Sacramento groups encourage advocating for environmental justice

Sacramento organizations fighting for social and racial justice are taking up environmental issues as another core cause to advance equality. It’s a sign of a greater acknowledgement that poorer communities bear the brunt of pollution and other environmental concerns, ones that aren’t always obvious to the eye. “When we’re talking about water or we’re talking […]

Is Long Beach on its way to becoming a zero waste city?

Long Beach currently recycles less than 20 percent of the waste its businesses produce, compared to about 74 percent of waste created by the city’s residents. But that could change if the city moves ahead with a plan to revamp its commercial waste program. “This can only happen if you begin the process.” Watch the […]

Earth Day draws hundreds in North Richmond

With creek clean-ups, gardening and baseball, North Richmond residents celebrated Earth Day in April with an annual festival. Amid the food, music and activities, organizers presented information about how pollution impacts the city’s waterways. “It’s really amazing see the girls get into gardening and how excited they get seeing bugs.” Read the story at Richmond […]

Long Beach activists want cleaner air. What about the beach?

Low income families are often priced out of neighborhoods along California’s coastline. Long Beach environmental activists focused on health concerns among communities of color often target air quality, but the health of beaches and the ocean are also critical. “When it rains, all of the pollution from upstream ends up in Long Beach. As a result, […]

Will refinery expansion mean better or worse air for Long Beach’s poor?

The soot collects on walls inside homes in West Long Beach, a community situated near oil refineries, freeways and trucking depots. Air quality is a major concern for people in the area, which includes one of the largest oil refineries on the West Coast. “All of the sudden we have asthma, bronchitis.” Read more at […]

A chance to breathe: Protecting the coast for Richmond residents

The city of Richmond may be better known for its oil refinery and freeways, but it also has a shoreline offering residents an escape from the daily grind. Youth reporter Isabella Zizi reflects on how a day she spent cleaning up trash from a Bay Area beach made her appreciate what the natural world offers. […]

Combating waste on campus

The sound of a heavy rainfall. It is a welcome sound in dry California. But the runoff wipes the street clean of motor oil and washes discarded trash down drain pipes, dumping incredible amounts of garbage into waterways and the ocean. Youth reporters from San Diego’s Media Arts Center talk with people at Hoover High […]

Sacramento citizens work together to clean water resources

Sacramentans are coming together to battle against litter and pollution. With their own buckets and gloves, volunteers gave their time in communities across Sacramento County over the last several months to help clean up local waterways. “The Sacramento Area Creeks Council is uplifting the importance of preserving water by establishing fun family activities and educational […]