Abstract
We speak for ourselves. This is a defining principle of environmental justice, and a core value in centering frontline leadership at the forefront of an energy and economic transformation. When we speak for ourselves, energy democracy is not just a change from dirty energy to clean, renewable energy, but a refocusing on the needs, solutions, and leadership of real people, especially those most impacted by the worst of our energy system, and a commitment to self-determination as a moral and a strategic imperative.
The reason I’m here to support SB 350 is because it will reduce fossil fuel emissions by 2030, and this is important. I used to study chemistry, so I know that the emissions and pollution from the refineries can be poisonous for people. There are chemicals that can cause blindness, and pollution can really harm our bodies. Reducing fossil fuels is really important for improving our health, so this is for all of us to have good health. This is why I’m very much in support of SB 350.
APEN member Lisa Cheng
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Notes
- 1.
California Environmental Justice Alliance, “CEJA Leaders Show Statewide Support for SB 350,” video, https://youtube/2joFsiS6sFQ, 2015.
- 2.
Statement of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, True Cost of Chevron Report, 2012, http://truecostofchevron.com/assets/docs/2012-richmond-apen-statement.pdf.
- 3.
Ibid.
- 4.
Vivian Huang, “Building Transit-Oriented Community in Oakland Chinatown,” Race, Poverty, & the Environment 18, no. 1 (2011).
- 5.
The White House, Champions of Change awards, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/champions/community-resilience-leaders.
- 6.
This video is not available online.
- 7.
Oakland Rising, June 23, 2014, http://www.oaklandrising.org/blog/you-got-down-opp.
- 8.
KTVU has eliminated the interview from its website, but there’s a blurb about it on the APEN website, http://apen4ej.org/apen-leaders-run/.
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Huang, V.Y., Yoshitani, M. (2017). Base-Building and Leadership Development for Energy Democracy: APEN’s Work in East Bay Asian Immigrant and Refugee Communities. In: Fairchild, D., Weinrub, A. (eds) Energy Democracy. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-852-7_5
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