Eric Ini has been working with communities to fight for environmental justice for the better part of the past decade. The environment we live in has a direct impact on our health. Local pollutants can exacerbate health disparities and are often linked to injustices and inequalities.
Eric was a Greenpeace campaigner in Africa’s Congo Basin and helped local communities conserve rainforest for palm oil plantations. He joined Michigan United in last year. 
After its members pressured Marathon Petroleum Corporation to pay $5 million, they were drawn to the groups’ work to protect the health and well-being of frontline communities.To buy out Boynton residents who have been affected by pollution from the company’s southern Detroit refinery over the years.
Now, Michigan United’s environmental justice director is he is a part of a Coalition opposedTo the states permitting an Ajax Materials Corp. asphalt factory near Flint, Michigan and demanding that action be taken to protect public health. Despite overwhelming opposition and requests from the federal EPA to assess the cumulative effects of the Ajax facility and other industrial facilities in the area on the surrounding community, the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), granted the permit last January.
Eric spoke to me about his environmental justice work and the lessons he’s learned from his work with governments, communities, and companies across multiple continents.
The text was edited for clarity, brevity, and clarity.
Terry Hyland: With a mission to expand Michigan United’s environmental justice work, you joined Michigan United just over one year ago. Please tell us more about Michigan United’s environmental justice actions.
Eric Ini.One is the Ajax campaign. Michigan United worked closely with partners to create a strong coalition that fought vigorously against Ajax.
Although Ajax was granted the permit, the campaign attracted national attention. 
We saw the EPA involved, and EPA decided to. Check out the process of granting a permit. And now Michigan United has joined the coalition. suedEGLE also. The coalition is strong, even though we are still campaigning.
We also applied for an EPA grant to purchase air quality monitors in Flint. Our goal is to collect data that can be used for advocacy, community education and organizing.
Terry. Could you tell us a bit about your path?
Eric. I was born in Cameroon — in West Central Africa. I’ve had the privilege to live, study, and work on four continents. I have also been an organizer on four continents, including Asia, Europe and Africa.
Before I moved to Michigan, Greenpeace was my senior campaigner. My focus was on the Congo Basin, which is the second largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon.
I joined Greenpeace after reading about an American company obtaining about 100,000 hectares in Cameroon – my home country – to open a palm plantation. We were able to return about 80% of the land to the local communities through organizing and outreach. This is the spirit that I use when organizing. I try to inspire people with the hope that if we all come together and fight, we will win.
“So, we go with the story of hope, letting people know that tomorrow is going to be a better day.” – Eric Ini
Later, I learned of Detroit communities affected by pollution from Marathon Petroleums. In the beginning, the company agreed to buy out White neighborhoods, but not Black neighborhoods. It felt like what happened in my country – the more powerful suppressed the less powerful.
Michigan United was an organization that I was interested in after hearing how its members had pressured Marathon to buy out Black residents.
Terry. What are the most important lessons or takeaways from your community-based work?
Eric. It is important to look around the room and see who is there. Then, try to understand them individually before you organize.
Cultural difference is something that needs to really be taken into consideration in organizing — and really everything that you do.
We must also listen to the communities and find out what their self-interests are. We can’t just do what we want, and we might not be capable of bringing those communities along. We have to listen.
Terry. What’s next?
Eric. Climate change is a major issue. We are seeing the effects of climate change in places like Michigan.
Michigan United has gathered a coalition of organizations known as the Statewide Decarbonization Campaign. This campaign is working to remove roadblocks to decarbonization.
Many cities in America and Michigan have passed resolutions to decarbonize their action plans. Despite these plans, there are still many roadblocks that prevent their implementation. For example, Michigan has a 1% cap on distributed energy generation — limiting the number of small-scale solar projects that can be installed. The coalition supports a bill in Michigan’s Congress.HB 4236This bill would eliminate the 1% cap.
Our goal is to continue building power in Michigan, not only through climate change, but also by building strong coalitions and organizing people.
So,We continue to tell the story of hope and let people know that tomorrow will be better.
