Environmental Justice on the 50th Anniversary of the Passage of the Civil Rights Act

Today is the anniversary of the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act which was signed into law 50 years ago. The half century celebration pays homage not only to race, but also to progress on gay rights and the equality of women. To that list of civil rights we should be adding environmental issues.

As reviewed in an August 2013 article in the Guardian, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, the chief executive officer of Green For All made the point the Hurricane Katrina highlighted issues of injustice and inequality.

As she explained, "Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s about keeping our communities safe. It’s a matter of justice. Because when it comes to disasters — from extreme temperatures to storms like Katrina — people of color are consistently hit first and worst."

Canadian Sheila Watt-Cloutier the World's Leading Voice on Arctic Climate Impacts and Human Rights

Sheila Watt-Cloutier is an Inuit activist who was instrumental in helping the world understand the link between climate change impacts in the Arctic and human rights. At 60, this grandmother continues to be a leader of human rights for people living in the Arctic. Although she currently lives in Iqaluit, she was born into a traditional Inuit family in Kuujjuaq, in Northern Quebec's Nunavik region.

In 2005 she issued a legal petition against the US which focused on the relationship between climate change and human rights. This landmark effort helped to earn her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination alongside Al Gore in 2007. In addition to the nomination, she holds a number of honorary degrees and other awards. She received the Order of Canada in 2006.

Former Irish President on Development Goals, Climate and Human Rights

Former Irish president Mary Robinson, has added her voice to those who are advocating for development goals, an agreement on climate change and a stronger emphasis on human rights. Robinson is a human rights campaigner and founder of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice.

A Policy Perspective on Climate Change and Human Rights

Climate change is a policy issue that is tied to human rights. The physical impacts of climate change include water scarcity, sea-level rise, extreme weather and increased temperatures. All of which are related to the issues of poverty, discrimination and inequality.

Policy perspectives have both legal and moral implications which auger a number of important questions. On this front no concern is more pressing than the impacts of climate change on the human rights of the world's most vulnerable populations. Those who are most at risk from climate change are the poor who live in the developing word.

Human Rights Day (December 10): Climate Change

The UN's Human Rights Day takes place on December 10, every year. This day will be recognized at the UN headquarters in New York and in 50 countries around the world. In 2013, Human Rights Day is celebrating its 20th anniversary.  The theme this year is 20 YEARS: WORKING FOR YOUR RIGHTS. However, the emphasis is on the future and identifying the challenges that lie ahead.

December 10, 1948 is the date that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming its principles as the “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”

The UN acknowledges that climate change is fundamentally connected to human rights. The UN has provided guidance in the form of international human rights standards which offer measures to tackle climate change.

Adolescent Pregnancy on World Population Day 2013

The focus of this year's World Population Day is on Adolescent Pregnancy. As reviewed in a message from the UN Secretary General, about 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions. Issues including sexual coercion and child marriages, make adolescent Pregnancy a prescient issue. High rates of juvenile pregnancy are often about a lack of informed choice. These young mothers and their newborns experience higher levels of heath risks than do adults.  The offspring of adolescent girls also face a host of factors that disadvantage their prospects for the future.

As explained in a message from the Executive Director of UNFPA, young women have the power to transform our world. However, they are commonly deprived of the right to make an informed choice about pregnancy, which often undermines their ability to control their destinies.

Contaminated Water Kills

Water is vital for life and its growing scarcity is a threat to all life, particularly the world's poor. Since World War II, contaminated water has killed more people around the globe than all wars and other forms of violence combined.

Contaminated water is the result of increased pollution, increased water demand, and the corporate control of water access.

On July 28th, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that recognizes access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. The resolution called on States and international organizations to provide financial resources, build capacity and transfer technology, particularly to developing countries, in scaling up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.

Despite their reticence, privileged of nations must accept their responsibility to help others gain equal access to clean water and sanitation.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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