PRESS RELEASE President Obama Urged to Hear Environmental Concerns of Poor Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (1/18/12)
Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman National Juneteenth Juneteenth Holiday Campaign National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
662-392-2016 662-247-1471
e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
web sites: www.NationalJuneteenth.com
Tennie White, Chair National Juneteenth Environmental Issues Commission National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
601-955-2214
e-mail: cocejr4@yahoo.com
web sites: www.cocej.webs.com
Tennie White
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
Tennie White Appointed Chair of the
National Juneteenth Environmental Issues Commission
Juneteenth Leaders Push Petition for President Obama
to Hear Environmental Concerns of Poor Communities
(Hattiesburg, Mississippi) - Tennie White has been engaged in the struggle to bridge the gap between regulatory agencies and affected residents for over 5 years. The Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) has appointed her the Chair of the National Juneteenth Environmental Issues Commission in support of her grass roots advocacy in Environmental Justice Communities across the Southeast.
"Tennie's leadership and voice needs to be supported and heard across the nation," states Dr. Myers. "The 'Modern Juneteenth Movement' stands with her as she addresses environmental issues affecting many poor communities in America. This especially includes the rural South, where the legacy of enslavement continues to be the foundation for environmental injustice with dangerous health outcomes for many. Our major concern is for 'fair treatment' for all communities by the EPA."
Rev., Dr. Myers agrees with EPA statement that, "... 'fair treatment' should mean that policies and practices of federal or state agency programs ensure that no group of people, either racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic bears disproportionately high adverse human health or environmental effects resulting from those policies."
However, Myers knows that much work has to be done on a grass roots advocacy level to ensure that poor communities are educated and empowered to effectively address environmental issues at their front door. The National Juneteenth Environmental Commission was established for this very purpose.
"The EPA defines 'Environmental Justice' as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, National origin, educational level, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws," states Tennie White, Technical Representative of the Coalition of Communities for Environmental Justice (COCEJ) and President, Trouble Shooters, Inc., an environmental consulting firm based in Mississippi.
"Environmental Justice seeks to ensure that minority and low-income communities have access to public information relating to human health and environmental planning, regulations and enforcement. Environmental Justice ensures that no population, especially the elderly and children, are forced to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or other environmental hazards," continues White.
White's mission as chairwoman of the National Juneteenth Environmental Issues Commission is to bring to the national stage a dialog concerning environmental genocide, racism, policy injustices and create a political discourse on the effects of the environment on the health and quality of life of affected communities.
"Members and partner organizations of COCEJ, including Rev. Dr. Myers who lives in Mississippi, have waited patiently for EPA Region 4 and EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC to respond to the conditions that affect our quality of life, health, the well-being of children, our communities and our environment." states White. "Through our petition on Change.org, we are requesting the opportunity to present our concerns to President Barack Obama. We desperately need a hearing to express our concerns."
"We are advocating for environmental justice in our life time," continues White. "Our communities are facing infant mortality levels that are usually only seen in third world countries. Transparency and openness at EPA must be a requirement for the agency. We believe as U.S. citizens we should be able to enjoy clean air, water, soil, good health and uncontaminated homes."
"We will be developing strategies to provide advocacy avenues for our at risk communities," states Tennie White. "We need everyone to sign our petition to the White House on Change.org in support of the opportunity for us to bring our environmental issues to leader of our nation."
Rev., Dr. Myers and "Modern Juneteenth Movement" leaders across the country are urging everyone to please sign the petition on Change.org. At least 25,000 signatures are needed by the end of the month.
For information on the National Juneteenth Environmental Issues Commission and the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation please contact Tennie White at 601-955-2214; e-mail: cocejr4@yahoo.com; web site: www.cocej.webs.com or Dr. Myers at 662-247-3364; e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com; web site: www.NationalJuneteenth.com.
