"As we green up, we also have to clean up," Russell Lecturer says
February 9, 2010
Dr. Robert Bullard, the Ware Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, delivered the 2010 Russell Lecture in Belk Auditorium on February 9.
Known as the “father of environmental justice,” Bullard spoke about the importance of youth involvement in the environmental movement.
“When you look at the scenario of how students can be involved,” Bullard said, “how research can flow from academia, and how a movement can be supported by research, every social movement that we’ve had in this country . . . has always had a strong youth and student component. And so the environmental justice movement is no different.”
Bullard expounded on research that he led with a group of graduate students in Houston, Texas, during the late ‘70’s. Then, Dr. Bullard and others discovered that landfills were disproportionately placed in African American neighborhoods. Their work led to the 1979 case Bean v. Southwestern Waste Management Corporation.
“If we are to change the way that our society operates and to move away from this wasteful consumerism-oriented society and move toward a sustainable nurturing society,” Bullard said, “I think we have to have young people involved and have students involved. If we are to really come up with a green economy, and as we green our schools, we also have to green the curriculum.
“As we green up, we also have to clean up," Bullard added. "We should also think about not leaving any communities behind as we move to a green economy.”
Dr. Robert Bullard, the Ware Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, delivered the 2010 Russell Lecture in Belk Auditorium on February 9.
Known as the “father of environmental justice,” Bullard spoke about the importance of youth involvement in the environmental movement.
“When you look at the scenario of how students can be involved,” Bullard said, “how research can flow from academia, and how a movement can be supported by research, every social movement that we’ve had in this country . . . has always had a strong youth and student component. And so the environmental justice movement is no different.”
Bullard expounded on research that he led with a group of graduate students in Houston, Texas, during the late ‘70’s. Then, Dr. Bullard and others discovered that landfills were disproportionately placed in African American neighborhoods. Their work led to the 1979 case Bean v. Southwestern Waste Management Corporation.
“If we are to change the way that our society operates and to move away from this wasteful consumerism-oriented society and move toward a sustainable nurturing society,” Bullard said, “I think we have to have young people involved and have students involved. If we are to really come up with a green economy, and as we green our schools, we also have to green the curriculum.
“As we green up, we also have to clean up," Bullard added. "We should also think about not leaving any communities behind as we move to a green economy.”
posted by Stacy Dyer '96
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