Newark Academy MLK DAY of Action: “The Sacrifice Zone”
A review by Ritika Chandiwala - Senior, Livingston High School.
Newark Academy invited LivGreen Students to join their MLK Day of Action, addressing environmental justice, and challenging us to understand our own contributions to pollution. The event which was well attended by students and their families, started with a viewing of “The Sacrifice Zone”, a 30 minute thought provoking documentary, discussing life in the Ironbound community which is home to New Jersey’s largest Garbage incinerator.
The documentary was followed by small group workshops and we attended two sessions before regrouping to share feedback.
Equitable Community Development Simulation - Hosted by the Community Engagement Council.
Evaluating Environmental Justice in Newark through the Lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Hosted by the Sustainability Council.
Living in the Sacrifice Zone - Hosted by the Equity and Inclusion Team.
The first breakout session I attended discussed environmental racism, delving into how marginalized communities are overly impacted by global warming due to long-term policies and zoning in America, inhibiting them from equal opportunities to other American populations. The conversation taught attendees cyclical oppression, demonstrating how each institution is negatively impacted by environmental pollution.
The second activity I attended allowed participants to actively experience how economic disparities develop over time through location and power imbalance. Through a town-building activity, participants were forced to make decisions to ensure the success and prosperity of their community, leading to taxation, installing incinerators, and increasing schooling opportunities. The combination of these discussions allowed for us to draw critical analysis from the documentary and allow participants to understand their position in the crisis and the importance behind being informed and taking action.
From a personal standpoint, this event brought awareness of my own contribution towards the pollution crisis in Newark. As some of our Town’s garbage is sent to their incinerator, I realized the importance of being mindful of our recycling habits and considering the materials we use on a day-to-day basis. Policies and law-enforcement may be long-term changes to the environmental discrimination in Newark, however in the meantime it is critical that we do our best to take simple steps to reduce waste and allow those living in the Ironbound community to be provided with an equitable and safe environment.
We hope that through LivGreen, Students at LHS and Newark Academy can continue to collaborate on Environmental Justice Action and Education initiatives.
