Thursday, April 22, 2021 – As part of the commemoration of Earth Day, Estuario held the discussion "Environmental Justice in Puerto Rico," broadcast live at 12 PM on Facebook.
The discussion included the participation of community leaders from various sectors:
- Ms. Ruth Santiago ([email protected]), member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
- Dr. David Sotomayor ([email protected]), professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
- Rev. Sary N. Rosario Ferreira ([email protected]), Pastor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Toa Alta Pueblo
- Amy Orta Rivera ([email protected]), coordinator of Environmental Public Policy at El Puente-Enlace Latino de Acción Clínica
- Ms. Estrella D. Santiago ([email protected]), environmental manager of the ENLACE project
- Brenda Torres Barreto ([email protected]), executive director of the Estuary
See the conversation here:
Below we share their brief biographies and reviews:
Ruth Santiago is a resident of the municipality of Salinas in southeastern Puerto Rico, where she has worked with community and environmental groups, fishing associations, and other organizations for over thirty years on projects ranging from a community newspaper and children's services to a community school, ecotourism projects, and a solar energy pilot project, among others. Ruth has been involved in establishing broad alliances to prevent landfill pollution of aquifers and other water bodies, emissions and discharges from power plants, and coal combustion waste, as well as in numerous efforts to promote solar communities and energy democracy. In addition to litigation in courts and before administrative agencies, Ruth has been involved in organizing environmental education projects, advising community groups and the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on watershed protection and land use issues. Ruth has worked on cases related to energy projects and integrated resource plans. Ms. Santiago holds degrees from Lehigh University and Columbia Law School and has published articles on energy issues.
Dr. David Sotomayor earned his bachelor's degree in Chemistry and his master's degree in Chemical Oceanography, both from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM). In 1996, he received his doctorate in Agronomy and Soil Science from Kansas State University, studying under Dr. Charles Rice. He is currently a Professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences at UPRM. Dr. Sotomayor teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the area of Soil Fertility. His research projects include evaluations related to nutrient management, soil fertility and quality, soil microbiology, water quality, and watershed management. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and given numerous professional presentations at scientific conferences.
Rev. Sary N. Rosario Ferreira holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (2000), a Master of Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico (2004), the Family Pastoral Counseling and Care Program from the Juan Figueroa Umpierre Institute (2011), and a Doctor of Ministry from Brite Divinity School in Texas in Practical Theology with an emphasis on our responsibility in caring for Creation.
She is the Pastor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Toa Alta Pueblo.
From her pastoral work, she has also addressed the issue of stewardship of Creation. Reverend Sary is married to Mr. Luis O. Ronda Pagán, and they live in Puerto Nuevo Norte, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
She is a member of the Faith Committee of the environmental organization El Puente: Enlace Latino de Acción Climática (The Bridge: Latino Climate Action Network), where she volunteers with the community of Puerto Nuevo, especially with the Puerto Nuevo Pastoral Fellowship, in organizing the community in response to the health and safety threat posed by the New Fortress Energy methane "natural gas" terminal. Through El Puente, she also participates in the meetings of the Renewable Energy Now Alliance. In Toa Alta, she has supported community efforts with the church against the pollution generated by the Asphalt Solutions asphalt plant and has also advocated for the closure of the Toa Alta landfill, which has polluted the community and its water supply for decades.
Amy Orta Rivera serves as the environmental public policy coordinator at El Puente-Enlace Latino de Acción Climática. Her areas of focus are climate justice and energy justice. Learn more about El Puente Enlace Latino de Acción Climática: facebook.com/elpuenteelac
Estrella D. Santiago, a licensed professional, serves as the manager of the Environmental Affairs Area of the ENLACE Project Corporation of the Caño Martín Peña (ENLACE).
ENLACE is a public corporation created under Law No. 489 of September 24, 2004, as amended, responsible for coordinating and implementing the public policies and projects necessary to promote the equitable urban, social, and economic development of the eight communities that comprise the Caño Martín Peña Special Planning District. ENLACE works closely with the Group of Eight Communities Surrounding the Caño Martín Peña, Inc. (G-8), which brings together twelve grassroots organizations and whose objective is to ensure the participation of residents in the District's decision-making processes, as well as to prevent their involuntary displacement and gentrification. ENLACE and G-8 work with the Caño Martín Peña Land Trust (Trust), which has been fundamental in enabling the improvement of the communities without creating an economic barrier for their residents. The Trust won the United Nations World Habitat Award in 2016 and is one of ten winners of the 2018 Community Thrives Challenge, organized by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
