Environmental justice groups organize already-existing communities that insist on recognition

Evidence

The central concern of many environmental justice groups is community and cultural survival in a system where recognition is denied and communities and cultures are thoroughly devalued. Pulido (1996: 25) argues that one main difference between the members of mainstream environmental organizations and members of environmental justice organizations is that the latter ‘draw people who already exist as a social or spatial entity in some way’, as workers, a class, or community—and these communities insist on recognition. — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 230

Categorization

• XREF: Operationalizes recognition: EJ groups grow out of pre-existing social/spatial communities demanding recognition, unlike mainstream green groups. Useful contrast for Eco-Justice readings. — connects to: Disrespectful treatment of elders in environmental disputes motivates activist demands for recognition — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 228; Collective identity and dignified recognition define social movements like environmental justice — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 229; Environmental justice comprises recognition and participation as well as distribution — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 12 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Environmental justice groups pursue community functioning beyond distributional equality #expands (0.85) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 258
• Federal environmental justice institutions were built to institutionalize community participation procedures #expands (0.75) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 245
• Power in environmental justice is relational and contestable, not simply dominant versus subordinate #expands (0.75) — Luke W. Cole and Sheila R. Foster, From the Ground Up, 674