South Bronx activist, Majora Carter, on minority neighborhoods and flawed urban policy

Check out this powerful and moving plea for healthy development and environmental justice, from Majora Carter -- an inspiring and courageous activist and organizer in the South Bronx.  This talk, entitled "Greening the Ghetto" was given at the TED conference in 2006.

"Environmental justice goes something like this: no community should be saddled with more environmental burdens, and less environmental benefits, than any other."

Carter links unjust urban development to numerous health problems, talks race, and discusses the potential and the imperative for Americans to move towards REAL and just sustainable development.

She ends with a bang, stating that communities affected by environmental injustices must be at the decision-making table regarding local and national strategies.  Check it out in the video, here's here ending paragraph, it is SO absolutely true, whether the issue is environmental justice, health care reform, city planning, or schools:

"I spoke to Mr [Al] Gore, the other day after breakfast.  I asked him how environmental justice activists were going to be included in this new strategy.  His response was a grant program.  I don't think he understood that I wasn't asking for funding.  I was making HIM an offer.  

What troubled me was that this top down approach is still around.  Don't get me wrong, we need money. But grassroots groups are needed at the table DURING the decision-making process.  Of the 90 percent of the energy that Mr Gore reminded us that we waste everyday, don't add wasting OUR energy, intelligence, and hard earned experience to that count."

(cross-posted at Los Anjalis)