Social/Environmental Justice Talk

The president of the Wildlife Conservation Club, Najeyah Altamimi, hosted an event over Zoom on Thursday, February 25th. The club invited David Radcliff to talk about environmental justice and how to bring help to those affected most heavily by pollution. Radcliff is the director of the New Community Project, a non-profit organization that wants to make a big difference in the world. Their page states “We provide resources that challenge us, experiences that change us, and a community that gives us hope.” 

Radcliff spoke about his organization’s trips such as providing assistance to areas such as the Navajo Reserve whose culture and land is destroyed alongside the environment, Myanmar where dry-zones lower the precious water level by over 15 feet, and the Amazon where deforestation is taking its toll on the wildlife. There, the group learns about the effects of pollution in those areas first hand and provides any help they can, working to restore damaged land and regrow trees or crops. Charcoal production industry is a leading cause of deforestation and Radcliff emphasized the dangers it posed such as its effect on animal populations and crops. Seven million die of air pollution every year. Animals like the American Pika depend on proper snowfall in the winter, and have become somewhat of a poster child for climate change. Moose population has been down in recent years and the Elephant population in Africa has gone from three million to just 350-thousand. Radcliff and his organization want to inspire and create change in the world that leads to a brighter future and expose the struggle of these neglected environments and civilizations.