Keith Rushing's Blog

April 5, 2018

Scott Pruitt Doesn’t Play by the Rules—and He Still Can’t Win

The EPA administrator's efforts to go rogue and ignore bedrock environmental law keep failing.

March 12, 2018

Two Black Communities in Albany Fight for Answers Amid Official Apathy

The state is risking their health for dirty energy. Now, two of Albany's designated environmental justice communities are fighting for cleaner air.

December 11, 2017

Hogares sin luz en Puerto Rico reciben energía solar

El huracán María volcó las vidas de muchos residentes de Puerto Rico como Heydee Pérez y su hijo, Yenel Calera.

Cuando el huracán María comenzó a alejarse de Puerto Rico tras asolar la isla, David Ortiz salió a la calle con un machete y un corazón humanitario.

December 7, 2017

Groups Provide a Solar Energy Stopgap for Puerto Ricans Living without Power

Heydee Pérez and her son, Yenel Calera, a week after hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico.

An environmental coalition has distributed 6,000 solar lanterns among Puerto Ricans who are still living without power.

October 31, 2017

Tribe Fought for Coal Ash Safeguards, Then Pruitt Came Along

For decades, coal ash has been affecting the lives of the Paiute Indians who live on the Moapa River Reservation some 30 miles from Las Vegas.

September 5, 2017

Vecindarios en Houston sufren alza en contaminación tras Huracán Harvey

Además de las inundaciones causadas por el huracán Harvey, muchas comunidades en Texas se enfrentan a la peligrosa contaminación causada por el cierre de operaciones de refinerías cercanas.

Residentes de todo el estado de Texas y la región del Golfo siguen sintiendo los efectos devastadores del huracán Harvey, concentrando más de 50 pulgadas de lluvia en algunas zonas esta semana, desplazando a miles de personas y matando a un número aún por confirmar.

August 31, 2017

Two Native American Tribes Lead Journeys to Save the Salmon

Native American communities in Northern California are rallying together to protect salmon species that are dangerously depleting.

The Nimiipuu and Winnemem Wintu tribes are hosting events in September to restore salmon and the health of their waterways.

August 31, 2017

In Harvey's Wake, Residents Near Houston Industry Suffer Pollution Spike

Kentucky Air National Guardsmen conduct water rescue missions in Port Arthur, Texas, on Aug. 30, 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey

Refinery shutdowns leave communities vulnerable to releases of hazardous emissions

July 28, 2017

Detienen Los Engaños Del Distrito De Control De Contaminación Ambiental Del Condado De San Joaquín

Según la Asociación Pulmonar Americana, Bakersfield es el lugar con mayor polución de partículas a corto plazo en Estados Unidos y con los peores niveles de polución de ozono. Ambas formas de contaminación están relacionadas con enfermedades pulmonares, como el asma, y enfermedades del corazón.

July 26, 2017

California County Agency Caught Colluding with Polluters

A train transports oil across California's Central Valley, headed towards the Bakersfield Crude Terminal in Kern County.

Court denies permit for crude-by-rail terminal sewer system in Bakersfield, Calif., after rejecting air control board's funny math.

July 12, 2017

La EPA retrasa normas para plantas químicas poniendo en peligro a comunidades de color

El 6 de agosto de 2012, un incendio y una explosión en una refinería Chevron en Richmond, California, causó que 15,000 personas necesitaran tratamiento médico.

Pam Nixon vive en una zona de West Virginia que llaman "Valle Químico", rodeada de industrias que manejan químicos tóxicos e inflamables. Durante los 65 años que ha vivido allí, Pam ha tenido que refugiarse en casa y sellar sus ventanas repetidas veces por alertas de fugas químicas.

June 23, 2017

EPA delay imperils communities of color near chemical plants

On August 6, 2012, a fire and explosion at a Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif. caused 15,000 people to seek medical treatment.

African American and Latino communities will be harmed most by the EPA’s delay of a lifesaving chemical safety rule.

June 12, 2017

Resisting Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks, Locally

Marchers in New York City's 2014 Peoples Climate March. Heightened activism at the local level has garnered a breakthrough for environmental justice in this city.

Heightened activism at the local level has garnered a breakthrough for environmental justice in New York City.

May 4, 2017

Marchers: Climate Concerns Are Tied to Racial Justice

Native American activists join in the Peoples Climate March.

The pollution that causes climate change burdens some communities more than others.

April 24, 2017

Frontline Communities Seeking Solutions Unite for Peoples Climate March

Black community members speak out against racism at the 2014 Justice for All march in Washington, D.C. From housing to education and from health care to environmental justice, Trump seeks to set our communities back.

Environmental justice groups will keep the needs of overburdened communities front-and-center during this week’s Peoples Climate March.

March 27, 2017

Trump’s Heartless Attack on Black Communities

From housing to education and from health care to environmental justice, Trump seeks to set our communities back.

March 22, 2017

Trump’s Torrent of Extremism Distracts from Major Issues like Lead Poisoning

While the president whips up Category 4 tweetstorms, serious issues like the ongoing lead crisis in Flint, Michigan, and other cities remain unaddressed.

February 22, 2017

Trump’s Actions on Race and the Environment Speak Much Louder than Recent Anti-Bigotry Claims

Members of the Sacred Stone camp in North Dakota speak out against the Dakota Access Pipeline

President Trump's environmental justice track record bodes ill for black, brown and native communities.

December 16, 2016

Environmental Justice Leaders to Stand Strong in the Trump Era

The incoming Trump administration could try to roll back recent progress toward environmental justice, but these visionary community leaders are ready to resist.

November 3, 2016

The Racial Discrimination We too Often Overlook

Toxic coal ash dust at the Making Money Having Fun Landfill in Bokoshe, OK.

Federal agencies like the EPA can help alleviate—or deepen—structural racism.

September 9, 2016

Environmental Justice Leaders Confront The ‘Value Gap’

“Race trumps class,” said Dr. Bob Bullard, a distinguished professor at Texas Southern University. He spoke at a panel on environmental justice sponsored by Earthjustice at the joint National Association of Black Journalists - National Association of Hisp

At a convention of black and Hispanic journalists, environmental justice advocates talk about the lasting impacts of discrimination. (English language version available.)

May 11, 2016

Crude-by-Rail Operations Threaten to Drown Out Black Community in Albany

Be Be White and his son Brayton, six years old, stand along the fence that separates the railroad tracks with cars containing hazardous crude oil from Ezra Prentice Homes.

Trains loaded with crude oil rumble past the Ezra Prentice Homes in Albany, New York, bringing air and noise pollution along for the ride. (Spanish language version available.)

February 17, 2016

Coal Ash Dump in Alabama's Black Belt: Another Symbol of Racism's Staying Power

In Uniontown, Alabama, a mountain of coal ash containing carcinogens and neurotoxins is threatening the town's residents.

January 28, 2016

EPA to Weaken Civil Rights Protections Under Obama

The EPA’s Office of Civil Rights is trying to weaken civil rights protections through a new proposal that will negatively impact communities that suffer environmental discrimination.

August 3, 2015

Three Myths Pushed by Polluters to Avoid Improving Air Quality

Distortions and misinformation are key tactics in polluters' efforts to avoid cleaning up their pollution.

We explore three myths fueled by distortions and misinformation that are key tactics in polluters' efforts to avoid cleaning up their air pollution.

July 9, 2015

#AsthmaFeelsLike Campaign Shares Stories About Life Without Breath

Tell us, what does #asthmafeellike to you?

A new social media campaign gets underway to encourage those affected by asthma to speak truth to power.

May 27, 2015

Big Oil: Masters of Deception and Inhumanity

The oil industry has hit a new low in cooking the numbers to stir up unwarranted fears that tighter ozone standards will negatively impact the economy.

May 18, 2015

A Child’s Bout with Asthma Stresses Need for Strong Smog Protections

Fiona helps prepare a sign that reads "I am 3 years old and I have asthma. Protect my lungs."

Gretchen Dahlkemper, a mom turned national organizer, talks about her daughter’s struggles with asthma and the need for everyone to fight for better protection from air pollution.

May 12, 2015

Stronger Ozone Rules Could Help Everyone Breathe a Little Easier

This mural in Brooklyn, NY raises asthma awareness.

Earthjustice's Keith Rushing describes his first visit to the emergency room with his daughter who suffers from asthma.

March 3, 2015

Black Futures Must Involve Environmental Justice

Black Lives Matter leaders brilliantly reframed Black History Month to use each day in February to focus on a separate cultural or political issue facing African Americans.

February 6, 2015

Introducing Dr. Robert Bullard in Honor of Black History Month

Earthjustice's Keith Rushing profiles the influential founder of the environmental justice movement, Dr. Robert Bullard, in honor of Black History Month.

December 1, 2014

A Food Fight For Our Times

Food is inherently linked to food production, the protection of workers and the environment

July 23, 2014

Oil Refineries Have a Moral Imperative to Address Air Pollution

Cherise Udell, founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air, describes why, despite efforts to make change happen, fixing the air pollution problem is a herculean task.