Environmental Justice
WINDHAM-WILLIMANTIC NAACP ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulation, and policies.
Environmental injustice, including the proliferation of climate change, has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low income communities in the United States and around the world. The NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program was created at the national level to support community leadership in addressing this human and civil rights issue.
This goal will be achieved only when everyone enjoys:
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- The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and
- Equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
To participate in this effort, the following resolution proposed by the branch Environmental Justice Committee was passed by the branch membership in April, 2021.
KILLINGLY FRACKED-GAS POWER PLANT RESOLUTION
The Windham-Willimantic NAACP Branch has approved the Environmental Justice Committee’s Resolution to oppose the building of the Killingly Fracked-Gas Power Plant. The resolution follows.
Resolved that the Windham-Willimantic NAACP stands in opposition to construction of new fossil fuel facilities in Connecticut, including the Killingly Energy Center gas power plant proposed as a second gas power plant on Lake Road in Killingly.
Due to the destructive role of fossil fuels in the current worldwide climate crisis: the damaging effects on human health, on communities targeted by racism and economic hardship, on waterways, and on plant and animal habitat, the NAACP calls on state and local residents and officials to further the development and construction of clean, renewable energy sources as a top priority during the next decade.
If you are ready for meaningful involvement locally or simply want to know more, please use the following information provided by our NAACP Environmental Justice Committee.
Our members at various protests. Photos taken by Kate Donnelly.
Branch Environmental Justice Committee’s booth at Thompson Community Day, including button-making by Clay Colt and art supplies for pumpkin-making donated by Cher Kapelner-Champ with many young artistic visitors. Photos by Claudia Allen.