SOCIAL JUSTICE BLOG
Read and share the extraordinary stories from the frontlines of social change
Pursuit of Water Protection: Clean Water Access for Communities in the San Joaquin Valley
The Clean Water Project, which spanned our legal, training, and grantmaking programs, focused on bringing communities together to advocate for and gain access to potable water and on funding impact cases that address clean water issues faced by residents of unincorporated communities in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Although we have distributed all the Clean Water Project funds, the Impact Fund remains committed to funding environmental justice cases through our Just Earth program. We will continue to fund cases working to ensure that people’s right to clean water is protected.
Schoolteachers Fight For Environmental Justice In Battle With Rio Tinto Over Air Pollution--And Win!
For six years, Elisabeth “Lis” Stannus and Emily Toews, two elementary school teachers in the remote community of Kitimat in northwestern British Columbia, have been fighting a legal battle to protect their local airshed from increasing air pollution. On the other side of this battle were the BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Rio Tinto, one of the world’s biggest metals and mining companies.
Connecting the Dots: Fracking and Voter Suppression in Youngstown, Ohio
People in Ohio have a right to the initiative to directly “check and balance” the government. Nonetheless, governing officials are repeatedly telling residents that they do not have the authority to vote on these measures. “It’s voter suppression,” says Wilkins, “because they’re not allowing you to vote on things you believe in. We the people should have the right to vote on these things.”
El maíz nativo de México se enfrenta a la gran Agricultura Corporativa en batalla épica por la justicia ambiental, marcando así el camino para las acciones colectivas
Sin embargo, a pesar de la enorme importancia del maíz nativo, en el año 2009 el gobierno mexicano comenzó a conceder permisos a las empresas multinacionales para cultivar un maíz modificado genéticamente. Los defensores del medio ambiente, de la salud y de la justicia social denunciaron dicha maniobra. En 2013, una surtida coalición compuesta por 53 personas y organizaciones no gubernamentales en representación de científicos, pequeños agricultores, apicultores, consumidores y activistas de derechos humanos se unieron para presentar una demanda judicial colectiva e innovadora para frenar el cultivo del maíz modificado genéticamente (transgénico). Su caso, La Demanda Colectiva para la Protección del Maíz Nativo de México contra la Modificación Genética, va a generar leyes fundamentales para la justicia ambiental y social en México.
Native Corn In Mexico Takes On Big Ag in Epic Environmental Justice Battle, Trailblazing A Path For Collective Actions
Despite native corn’s enormous importance, in 2009 the Mexican government began granting permits to multinational corporations to cultivate genetically modified corn. Environmental, health, and social justice advocates denounced the move. In 2013, a diverse coalition made up of fifty-three individuals and non-governmental organizations representing scientists, small farmers, beekeepers, consumers, and human rights activists banded together to file an innovative class action lawsuit to halt further genetically modified corn cultivation.
A BIGGER VISION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANTS
The Just Earth Fund, inspired by the urgency of our time, builds on our 25 years of successful grantmaking and brings new energy, hope, and funds to communities demanding justice.