Environmental Justice: Theory, Practice, and Change
Free 10-Week Online Seminar
Every Wednesday, September 25 – December 4, 2024
9:00 – 10:30 AM ET
Held on Zoom – Register for link
This seminar explores the concept of environmental justice and examines how environmental issues intersect with racial, economic, and social inequalities. Throughout the course, attendees will embark on a comprehensive journey encompassing historical perspectives and contemporary dynamics that shape environmental justice movements worldwide.
The course will investigate pivotal moments in environmental justice history, shedding light on the struggles, triumphs, and ongoing challenges faced by communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation. By examining critical legal and policy frameworks, participants will gain insight into the evolving landscape of environmental legislation and its implications for marginalized populations. Moreover, the seminar will highlight the indispensable role of community activism and policy advocacy in fostering meaningful change. Through case studies and interactive discussions, attendees will explore diverse strategies grassroots organizations and community leaders employ to address environmental injustices and amplify marginalized voices.
Ultimately, this seminar offers a platform for critical reflection, collaboration, and empowerment, inviting participants to engage deeply with the complexities of environmental justice and envision pathways toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Seminar Leaders
Fatih Çelebioğlu
Faculty of Geography, Philipps University-Marburg
Dr. Fatih Çelebioğlu is a member of the Faculty of Geography at Philipps University-Marburg in Germany. His research interests focus on development economics in general and economic growth, regional policies, regional inequalities, innovation, university research, and socio-economic and socio-political inequalities. Dr. Çelebioğlu has extensive experience using various tools of regional science such as spatial statistics, spatial econometrics, and interregional input-output models. He is the former director of the Graduate School of Social Sciences, Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, Turkey, and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Arizona’s School of Geography and Development.
Ibrahim Ozdemir
Professor of Environmental Philosophy, Clark University
Dr. Ibrahim Ozdemir is a philosopher and Professor of Environmental Philosophy at Clark University, Massachusetts. His diverse background as a researcher and teacher includes environmental philosophy and ethics, ecology and religion, practical ethics, philosophical counseling, critical thinking, and Islamic philosophy. He is the former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey, and the founding President of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Gaziantep (2010-2014). Dr. Ozdemir is also the co-author and presenter of Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth, which was presented to the United Nations on March 5, 2024.
Syllabus and Readings
Schedule
Week 1: September 25, 2024
Introduction to Environmental Justice
- Overview of Environmental Justice
Week 2: October 2, 2024
Historical Perspectives
- History of the Environmental Justice Movement
Week 3: October 9, 2024
Case Studies – National Focus
- Case Studies on Environmental Justice in the United States
Week 4: October 16, 2024
Global Environmental Justice
- International Perspectives and Issues
Week 5: October 23, 2024
The Role of Government and Policy
- Legal Frameworks and Policy in Environmental Justice
Week 6: October 30, 2024
Environmental Justice and Public Health
- Intersection of Environmental Hazards and Public Health
Week 7: November 6, 2024
Indigenous Perspectives on Environmental Justice
Week 8: November 13, 2024
Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
Week 9: November 20, 2024
Activism and Grassroots Movements
- Strategies for Grassroots Organizing and Activism
No Class November 27, United States Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 10: December 4, 2024
Summary and Reflection
- A General Evaluation of the Course and Key Takeaways Through the Lens of the Butterfly Effect
More Information
Participants who attend at least 8 out of 10 complete seminar sessions will receive a certificate of satisfactory completion signed by the Dean of The New School for Social Research. To obtain the certificate, participants must register and log in with the same email address each week.
Registration will remain open for the duration of the seminar. Registrants will receive a reminder email with the Zoom link each week. The seminar sessions will be recorded and available to registrants on Vimeo the following week.