Environmental Justice
Write Memo: Write a one-page, single-spaced memo to any one of the entities listed below based on what issue you’ve selected. Keep in mind that for a memo to be most impactful and for appropriate actions to be taken, they need to be directed at the right entity.
3 a) Write to one of the below entities:
California Governor Gavin Newsom
Secretary for California Environmental Protection (CalEPA), Jared Blumenfeld
Administrator/Head of the USEPA, Andrew Wheeler
Director of the Fresno Department of the Environment, Debbie Raphael
Fresno University President Lyn.
A journalist from the local paper
3 b) Format your letter / memo:
Address the memo to the person you chose.
Include a subject line (like in an email) on the purpose of the memo.
Body of the memo (see 3c)
Sign off/ conclude the memo by including your name and affiliation (ex. ENVS student, Fresno) at the end of the memo
3 c) Include and address the following in the memo:
A definition of environmental justice.
One or two examples of environmental injustice in the community influenced by your audience. In other words, if your focus is someone at the City of Fresno (i.e., Debbie Raphael), then the issue should be within the greater Fresno community; if you are choosing someone from the federal government, it can be an issue occurring anywhere within the United States. For a memo to have maximum impact – you should address it to the right person – this is something I will look out for while grading your work – so pay attention to this aspect. For example, if there is an issue of concern relating to something environmental within Fresno campus, writing a memo to Fresno president or Facilities department would have the maximum chances of getting the problem addressed (in this case I wouldn’t write a memo to Fresno Environment – within the City of Fresno).
A proposed solution for reversing or ameliorating the injustice.
Anticipated challenges in implementing the solution.
