Environmental Justice in New Mexico: Counting Coup

by Valerie Rangel, Bob Haozous (Foreword by)

Overview

In New Mexico and across America, communities of color bear the brunt of contamination from generations of expansion, mining, nuclear testing and illegal dumping. The nation's largest uranium waste spill occurred in 1979 at Church Rock, and radioactivity in the Rio Puerco remains at dangerous levels. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed Mount Taylor as one of the ten most endangered historic sites in America. After decades of sickness from Rio Grande river water, the first female governor of a Pueblo Nation, Verna Olgin Teller, led tribal members to a Supreme Court victory over Albuquerque. Valerie Rangel presents stories of strife and struggle in the war to protect the integrity of natural systems, rights to religious freedom and the continuation of traditional customs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439666104
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	02/04/2019
Series:	Natural History
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Valerie Rangel earned a master's degree in community regional planning with an emphasis in environmental and natural resource management, indigenous planning and public health. Her education involved environmental science, Southwest history, Native American studies and cultural anthropology. Having taught college science courses, she presently works as an environmental planning and public health assessment consultant and community program manager for the state's community nonprofit foundation and volunteers as a river steward and social justice activist.

Table of Contents

Foreword Bob Haozous 7

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

Part I Legacy of Uranium

1 Scorched-Earth Policy and Militarism 19

2 Four Corners: Land Sacrifice Zone 33

3 Navajo Water Haulers 44

4 Future of Uranium 53

Part II Water Justice

5 The Last Wild River 71

6 Raver of Lost Souls 77

7 Urbanicide of Burque 85

8 David and Goliath: Isleta Water War 95

9 Salt Woman 104

10 Fanta Se 111

11 Chocolate River of Trash 118

Part III Land Contamination

12 What's in Your Backyard? 131

13 My Other Car Is in the Arroyo 136

14 Brae eras de Nuevo Mexico 146

15 Keep Chaco Sacred 154

Conclusion 159

Notes 165

Additional Sources 183

About the Author 189