The latest poll of Latino voters in Mississippi and nine other states shows overwhelming support for environmental initiatives, with 87 percent favoring projects that promote a cleaner environment.
The Hispanic Access Foundation commissioned the survey and focuses on community improvement and empowerment.
Vanessa Munoz, director of the waterways program for the Hispanic Access Foundation, said the study provides important insights into pollution concerns and interesting statistics.
“We found that 86 percent of Latinos think PFAS or chemicals are always a big threat to the Mississippi River,” Muñoz reported. “We also found that 88 percent of the general population and Latinos think that chemicals and industrial waste are a major threat to the Mississippi River.”
Muñoz noted that the Biden administration’s goal is the 30×30 plan, which calls for conserving 30 percent of America’s land, fresh water, and oceans by 2030.
Munoz noted that the timing of the poll is critical as election season approaches. The results can play an important role in shaping policy debates, ensuring that the needs of Latino voters are considered.
“Polls can highlight inequities and injustices and can help Latinos use this as a resource for advocacy,” Muñoz emphasized. “And for community leaders to make changes and raise awareness about these issues that affect Latino communities.”
The poll found that 91 percent of Latinos support potential policies in Congress to create new national monuments, parks or wildlife refuges for outdoor recreation, Munoz added.
Disclosure: The Hispanic Access Foundation contributes to our fund reporting on climate change/air quality, the environment, human rights/racial justice, and livable wages/working families. If you want to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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A survey of 760 registered Latino voters found that 87 percent of Latinos support projects for a cleaner, more natural world.
The survey, which was conducted in 10 states, including Illinois, was conducted by the Hispanic Access Foundation. The organization creates efforts to inspire people to improve themselves, their families and their communities.
Vanessa Munoz, director of the Waterways Program for the Hispanic Access Foundation, said the survey highlights disparities and injustices in the Latino community and is designed to bolster community leaders’ push for change and raise awareness of the issue. He pointed out that the timing of this survey is very important.
Muñoz emphasized: We are in the election year. “Poll results can play an important role in shaping and informing policy debates and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of Latino voters are considered in the election process.”
Among those surveyed, 91 percent of Latinos support policies in the upcoming sessions of Congress such as new national monuments, national parks or wildlife refuges to protect areas for outdoor recreation.
Environmentalists are seeing growing support from Latinos in the challenge of cleaning up US land and water, especially in the Mississippi River region.
One goal, Munoz explained, is the Biden administration’s 30-in-30 plan, which calls for conserving 30 percent of America’s land, freshwater and oceans by 2030.
“We found that 86 percent of Latinos think PFAS or chemicals are always a big threat to the Mississippi River,” Muñoz explained. Another was that 93% of Latinos believe that garbage dumped in rivers and streams is a major threat to the Mississippi River.
Other survey respondents were based in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Disclosure: The Hispanic Access Foundation contributes to our fund reporting on climate change/air quality, the environment, human rights/racial justice, and livable wages/working families. If you want to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Public comments close this week for permits needed for an oil pipeline project in northern Wisconsin. Opponents, including tribal voices, as well as supporters, have presented recent organizing efforts before deciding on the request. The US Army Corps of Engineers will finally decide on the environmental permit requested by Canadian company Enbridge to reroute part of its Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Conservation Area. Tribal leaders are engaged in a legal battle with the company over its current line, which currently covers 12 miles of reservation land.
Gussie Lord, attorney for the Land Management Justice Tribal Partnership Program, represents the tribe, and says the new plan won’t alleviate concerns.
“We know this rerouting is not a solution. It’s the wrong solution to the dangers of the current pipeline. In fact, it actually expands the dangers of the pipeline and increases the risk of a devastating oil spill, both for the river reserve. Bad. Lord explained that the watershed and the Lake Superior basin.
His group and other environmental organizations say more than 150,000 comments have been submitted reflecting those concerns. A separate coalition of labor, business and agriculture groups says it has collected about 14,000 signatures in support of the reroute. Ahead of public comment, which closes tomorrow, the coalition sent a letter arguing that construction would be a big economic win because the new line would help supply regional propane.
Some sponsors advertise potential jobs and related benefits.
Jason Wilhite, activation team lead with outdoor apparel company Patagonia, believes any major spill could hurt water recreation and all the commercial activity it generates.
“Simply put, the rupture of the Line 5 pipeline would have a devastating effect on our regional economy,” he explained.
In an emailed statement, Enbridge said it is committed to extensive safeguards to minimize and mitigate project impacts. Tribal advocates say they are particularly concerned about the potential impact on wild rice beds. It is unclear when the Army Corps of Engineers will make a decision on the request. Additional permits are required for the proposed reroute.
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A new project is set to help North Carolina communities address environmental justice and climate equity.
The City of Charlotte, in partnership with environmental groups, is launching the GreenPrints initiative – to promote sustainable housing, improve air quality and develop green infrastructure in low-resource neighborhoods.
CleanAIRE NC is one of the key organizations involved.
According to Kennedy Williams, the group’s community engagement coordinator, the initiative aims to address the lack of sustainability and educate communities that need it most — and are often overlooked.
“Many people are experiencing climate change issues without understanding what climate change is or necessarily what sustainability looks like,” says Williams. So make sure we introduce sustainability and then make sure that every aspect of every resident’s lifestyle has sustainability at its core.”
Much of the initiative’s efforts will be focused on what are known as the Beatties Ford Road and Freedom Drive corridors of opportunity, as well as Wilkinson Boulevard, Williams explained.
These areas have been identified as priorities for the establishment of sustainable solutions and community participation.
A key component of the GreenPrints initiative is air quality monitoring, a project led by CleanAIRE NC.
Sensors will be placed throughout targeted neighborhoods to provide valuable data to community members, nonprofits and regulatory agencies, Williams said.
“Low-cost air pollution sensors will be distributed to air watchers, who are essentially volunteer community members interested in air monitoring,” Williams said. “The data from these sensors will be available through the CleanAIRE fan dashboard and this will really help to better understand their geographic data as well as their environmental data.”
Williams noted that the GreenPrints plan isn’t just about implementing change, it’s about listening to the community.
CleanAIRE NC plans to hold a forum on Oct. 19 to gather residents’ input on sustainability concerns and priorities and ensure the initiative meets the needs of those most affected.
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