what does it say about obama when such a man as summers gets a big gig in his administration?

As defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” The need for such justice arises from these realities, as outlined by the Nuclear Information and Resource Service: “Nuclear waste dumps, toxic incinerators, atomic reactors and other such facilities typically are located where there is cheap land, cheap facilities, and little organized opposition. Too often, this has been in minority and poor communities that have felt powerless to oppose corporate giants.”

The poster child for environmental racism is former chief economist of the World Bank and current Obama staff member, Lawrence Summers. In 1991, Summers (in an internal memorandum), declared: “I’ve always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted.” He added: “Health-impairing pollution should be done in the country with the lowest cost, which will be the countries with the lowest wages,” before concluding: “The economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest-wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that.”