What is the Environmental Justice Movement?

The Environmental Justice Movement is a movement to ensure that all people have the right to live, work, and play in a safe and healthy environment, regardless of race, income, or other social factors. It grew out of the civil rights movement, and it aims to provide equal protection from environmental harm and to guarantee access to clean air, land, and water to all people. In Virginia, the Environmental Justice Movement is focused on protecting communities of color and low-income communities from environmental harms. It is developing strategies to reduce environmental racism, which is when people of color, or those with lower incomes, are disproportionally affected by environmental harm. For example, in Virginia, communities of color and low-income communities are often located near polluting industries, which can lead to higher rates of air and water pollution, as well as other environmental hazards. The Environmental Justice Movement in Virginia is also focused on increasing access to resources, such as green spaces and natural areas, for all people. It is working to ensure that all communities are able to benefit from the state’s natural resources and that everyone has access to safe and healthy places to live, work, and play. The Movement is also working to ensure that all people have access to clean air, water, and land. In Virginia, there are several organizations and initiatives working to promote environmental justice. These include the Virginia Environmental Justice Alliance, which works to promote environmental justice and raise awareness of environmental health issues in the state, and the Virginia Environmental Justice Fund, which provides grants to Virginia communities for initiatives that promote environmental justice. Additionally, the Commonwealth of Virginia has established a Environmental Justice Advisory Board, which is responsible for helping to develop policies and programs that ensure environmental justice throughout Virginia.

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