The role of the state in global race & ethnic relations

1.Asael
Discrimination and Injustice in Mexico
COLLAPSE
The color gradient present in Mexico has established a pattern of discrimination and racism throughout society. These issues are a worldwide problem, and it is in everyone’s best intention to mend what has been broken. The Mexican government has thrown several attempts at this. This past year, Mexico ratified their Inter-American Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance into Inter-American Convention Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Related Forms of Intolerance. Both treaties are designed to help Mexico combat racism and discrimination. However, the main purpose behind the treaty is to present the nonacceptance against discrimination, xenophobia and racism while advocating its commitment to human rights in its territory and human rights while aiding groups that have been struggling with issues thrown at them. They readdress their commitment to responding to the respect for human rights and leaving no one behind. This policy is supposed to address those considered lower class such as indigenous and meztisos along with minority groups.
Although I believe that these government actions could be effective in addressing racial and ethnic inequality along with offering aid and opportunities, the Mexica government tends to create laws but not enforce them. In fact, this is true for most government across the world. Regardless, their mission is key in improving the overall health of society. The United States has implemented several policies reaching for the same goal and although they tend to reach parts of the community, there are some areas that are unreachable. At the end of the day, discrimination and injustice are a root problem for many nations. It will take a longer commitment and harder struggle for any change to occur. The government of Mexico believes they have taken a step in the right direction, but they are wrong. They have taken several steps by addressing they have a problem and have failed in their past attempts but acknowledge they must try harder until hope flourishes through. I think this feeling should be uniformed. Governments need to acknowledge the problem at hand and face it together.

2. Dania Reyes
Canada
COLLAPSE
In Canada, environmental justice issues have been a concern to Native Canadian communities. The issues in question are the deterioration of clean air, the need to address chronic drinking water contamination problems, exposure to contaminants and toxins in food, poor housing, and the potential long-term impacts of climate change. Canada does have a policy called the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The policy assures that the government will use their powers to protect the environment and human health, and to enforce pollution prevention. It also requires that the government, when making a decision, consider the environmental and human impacts in the short and long term. Despite the implementation of this policy in 1999, the issues persist.
Fitzgerald and Mahoney wrote that Indigenous communities in Canada may find it very difficult to access environmental justice when corporations do not take responsibility for the harm they cause the environment. They destroy peoples’ health, wreck natural environments, and threaten cultures. It was noted that reservations are located in close proximity to actual and potential sources of toxic exposure. Indigenous people live next to refineries and other manufacturing facilities. Existing and proposed pipelines crisscross their lands. Landfills, incinerators and other waste disposal sites are often closest to their reserves. Moreover, David Boyd, reporter on environment and human rights, discussed the maximum penalties for dumping garbage or waste on Indian Reserves is $100 while on public land the maximum penalties range from $2,000 to $1,000. This comes to show that the government does not care for the safety of its Native Canadian citizens as they do for other Canadian citizens .
There is no quick fix for undoing environmental racism but Canada has given the biggest step in the right direction as of August 2021. In August 2021, Canada’s government took action in matters of environmental changes where everyone in Canada benefits and works together to achieve. It is important to mention that Native Canadian communities such as Inuits, Metis and First Nations will benefit the most because their cultures, health and economy depend on the natural environment. According to the official website of Canada’s government, Canada will provide $340 million in new funding over the next five years to support Indigenous leadership in conservation. This will allow Inuits, Metis and First Nations and all other Native/Indigenous communities to be leaders and Guardians of the lands, water and ice the country depends on. This will serve to create protected and conserved areas for Native Canadian tribes and communities and care for nature because healthy lands and a nature based economy provide clean food, clean water and clean air and good jobs. In all, this investment comes to show that the Canadian government wants to redress injustices Natives have suffered and make sure they are seen, respected and live a good life just as all other Canadians, no matter their culture, race, ethnicity, etc. It should be discussed that since this event started, it has been effective in recognizing everybody’s right to a healthy environment and defending people in vulnerable situations. There has been a growing number of individuals who have become part of the program Indigenous Guardians and helped Canadians learn more how to support them and their environment.
I do think the United States should promote the diversity that there is in the country. Racism continues but if the government teached everybody about race, respect and care of our environment, less discrimination would be happening and more communities would live in peace and maintain resources.
Canada, E. and C. C. (2021, September 27). Government of Canada. Canada’s Nature Legacy: protecting our nature – Canada.ca. Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/nature-legacy.html.
Environmental racism in Canada: What is it and what can we do about it? Ecojustice. (2020, September 18). Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://ecojustice.ca/environmental-racism-in-canada/.
First Nations perceptions of environmental issues study on … (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/fn_perceptions_enviro_health.pdf.
Napoleon, H. A. B., Clifford, R. Y. E. L. Ḱ. Á. T. Ŧ. E., Hamilton, R., Henderson, J. (S. Y., Lindberg, D., Mahoney, K., Page, A. M., Mascher, S., Morales, S., Nichols, J., Reed, G., & Ugochukwu, B. (2019, June 27). Environmental challenges on Indigenous Lands. Centre for International Governance Innovation. Retrieved November 28, 2021, from https://www.cigionline.org/articles/environmental-challenges-indigenous-lands/.

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