Rep. Rangel responds to a question from the audience trying to explain how it feels to have a new president to work with on matters such as environmental justice and global warming.
“Imagine getting hit in the head with a hammer for eight years by someone and then all of a sudden, they stop.”
(c) kamau ware 2009
I had a chance to join the liberal media elite today. Posted up on the sidelines of the Environmental Justice Conference hosted by WEACT, it was a fun challenge to stay on top of this morning’s impressive lineup.
Breakfast Keynote: Dr. Robert D. Bullard
Mid-morning Keynote: Rep. Charles Rangel (NY)
Keynote Address: Hon. Lisa Jackson, the new U.S. EPA Administrator
This was the final day of WEACT’s two-day conference titled, Advancing Climate Justice: Transforming the Economy, Public Health & Our Environment. For those unfamiliar with the Environmental Justice Movement, allow me to offer a layman’s definition. The Environmental Justice (EJ) Movement aims to address the disproportionate burden of environmental ills placed on the poor, elderly, and minority groups. To sum this up in two words, think Hurricane Katrina. In this domestic tragedy riddled with incompetent government characters - the poor, minority, and/or elderly suffered the most. Why? They are the ones who lived closer to the levees because that's where the real estate was cheaper. They also had a more difficult time evacuating New Orleans because most of them were on foot (i'm sure Lil Wayne had a chopper). Now let’s bring it full circle. Think about global warming and the impact cascading oceans will have on minorities, the elderly, and the poor. Multiply Hurricane Katrina times 1,000 and spread it all over the globe and you begin to understand how Environmental Justice differs from the Green Movement, but addresses the same frightening scenario.
What is particularly special about the EJ Movement is its scope. Dr. Robert D. Bullard, credited by many as the father of this movement, stated that once you begin to embrace environmental justice, you do not have the luxury of dealing with one issue at a time such as the pollution of transportation on poor communities or the access to food of developing nations. You have to deal with it all as a matter of fairness, justice, and equity. Novel notion, hunh? Imagine looking at life through a lens with high principles vs. what’s good for me and to Hades with those I harm in the process. Tackling this issue will require more than an election…
The EJ Movement approaches a host of issues as being encompassed by the environment that we share and how we relate to it. This creates a room full of progressive people. Impressive, but what may prove difficult for this movement are the many disparate issues and their respective dynamics that make global coordination quite hairy.
So, why is WEACT hosting a conference on climate justice? It’s quite appropriate and smart. The Green Movement is moving full steam ahead and is about to get some fuel from the Treasury. It’s smart for the Environmental Justice Movement to link arms with the Green Movement and get in line for some of this stimulus money to advance each cause under this expansive umbrella. Congressman Charles Rangel made this point clearly and it is a point that was well received.
I have another idea to add to Representative Rangel’s. The Environmental Justice Movement needs a color. I won’t get into all the marketing sensibilities and tie-ins that make “green” a great concept for the save the planet agenda (which is damn important). Because Environmental Justice is encompassing of so many important issues, a color for this movement would make it easier to brand and especially organize and mobilize people who are concerned about so many important issues. I suggest blue.
(Both movements will need some gold to be successful, hence the cheesy title of this post.)
The task of creating a healthier planet that is healthier for its people inhabiting her, is a daunting challenge, but everyone at the conference was really upbeat. I think there was a “Yes We Can” chant before lunch...
The Obama Administration has shown a great deal of hunger in its first week to make it clear to all it’s constituents that change is on and poppin’. This includes both the Green and Blue groups (trying it out here). The Hon. Lisa Jackson, the new EPA Administrator has a good relationship with the EJ community and her response was very warm. All three heavy weights (Dr. Bullard, Rep. Rangel, and Lisa Jackson) agreed that government was not the solution but a partner of the grassroots community organizers who will make real change happen. So we can wait and see or get up, get out and make something happen. I like the way Dr. Bullard put it.
“Waiting for the government can be hazardous to your health.”
More of My Ideas
Breakfast Keynote: Dr. Robert D. Bullard
Mid-morning Keynote: Rep. Charles Rangel (NY)
Keynote Address: Hon. Lisa Jackson, the new U.S. EPA Administrator
This was the final day of WEACT’s two-day conference titled, Advancing Climate Justice: Transforming the Economy, Public Health & Our Environment. For those unfamiliar with the Environmental Justice Movement, allow me to offer a layman’s definition. The Environmental Justice (EJ) Movement aims to address the disproportionate burden of environmental ills placed on the poor, elderly, and minority groups. To sum this up in two words, think Hurricane Katrina. In this domestic tragedy riddled with incompetent government characters - the poor, minority, and/or elderly suffered the most. Why? They are the ones who lived closer to the levees because that's where the real estate was cheaper. They also had a more difficult time evacuating New Orleans because most of them were on foot (i'm sure Lil Wayne had a chopper). Now let’s bring it full circle. Think about global warming and the impact cascading oceans will have on minorities, the elderly, and the poor. Multiply Hurricane Katrina times 1,000 and spread it all over the globe and you begin to understand how Environmental Justice differs from the Green Movement, but addresses the same frightening scenario.
What is particularly special about the EJ Movement is its scope. Dr. Robert D. Bullard, credited by many as the father of this movement, stated that once you begin to embrace environmental justice, you do not have the luxury of dealing with one issue at a time such as the pollution of transportation on poor communities or the access to food of developing nations. You have to deal with it all as a matter of fairness, justice, and equity. Novel notion, hunh? Imagine looking at life through a lens with high principles vs. what’s good for me and to Hades with those I harm in the process. Tackling this issue will require more than an election…
The EJ Movement approaches a host of issues as being encompassed by the environment that we share and how we relate to it. This creates a room full of progressive people. Impressive, but what may prove difficult for this movement are the many disparate issues and their respective dynamics that make global coordination quite hairy.
So, why is WEACT hosting a conference on climate justice? It’s quite appropriate and smart. The Green Movement is moving full steam ahead and is about to get some fuel from the Treasury. It’s smart for the Environmental Justice Movement to link arms with the Green Movement and get in line for some of this stimulus money to advance each cause under this expansive umbrella. Congressman Charles Rangel made this point clearly and it is a point that was well received.
I have another idea to add to Representative Rangel’s. The Environmental Justice Movement needs a color. I won’t get into all the marketing sensibilities and tie-ins that make “green” a great concept for the save the planet agenda (which is damn important). Because Environmental Justice is encompassing of so many important issues, a color for this movement would make it easier to brand and especially organize and mobilize people who are concerned about so many important issues. I suggest blue.
(Both movements will need some gold to be successful, hence the cheesy title of this post.)
The task of creating a healthier planet that is healthier for its people inhabiting her, is a daunting challenge, but everyone at the conference was really upbeat. I think there was a “Yes We Can” chant before lunch...
The Obama Administration has shown a great deal of hunger in its first week to make it clear to all it’s constituents that change is on and poppin’. This includes both the Green and Blue groups (trying it out here). The Hon. Lisa Jackson, the new EPA Administrator has a good relationship with the EJ community and her response was very warm. All three heavy weights (Dr. Bullard, Rep. Rangel, and Lisa Jackson) agreed that government was not the solution but a partner of the grassroots community organizers who will make real change happen. So we can wait and see or get up, get out and make something happen. I like the way Dr. Bullard put it.
“Waiting for the government can be hazardous to your health.”
More of My Ideas
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