Blog | Environmental Justice at Western

Main Takeaways from A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety (By Sarah Jaquette Ray)

By Rebecca Mercado and Allie Vandewege Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU convene an environmental justice reading group to read and discuss recent texts. In Fall 2020 the group read Sarah Jaquette Ray’s A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety. This post reflects and extends our discussion. As we come to…

Mushroom Mutualism & Community Care During Crises

By Sophia Reynolds, Yeshaia Van Leeuwen, Matt Jones, & Natalie Sacker 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…

Disturbances Rooted Within Our Landscapes 

By Mara Scally, Marina Pope, Heidi Sellers, and Nova Curtis. 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…

Environmental Justice Close to Home

By Allison Greener, Matt Jones and Sydne Tursky Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU join together to read and discuss recent environmental justice texts. In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. This quarter, while reading…

Possible Actions to Fight Against Environmental Toxins and Racism

By Camryn, Julia, and Shelby Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU join together to read and discuss recent environmental justice texts. In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. To finish off the book, our group…

Environmental Justice in the News

Every week, students in ENVS 467/567 (Power, Privilege, and the Environment) discuss news pieces that touch on some aspect of social and environmental justice. Here are some of the articles and podcasts that we’ve been discussing (blurbs written by students in Spring 2021 ENVS 467/567 class): In Klamath Water Illegally Diverted to Farmers (High Country…

What You Can Do to Prevent Toxic Exposure

By Rachel Jilek, Sam Goetze, and Kay McDowell. Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU join together to read and discuss recent environmental justice texts. In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. After extensive analysis of…

Re-framing Intelligence

By Jade Weston, Mia Lumbley, and Marie Ytell Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU convene an environmental justice reading group to read and discuss recent texts. .In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. Harriet Washington’s…

Environmental Justice in the News

Every week, students in ENVS 467/567 (Power, Privilege, and the Environment) discuss news pieces that touch on some aspect of social and environmental justice. Here are some of the articles and podcasts that we’ve been discussing (blurbs written by students in Spring 2021 ENVS 467/567 class): In a time when prison abolition and prisoner justice…

Racist Intent, Life-long Damage, Socioeconomic and Behavioral Control Through Lead Poisoning and Pollution

By Sarah, Nika, and Ruby Each quarter, a group of students, faculty, and staff at WWU convene an environmental justice reading group to read and discuss recent texts. .In Spring 2021, the group is reading Harriet A. Washington’s A Terrible Thing to Waste. This post reflects and extends our discussion. This week, our group facilitated…