Explore:
To better understand the effects of sacrifice zones on the neighboring communities, explore the pathways below to understand the historical timelines of oil drilling and environmental activism in Los Angeles, as well as the principles of environmental justice, and health risks to the residents.
The History
of Oil
in Los Angeles
Fossil fuels have played a significant role in the growth and development of the city of Los Angeles. A visit to the La Brea Tar Pits offers a firsthand opportunity to see the black ooze gasoline is made from seeping up throughout the park. Indigenous Americans, including the Ventureño, Gabrieleño-Tongva, and Fernandeño tribes, used the naturally occurring tar pits for practical uses such as sealants to waterproof their canoes.
The Principles of Environmental Justice
In October 1991, more than 1,100 activists met in Washington D.C. for the National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. The meeting produced a key document outlining 17 principles as a framework for the Environmental Justice movement, starting with the “sacredness of mother earth” rather than “the environment”, which ensured engagement with indigenous communities.
The History of Environmental Activism
in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, the environmental movement grew out of a need to protect residents from the city’s industries, its traffic, and its Ports. There are hundreds of environmental activist groups in L.A. County—ranging from organizations that are of the grassroots, neighborhood variety to those that are heavily funded.
The Health Risks of Living in an SZLA
From oil extraction to port shipping and truck traffic, from heavy industry to battery recycling, each activity pollutes their corresponding neighborhoods in different ways. As a result, there are a wide variety of health effects on the community—from asthma to cancer. Here we outline a few primary issues.