Department of Energy Discriminates Against Georgia Minority and Poor Communities

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During Black History month 2012 it seems a bit disingenuous that our federal government still discriminates against minority and poor people.

We have came many miles in the march toward racial and social class equality involving the laws of our nation. Unfortunately, when a comparatively small amount of money is involved with the nuclear industry involving site monitoring to protect citizens, injustice in the form of discrimination moves forward in government.

This is a reminder that racism and class discrimination are often based on financial reasons.

"ATLANTA-The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Tuesday that it does not plan to restore environmental monitoring to Georgia communities surrounding the Savannah River Site (SRS), a US nuclear weapons complex notorious for its Cold War legacy radioactive waste."

"This monitoring, which was cut in Georgia 2003, tests drinking water, rain, crops, fish, air and more near SRS in order to protect residents in poor and rural areas, including Georgia’s Burke and Screven Counties, where many people rely on water from private wells, home-grown crops and fish from the Savannah River."

"“The DOE’s obstruction to environmental monitoring in Georgia is a gross example of environmental injustice,” Bobbie Paul, Georgia WAND Executive Director said. “Radiation does not acknowledge state boundaries. The people living downwind and downstream of SRS deserve to know what’s in the water, air and food that they consume.”"
For more information on this story: http://gawand.org/2012/02/01/department-of-energy-refuses-to-restore-environmental-monitoring-to-georgia-communities-near-nuclear-site/


As one concerned citizen has stated: "Can't have any proof that the actions of [corporations] enabled by our government are killing folks, now can we?"

It seems a complaint is in order with Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. Human life and health must take precedence over department budgets.