Green City Rising: Contamination, Cleanup, and Collective Action

Green City Rising explores how communities are organizing for environmental justice in the face of growing environmental and climate challenges, challenging the conventional sustainability paradigm and highlighting the need for specific interventions to avoid displacement and harm for marginalized communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Green City Rising: An Ethnographic Account of Collective Organizing for Environmental Justice in an Era of Growing Concern
Environmental and climate challenges have become a growing concern in recent years, leading to the pursuit of improved environmental conditions for all. However, the conventional sustainability paradigm often fails to address the root causes of environmental degradation and displacement, particularly for communities that have historically borne the brunt of land theft, racial capitalism, and toxic industries. Erin Goodling's book, Green City Rising, explores how communities in Portland, Oregon, have come together across lines of race and class to work for a more just, green future.

The book draws on the work of the Portland Harbor Community Coalition (PHCC), an alliance of grassroots organizations that have been working to address the environmental and social impacts of the Portland Harbor Superfund site. Goodling shows how the PHCC has been able to build a collective vision for a better future and has been successful in implementing various interventions that have improved environmental conditions for residents.

One of the key interventions that the PHCC has implemented is the creation of green space. Green space provides a range of benefits, including improved air quality, reduced stress, and increased physical activity. The PHCC has worked to create green space in a variety of ways, including through the development of community gardens, the restoration of natural habitats, and the creation of parks.

Another intervention that the PHCC has implemented is the development of community-based organizations. Community-based organizations are designed to provide services and support to residents in a particular area. The PHCC has worked to develop a network of community-based organizations that provide services such as education, healthcare, and job training.

The PHCC has also been successful in advocating for policy change. The PHCC has worked to pass legislation that protects the environment and promotes social justice. For example, the PHCC has worked to pass legislation that limits the amount of toxic chemicals that can be released into the environment and that provides funding for environmental cleanup and restoration.

However, the pursuit of environmental amenities can also contribute to displacement and further harm for communities that have historically borne the brunt of land theft, racial capitalism, and toxic industries. Goodling shows how the PHCC has been able to address these issues by working with community members to develop a collective vision for a better future.

One of the key challenges that the PHCC has faced is the resistance of some community members to change. Some community members are resistant to the idea of green space or community-based organizations because they believe that these interventions will lead to gentrification and displacement. The PHCC has worked to address this resistance by providing education and training to community members and by working to build trust with community members.

Another challenge that the PHCC has faced is the lack of resources. The PHCC has been able to implement its interventions with limited resources, but it has been difficult to scale up these interventions to reach a larger number of residents. The PHCC has worked to address this challenge by seeking out funding from government agencies and private foundations.

Despite these challenges, Green City Rising reveals that the violence of settler colonialism and white supremacy are far from endpoints. A collective vision for a better future is emerging, and ordinary people are building the understanding, skills, and relationships necessary to usher it in.

In conclusion, Green City Rising is an ethnographic account of collective organizing for environmental justice in an era of growing concern about environmental and climate challenges. The book shows how communities in Portland, Oregon, have come together across lines of race and class to work for a more just, green future. The book draws on the work of the Portland Harbor Community Coalition and provides a range of interventions that have improved environmental conditions for residents. However, the pursuit of environmental amenities can also contribute to displacement and further harm for communities that have historically borne the brunt of land theft, racial capitalism, and toxic industries. By working with community members to develop a collective vision for a better future, the PHCC has been able to address these issues and to make a positive impact on the environment.

Weight: 388g
Dimension: 150 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820363844