This week marks the one year anniversary of the Gulf Oil Spill disaster and the day to honor the earth, April 22nd, Earth Day. These events brings awareness to the question, what is the future for environmental justice for black communities?
Environmental Justice For Black Communities
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, shares his thoughts about environmental justice with his article, A Black America Earth Day: Let’s use Earth Day 2011 as an opportunity to raise more awareness in our communities about the importance of environmental concerns and issues. We have to connect the dots. The health of our communities is impacted by the environment of our communities. Did you know that many of the growing lists of so-called “learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community maybe environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning and other toxic substances laced in many of our neighborhoods? The overall quality of life in Black America can be and should be improved if we all become more conscious and involved with understanding the importance of demanding and adhering to environmental justice. (Read the entire article)
Will.i.am has together with DipDive just released this video titled “Take Our Planet Back” which focuses on energy, climate and environmental issues and topics. The video calls for citizens and their leaders to deal with the serious environmental problems that our planet faces. The video features clips of Al Gore, montages of the various environmental challenges we face, and will.i.am singing.
Watch it:
Below you can find the lyrics for Will.I.Am’s music video “Take Our Planet Back”:
Al Gore: Today, I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100% of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.
Calling all the leaders to lead us out the hole
Asking all deceivers the things I want to know
If we’re so technological
Why’re we still burning oil
‘Cause I got a car you plug into the wall that’s faster than a GTO
We shot for the stars, put rovers on Mars, make planes like UFOs
So why are we borrowin’ money from China to buy oil from the Gulf and destroyin’ the world
Al Gore: Every bit of that has to change…
Now that’s got to change
Now that’s got to change
(Chorus x3)
We’ll stand up
We’ll stand up and take our planet back
You and me
We’ll stand up
We’ll stand up and take our planet back
Talkin’ ‘bout we
Talkin’ ‘bout we
Talkin’ ‘bout
Calling all the citizens
(Al Gore: Citizens…)
Citizens of the land
Ask you your politicians
(Al Gore: Political Leaders…)
All these questions
If we fight another war on terror
Why aren’t we fighting for the environment
We spend a billion dollars on wars in foreign lands
But nothin’ on education
Nikola Tesla turned the Niagara Falls into energy way back when
(Al Gore: Energy…)
And we’re still burning coal
(Al Gore: Coal…)
When you can make electricity with solar and wind
(Al Gore: Solar and wind…)
Now who’s getting played?
You and me
And who’s getting paid?
(Chorus x3)
We’ll stand up
We’ll stand up and take our planet back
You and me
We’ll stand up
We’ll stand up and take our planet back
Talkin’ ‘bout we
Talkin’ ‘bout we, we, we, we
I’m askin’ all the citizens to take action
(Al Gore: Citizens…)
Take action and take back the government
Tell the government to start taxin’ pollution
Makin’ laws ‘cause that’s the solution
It should be against the law to make pollution
So if they make products that do what the other products do
But they didn’t pollute, what are you gonna choose?
Al Gore:
We should tax what we burn, not what we earn.
To those who say the challenge is not politically viable
I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo
And then bear witness to the people’s appetite for dramatic change
The time is now.
Please leave your comments below to let the Elev8 community know what will you do to help the environment? Are you doing anything now, to create a better world for future generations?
Gulf Oil Spill photos
Sending positive vibes to Elev8 – Robin Downes
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