Amanpour and Company

>> AS PRESIDENT BIDEN TRIES TO TAKE THE GLOBAL LEAD ON COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE, HE'S FOCUSED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL PLEDGING TO BET ON COMPANIES. VIVAC NARU PROTECTING COMMON LANDS AND ENFORCING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. RHONDA HAMILTON WORKS WITH HIM. HERE THEY ARE IN CONVERSATION. >> THIS CONVERSATION IS PART OF THE ONGOING PUBLIC MEDIA INITIATIVE ON THE SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE. >> CHRISTIAN, THANKS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. WHAT DOES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LOOK LIKE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL LIKE WHAT RHONDA IS DOING OR THE GLOBAL LEVEL. >> ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS SIMPLE. IT MEANS YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING A JOB AND BEING POISONED. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MEANS DEMOCRATIZING DECISION MAKING SO ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER A FACILITY IS GOING TO BE BUILT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR NOT, WHAT THE TERMS ARE GOING TO BE IF IT IS GOING TO BE BUILT AND HOW THOSE TERMS ARE GOING TO BE ENFORCED. IF I ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT, THIS APPLIES AT HOME AND ABROAD, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MEANS RECOGNIZING OUR FUNDAMENTAL INTERDEPENDENCE AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS RESPECTFUL AND HARMONIOUS WITH THE NATIONAL WORLD AND EACH OTHER. >> FOR THE SECTION OF D.C. YOU LIVE IN, TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU'RE FACING, WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS LIVING THROUGH AND PAINT US A PICTURE, IF YOU WILL, IF I LOOKED OUT YOUR WINDOW AND WALKED DOWN YOUR BLOCK, WHAT AM I LIKELY TO SEE AROUND WHERE PEOPLE LIVE? >> JUST IN THE SHADOW OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL WHERE THE HOMES ARE NEAR THE UNITED SOCCER STADIUM AND NATIONAL BALL PARKS. WE LIVE BESIDE AN INDUSTRIAL BROWN FIELD. THAT AREA RIGHT NOW IS IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THERE ARE TWO ACTIVE CEMENT PROJECTS AND CEMENT INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE FACILITIES THAT LEAVE TOXIC DUST INTO OUR COMMUNITY. TWO SUBSTATIONS THAT RELEASE TOXIC EMISSIONS. THERE IS A MEMORIAL BRIDGE AND THAT PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE OF US AND IT'S RELEASING SO MANY TOXIC CHEMICALS THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CONSTRUCTED OVER BROWN FIELD SITES. WE HAVE CONTAMINATED AIR WITH PARTICULATE MATTER. >> GIVE ME AN IDEA FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING HERE, EITHER FOR YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR NEIGHBORS? WHAT DO YOU NOTICE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ISN'T THE SAME WHEN YOU GO TO A FANCIER PART OF D.C. >> WE HAVE HIGHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES SUCH AS ASTHMA. IF YOU DON'T HAVE RESPIRATORY ISSUES, SEVERAL MONTHS YOU'LL HAVE RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS. WE'VE LOST SO MANY NEIGHBORS TO CANCER, HEART DISEASE. IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT ON THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE FAIRLY YOUNG. MY NEIGHBOR WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND FOUND OUT HE HAD PHASE 4 CANCER. HE HAD A DOG, A VERY NICE DOG. HE WOULD GO DOWN THREE AND FOUR TIMES A DAY, LET THE DOG RUN AROUND. HE SAID IT WOULD GIVE HIM ROOM TO PLAY AND ENJOY HIS SELF. HE GOT SICK AND DIED FROM CANCER. THAT AREA WITH CHEMICALS THAT ARE BEING UNEARTHED, ONCE THEY ENTER YOUR BODY, THEY DAMAGE YOUR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND YOUR VITAL ORGANS. THESE ARE CHEMICALS THAT 5, 10, 15 YEARS DOWN THE LINE WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL BREATHING IT IN. >> IF YOU COULD DRAW KIND OF A DOTTED LINE OR DASHED LINE OR SOLID LINE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION OF OTHER SORTS? >> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS A GLOBAL PHENOMENON. PEOPLE WHO HAVE LESS WEALTH, LESS POWER. PEOPLE WHO FACE DISCRIMINATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DUMPED ON WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCING THE BRUNT, AS RHONDA SAID, OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS. MY WHOLE FAMILY COMES FROM THE WESTERN COAST OF INDIA. IN THE LAST 30 YEARS THE FACT THAT KUTCH IS POOR, THE FACT THAT IT IS REMOTE, THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN USED AS AN EXCUSE TO TURN IT INTO A SACRIFICE ZONE. TODAY TWO OF THE BIGGEST COAL PLANTS, 45 MEGAWATTS EACH ARE ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER. THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE WITH OVER 100 FACTORIES, MANY FLAGRANTLY VIOLATING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. THERE ARE PARTS WHERE THERE'S ALMOST NO WATER LEFT IN THE GROUND, WHERE IT HURTS TO BREATHE. AND IF I COME TO SIERRA LEONE, ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN WEST AFRICA, WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES WHO WOKE UP TO FIND ALL THE LAND THEY'VE EVER KNOWN WAS SIGNED AWAY. OVER 100,000 ACRES OF FOREST LAND, GOT THEIR CONSENT. AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE 75% MORE LIKELY THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A FACILITY THAT USES HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. BLACK PEOPLE EXPERIENCE 1.5 TIMES THE BURDEN OF PARTICULATE MATTER POLLUTION COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. DISPARITIES LIKE THOSE ARE PART OF WHY BLACK PEOPLE, BROWN PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE DYING PROPORTIONATELY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. INDEED, THE WAY ENVIRONMENTAL HARM IS DISTRIBUTED IN THE WORLD, IT'S TIGHTLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER UNDERLYING INEQUALITIES. >> WANDA, VIVEK MENTIONED SACRIFICED PEOPLE. DO YOU FEEL THIS IS THE PAYMENT FOR WHAT THE REST OF THEM DID. >> IT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT ARE ABSORBING THE IMPACT FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AND SOMETIMES IT'S A DECADE BEFORE US COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A CONSEQUENCE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OR MEETING FACILITIES TO BUILD BUILDINGS, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CLEAN UP POINTS LIKE THE AREA 100% BEFORE YOU REDEVELOP. YOU CANNOT BUILD RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM. THEY'RE JUST EQUALLY AS IMPACTED AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR SO MANY GENERATIONS. ALL OF US ARE GROWING UP AND HAVE GROWN UP BEING EXPOSED TO THESE TOXIC CHEMICALS. I FEEL LIKE IT'S DIRECTLY A CONSEQUENCE ON THE RUSH FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND RUSH TO BUILD AND INCREASE POPULATION BUT WITHOUT LOOKING VERY DEEPLY AT THE -- WHAT'S ROOTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES AND CORRECTING THEM BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO ADD ON TO THESE VARIOUS POINTS AND ANOTHER AREA IN THE CITY. >> RHONDA, TELL ME, WHERE DO YOU START? TAKING ON A SITUATION LIKE THIS, WHO DO YOU GO TO FIRST? COMPANY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT? HOW DO YOU FIND THE DATA IF YOU THINK SOMEONE IS A BAD ACTOR? >> FOR US, WE INITIALLY WENT TO OUR CITY LEADERS TO TELL OUR STORIES AND TO LET THEM KNOW HOW WE HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THESE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS. WE BEGAN TELLING OUR STORIES TO SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE, WE ARE VERY LIMITED WITH RESOURCES BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THAT, OFTENTIMES WE DO NOT HAVE THE COMPUTER ACCESS. THAT'S WHY OUR EFFORTS ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY MEET THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE. THEY COME IN TO THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP US. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY AND REACHING OUT TO GET HELP, THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS. >> AS WE HAVE, THIS CONVERSATION, THERE IS A LOT OF FOCUS ON LITERALLY THE 40,000 FOOT, 50,000 FOOT, THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. TAKE THAT, BRING THAT BACK DOWN TO EARTH FOR US? >> WHAT ARE THE COSTS ON THE GROUND TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO FEEL A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF THIS CLIMATE EMERGENCY ON THEIR LIVES. >> ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. IT CAN SEEM ON STRAKT TO PEOPLE, I THINK, BUT IF YOU ARE LIVING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE DISCUSSION, YOU ARE NOT ABSTRACT AT ALL. PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING THE FORESTS THAT THEY DEPEND ON, IT'S PEOPLE LIKE LADA AND HER COMMUNITY THAT IS BREATHING AIR THAT IS MAKING THEM SICK AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE CREATING IT. THEY'RE POLLUTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, COAL PLANTS, DEFORESTATION, NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY ARE HURTING THE PRESENT DAY. THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THOSE IS CRUCIAL. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION ARE THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING. THOSE ARE HURTING OFTENTIMES THE VERY SAME PEOPLE IN VERY MATERIAL AND CONCRETE WAYS. I MENTIONED THE INDIGENOUS WHO STEWARD THOSE GRAZING LANDS, IN KENYA THE MOST AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. THE DROUGHT PATTERNS ARE CHANGING AND SO IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THEY HAVE GREATER POWER IN ORDER TO BUILD THE RESILIENCE SO WE CAN ADAPT AND MOVE FORWARD. >> WHAT KIND OF RESISTANCE HAVE YOU BEEN FACED WHEN TRYING TO GET JUSTICE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY? >> WE'VE FACED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT. INITIALLY WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A NO BRAINER. THEY NEED TO SAY WE NEED TO BE CORRECTED. WE'RE GOING TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. WE'RE GOING CLOSE THEM DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL LIVE IN QUALITY ENVIRONMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN THE CASE. OUR INTEREST AND OUR HEALTH ARE PREPARED TO TAKE US BACK DEEP TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS. WE ARE UP AGAINST SMALL TOWN MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS. OFTENTIMES YOUR TREASURY REPORT. I WILL REDEVELOP THE AREA BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER. >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PERSONAL HARMS AND RISKS THAT ADVOCATES ARE TAKING UPON THEMSELVES AROUND THE WORLD THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW? I KNOW THAT AS WE'RE TALKING, THERE'S A NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT IN EFFECT SIGNED BY LOTS OF SOUTH AMERICAN, CENTRAL AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES. TELL US WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL. >> THIS IS A SHAMEFUL PLANET. IN THE PERUVIAN A.M. MA XAN. THREE INDIGENOUS LEADERS IT'S STILL OUT THERE. WHEN THEY STAND UP TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEY BOUGHT PROTECTING ALL OF US AND YET INSTEAD OFFERING THEM PROTECTION, WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO BE KILLED. IT'S NOT JUST THE THREE OF THEM, GLOBAL WITNESS, DOCUMENTS, PUBLICLY REPORTED. THE LAST DATA THEY HAVE OUT, 2019. OVER 220 KILLINGS, THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE 10 YEARS EARLIER. WE OUGHT TO BE AFFORDING THEM THE SAME PROTECTIONS WE GIVE WITNESSES IN CORPORATE WITNESS BLOWERS. >> IT'S CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT'S GETTING THE FIRST AGREEMENT TO INSIST THAT MEMBER NATIONS CREATE SITUATIONS. AND MORE BROADLY IT AIMS TO DEMOCRATIZE THE GOVERNANCE. IT GIVES PEOPLE WHO 2K50E PEPD ON LAND MORE OF A SAY OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE LANDS. WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING SHOULD GET BUILT AND IF SO WHAT TERMS AND HOW MUCH IS IN CANCER. HE HAS PRIORITIZED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AT HOME. WHAT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IS TECHNOCRAT PARTICULAR. IT IS ESSENTIAL THINGS. WE NEED THOSE URGENTLY. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD IS TO BRING THAT ATTENTION AT HOME. IT'S A GLOBAL. IT'S A GLOBAL VERSION OF THE AGREEMENT. PART 2 OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE ARE ULTIMATELY NOT GOING TO FIND OUR WAY OUT OF THIS GRAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS UNLESS WE GRAPPLE WITH THE UNDERLYING INEQUALITIES THAT HAVE MADE THE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. >> WHAT ARE STEPS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN BE TAKING IN TERMS OF EXISTING POLICY PRIORITIES OR PROPOSALS THEY'RE ALREADY PUSHING WHICH COULD ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? >> I DO THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DESERVES CREDIT FOR TAKING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MORE SERIOUSLY THAN ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION IN U.S. HISTORY. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED. RHONDA IS PART OF THAT. WHAT A WAY FORWARD LOOKS LIKE. SPECIFICALLY THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT IS BEING DEBATED IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, IT HAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IN IT MEANING JUSTICE 40. MEANING 40% OF THE JUSTICE WILL GO TO COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED. I THINK WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE CALLED THE THRIVE ACT. IT GETS BIGGER, BOLDER AND THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY REQUIRES OF US. >> RHONDA, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO FAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND THAT, WHAT DOES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LOOK LIKE TO YOU FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LIVE WITH? >> SO FAR, WE HAVE AN AIR QUALITY MONITOR THAT HAS BEEN PUT UP. IT'S AN AIR QUALITY READING SO WE KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE AIR WE'RE BREATHING. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WAS AROUND THE BRIDGE PROJECT. IT WAS A CLEAN FIELD SITE. THERE WERE MOUNDS OF DUST THAT WERE BEING STORED. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN FALLING INTO ONE OF THEM MOUNDS. WE WERE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE BRIDGE TEAM TO DO A WALK THROUGH WITH THEM THAT RESULTED IN A FENCING INPUT AROUND THAT PIPE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. THESE MAY SOUND LIKE SMALL VICTORIES, BUT TO US IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL. JUST TREMENDOUS EARNINGS. BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE HELP AND SUPPORT TO HELP MY COMMUNITY. AT ONE POINT IT WAS LIKE, IT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE. THESE SMALL VICTORIES GIVE US HOPE AND HELP US TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS LISTENING AND SOMEONE CARES AND THEY'RE BEING RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF THIS. >> THANK YOU BOTH. >> THANK YOU. GREAT TO BE HERE.