difference in terms of action on global warming?
2)What factors, in your opinion, leads to the publics’ belief system in regards to global warming?