Introduction

Environmental racism is a form of discrimination that manifests through the deliberate placement of highly polluting industries in communities predominantly inhabited by people of color and low-income groups. Environmental racism reflects the “belief” that ecological pollution is tolerable and acceptable for a specific group of human beings (especially black individuals and marginalized communities). This article analyses the manifestations of this phenomenon in Mozambique and presents local resistance initiatives.

Manifestations of Environmental Racism in Mozambique 

The term “environmental racism” was coined in the United States in the 1980s by Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr. to denounce the dumping of toxic waste in areas inhabited by black and low-income people. Today, environmental racism manifests in various ways, such as the placement of polluting industries in communities of color and low-income areas, delays in waste collection in peripheral neighborhoods, etc. In Mozambique, environmental racism manifests in several ways. However, this article emphasizes cases of environmental racism resulting from the activities of multinational companies in the extractive sector, which are involved in gas, coal, and oil extraction in the country. These companies, often with the support of local elites, engage in production practices that severely compromise the environment to a degree that would not be tolerated in “First World” countries. 

The Impact Environmental Racism Has on the Residents

For instance, Vulcan Mozambique, an Indian mining company, is currently engaged in open-pit coal mining in the district of Moatize, Tete province. Continuing the legacy of environmental pollution initiated by its predecessor, Vale Mozambique, Vulcan has transformed Moatize into a “kingdom of coal dust”. Local residents regularly complain about the harmful effects of the dust from coal mining and the cracks caused by dynamite explosions. “Some people have a persistent cough, and when they cough, the phlegm contains coal dust”, reported a resident. “We can no longer hang our clothes outside because they quickly become covered in coal dust”, added another resident.

Forms of Resistance to Environmental Racism in Mozambique 

Faced with environmental racism practices perpetrated by multinational companies such as Vale and Vulcan, various forms of resistance have emerged, including community protests and campaigns against pollution, legal actions against polluting companies, pressure on the government to implement and enforce environmental laws, and partnerships with international organizations to give voice to affected communities.

Conclusion 

Environmental racism reveals that, in this era of capitalist globalization, societies are divided into two major classes: those who benefit from ecological degradation (multinationals and local elites) and those who suffer its impacts (low-income and communities of color). Mozambique is on the map of countries bearing the costs of environmental degradation, as evidenced by the installation of polluting industries that adopt environmentally toxic practices, unacceptable in “First World” countries. Thus, actions to resist environmental racism are necessary and urgent, and they must always be accompanied by ecological education that awakens and empowers communities, helping them recognize the racist and colonial nature of multinational companies.