6002 WK 5 DISCUSSION

Collapse Subdiscussion Modupe Olanrewaju Abioye

Modupe Olanrewaju Abioye

WednesdayDec 28 at 6:42pm

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Social justice focuses on the principle of equality which works to protect the rights, freedoms, and opportunities of individuals (Bent-Goodley & Gary Hopps, 2017). However, it is not only enough to acknowledge that inequalities exist. Rather, also encourages or implements initiatives that level the playing field for disadvantaged communities so that all have an equal chance of experiencing a just society(Bent-Goodley & Gary Hopps, 2017; Segal & Wagaman, 2017). An example of social justice is the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) which is an organization that provides preventative social programs and services that help people improve their quality of life and enhance their capacity to deal with crisis situations. This organization services both Camrose and surrounding districts and this is a picture of the building here in my city. Contrary to the Social Work ideology of a just environment for all, injustices, disadvantages, and inequalities still persist in modern-day society, so initiatives that acknowledge and navigate these injustices are essential to these individuals. As a result, organizations such as the Camrose and District FCSS play an essential role in social justice. They provide information packets and other resources to educate the public about human rights and run a myriad of social programs and services that provide assistance, advice, and solutions to individual needs.

The principle of economic justice posits that a fairer economy equates to a more successful one and that opportunities should be created for all, regardless of their race, religion, age, etc. The Alberta 7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness is an organization that liaises with the federal government to improve the community’s response towards improving and reducing homelessness. This year, a nationally coordinated point-in-time homeless count took place on September 27th and consisted of trained individuals collecting information on the number of people experiencing homelessness and other demographics. Pictured here is one of the tent camps at the Civic Centre Park. These types of initiatives are one of many steps needed in understanding the community's needs towards implementing relevant laws that can one day end achieve the ultimate goal of ending homelessness and achieving economic justice in our communities.

Environmental justice centers around equality when implementing and enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and restrictions. Special consideration of poor and marginalized communities which are more at risk of adverse environmental conditions. This is largely due to the disproportionate allocation of land wherein overexploited, underdeveloped, and poorer people generally inhabit undesirable lands as a result of socio-economic restrictions while such exploited resources and more favorable lands are enjoyed by the rich (Shajahan & Sharma, 2018). A great example of environmental injustice is the local pulp mill in Prince George, BC, a town I lived in for 6 years prior to moving to Camrose, AB. The infrastructure of Prince George is a higher-altitude perimeter where the higher-end neighborhoods and the university is situated, while the downtown and low-income houses are concentrated in the core of the city called the “bowl”. In the wintertime, low-pressure climates cause the emissions from the pulp mills to be more concentrated in the bowl, drastically reducing the air quality of those areas. As a result, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia are very prevalent in these communities. This reflects the environmental injustices of this town as interventions are needed to regulate the emissions of the pulp mill towards increasing the quality of life for people living in the bowl.

References

Bent-Goodley, T. B., & Gary Hopps, J. (2017). Social Justice and Civil Rights: A Call to Action for Social Work.  Social Work,  62(1), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/SW/SWW081

Segal, E. A., & Wagaman, M. A. (2017). Social Empathy as a Framework for Teaching Social Justice.  Https://Doi.Org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1266980,  53(2), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2016.1266980

Shajahan, P. K., & Sharma, P. (2018). Environmental justice: A call for action for social workers.  International Social Work,  61(4), 476–480. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872818770585/ASSET/0020872818770585.FP.PNG_V03

What is economic justice? : Economic justice : Advocacy & policy work : Programs. Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28, 2022, from https://dcadv.org/what-we-do/advocacy-policy-work/economic-justice/what-is-economic-justice.html#:~:text=Economic%20justice%20is%20the%20idea,%2C%20religion%2C%20or%20genetic%20information.