Dare to be like Derrick

Derrick Evans, a leader in the organization Bridging The Gulf (an organization dedicated to telling the stories of the Gulf Coast people, and fighting for social justice and the environment), is a powerhouse of knowledge. A history teacher, a story teller and an activist all mixed into one, Derrick emphasizes the importance of environmental justice. When I asked him what he believed needed to happen to create an environmental social movement, he said that we have to stop compartmentalizing issues, and instead show how they all interconnect. The most important aspect is to get the wealthiest people to see and understand how the poor live. Even more, it is essential to get them to understand that they are partially responsible for the increase of CO2, pollution and other negative consequences that often hit the poor the hardest. Just because they are privileged enough not to live in the areas cluttered with oil refineries and smog, doesn't mean that they are not responsible for that. That is the bottom line.

Check out Derrick's blog to find out more about what he has to say, and look through the film Come Hell or High Water: The Battle in Turkey Creek, to see the kinds of battles Derrick fights.