Robert Bullard is the director of the the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. He was recently interviewed by CNN in their "People You Should Know Series." Bullard is an expert on environmental racism and has recently co-authored a report, "Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty, 1987-2007: Grassroots Struggles to Dismantle Environmental Racism."
According to Bullard, more than half of the 9 million people who live within two miles of a hazardous waste facility are minorities. "Just because you're poor, just because you live physically on the wrong 'side of the track' doesn't mean that you should be dumped on," says Bullard.
Living near these waste sites puts people at higher risk for health problems including asthma, cancer, diabetes and kidney failure, according to the report.
In response to Bullard's report, the EPA stated they are making 'significant strides' in this area.
