community-based solutions for environmental & economic justice - magnuson health sciences center

4th Annual Conference: Community-Based Solutions for

Environmental & Economic Justice

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

May 7th, 2005, 9 am - 6 pm University of Washington

Magnuson Health Sciences Center 1705 NE Pacific St Seattle, WA 98105

keynote speakers

Carrie Dann Western Shoshone

Dr. Owens Wiwa Nigerian Political

Activist

4th Annual Community-Based Solutions for Environmental & Economic Justice

Conference Proceedings

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………..3-5 CCEJ/Conference Background……………………………………………………………………………..6 Indigenous Peoples & Environmental Justice ………………………………………………………7 Rural Environment & Economic Justice………………………………………………………………9 Urban Environmental & Economic Justice………………………………………………………..10 Youth Organizing & Environmental Justice……………………………………………………….13 Globalization, Indigenous Peoples & People of Color………………………………………14 Brownfields: How Communities Can Reclaim Land…………………………………………16 Conference Attendees, Endorsers & Participating Organizations…..……………….18

Community Coalition for Environmental Justice 3

Acknowledgments

A very special thank you to the following volunteers who helped make the conference happen!

We couldn’t have done it without your enthusiasm and commitment.

Elijah Akins, CCEJ Board Karen Matsumoto Clara Berridge Morna McEachern Jonathan Betz-Zall, CCEJ Board Berthena Meno, CCEJ Staff Megan Bott Indi McCasey Shelly Cater Dave McGraw, CCEJ Board Minh Chau Le Cathy Nyrkkanen Jenni Conrad Emily Paddison Eva Dale Alice Park, CCEJ Board Diane Dent Kristin Poppo Linn Gould KL Shannon Mike Graham-Squire Tyrus Smith, CCEJ Board Canda Harbaugh Jane Steadman Karna Humphrey Rob Thoms K Hutchison Lambert Rochfort Katie Johnston Goodstar Katie Thorsos Lila Kitaeff Joyce Tseng Jess Long Sylvia Villarreal Jeremy Louzao Scott Winn Jasmine Luo

Thank you to the following organizations and businesses that

helped make our conference a success: AFSC/University Friends Meeting Hall Madison Market Albertson’s on Aurora Noah’s Bagels Café Mam Pepperspray Productions Central Market Real Change Newspaper Classroom Services University Motel Essential Bakery Café UW Health Sciences Bldg Heroe’s Subs/Bread of Life Mission

Acknowledgements continued

Thank you to the following speakers, presenters and moderators. Keynote Speakers Carrie Dann, a Western Shoshone activist, has been at the forefront of the West

ern Shoshone Nations struggle for land rights and sovereignty. Dann has squared off against international gold mining corporations, the nuclear Industry and the US gov ernment. Dann has received numerous awards including the 1993 International Right Livelihood Award. Dann is the subject of countless film documentaries, articles and books; she is considered a living legend in the struggles of Native Americans.

Dr. Owens Wiwa, a political activist, has documented human rights abuse perpe

trated against the Ogoni people by the Nigerian Army, as well as environmentally related diseases among the Ogoni people as a result of Shell Oil Company’s takeover of Ogoni land for drilling. Dr. Wiwa is a spirited warrior and an inspiration to all who love and cherish freedom. His unbroken will is a guiding light to all African people in the Motherland and abroad.

Conference Openers Debbie Guerrero, Native Wellness

Research Center Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribe Elmer Makua, Tsongass Conserva-

tion Society Laura “Piece” Kelley, Powerful

Voices Ticiang Diangson & Helena Stevens, CCEJ “founding mothers” Workshop Presenters & Moderators Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Justice Moderator: Katie Johnston Goodstar Presenters: Janet Daniels, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Indigenous Environmental

Network Carrie Dann, Activist for the Western Shoshone Nations Shelly Vendiola, Program and Campaign Director for Indigenous Environmental

Network (IEN), Board of Director for IEN


Debbie Guerrero sang “The Honor Song” at the conference opening.

Rural Environmental & Economic Justice

Moderator: Juan Jose Bocanegra Presenters: Ricardo Garcia, Radio Cadena Rosalinda Guillen, United Farm Workers of America

Daniel Morfin, United Farmworkers Union

Urban Environmental & Economic Justice Moderator: Alice Park Presenters: Naomi Finklestein, Member, Yesler Terrace Community Eddie Rye, Community Coalition for Contracts & Jobs Wanda Saunders, NW Labor & Employment Law Office (LELO)

Youth Organizing & Environmental Justice Moderator: Thu Huong Nguyen Presenters: Wilderness Inner City Leadership Development Environmental Justice Youth Advocates Seattle Young Peoples Project

Globalization, Indigenous Peoples & People of Color Moderator: Tyrus Smith Presenters: Che Lopez, Southwest Workers Union Yago Martinez, Filipino Workers Action Center Robert Free Galvan, Tribal Connections

Brownfields: How Communities Can Reclaim Land Moderator: Yalonda Sinde Presenters: Lucy Auster, King County Solid Waste Division, Brownfields Program Pat Chemnick, Southeast Effective Development (SEED) William Teasley, Brownfields Institute Corporation Ryan Kellogg, Tacoma Pierce County Dept of Health


CCEJ “founding mothers” Helena Stevens (left) and Ticiang Diangson be-gin the day with reflections on the founding of CCEJ.


Community-Based Solutions for Environmental & Economic Justice Conference Background

The mission of CCEJ is to achieve environmental and economic justice in low-income commu-nities and communities of color. CCEJ is a multi-racial, multi-issue, grass-roots, and non-profit group that was founded in 1993. The vision for the annual conference came from the Leadership Committee of the Northwest Environmental & Economic Justice Alliance. NEEJA was originally convened by CCEJ in March 2000 at the Environmental Justice 2000 Conference coordinated by Washington State University in Pullman, WA. CCEJ serves as fiscal agent and provides staff support to NEEJA. NEEJA is an alliance of indigenous groups and urban and rural environmental justice activist s fighting environmental racism in the Pacific Northwest. The mission of NEEJA is to unite and empower indigenous peoples and people of color grassroots organizations to speak for ourselves and build solidarity in the environmental, economic, politi-cal and social justice movements for the preservation of Mother Earth for our families & future generations. The original aim of the conference was to educate the public about environmental injustice is-sues in the Northwest and to help provide communities with effective tools to create environ-mental justice. With this goal still in mind, the CCEJ conference has grown to become a net-working gathering for indigenous groups and rural and urban environmental justice activists from the Northwest and across the country.

Next year’s conference is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 29th at Seattle University.

To learn more, contact CCEJ Staff at (206) 720-0285.

CCEJ’s newest board member, Joyce Tseng, welcomes conference attendees at the registration table.

Northwest Environmental & Economic Justice Alliance


Indigenous Peoples & Environmental Justice Workshop I(A) Notes

Moderator: Katie Johnston Goodstar Presenters: Janet Daniels, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT), The Indige- nous Environmental Network (IEN) Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone Defense Project Shelly Vendiola, Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)

Janet Daniels is the co-chair of the Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT). The ACAT was formed in 1997 and fights to eliminate industrial and military chemicals. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has a right to a clean environment. Daniels is also a volunteer for the Indigenous Environmental Netowrk (IEN) and Chickaloon Village and a national board member for the Military Toxics Project.

Janet discussed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and Eagle River Flats. Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and gave money and one reservation to natives. The ANCSA exterminated legal right to ownership of land and made it difficult to obtain a land title. ACAT is involved in protecting an estuary in Eagle River Flats, near Anchorage. There is mili-tary ammunition testing near the estuary and thousands of dead water fowl and ducks have been found. A study revealed that the deaths were due to white phosphorus, which is linked to the military testing. ACAT, Military Toxics Project, Cook Inlet, and national organizations have started to work to protect the Chickaloon estuary and address the problems created by the ammunition testing. This coalition of groups tried to engage the military in dialogue for six years. Finally an ally who won a previous case agreed to represent the organizations and filed suit against the military for violation of the Clean Water Act. After three years of negotiations, the military agreed to apply for EPA permits, comply with the Clean Water Act and to monitor fish and wildlife. The native people didn't win everything, but they won some concessions. As a last statement, Janet said, "Perseverance is what changes the world." Carrie Dann is a Western Shoshone activist who 's been fighting with her sister, Mary, for the rights of her people and against injustices for more than four decades. Carrie discussed land rights being taken away from the Western Shoshone Nation. In 1863 the US government agreed that the land belonged to the Western Shoshone Nation and that they


Carrie stated that when the government began this war against the Danns, they tried to take away their dignity. Racism is prevalent in the government. Carrie can never understand why the federal government is so afraid of Indigenous people. Carrie asked the question, “Why would democracy work in Iraq and Afghanistan if it does not work here in the country for its own Indigenous people?" For Carrie and the Western Shoshone people, land is called the gift of life, and the government calls it "resources".

Shelly Vendiola is Swinomish, Lummi, and Visayan. She is the Program and Campaign Direc-tor at Indigenous Environmental Network. The IEN was formed in 1989 as a grassroots organi-zation that helps indigenous nations stand up against corporations and any national policy that harms the health of the environment and indigenous people.

Shelly discussed persistent organic pollutants, how the corporate construct puts people last and profits first and the effects on native peoples. Shelly showed a film entitled, “POP’s.” which showed how highly toxic compounds impact human health. PCB’s and DDT are two of those compounds that end up in food chains, which are stored in fatty tissue of fish. Eventually, the compounds travel up the food chains to people. PCBS’s were discontinued in the ‘70s but they do not break down and remain in the environment today.

POP’s health effects include: cancer, liver damage, reduce sperm count, miscarriage, neuro-logical damage, and immune damage. Infants are most at risk to the effects of POP's because they intake breast milk, which can have a large concentration of poison.

In 2001, 110 countries signed a treaty discontinue globally banned toxics. The US has not rati-fied the treaty; therefore, the US is not held accountable for regulation of production of POP’s. The US has not signed on because legislation cannot agree on the language that bans the use of these chemicals.

In closing, Shelly told the audience to contact congressional leaders in order to put pressure on the US to ratify the Stockholm treaties and she stated Shelly stated, “Relationship with Mother Earth sustains Indigenous people. We are all connected like a big spider web. What we do the web, we do to ourselves. ”

Questions and Statements

Wilbur Slockish (Columbia River Education Economic Development) stated that a study done on the Columbia River Study is tailored so that the government can continue producing chemi-cals. He commented that the Duwamish people should speak for the Duwamish and the US government has not rescinded its extermination policy of indigenous people. People want to be free of disease like cancer and diabetes, so we need a common goal to achieve clean water.

George K. Samuel (Man with the Bear Claws-clan leader from Alaska) stated that prior to 1492, the Pope divided up land and gave out to the Kings regardless of people already living on the land. The Divine Manifestation had justified the actions of the Europeans. How can the govern-ment expect organization and constitution in Iraq if it still has chaos and genocide at home? In referring to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, when will Alaska be given back to its peo-ple? When government wants to negotiate, it really wants something from you. If they give something valuable, it is a mistake.

Rural Environment & Economic Justice Workshop I(B) Notes

Moderator: Juan Jose Bocanegra

Presenters: Daniel Morfin, United Farm Workers Ricardo Garcia, Radio Cadena Rosalinda Guillen, United Farm Workers

Daniel Morfin works with the United Farmworkers Union. The union began in 1993 to protect farm workers from exploitation and discrimination. Daniel discussed the unsafe working condi-tions farm workers faced.

Farm workers deal with such issues as work-related injuries, unsafe pesticide use and practices and not enough enforcement of laws meant to protect them. For example, farmers do not wait long enough to send their workers back to the fields after spraying them with pesticides. There is not enough medical attention to the effects of pesticides and cases go undocumented. Fur-thermore, doctors in the Yakima Valley do not have enough experience with the effects of pes-ticide exposure and focus on getting workers back on the job too soon and workers become re-injured. Health problems associated with pesticides include warts, irritated eyes, respiratory problems and headaches.

When a worker complains about unsafe working conditions, usually the foreman gives him a hard time and if a worker wants to quit, it's difficult to find a new job. Daniel stated that a fed-eral program brought Mexicans to Yakima for work from 1944 to 1964, and there were abuses back then that still happen today.

Ricardo Garcia works for the public radio station Radio Cadena, which airs educational pro-gramming for those who speak Spanish and for farmers.

Ricardo spoke about the treatment of farm workers and immigrants. In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, there was more migrant farm working so children lacked education and families had poorer working and living conditions.

During the Chicano Movement in the 1960s, civil rights were demanded, community organiz-ing addressed environmental issues and migrant work lessened. Health services and early childhood education were threatened to be taken away if people demanded too many rights. From 1986 to 87, many migrants acquired citizenship and petitioned to allow their relatives to the US.

Ricardo mentioned solutions such as communicating and educating their (Mexican, Hispanic, Chicano) own community. Children should be communicated to in their own language. Public radio in Spanish is a good tool to address many issues like homophobia, AIDS, domestic vio-lence, and environment. Also, information on the services that state agencies provide will be shared with the public. Lastly, Ricardo told the audience to utilize agencies and organizations to empower the people.



Rosalinda Guillen works with the United Farm Workers of America. The union protects farm workers from exploitation and discrimination.

Rosalinda discussed pesticide exposure to farm workers. She stated that farm workers are like our canaries in the gold mines. The chemicals used to produce food are killing us (farm work-ers) and will start to kill the rest of the population. The excuse is that there is no scientific proof that the chemicals are causing their health problems. What is needed is a dialogue about how the food is produced and what can be done.

Farm workers need to be treated with dignity and given fair wages. Rosalinda said that the pov-erty experienced by farm workers is the same as when she was young, and that wages have gone down every year for the past 5 years. There is no minimum wage for farm workers. The piece rate, for example, was 27 cents a raspberry bundle 5 years ago. Now it is 22 cents. Farm-workers also deserve benefits for health, dental and sick leave.

Rosalinda concluded her presentation by telling the audience to be informed about free trade and the food we buy. Pesticides that are prohibited here are shipped to other countries like Cen-tral America and Mexico. With free trade, the US gets food with chemicals. A statistic she re-ported was that more than 80% of food that is grown by pesticides can be avoided. Pesticides are used in order to reduce man-power.

Rosalinda was asked the question, “What is your vision so that consumers can find and support products that are not produced at the expense of workers and the environment?” She responded that the audience should participate in local processes in order to find out where our food comes from. If there are none, form a food policy council.

***

Urban Environmental & Economic Justice Workshop I(C) Notes

Moderator: Alice Park

Presenters: Naomi Finklestein, Member, Yesler Terrace Community Eddie Rye, Community Coalition for Contracts & Jobs Wanda Saunders-Toth, NW Labor & Employment Law Office (LELO)

Wanda Saunders-Toth is a volunteer for LELO, Legacy of Equality, Leadership, & Organiz-ing. LELO works to ensure that local people get first priority in hiring for local jobs. Their tac-tics include signature gathering, leafleting, events and the Community Oversight Committee (COC). Wanda is a community resident who took part in negotiations of hiring plans for HOPE VI construction, to make sure community people got the jobs.

New Holly, a Seattle Housing Authority public housing community, used HOPE VI funding, a federal program, for re-development. HOPE VI stands for “Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere”. LELO found that at New Holly the contractor was bringing in white men from California and Portland to work, and not people of color from the New Holly community.

A COC meeting with SHA was successful as SHA took it to heart and heard concerns.

LELO got the full disclosure of the contract and now COC can monitor hiring. Now 1/6 of new hires for Hope VI projects will be apprentices and be hired from the community. This is mandated from HUD, as HOPE VI contracted in 1968 with HUD. People are welcome to come to monthly COC meetings and can call LELO 206-860-1400 ext. 5.

Wanda stated that in public housing, low income neighbor residents, homeless and commu-nity youth are supposed to have priority to live on the property once it has been redeveloped. Holly Park is public land. One house costs $130,000 to build, but now one house is selling for $280,000, so even middle income people were unable to move back in. The Seattle Housing Authority board is heavily weighted to favor developers.

Eddie Rye works for the Community Coalition for Contract Jobs. He’s been a Seattle activist for the past 35 years. His focus is economic justice and he works in collaboration with NAACP, Urban Leagues, and churches to examine the following issues:

1) Disproportionate incarceration: Young black males make up largest proportion of prison population. We need to maximize on the human potential available in this country, by having more role models in the community to encourage them to be useful citizens by get-ting them jobs.

2) Access to construction jobs for people of color. In ‘70s, blacks weren’t allowed in con-struction of buildings. In 1975, Consent decree mandated unions allow black contractors to be part of the membership, along with other communities of color. Currently, white males get 89% of the construction contracts.

National construction organizations support anti-affirmative action initiatives. The reason given for the lack of more contracts awarded to black construction companies is that there not enough contracts to go around. In 2000 The “Boost Program” was implemented by the City of Seattle using federal money to encourage minority business participation. But community didn’t get jobs and contractors got bonuses instead. In 2002, Black Chamber of Commerce-Pacific Chapter filed a lawsuit that concerned intentional misrepresentation, violation of law against discrimination, state law; contest constitutionality of I-200 allowed by court. The law-suit is currently at the federal level. Eddie feels there needs to be a black worker’s union to really represent their concerns and issues.


A conference attendee spoke on the campaign she’s working on in Rainier Valley. The city is paying the community $50 million for light rail building work to assist businesses to move due to relocation, or to help those who are losing money due to construction if they can show proof. Her group is making sure money has less strings attached, and actually helps commu-nity and will use some funds to make sure that the contractor hires local residents and groups.

Is there any legal protection for undocumented residents to join protest groups? Terry Scott Worker-to-Worker project (collaboration with LELO): create network of workers to identify how global corporations impact them. Working on coalition with other groups try-ing to build local & state network in the minority community around immigration reform.



Naomi Finklestein is a Yesler Terrace resident and Community Council President, as well as a member of the Yesler Terrace Coalition.

Yesler Terrace is owned by the Seattle Housing Authority, but it’s public land. It's the first racially integrated housing in the country, with 600-700 families on 5 acres. Yesler is pre-cious because it is so diverse, with immigrants from all parts of the world. Seattle has much to learn from Yesler Terrace on how to live. There are no hate crimes with Muslim residents, and children, elderly and families are all integrated.

Yesler Terrace is looking at examples at Rainier and Holly, to try to prevent the same sort of development from happening, and getting on the planning Commission, to try to participate in the process. With the other HOPE VI projects, they converted low-income housing to mixed income housing and there was a net loss of 1,095 units of low-income housing.

SHA destroyed Holly Park—800 families couldn’t move back. SHA tries to divide & conquer communities and oppressed people, so we need to be in solidarity-all different ethnic groups, races, etc., and build capacity. The Yesler Terrace Coalition is building grassroots leadership and solidarity with one another to prevent this. Want to have leadership reflecting the makeup of the YT residents.

SHA says the redevelopment will start in 2009 and implementation keeps getting put off. SHA can no longer get HOPE 6 money, so between that and protests they are biding their time. They wants to build condos and there are private developers are on the SHA board of direc-tors.

Seattle City Council is oversight for SHA, and controls SHA's budget. We can help out by protesting that they will include have no net loss of low income housing and let local residents be able to participate on the planning committee. It's important to get in on the process in the beginning, get on the planning committees, make the authorities are accountable to the com-munity. Whether the battle is won or not, future generations must see that the residents at least tried to fight. The battle is bigger than Yesler Terrace; it’s about everyone in Section 8 housing or qualified for Section 8.

CCEJ Staff observing the conference opening. Pictured from left: Nate Moxley, Holly Unger, Kate Villarreal, Virginia Suruda, Berthena Meno


Youth Organizing & Environmental Justice

Workshop II(A) Notes Moderator: Thu Hong Nguyen

Presenters: Wilderness Inner City Leadership Development (WILD) Environmental Justice Youth Advocates (EJYA) Seattle Young Peoples Project (SYPP)

WILD- Wilderness Inner City Leadership Development Presenters: Alan Lee, ZiHuan Nick Li, Rina Thi, Maria Carmen Cruz

WILD, is a program of the International District Housing Alliance (IDHA). WILD youth work in the Chinatown/International District neighborhood, a diverse community that includes Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Laotian, Cambodian and Vietnamese people.

The WILD presenters stressed the importance of communication in their work because of the various languages spoken in the International District. They pointed out that youth and elders in the community are not being heard and have been left out of decision-making processes. The WILD youth are doing a community perspectives project where they use a photo-voice program to document community concerns using cameras. They also do interviews and surveys in the community. The youth closed by stating that their projects can be adopted in any neighborhood.

EJYA- Environmental Justice Youth Advocates Presenters: Virginia Suruda (youth coordinator), Reshonna Booker, Gardenia Vivas, Yasmeena Sally, Latu Wanjalatan, Lashona Robinson, Marlene Nava, and Halima Mohamad.

EJYA is the youth leadership development Project of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice. They presented on a South Park PCB project and toxic tour.

Toxic Tour- EJYA youth took the South Park toxic tour to learn about environmental justice issues in South Park. The tour stopped at the Duwamish River, (Superfund site with polluted seafood), Basil Oil, (PCB leakage), Marra Farm, (organic community farm) and Cesar Chavez Park. PCBs in South Park- EJYA did door-knocking in South Park to find out what residents know about PCBs and what their concerns are. PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, are a known toxicant that was used as an industrial lubricant and had many applications in use until it was banned in the late 70’s. This odorless chemical was found in the soil in the South Park community. EJYA youth gave the following tips for protection: wash your hands often when working in the yard, take your shoes off before entering your home, and mop your floors frequently. Door Knocking Results- EJYA door-knocked in South Park, and learned that the community was more concerned with gang violence than chemical hazards such as PCBs. Nate Moxley, staff, pointed out that violence

W


in the community is an environmental injustice issue within the realm of work that CCEJ does.

SYPP- Seattle Young Peoples Project Co-director Denise Cooper and co-president Thu Hoang Nguyen presented about SYPP’s unique structure as a youth-led organization. SYPP has youth-led participation at all levels. SYPP’s Board of Directors always has two more youth than adults on board so youth have the majority of power. The co-directors help facilitate the campaigns and provide

resources, but the campaign ideas come from the youth, who are considered community organizers. Campaigns focus on

anti-oppression work, such as Youth Undoing Racism and a Young Women’s Conference. This summer they are holding a Youth Organizing Conference in Seattle.

Audience members asked how they could support SYPP; Thu responded that folks could attend their annual auction.

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Globalization, Indigenous Peoples & People of Color Workshop II(B) Notes

Moderator: Tyrus Smith

Presenters: Robert Free Galvan- Tribal Connections Che Lopez- Southwest Workers Union

Yago Martinez, Filipino Workers Action Center

Robert Free Galvan with Tribal Connections began by stating that the oppression of indigenous peoples in North America began in 1492, and continues to this day. North and South America are linked in this struggle and if indigenous peoples collaborate together, corporate globalization will not be successful.

Robert discussed the issue of indigenous lands and resources in terms of environmental problems. Consumer products come from raw materials, which usually come from lands owned or worked by indigenous peoples around the world. The struggle now is finding allies to stand in solidarity and protect indigenous lands and resources. Robert gave a history of modern indigenous struggles in the Americas. He also discussed current practices of institutional racism at the University of Washington.

Why are the struggles and oppression of indigenous people not included in history books? How about in the mainstream or media? We're talking about a western linear mind-set or thought process that excludes spirituality. We can work together and collaborate on things. Let one who is a part of the indigenous people speak on indigenous issues rather than white people speaking falsely for us. They make a living off of our people, especially UW. Institutional mechanisms need to be dismantled that repress our people. How do we go against maintaining linear thinking that isn't reflective of our planet and resources. We can work

Lashona Robinson presents for EJYA


collaboratively. And, we need folks in institutions to make aware of racism inherent in them.

Che Lopez- Southwest Workers Union - Those people who are supposed to be devout are siding with the government. How can we converge and be united? This process of movement will be consolidated. The struggle of people of color has to start with educating people and community. Knowledge needs to be passed on to the youth. Who's going to be our future leaders? How do we keep our history of struggles strong for the next generation to take on from where we left off? What's the transition of our movement? We didn't cross the border, but rather the border crossed us instead. The borders need to be broken within our own city and state. There are strong alternatives and communities, and movements using education and the media. NAFTA has caused huge problems; FTAA and CAFTA must not be passed!

Yago Martinez- Filipino Workers Action Center - We're having an identity crisis. The Philippines were occupied by Spaniards for 300 years and by the American government. Why is there poverty? The answer is population. There's an economic trend each time we reach a recession with the government spending more on military. The economic crisis pushes monopoly to become more aggressive towards opponents. Where military arms go, human rights violations increase. There seems to be a correlation of U.S. Troops arrival and opening of economic globalization. It’s easier to eliminate a class of people if labels are applied to them, so Filipinos labeled “terrorists”.

The Philippines is a second front against war on terrorism. If you look at the pretext of globalization and people, they are unequal. Workers are beaten by police. Religious people are targeted as terrorists. It's easier to get rid of a certain class if you label them. You can't isolate an issue or a race from another. We're working with international solidarity.

In 1889-1914, 1.5 million people were massacred. That is one-tenth of the population. Mostly indigenous people were massacred. And, there's a one-side violation. We need to exploit that to stop the massacres. Struggles and fatalities of indigenous peoples and people of color are not publicized in the mainstream media or included in history, which is racism.

Final Words

Robert: We should address our struggle by dismantling the ideology from an indigenous perspective. For the economic future, it should be energy efficient utilizing wind, water, and solar energy.

Che: Many movements are utilizing and working lands giving agricultural produce to many families. Relating to CAFTA, how do we link up w/ the South and build up solidly. To not advocate for capitalism, we shouldn't support corporations. We should make our own education, distribution of goods, health care, and housing. We need to make our communities sustainable. Why are people profiting of peoples' backs (the workers). There are different types of revolutions. People need to make sacrifices and supporting corporations that pay low wages to workers.

Yago: Those people who are supposed to be devout are siding with the government. Bullets that hit workers were made in their own country. If we want to make it a peaceful country, the law has to abide. Instead of capitalism, socialism is an alternative. Capitalism is a revolutionary idea that changed the system. Some capitalistic aspects can still be used. But, essentially, there's going to be a socialistic perspective.


Brownfields: How Communities Can Reclaim Land Workshop II(C) Notes

Moderator: Yalonda Sinde

Presenters: Lucy Auster, King County Brownfields Program William Teasley, Brownfields Institute, Atlanta, GA Pat Chemnick, Southeast Effective Development (SEED) Ryan Kellogg, Tacoma Pierce County Dept. of Health

Lucy Aster – King County Solid Waste Division- Brownfields Program Lucy Aster presented on how King County works with communities on brownfield cleanups. Unlike superfund sites, brownfields can become a clean-up project with a reuse plan. The Envi-ronmental Protection Agency defines a brownfield as, with certain legal exclusions and addi-tions, real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Because brownfield clean-ups are funded through EPA with federal money, there is a lot of red tape around the process. King County Solid Waste Division (KCSWD) takes the federal money and contracts through the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS), a nonprofit. King County provides technical assistance to property owners, non-property owners, and com-munity groups to determine how to go about developing a brownfield. This assistance includes historical research to determine what was done on the site, determining if there was an under-ground storage tank (UST) on site, interpretations of previous environment assessments, and referrals. Basically King County tries to hold organizations’ hand through the regulatory brownfields process.

Pat Chemnick- Southeast Effective Development (SEED) SEED is a 30 year old nonprofit. Pat presented SEED’s experience working with a brownfield project that is now Rainier Court in Rainier Valley. SEED focuses on the Rainier Valley Floor, which is the lowest income along MLK & Rainier. Part of what they do is bridge the gap of fi-nancing within low income areas where properties cost the same but rent is lower. With an original plan for commercial development, the project evolved to address the need for low in-come housing. Phase 1 is affordable senior housing run by SHAG, Phase 2 is affordable family housing with the bottom for retail. Phase 3 & 4 are still in the conceptual stage. The cleanup for this building was over $1 million. The funding for Rainier Court was private, public, and fed-eral.

William Teasley- Brownfields Institute (Atlanta, GA) Across the nation, we still face many of same issues when we look at environmental problems. Our focus is on community based solutions including determining what to do with an aban-doned site for the community that the community wants. Mission: educate, engage, and em-power young adults & community residents to be champions for revitalization of their commu-nities. Goal: Restore & Transform communities that have been left developmentally. Work with community residents to figure out what are you going to do with it & how.

The site history & past users provides critical information- talk to people that worked there. May have environmental legacy based on historic use or nearby industrial/commercial proper-ties.


Tools for reuse-perform a community needs survey. Ask: “What do you want? What’s miss-ing?” Work on community visioning!

-Types of reuse: housing, commercial, community based service, green space, technology re-search-tests tech that clean up, industrial, public services, medical services, city, county, state/ fed facilities, and educational facilities.

Sometimes the price of cleanup is greater than price of land. You start process & you never know what you could end up with. Keep public/community informed. The public can help you move forward when you’re stuck be public can go with you to meetings.

John Sherman from Tacoma/ Pierce County Health Dept. John’s background in cleanup is “not grounded in a holistic approach”. We rely on groundwater for our drinking water. Data over last 15 years shows that ¾ of underground storage tanks (USTs) leak. Project ACT (abandoned commercial tank) performed a county wide Phase 1 as-sessment for the entire refueling industry. UST technology changed dramatically in late 80s. They searched city directories and found that Pierce County had 250 gas stations and now only has 75.

Cleaned up and reused sites almost always skirt downtown because land is so valuable and tend to cluster along the I-5 transportation corridor. Lack of records not always an overt action. Many uncleaned brownfields have been acquired by informal means by people that don’t know to get Phase 1 inventory. As we put together threads of leaking tanks, low income and minority populations, and environmental problems, we work towards a Brownfields Project.


Yalonda Sinde: One reason we want to have the workshop is because people don’t know some-thing can be done for communities with polluted land.

Q: When you say cleanup, who and how? A: Emery Bayley (ECOSS) It’s about compliance with the Model Toxics Control Act (MCTA). Pat Chemick (SEED): It’s basically expensive engineers & scientists testing dirt until you reach an acceptable level.

Q: What are resources from cleanup? A: (Pat) We got an EPA loan for Phase I for $440,000. We got $200k grant from EPA but need more. Phase I costs are $24 M and Phase II are $22 M, but these are huge projects.

Q: Given that access to the money required for cleanup is unequal based on class and race, how do we keep to keep this from further contributing to gentrification. A: (Pat) This is a tough question. Remember the benefit of reclaiming the site-always a balance. Must keep community in mind. (Yalonda) One way to make sure is that with nicer we also need to have more afford-able. At CCEJ we are working to address this by working to preserve low income housing with the Yesler Terrace battle. (William)You can’t control gentrification especially in the urban area. It’s a matter of getting ahead of the curve. You can’t catch the train after it has left the station.


Alaska Center for Appropriate Technology (ACAT) 505 West Northern Lights Blvd Suite 205 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 222-7714 Fax: (907) 222-7715 Website: www.akaction.org Email: [email protected] African-American Community Health Network (AACHN) 113– 23rd Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 709-1777 Fax (206) 709-9248 African Youth United 2820 E. Cherry St. Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 860-9606 Website: www.sypp.org AFSC 814 NE 40th St Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 632-0500 ext 14 Fax: (206) 632-0976 Website: www.afsc.com Email: [email protected] Brownfields Institute 114 Atlanta Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30315 Email: [email protected] Center for Environmental Law and Policy 2400 N 45th Street, Suite 101 Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 223-8454 Fax: (206) 223-8464 Website: www.celp.org Email: [email protected] Citizens for a Clean Columbia Wenatchee Website: www.cleancolumbia.org (360) 732-4142 Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites

Website: http://carw.org/ Email: [email protected] Coalition to Undo Racism Everywhere P.O. Box 47437 Seattle, WA 98146 (206) 938-1023 Website: www.seattlecure.org Email: [email protected] Columbia River Education-Economic Development PO Box 184 The Dalles, Oregon 97058 (509) 748-2077 Community Alliance for Global Justice 606 Maynard Ave. S #252 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 405-4600 Website: www.seattleglobaljustice.org Email: [email protected] Community Coalition for Contracts & Jobs 5560 S. Holly St. Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 786-2763 Email: [email protected] EarthCorps NE 74th St. Ste. 201 E Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 322-9296 Fax: (206) 322-9312 Website: www.earthcorps.org Email: [email protected] Earth Ministries 6512 23rd Ave. NW, Ste. 317 Seattle, WA 98117 (206) 632-2426 Fax: (206) 632-2082 Website: www.earthministry.org Email: [email protected] Ecopraxis 5901 Phinney Ave N #306 Seattle, WA 98103 ECOSS 8201 10th Ave. S

Conference Attendees, Endorsers and Participating Organizations The following organizations & agencies had representatives at the conference.

Please do not use or add these addresses or emails to any lists until obtaining permission.

Seattle, WA 98108 767-0432 Fax: (206)767-0203 Website: www.ecoss.org Email: [email protected] EnviroCitizen Seattle office now closed. Website: www.envirocitizen.org EnviroIssues 101 Stewart St Ste 1101 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 269-5041 Evergreen State College 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW Olympia, WA 98505 (360) 867-6000 Website: http://www.evergreen.edu/ Fellowship of Reconciliation 225 N 70th St Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 789-5565 Filipino Workers Action Center 2809 Beacon Ave. Ste. 18 Seattle, WA 98144 Email: [email protected] Freedom Socialist Party 4710 University Way NE Ste 100 Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 985-4621 Global Visionaries 1130 34th Ave Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 322-9448 [email protected] Green Party of Seattle PO Box 95515 Seattle, WA 98145 (206) 524-3377 [email protected] Indigenous Environmental Network- Northwest Office 2100 Electric Avenue, #415 Bellingham, WA 98229-4556 (360) 752-9633 Email: [email protected]

Institute for Children’s Environmental Health 1646 Dow Road Freeland, WA 98249 (360) 331-7904 Fax: (360) 331-7908 Email: [email protected] International District Housing Alliance 606 Maynard Ave. South Ste.105 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 623-5132 ext.13 Email: [email protected] IslandWood 4450 Blakely Ave NE Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 885-4300 Website: http://islandwood.org Email: [email protected] King County, Recycling & Environmental Services King St. Center 201 S. Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98104 Email: [email protected] Korean Women’s Association 123 East 96th Street Tacoma, WA 98445 (253) 535-4202 Website: www.kwaoutreach.org Email: [email protected] LELO 409 Maynard Ave. S., Suite. P-4 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 860-1400 ext. 5 Fax (206) 860-1414 Website: www.lelo.org Email: [email protected] Let’s Talk America 1624 Harmon Place Minneapolis, MN 55403 (206) 789-8697 Website: www.letstalkamerica.org Email: [email protected] Mothers Against Mercury Amalgam 2420 NW Quimby #14


Portland, OR 97210 The Nature Consortium 4210 SW Oregon St Seattle, WA 98116 (206) 923-0853 Website: www.naturec.org Email: [email protected] NW Center for Public Health Practice 4005 15th Ave NE #601 Seattle, WA 98105 PCUN 300 Young St. Woodburn, OR 97071 (509) 982-0243 Website: www.pcun.org Email: [email protected] People’s Coalition for Justice 814 NE 40th St Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 329-9062 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Pepperspary Productions PO Box 20626 Seattle, WA 98102 Website: www.peppersp.server312.com Email: [email protected] PRR 1109 First Avenue Ste 300 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 623-0735 Radical Women New Freeway Hall 5018 Rainier Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 722-6057 Fax: 206-723-7691 Website: www.socialism.com Email: [email protected] Radio KDNA 121 Sunnyside Ave Granger, WA 98932 (509) 854-1900/ 2222 Email: [email protected] Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist

Congregation 4620 S Findlay St Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 722-4880 Email: [email protected] Seattle Radical Women New Freeway Hall 5018 Rainier Ave S Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 722-6057 Email: [email protected] Seattle University 901 12th Ave PO Box 222000 Seattle, WA 98122 Website: www.seattleu.edu Seattle Young People’s Project 2820 E. Cherry St. Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 860-9606 Website: www.sypp.org Email: [email protected] Seattle Youth Garden Works 215 NE 40th Street, Ste C-2 Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 632-0352 Website: http://sygw.org SHAWL Society PO Box 61 Wellpinit, WA 99040 Southeast Effective Development 5117 Rainier Avenue South Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 723-7333 Website: www.seedseattle.org Email: [email protected] Southwest Network for Environmental & Economic Justice 804 SW Park Ave Seattle, WA 87102 Southwest Workers Union PO Box 830706 San Antonio, TX 78283 (210) 299-2666 Fax: (210) 299-4009 Website: www.swunion.org Email: [email protected]


Spokane Neighborhood Action Program Living Green 212 W 2nd Ave Spokane, WA 99201 Suriname Indigenous Health Fund 3841 42nd Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105 Tacoma Pierce County Dept. of Health 3629 South D St. Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 (253) 798-6500 Website: www.tpchd.org Email: [email protected] Tenant’s Union 5425 B Rainier Ave. S Seattle, WA 98188 (206) 723-0500 Website: www.tenantsunion.org Email: [email protected] Toxic Free Legacy 206-632-1545 ext. 23 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Suite 540 Seattle, WA 98103 Website: http://toxicfreelegacy.org Email: [email protected] Tribal Connections 3020 23rd Ave S Seattle, WA 98144 Email: [email protected] UW School of Social Work (206) 543-5640 Box 354900 4101 15th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105-6299 Website: http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/ Email: [email protected] WA Citizens for Proportional Representation 4560 W Cramer Seattle, WA 98199 (206) 366-2158 Email: [email protected] Washington Farm Workers Union PO Box 337 Granger, WA 98932 (509) 854-2442 Email: [email protected]

WA State Nurses Association 575 Andover Park W Ste 101 Seattle, WA 98188 (206) 575-7979 [email protected] Washington Toxics Coalition 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Ste 540 Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 632-1545 Fax: (206) 632.8661 Website: www.watoxics.org Email: [email protected] Western Shoshone Defense Project POB 211308 Crescent Valley, NV 89821 Website: www.wsdp.org Email: [email protected] WA State Dept of Health (800) 525-0127 Wilderness Inner City Leadership Development (WILD) 606 Maynard Ave S Ste 105 Seattle, WA 98104 Website: http://www.apialliance.org/ Email: [email protected] Yesler Terrace Community Council 929 S. Washington #404 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 720-0285 Email: [email protected]


community-based solutions for environmental & economic justice - magnuson health sciences center

Design

community coalition

founding of ccej

land moderator

alaska community action

ccej board minh chau

ccej board berthena

alice park presenters

board of director