The prominence of the privileged in the food-movement narrative, along with its “whiteness” (Slocum 2007), reflects the uneasy dualism between the trend of “quality food” for higher- income consumers and “other food” consumed by the masses (Goodman and Goodman 2007, 6).

Dove Onslaught Campaign: "Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does" - Greenpeace Onslaught(er) Campaign: "Talk to Dove before it is too late"

"In June 2008, the World Bank reported that global food prices had risen 83 percent in three years and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) cited a 45 percent increase in their world food price index in just nine months (Wiggins and Levy 2008).

Journalism professor Michael Pollan, one of the mainstream media’s prominent food celebrities, asserts that “[t]he food movement coalesces around the recognition that today’s food and farming economy is ‘unsustainable’—that it can’t go on in its current form much longer without courting a breakdown of some kind, whether environmental, economic, or both. . . .” For Pollan, the food movement is “splintered” in its origins, “[unified] as yet by little more than the recognition that industrial food production is in need of reform because its so- cial/environmental/public health/animal welfare/gastronomic costs are too high” (Pollan 2010).

Granted, no amount of fresh produce will solve the under- lying socioeconomic problems of chronic unemployment, labor exploitation, crumbling public education, land and real estate speculation, and violence visited upon underserved communi- ties of color. But within a historicized framework of structural racism, the centrality of food to a community’s collective cul- tural identities provides links between racial identity and activ- ism (Pulido 2000). Food-justice activism is an important social change driver that, if allied with other, radical social move- ments, could seriously challenge the corporate food regime’s structural inequities.

An emblematic example of this narrative at work is the ubiquitous food-movement adage to fix the food system by “voting with your fork” (Pollan 2006). This strategy not only takes the access and purchasing power of the pre-dominantly white, middle-class consumer for granted, but also it assumes that our food system can be reformed through informed consumer choice, and ignores the ways working-class and people of color have historically brought about social change (Guthman 2008).

“So the trademark slogans of mainstream environmentalism, such as ‘Save the Whales’ or ‘Extinction is forever,’ are seen to reflect concerns of white people who are blind to the problems of people of color.” (Di Chiro 1996: 311)

Daly City, California: Midwat Village: Public Housing Building Contaminated Soil

“Most stay in toxic traps because they fear losing their berth in public housing and ending up living in shelters or on the street while waiting their turn on long lists for the next available unit. Placing public housing residents on the fence-line with toxic industries sends a powerful message that society does not value these people and is willing to sacrifice their health in order to reduce public spending. Not only is this type of decision morally repugnant, it is also shortsighted in that taxpayers ultimately pay for emergency health care services for this population once they fall ill from foreseeable chemical exposures.” (Lerner 2010, p. 217)          

What is Environmental Justice?

 In defining Environmental Justice, I find myself pealing the pages to Jamieson’s definition in Justice: The Heart of Environmentalism.

“Aristotle distinguished two types of justice: distributive justice and corrective justice. Distributive justice concerns how various benefits and burdens should be distributed; corrective justice is about punishment and compensation…. On this view the environment is a resource whose distribution should be governed by principles of justice….(Thus by) advocating the distribution of the benefits and costs of environmental resources according to principles of justice. From this perspective environmental resources are in principle no different from money, food, health care, or other distributive goods over which people have claims of justice”  (Jamieson 2007, p. 90)

“Polluting industries still follow the path of least resistance….it is a ‘race to the bottom’ where land, labor, and lives are cheap. It’s about the profits and the ‘bottom line.’ Environmental ‘sacrifice zones’ are seen as the price of doing business. Vulnerable communities, populations and individuals often fall between the regulatory cracks. They are in many ways ‘invisible’ communities. The Environmental Justice movement served to make these disenfranchised communities visible and vocal.” (Bullard et all 2007, 5)

    I had a work day at Veggielution, an amazing non-profit in San Jose. I have been working for them since the beginning of the quarter.  This past Saturday, my team and I did Food Justice curriculum with the Dig Crew (the high school program.)

   On the way home, I saw the cutest thing ever! On one of the walk-ways above the freeway in the wired fencing was written with what I believe was about 200 little balloons that read 'PROM?'

Such sweetness really, I hope she said yes.

If I could, I would go back and prevent this from happening,
If I could, I would prevent the poisoning-
I'd event take away cadmium, uranium,
And all the other 'ium's from the Period Table of Elements

While I'm at it, I will make laws that will diable you from being cheated-
That will acknowledge your rights,

Well, while I'm at it,
I will make the world a place where something like this would never happen,
Where laws aren't even needed-
Where toxic chemicals weren't handled as if you were sifting flour;
    For you see with flour you have to be careful, but if a lil' bit spills-it's just flour.

In the dearest of apologies, I apologize for what laws were not made,
I apologize that you had to live next to the plant,
That you inhaled toxins since you took your first breath,
That you lost three babies, due to miscarriages,

Too bad my apologies make no difference.

*Inspired by "The Silicon Valley of Dreams" - Environmental [In]justice tear-jerker