Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1990 — Page 2

PAOE «t

Environment

By STEVEN POCKRASS Recorder Correspondent JPHH (though it has become a major Wk issue among the white middle class, the environmental conce* 11 °f d* green movement remains a low priority for minorities and poor people. James Thindwa, staff director for the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana’s Toxic Action Project, views this as a problem and topes the 1990s will become a decade of environmental awareness in which environmental rights will be equated with civil rights. Thindwa and other environmentalists have

Black & Green Environmental movement lacks minority participation

pointed out that the urban poor tend to be harmed the most by environmental policies, but because their primary concern is day-to-day survival, the needy also are the least likdy to complain. “We need to incorporate them (the needy) simply because they are the people who are . impacted by this,” said Marie Zellar, grassroots coordinator for the Hoosier Environmental Council, a statewide coalition of environmental and community groups. City garbage dumps often are located in impoverished neighborhoods, which also tend to have unsatisfactory air quality, Zellar said. Noting that this is primarily a socioeconomic issue, Thindwa said, “Poor people live in old buildings. A lot of those buildings have lead paint.” It’s also a racial concern, he believes, because of the large concentration of minorities in the inner cities and says blacks should start looking at the environment as a civil rights issue. According to Gerry Stover, executive direc-

James Thindwa, staff director, Citizens Action Coalition says the urban poor tend to be harmed by most environmental policies. (Recorder Photo by Steven Pockrass)

tor of the Environmental Consortium for Minority Outreach in Washington, D.C., urban minority populations are often the first to experience the adverse physical and economic effects of environmental problems.

“Yet, they are barely represented in the memberships, on the staffs and on the boards of environmental organizations,” Stover wrote in the summer 1990 edition of the Gannett Center Journal. Thindwa believes the situation in Indianapo-

lis minors die national picture, since minority participation in the environmental movement at both the volunteer and professional levels is virtually non-existent y . Why is dds? If all minorities were pom, perhaps we could conclude that those folks who are trying to make ends meet simply don’t have time to worry about the impact of environmental abuses. But as Thindwa points out the lack of involvement among minorities cuts across socioeconomic lines. Thus, the whiteness of the green movement must be more complex. 4 “It’s really difficult to put your finger on it," said Thindwa, who thinks perceptions are a major obstacle. Environmental groups must accept some of the blame for failing to reach out to minorities, both Thindwa and environmental council coordinator Zellar admitted. They cannot increase minority participation simply by sitting back and waiting for people to come to them. The two also said their groups hope to develop more comact with minorities through visits to churches and civO rights organizations. The Citizens Action Coalition is planning to hire an organizer to recrait African Americans and the environmental council also plans to incorporate traditional minority concerns like jobs, housing and education into its agenda in an effort to attract more minorities from Marion and Lake counties. “If you imegrate the issues, you integrate the activist base,” Zellar said.

Where do we go from here?

Although household products constitute one of our single largest sources of individual exposure to toxic substances, they arc only a small portion of the 276 million pounds of toxics emitted to Indiana’s air, land and water each year. Many of these emissions result from industry’s production of the very same substances that pollute our homes. Manufacturing these

products also generates hazardous wastes which affect our communities when they are landfilled or incinerated. 1 How can you help eliminate these toxic hazards from your homes, workplaces and the environment? Stop purchasing products which contain toxic substances. Consumer buying power can help pressure industries to reformulate prod- ■

ucts to replace toxic ingredients with safer and

more natural substances.

Oppose municipal waste plans for your communities, which rely on incineration and other disposal strategies that undercut efforts at reducing and preventing toxics use. Join your neighbors tp : influence industrial facilities, stores and local .goverpppnt to commit to toxics use reductiop.

Some alternatives to household toxics

abrasive cleaner baking soda non-chlorine scouring powder ■ air freshener open box of baking soda bowl of vinegar herbs and spices ■ ammonia cleaner baking sodaand water vinegar, salt and water plunger or snake for drains ■ chemical fertilizer compost

peat moss fish or bone meal ■ disinfectant 1/2 cup borax in 1 gal. water ■ drain cleaner baking soda and vinegar in boiling water snake or plunger ■ enamel-based paint water or latex-based paints ■floor/furniture polish lemon juice and veg. oil vinegar

■ furniture stripper sandpaper steel wool ■ garden pesticide live traps natural predators pulling weeds by hand companion planting ■ house insecticide flypaper dishwater spray garlic and water spray mothballs...cedar chips, cedar chest dried lavender or tansy

■ oil-based paint water or latex-based paints ■ paint solvent sandpaper heat gun water (for water-based paints) ■ pet flea collars and powder herbal collars and powders vitamins, brewers yeast in diet ■ rat/mouse poison live traps

■ shoe polishes buff with nut oils or beeswax silver cleaners boiling water with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp. baking soda, and aluminum foil liner ■spot remover white vinegar and water corn meal and water lemon juice ■toiletefeaner baking soda varnishes and sealants natural oils or beeswax

For more information: Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home, available from: Household Hazardous Waste Products, 901 S. National, Box 108, Springfield, Mo. 65804. Home Safe Home, a series of fact sheets available from: Washington Toxics Coalition, 4516 University N.E., Seattle, Wa. 98105.

Adopting trees

Charles Henderson, Phil Votaw, Joe Stone and Nellie Matthews plant trees along Belmont Ave. as part of an Adopt-a-Tnee program that was held last Saturday, Dec. 1. Ashland Petroleum Company, in cooperation with the neighborhood along Belmont Ave. has agreed toasslst In the beutlficatlonalong Belmont Ave.by donating TO trees. The neighborhood will be responsible for caring for the trees. Environmentalists encourage tree planting as a way of preventing soil erosion and recharging water streams. Planting trees Is one of several ways individuals can help save the earth.

(Recorder Photo by Susan Peters)

Volunteers needed for Earth Day Indiana If you’d like to help solve the earth’s environmental crisis — and have fun and meet new people in the process—join the Earth Day Indiana volunteer team. Volunteers are needed to organize all aspects of Earth Day Indiana festivities, to be held April 21,1991. Depending upon your interests, you can lend your time and talents to such committees as fundraising, publicity, entertainment, food and event-day setup and cleanup. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to attend one or all of the upcoming volunteer meetings, scheduled for Dec. 9, Jan. 13, 1991 and Feb. 10,1991. All meetings will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Johnson Room of Butler University’s Robertson Hall. For more information, contact Lori Bennett-Kolb, Earth Day Indiana Inc., P.O. Box rwtarfmenfOR.

MSm>: JM

^ ” As parents get older, they r - face inevitable changes, personal losses or even medical problems. And sometimes these life changes can lead to depression or withdrawal It's hard when the ones who cared for you need care themselves, but when problems interfere with an older loved one's ability to perform everyday activities and enioy life, then it may be time to seek professional help Here are some signs to watch for: • Changing and unpredictable

• Difficulty concertrating or remembering »A change in habits, such as eating, sleeping, and hygiene

When you call us with concerns about the way your parent or an older loved one is dealing with aging, you can talk confidentiaity with one of our trained counselors Then, if needed, we'll arrange a private, professional evaluation. Our Older Adults Program offers Methodist Hospital's exceptional standard of care Our experienced team of experts, includ-

taking a family approach to working through problems. Also, older individuals benefit from Methodist Hospital's ability to diagnose and treat the physical problems that can cause emotional problems. And, costs are generally covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare The Behavioral Cm .. Center provides individuals MMettodiSt MMite'Mconpim HHogitaL..—=