Environmental justice violations extend from distributive inequities in environmental quality, to recognition inequalities of environmental identity, heritage, and political participation, and onto restorative action to reconcile past and present harms and remedies. These three dimensions will form the rubric upon which two distinct cases are considered: Minamata City, Japan and Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, Australia. Both cases will be briefly described in the context of their respective environmental justice violations, their science and policy responses, and their visions for social transformation through education. In Minamata City, the role of monuments, museums, and public education forums will be assessed for their reconciliation efforts, foregrounded by an environmental justice movement and human health campaign. At Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the role of curriculum, experiential education, and socio-affective contextual analysis will be assessed for their efforts to achieve the goals of reconciliation established in the Joint-Management (indigenous-commonwealth) of the National Park.
Results/Conclusions
Both cases will provide the opportunity to frame environmental justice in a multi-scalar and multi-dimensional exploration that will provide local, international, and global insights for the fundamental dimensions of fairness, equality, and social transformation. The particular framing of these cases will conclude that reconciliation and restorative justice are critical for interpreting environmental knowledge, management expectations and option, and resolving the heritage impacts from environmental trauma.