An Environmental Justice Youth Exchange
From May 18 to June 8, 2002 five young South African activists visited communities of color around the US as a part of Project X-Change, an environmental justice youth exchange. The South African youth met youth of color organizing for environmental and economic justice to learn from the struggle for justice in the US and also to share their organizing experiences in South Africa. The seven stops included
and the Bay Area (California).
These young South Africans were from the communities of Sasolburg, Secunda and Kliptown. Sasolburg and Secunda are highly industrialized areas with oil refineries, power stations, paper mills, mines and chemical plants. Both communities suffer from severe air pollution mostly from these industries situated right next to black communities. Kliptown is an informal settlement that faces many environmental problems from lack of sanitation and proper housing facilities to air pollution from nearby factories and water pollution from industrial and mine run-off.
The delegation got to see a different side of the US than what they had seen through the eyes of American television and movies. They visited urban black communities in Boston facing air pollution from diesel busses and industrial sites. In addition they were able to see rural African American communities in Mississippi facing the over use of pesticides near schools and homes and toxic waste dumping. In Louisiana, the South Africans saw industries and pollution that reminded them of home while traveling along Cancer Alley. They learned about the affects of Kelly Air Force base and other toxic sites near Chicano communities in San Antonio. The South Africans were blown away by the struggles of Mexican agricultural workers in El Paso, and they couldn’t believe that this was the United States of America. In Los Angles they were able to see the stark contrast between affluent Beverly Hills and communities of color facing gentrification and environmental injustice. And in their final stop in the Bay Area they saw industrial pollution in Richmond and gentrification in the Mission district of San Francisco.
This exchange was an investment in the future of the South African environmental justice movement. These young South Africans not only got a true picture of the US but also took back tactics of community organizing which will help them in their community work. They also learned the importance of connecting their work with what other communities are doing to fight environmental injustice.
For Biographies of the Project X-Change Delegates go here
Posted by Ravi at February 20, 2004 11:42 AM