While Leonardo DiCaprio and other big government
environmentalists observe Earth Day on April 22, they are overlooking the
suffering that some environmental regulations cause in the black community.
Members of the African-American leadership network Project 21 support promoting
a policy of true environmental justice that ensures government actions
do not discriminate against the poor or minorities.
In promoting dubious environmental scare
theories like global warming - which cannot be proven by satellite temperature
data, the most accurate measure of the earth's temperature, or long-term
temperature trends - the Clinton Administration is siding with radical
environmentalists in promoting policies like higher fuel taxes and further
restrictions on fuel use to "protect" the environment. While making fuel
use more expensive and difficult will not affect people like billionaire
computer magnate Bill Gates, the additional costs and inconveniences have
a substantial impact on black families that have an average income of around
$25,000 a year.
"Over regulation is the new millennium's
preferred brand of institutional racism - and it is being perpetrated in
the name 'saving' the environment," said Project 21 member John Meredith
in a recent New Visions Commentary released by Project 21. "We need to
remind the government that real environment justice would stop people from
abusing our community."
Project 21 members support the government
adopting a true policy of environmental justice - a policy that will assess
how taxes and regulations will affect poor and minority communities. Current
environmentalist-based environmental justice proposals that rightly focus
on stopping pollution in minority areas do not seek to also protect the
financial and property-related civil rights of the American people.
"Although it is important to protect those
of meager means from pollution, comprehensive environmental protection
is the solution," mused Project 21 member Kenneth Flowe. "If the government
wants to create protective environmental policy, it should also evaluate
how the allocation of tax money and economic development affects the surroundings
of the poor."
Project 21 has been a leading voice of
the African-American community since 1992. For more information, contact
David Almasi at (202) 371-1400 x106 or Project21@nationalcenter.org
or visit Project 21's web site at
http://www.project21.org.