Detroit’s status as ‘food desert’ challenged

Many people, including researchers, have regarded Detroit as a food desert. Yet the term food desert is no longer correct in describing all of Detroit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers a census tract to be a food desert based on its poverty rate and the proportion of residents living more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

Latinos and the environment: An emerging force?

Latino voters showing their political clout in the presidential election have implications for Great Lakes environmental policy. The challenge for the environmental establishment is finding the best way to engage this growing political force.

Great Lakes states have some of the most coal plants bad for minority health

 

Illinois has the most coal plants in the nation that disproportionately threaten the health of poor people and minority communities, according to a recent report by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The state had nine plants that received a failing grade from the organization. Indiana and Michigan had the second most plants, with five each, that failed the organization’s test. “Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio – are home to 32 percent of the failing coal-fired power plants in the U.S.,” said the report. “In addition, eight of the 12 worst offending coal plants are located in communities in these states.”

People living near coal plants are more likely to be minorities and poor, so they are more often exposed to pollutants that damage their health, said the Daily Climate, a news service run by the non-profit Environmental Health Sciences.