Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Coastal Environmental Coastal ...
Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Coastal Environmental Coastal ...
Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Coastal Environmental Coastal ...
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<strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong><br />
<strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong><br />
Justice Ambassadors<br />
GOMA All Hands Gathering<br />
August 2‐4, 2011<br />
New Orleans, Louisiana
What is <strong>Environmental</strong> Justice<br />
nvironmental Justice is the right to be safe<br />
from a disproportionate exposure to<br />
nvironmental hazards as a result <strong>of</strong> voiceless<br />
vulnerability; lack <strong>of</strong> political, social and<br />
economic power in a unique environment<br />
(Executive Order 12A 98 <strong>of</strong> 1994).
ile each <strong>Gulf</strong> state has its own unique<br />
racteristics and concerns, there are many<br />
cerns<br />
that<br />
are<br />
felt<br />
across<br />
the<br />
entire<br />
ion.
Some <strong>Gulf</strong>-wide Concerns<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> Capital and Resources<br />
<strong>Coastal</strong> Land Loss<br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> Protection<br />
Community Economic Development<br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> Justice
Some <strong>Gulf</strong>-wide Concerns<br />
Port and Industrial Pollution & Impacts<br />
Community Sustainability<br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> Health<br />
Seafood Safety<br />
Lack <strong>of</strong> Community Collaboration
PROGRESS !
includes restoration efforts<br />
Some <strong>Gulf</strong>-wide Successes<br />
Increased networking <strong>of</strong> underserved<br />
populations<br />
Critical support to NGOs provided by limited<br />
private philanthropy<br />
Legislation introduced to bring CWA fines to the<br />
<strong>Gulf</strong> for restoration<br />
Increased dialogue for a diverse economy, which
Some <strong>Gulf</strong>-wide Successes<br />
Increased awareness <strong>of</strong> coastal land loss as a<br />
regional environmental justice issue<br />
Communities have completed the Resilience<br />
Index Training i and are ready to meet with<br />
community <strong>of</strong>ficials<br />
Development <strong>of</strong> community education and<br />
outreach projects
Some Examples<br />
<strong>of</strong><br />
State t Specific<br />
Successes
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Alabama<br />
• Organizations such as Boat People SOS and South Bay<br />
Community Alliance have been providing<br />
environmental education and outreach to communities.<br />
For example, Boat People SOS has a program to provide<br />
computers for residents to participate in training via<br />
the web.<br />
• Increased networking between vulnerable populations
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Alabama<br />
• Advancement <strong>of</strong> environmental literacy and<br />
capacity building among vulnerable populations<br />
• Alabama is home to several pilot projects for<br />
diversified restoration economy<br />
• $5,000,000 seafood waste processing plant will<br />
process 5,000 tons <strong>of</strong> waste into fertilizer and<br />
animal feed annually
DANNY PATTERSON<br />
Alabama Ambassador
HUGH TRAN<br />
Alabama Ambassador
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Florida<br />
• Enhanced environmental literacy<br />
• Increased civic engagement<br />
• Development <strong>of</strong> a student philanthropy board<br />
• Implementation <strong>of</strong> community garden projects<br />
• Increased awareness <strong>of</strong> disaster preparedness,<br />
response, and recovery
DR. JOSEPH DORSEY<br />
Florida Ambassador
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Louisiana<br />
• Increased funds for coastal restoration<br />
projects after significant advocacy campaigns<br />
• Increased community outreach and education<br />
Ad d di di j i<br />
• Advanced disaster readiness projects, i.e.<br />
POD’s and community disaster plans
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Louisiana<br />
• Increased Community-Government<br />
collaboration and forums after 2010 Oil<br />
Disaster, such as BISCO’s “Community<br />
Listening Sessions” with fisher families and<br />
local, state and federal governmental<br />
representatives<br />
• Focused social vulnerability research and<br />
y<br />
identification
PATRICIA WHITNEY<br />
Louisiana Ambassador
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Mississippi<br />
• Created walking trails throughout wetlands<br />
• Land Trust for the Mississippi <strong>Coastal</strong> Plains<br />
preserving wetlands for conservation<br />
• Worked with the North <strong>Gulf</strong>port 7 & 8 Grade School<br />
to develop an <strong>Environmental</strong> Science Club<br />
• Enhanced environmental literacy at middle school<br />
level<br />
• Replaced invasive plant species with native plants
DERRICK EVANS<br />
Mississippi Ambassador
FLOWERS WHITE<br />
Mississippi EPA<br />
Community Liaison
<strong>Coastal</strong> Communities in Texas<br />
• <strong>Environmental</strong> Justice Encuentro Annual Event<br />
• EPA Region 6 Administrator, Al Armendariz,<br />
participated in two T.E.J.A.S. toxic tours and a live<br />
radio talk show on KPFT Public Radio where he<br />
answered environmental justice questions<br />
• The EPA selected Port Arthur, TX as one <strong>of</strong> 10 pilot<br />
environmental justice projects<br />
• Texas environmental justice activist Hilton Kelly<br />
selected as Goldman Award winner for North America<br />
• EPA succeeded in getting the state to address
JUAN PARRAS<br />
Texas Ambassador
Indigenous Communities<br />
• Increased awareness <strong>of</strong> indigenous<br />
communities<br />
• Increased outreach and education to<br />
indigenous communities<br />
• Increased participation i by indigenous<br />
communities<br />
• Increased number <strong>of</strong> economic<br />
development and disaster preparedness<br />
projects
CHIEF ALBERT NAQUIN<br />
Tribal Communities<br />
Ambassador
Recommendations to GOMA<br />
• Foster stronger collaboration with<br />
communities and NGOs<br />
• Increase reciprocal communications with<br />
<strong>Gulf</strong> Coast <strong>Environmental</strong> Justice<br />
Ambassadors<br />
• Increase awareness <strong>of</strong> and access to funding<br />
opportunities for established community<br />
groups (nonpr<strong>of</strong>its).<br />
• Fund non‐research community engagement<br />
projects
Recommendations to GOMA<br />
• Enlist the participation <strong>of</strong> <strong>Gulf</strong> States<br />
Governors in GOMA Events<br />
• Develop a <strong>Gulf</strong> Coast Brain Trust as a<br />
mechanism for uplifting community ideas<br />
• Stimulate programs for job training and re‐<br />
training opportunities
Recommendations to GOMA<br />
• Assist underserved and under‐represented<br />
represented<br />
populations with becoming civic<br />
organizations.<br />
• Enhance creative new jobs and promote<br />
more job opportunities.<br />
• Ensure that information is presented in a<br />
manner easily understood by all.
Recommendations to GOMA<br />
• Examine the social impacts <strong>of</strong><br />
environmental hazards (i.e., mental health<br />
and family stability.)<br />
• Increase the number <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong><br />
<strong>Environmental</strong> lJ Justice Ambassadors<br />
• Create a coastal student exchange program<br />
among the five <strong>Gulf</strong> States.
Recommendations to GOMA<br />
• More recognition <strong>of</strong> communities that t work to<br />
preserve the environment.<br />
• Technical training on proposal development and<br />
funding acquisition<br />
• Promotion <strong>of</strong> culturally sensitive local community<br />
involvement, engagement and project designs<br />
• Promote Best Management Practices <strong>of</strong><br />
communities that have made environmental<br />
strides.
<strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong><br />
<strong>Coastal</strong> lEJA Ambassadors<br />
Appreciation<br />
The <strong>Gulf</strong> Coast <strong>Environmental</strong> Justice Ambassadors<br />
would like to thank the <strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong> Alliance for<br />
the opportunity to work as partners with you in our<br />
goal <strong>of</strong> sustaining the <strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong> and its coast<br />
and communities.
2011 Ambassadors’ Meeting
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