Youth in Action

I am 13 years old and I live in Pembroke, a small town in the southeastern part of North Carolina. I am Lumbee and my people are the Native people of this land.

In my area, there are a lot of people and businesses who are trying to destroy our land and people. They have tried to force on us chemical treatment plants, radioactive waste incinerators, and now a large nuclear dump, which would destroy the land, air, and water. But with the help of my family and others in the community, we have organized to stop it all from coming. We also work to protect our river from pollution. We have an organization called the Center for Community Action. Youth, adults, and people of all races are involved in our work.

I got involved in this work through my parents. They took me to rallies and meetings. They help to stop the bad things that people were trying to bring to our town and surrounding area. We protested and picketed to stop the treatment plant and incinerator. It took many years, but we were successful. Now they want to place a nuclear dump 30 miles from my home.

I have been working for justice with my family since I was very young. My work to protect the environment is justice work, too. The term environmental justice reminds me of the Pledge of Allegiance, when it says "and justice for all." To me this should mean the land also, but do people live by that? No. But they are also saying that they love their country. Are not trees part of this country? People forget that we live on their oxygen. Isn't water part of this country? People forget where we get our fish.

So to me, the term environmental justice means exactly what it says — justice for the environment. If people would live by this, then there would be no need for me to be writing this. Areas like mine are being chosen by polluters because they are isolated, low-income, and have people of different races. Environmental justice means stopping areas like where I live from always being chosen for dumps and plants by industries which hurt the environment and people. We already have too many of them.

I think that the idea of radioactive dumps stinks. I think the only reason they are trying to put it here is because they think people don't care about the environment. If they are allowed to put it here, then they will think they can treat us any way they please because we did not stop them. 

If this dump is allowed to come to our area, I feel it will cause much harm. It is proven that every other dump of this kind has leaked. The odds are that this one will leak too, if we let it come. If this dump comes and leaks, then the radioactive materials could cause cancer in my area. It could kill trees, plants, fish, and our air and drinking water could be polluted.

I am working with my dad, mom, sister, and brother to help stop this dump. Whatever is needed to do, I will help. I have tried to talk to my friends about the problems in our community, but many of them don't know what is happening because they haven't been taught about it.

I think that if youth would get involved, then they could help change the decisions of our leaders. Many people listen to children more than adults because they think if the children feel strong enough to speak out, then it must be pretty bad. If kids would get organized, then they could organize adults.

I hope you take what I have said seriously because you never know, it can happen to your town just as quick as anywhere else. 

Rhiannon Chavis-Legerton is a member of the Center for Community Action, which was founded by her parents, Donna Chavis and Mac Legerton. She was recently featured in Sassy and Zuzu magazines for her work for environmental and social justice.