• Resistance Journaling: Is Environmental Health a Human Right? (pgs

The COVID19 Crisis is impacting the entire world and almost every aspect of our lives in some way… It has real implications when it comes to environmental justice too:

• Staying at home can have negative health effects on those who live in crowded, poorly ventilated low-income housing which may expose them to more health hazards. Due to dangerously rising temperatures in SoFlo, people have needed to stay indoors. • As a result, energy bills have increased. However, because of loss of employment, people have been struggling to pay these bills.

• People living in highly concentrated housing or communities are more at risk to contract COVID19. • Unfortunately, this same population is more likely to suffer from asthma of other breathing related illnesses which makes them more vulnerable to complications if they do contract it.

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• Finally, many small and predominantly family-owned businesses are at risk of closing down with many non-essential workplaces closed due to the crisis. This can have negative future environmental justice related impacts: if larger businesses more in, communities will not only become more gentrified, but businesses will raise emissions in these communities as well.

HOW DO WE ORGANIZE DURING COVID19?

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By forcing us to go virtual, COVID19 has made us more accessible to some, but less to others such as people with low tech literacy or no access to tech.

Many activists have had to get used to working online and remotely. Unfortunately, this means they can’t be out in the community providing direct services.

Take this time to restrategize, analyze data, write reports, apply for funding, and strengthen social media.

Everyone has extra stress at this time, so now is a good time for activists who are feeling burnt-out to take care of themselves and recharge if needed.

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT

I spoke with Natalia Brown, the Climate Justice Program Manager at Catalyst Miami (CM), an organization that aims to provide support to low-wealth communities in Miami-Dade County to address economic justice issues facing these communities. As Miami, “the Sinking City,” has been identified as ground zero for climate change in the US, CM aims to provide support to communities that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and gentrification in Miami—all of which contribute to the economic inequities facing these communities.

For more information about Catalyst Miami, visit https://www.catalystmiami.org/about_us

Catalyst Miami’s vision of EJ for Miami and SoFlo:

The communities that are most often vulnerable to and burdened by environmental injustices are low-wealth communities where many of the residents are immigrants and people of color. In particular, Black communities in Miami are burdened by environmental injustices that have resulted from historic disinvestment and legacies of injustices and oppression. CM, together with the residents of the communities it serves, has identified various issues it aims to bring attention to and address by recognizing historic harm, creating transformative opportunities for grassroots activism, policy advocacy, and offering networks of support to vulnerable communities. Among these issues are: ensuring residents have access to clean water, safe and affordable housing, electricity, have their basic needs met, and are able to live healthier lives that they can have more control over.

EJ Issues Affecting Miami:

There are two urgent and related EJ issues impacting these communities that CM wanted to highlight:

(1) Heat levels in Miami-Dade are increasing to dangerous levels because of global warming. This especially affects low-wage outdoors workers in South-Dade, but also affects urban communities with little to no outdoor areas. As the heat (and

COVID19) has forced more people to remain indoors, there has been a surge in electric bills some cannot afford to pay. CM has been providing financial assistance when possible so people do not have their power cut off. (2) Sea levels have been steadily rising, also because of global warming and climate change, causing flooding. Flooding is a material effect of climate change that has impaced all vulnerable communities in

Miami. Another issue brought on by climate change is climate gentrification as residents of low-wealth inland communities are being forcibly displaced as their homes become desirable real estate.

Ongoing Climate Justice Program Projects:

CM is involved in policy advocacy campaigns and has other ongoing projects to address EJ issues in Miami. They also provide grassroots leadership and organizing training programs that empower residents to, and train them how to advocate for themselves and their communities. Their CLEAR program is aimed at addressing climate injustices, HEAL is aimed at advocating for affordable housing, and WHITE is aimed at addressing health inequities. The programs are 9 weeks long, are accessible, and tailored to the participants’ specific communities. CM also provides grant funds through their fellowship program to encourage residents to start their own community projects and offers other support to facilitate community projects organizing.