In January, Alaska's Wilderness League's Environmental Justice Program convened a meeting of Arctic tribal leaders and conservation groups to discuss working together for Arctic Ocean protection. With massive plans for offshore oil and gas development, seismic exploration and increased shipping traffic, the industrialization of the Arctic Ocean puts the future of the Arctic ecosystem and the Inupiaq culture at risk. Alaska Wilderness League is committed to working with communities living on the front lines of development on a collaborative approach to protect the ecosystem and way of life.
PHOTO: Caroline Cannon, President of the Native Village of Point Hope, and Peter Van Tuyn, Alaska Wilderness League environmental attorney.
- UPDATE: Robert Bullard, considered the "father of environmental justice," was recently honored as one of the "Grio’s 100: History Makers in the Making.” The exclusive list honors Black History month by highlighting the next generation of African-American history makers and industry leaders who have the potential to make a difference in the lives of all American. Bullard helped develop the US Executive Order on Environmental Justice, has served on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and was part of a team invited to participate in the recent United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
- "As new climate policy is implemented, we have to make sure that equity and justice are brought to bear, because the communities that are hit worst, first, longest, and hardest in terms of climate change are the same communities that are also hit hardest, worst, and longest by other environmental problems, whether they are air quality and other types of hazardous waste or pollution, or lead poisoning." - Robert Bullard, Father of Environmental Justice.
- Read more about Bullard here
