Blog | Environmental Justice at Western

Prisons: Environmental Injustice, Toxic Exposure, and a Lack of Humanitarianism

In Spring 2023, students in WWU’s ENVS 499D: Readings in Environmental Justice are learning about the intersections between environmental justice and incarceration. This post reflects some of the group’s learning and discussion By Olivia Berner, Morgan MacIntyre, Emily Delgado, and Taylor Michaels In the article, “Tombstone Towns and Toxic Prisons: Prison Ecology and the Necessity…

Are sustainable prisons possible?

In Spring 2023, students in WWU’s ENVS 499D: Readings in Environmental Justice are learning about the intersections between environmental justice and incarceration. This post reflects some of the group’s learning and discussion. By Charlotte Meenach, Sydney Vasquez, Cassidy Packard, and Sophia Reynolds In a piece for the Prison Policy Initiative, titled “Prisons are a daily…

Criminalizing Public Drug Use May Push Even More People into an Overcrowded, Inhumane Jail

In Spring 2023, students in WWU’s ENVS 499D: Readings in Environmental Justice are learning about the intersections between environmental justice and incarceration. This post reflects some of the group’s learning and discussion. By Megan H., Anneka H., Kait S., & Brigid W The current Whatcom County Jail, located downtown near the public library and post…

What Catherine Coleman Flowers Tells us About Coalition Building and Activism

by Jaimie B., Caroline H., Bianca C. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. Catherine Coleman Flowers’ book, Waste: One Woman’s Fight…

The “Germ of Laziness” in Legislature: How Lowndes County is Being Blamed for Political Neglect

By Sophia Fox, Aoife Duffy, Jann Eberharter, and Katya McMullen. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. One theme our group attempted…

Pushing Painful Problems onto the Powerless: The Concept of Not in My Backyard

By Clara Copley, Jordan De Lanoy, and Joe Magnani Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. The concept of “not in my…

How “Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret”, by Catherine Flowers, Sets an Example of Experiential Learning

By Eukia L, Katie B, Mia L, and Sarah S. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Cathrine Flowers’: Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, in Spring 2022. “Experiential Learning is the process…

If You Can’t Bring People to the Groceries, Bring Groceries to the People

By Lily Baumgart, Jacob O’Donnell, Jessi Peterson In our discussion as a class on the East Whatcom Food Landscape Assessment, we generated many new ideas for projects combating food insecurity in the rural communities of East Whatcom County. These ideas ranged from policy incentives, such as subsidies, to bring grocery stores into these communities, to…

Resurgence: Opportunities for Growth in Nature and Humanity

By Emily Amos, Audrey LeFinson, Vivienne Moore, and Cami Hoffman. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s: The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist…

Freedom and Survival: Foraging for Matsutake and Housing

by Jade Weston, Kyto Katori, LucyGreeley, KayMcDowell. Most quarters, a group of students at WWU gathers to discuss a recent book or set of podcasts about environmental justice. This post reflects our discussion of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s: The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins in Winter…