Environmental justice and environmental racism

Famous cases

Vieques, Puerto Rico

EPA Superfund site: Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Area. Vieques, PR.

The former Vieques Naval installation is a 23,000-acre facility located on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. Residents of the island suffered through 62 years of US military exercises and ordnance testing which had significant detrimental effects on the health and wellness of the residents and the local ecosystem.

Summary

Vieques Island of Conflict and Dreams - 25 min documentary produced as part of a Master of Arts degree. The companion thesis is available from the University of North Texas. 

Suggested resources:

• Puerto Rico’s Invisible Health Crisis - The Atlantic. 2016.
• Puerto Rico’s Vieques island ousted the US Navy. Now the fight’s against Airbnb. Public Radio International. 2019.
• Fish, wildlife, and bombs: the struggle to clean up Vieques. NACLA Report on the Americas 42(5). 2009.