Eye-opening speaker stresses ‘smart’ growth

This week’s Common Hour featured a distinguished environmentalist, Dr. Robert D. Bullard. Bullard runs the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia.
He has been involved with the environmentalist movement for more than 30 years and is the author of more than 15 published works on the subject. Bullard’s presentation was multifaceted, but focused mainly on the concept that environmental soundness and sustainability revolve around health.
He opened by stating that health is not simply “an absence of disease or infirmity,” but encompasses all aspects of living and thriving in our world today. Bullard emphasized the concept of “smart growth,” which entails environmental support of community livability.
“Growth that enhances the quality of life,” he said. 
Smart growth finds its roots in food and water. “Water is life,” Bullard said. He went on to explain that these staples are scarcer in some regions than they are here. However, he also stressed that we have our own domestic scarcity problems.
According to Bullard, “food deserts” are geographic areas in which towns or groups of people have to trek significant distances to access supermarkets. He displayed a map of an affected region, explaining that the numerous marked locations on the map were indicative of liquor stores and that the lone red mark represented the only grocery store for miles.
When people don’t have access to food and water, neither smart growth nor health can be supported, Bullard said.
This was a foreign concept to many students, who seemed surprised and shocked by the information. “To see that situations such as this occur right here in America is startling. It’s an unjust world,” Emma Richard (’13) said.
Bullard continued explaining the impact of exposure to carcinogens and other threatening chemicals on people. 
According to Bullard, 97 percent of schools located in close proximity to chemical plants and other chemical-rich establishments are considered “sick schools,” those lacking any protective measures. “Schools should be one of the first places to go green,” Bullard said. At an approximated cost of $3 per square foot, “greening” schools increases not only students’ health, but performance as well, Bullard explained. 
In addition to improving conditions in schools, getting the lead out of homes is of prominent importance, Bullard said. A recent study on 10 babies born to mothers exposed to harmful agents produced alarming results: The blood collected from umbilical cords of the babies contained more than 100 chemicals and toxins, predisposing these children to health problems before they’re even born, he said.
Bullard emphasized that “prevention is key” in such situations.  Sanitary, sound environment and nutrition are necessary, but other factors also influence life quality, he said. Recreation is key to leading a healthy and enjoyable existence, but for many children, parks such as the one displayed in Port Arthur, Texas, are located across the street from chemical plants or oil refineries. “Everyone has a right to a bicycle lane… All parks are not created equally,” he said. Bullard said, “clean coal is an oxymoron, like saying there are ‘giant shrimp.’ We all know there is no such thing.” The energy industry is making illogical and irrational use of the land given to them, according to Bullard.
Students responded positively to Bullard’s lecture. “It was really interesting to read articles by Dr. Bullard in my Environmental Justice class, and then get to attend his lecture right here in the Forum,” said Anne Daniels (’12). Haley Flagg (’12) also thoroughly enjoyed the lecture: “It was very insightful. He covered a lot of material and had a lot of good points. I also really appreciated his sense of humor.”
Bullard stressed that the problem is fixable. “One person can make a difference,” Bullard said. He suggested that students utilize their resources. Discover and contact local groups or student organizations, he said. He also suggested using Facebook and MySpace to branch out.