In today's episode, we interview Alexia Leclercq, a young environmental justice organizer who works in the organizations EcoRise and PODER, and has even co-founded a non-profit, Start:Empowerment. In our interview, we discuss Alexia's experience in learning about environmental justice, working within justice organizations, the climate effects of colonialism and capitalism in communities of color today, and how the topic of environmental justice often gets pushed to the fringes, especially within environmental circles. Alexia makes clear that environmental justice is an issue that needs attention right now, that people are suffering the effects of climate change right now, and for no reason other than systemic racism.
Sources mentioned:
The Principles of Environmental Justice
EcoRise website
EcoRise environmental justice curriculum
PODER
Start:Empowerment
Pew Poll
White Americans Unaware of Unequal Burden Pollution
The Atlantic Environmental Racism Article