I have to say, I was shocked that there are 21 toxic sites in and around Houston (according to this article https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/There-are-21-toxic-Superfund-sites-in-and-around-15029461.php#photo-7170982).  I am not familiar with most of the areas noted, but based on my research they are highly likely to be in or near communities that are mostly low-income and / or where the majority of the residents are people of color.

In Houston there are several factors that affect human health but a couple of specific ones I have been hearing about recently are: (1) air pollution and groundwater pollution from the petrochemical industry in East Houston; and (2) water contamination from chromium 6 in Alief.  These issues affect people's breathing and can give them cancers and other health ailments.

When a person (or Company for that matter) takes the time to really reflect on their negative action(s) that caused harm to another and / or to the planet and view the situation from the other perspective, I think it makes it more personal and intimate and can facilitate change in future behavior and potentially direct them to a path to do better.

I personally express myself in some of the following alternative ways - (1) the events I attend - share my thoughts, experiences with others; (2) in my volunteer work; (3) thru my support and advocacy of the organizations and causes I follow; and (4) with the art (amateur) that I occasionally create.

One glaring way in which voters are discouraged during the current election is how the state has restricted the mail in ballot collection centers to only ONE per county.  Texas is big and this restriction makes it very difficult for some voters to turn in their ballot (i.e. if a voter is in the far northwest portion of Harris County, they have to drive approx. 50 miles (~1 hour) to get to the NRG collection station).

Voting and advocating is a big way in which we can work to try and get rid of these barriers for the future.  Maybe also thinking creatively (within the law) to organize some way to get the people and / or the ballots to the collection box somehow? 

One thing that lack of access to nutritious food affects communities is mental and physical health - good nutrition can aid in less obesity and better concentration / focus.

In one of the resources provided for us to read (https://www.guernicamag.com/karen-washington-its-not-a-food-desert-its-food-apartheid/) the following quote was very enlightening for me:

"What I would rather say instead of 'food desert' is 'food apartheid', because 'food apartheid' looks at the whole food system, along with race, geography, faith, and economics.  You say 'food apartheid' and you get to the root cause of some of the problems around the food system.  It brings in hunger and poverty.  It brings us to the more important question:  What are some of the social inequalities that you see, and what are you doing to erase some of the injustices?"

It shows that access is not the entire issue, it is just one component in a complicated issue and in order to tackle the issue we must consider and work to address all components.

Balance is important to sustainability because if things go too far one way or the other and get "off balance" sustainability cannot be achieved.  The "off balance" situations create domino effects that essentially break the chain.

They contribute not only to the climate change, but also the pollution problem, especially with the containers that are just sitting around and not being monitored.  It is an issue when things get phased out and there is no real plan on how to deal with the "leftovers".