Southeast Michigan Making Progress Going Green

On April 30, I attended the All Things Green Conference and Expo hosted by the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce. I got a look at several "green" companies and businesses that are either based in Michigan or expanding their operations in the state. It was a good conference. The focus of many of the sessions were on energy.



The presentation by Next Energy focused on the advancement of clean and renewable technologies. There was a presentation by reps from Mariah Power and MasTech who are partnering in Manistee County, MI. They presented a case study on small wind manufacturing.



I enjoyed the "Greening your Business" session. The speakers were:

Loch McCabe, President, Shepard Advisors,

David Mckinney, CEO, Clean Light, Green Light

Mike Dolkowski, President, Carbon Credit Environmental Services, Inc.

All in all it was a good conference. My suggestion for next year's conference is that the organizers include a session on water use conservation and water efficiency.

I also noted the lack of representation of minority and disadvantaged businesses/enterprises in the emerging "green business sector". This was not a fault of the organizers of the conference because this is a problem that is industry wide. As more minority "green" entrepreneurs come to the forefront the industry should make a stronger effort to reach to these groups.

In general, my thoughts are that the "green movement" is a trend that minority entrepreneurs and businesses cannot afford to miss out on, speaking both economically and environmentally for our communities.

My friends at the African American Environmentalist Association have written much on this issue:

Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - Will African Americans Participate In Energy Production? -

Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - Green Jobs? Not From Green Groups For African Americans

Friday, February 27, 2009 - Where Is the Congressional Black Caucus on Energy Ownership?

Repost: Environmentalism for All

Here's a short essay I wrote last year on the state of the environmentalist movement. Original post is here

Being a professional who has worked and lived in different regions of the Midwest and
east coast over the past few years, I've had opportunities to meet more people in the
fields of environment protection and planning. I've been able to gain more insight
about myself as well as about Americans of various races, creeds, and nationalities.
As an African American, an environmentalist and as planner, I am
consistently reminded of how few minorities there are in these fields. There's been
significant talk and writing recently about the state of the environmental movement.
Some have even gone so far as to call the movement "dead". (Nordhaus, 2004) Is this
true? Have we seen the best of what environmentalism, smart growth and other
movements has to offer?

My answer to these questions is no. I would argue that the very best of
environmentalism and regionalism is still yet to come. The ideals
that environmentalism and smart growth are founded on, are a great starting point.
But, if they are to survive, grow and continue to make positive progress, the concepts
of diversity and inclusion has to move to the front of the line. They need to be fully
integrated into our visions, missions and so forth. The face and make up of what
might be called traditional environmentalism has to change or else the movement
"will" die. I don't mean to say that it will disappear but, I think that it could lose its
relevance perhaps even its credibility in America.

In about fifty years, half of America's population will be non-white. (Rast, 2006)
Finally, a whole new population and generation is saying, "Hey, what about us?". The
impoverished, lower income and many members of minority groups biggest
issues, traditionally, were about income, getting food on the table, keeping the lights
on, and getting the rent paid. Anything beyond this was luxury. But things are
changing. Today and into the future, the threats of global warming,
diminishing natural resources and the increased frequency and/or intensity of natural
disasters, are powerful indicators things to come. (Enderle, 2007)

Environmentalism and the planning community has to broaden our view and act to
help the those who are most vulnerable to changing conditions. The white-bread,
privileged image of traditional environmentalism has got to change to show the
realities of America. The real America is in our communities, in our neighborhoods and the neighborhoods that you drive past on your way home to the suburbs.

Political Environment & Green Movement in America

Responding to post on SES: Science, Education, and Society Blog by the Urban Scientist

Urban Scientist,

I just read your comments about AAEA's blog post Political Environment & Green Movement In America. Just a few words in response.

In my experience as an African American involved in the environmental movement, I can say that I have felt welcomed by the various organizations and groups that I have come to know and be associated with. The point that AAEA is making is that the movement has not yet come to the point where minorities are seen in LEADERSHIP positions. As I am still at a very early stage in my career, I can’t say that I’ve personally experienced being passed up or ignored for key leadership positions. But, I hope to someday advance into executive level position within an advocacy, government, or policy organization.

I can say that for years I have felt like an oddball among the African American community because of my interests, education and career choices. It seems to me that blacks who do aspire to higher education to pursue finance, business, law and now, technology fields. All fine, honorable occupations and careers. My gripe with people who advise young minorities in career choices is that they push, pressure, and present these as the only acceptable career choices. As a result, most educated blacks today have a lot of difficulty thinking outside the box when it comes to the world we live in. This is ironic because the point of a college education is to train you to be able to reason, question things and broaden your horizons.

I don’t find I find the remarks made on the blog and the linked article Environmental Groups Ignore Diversity Survey inflammatory and antagonistic at all. Using strong or controversial language to get a point across has always been a part of drawing attention to any worthwhile cause or movement. Don’t be too hard on AAEA and EJ groups. I can understand your position of being a scientist and an educator. But one of the things that I think you miss is that people and societies rarely fit into neat equations where 2+2=4. When it comes to Americans, sometimes 2+2 = something completely different to each of us.

Editorial: Wandering Off The Plantation

From:

Norris McDonald

President

African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA)

It is an expression of leaving a place where others think you should stay. AAEA has wandered way off the plantation and it has been quite fulfilling. Many would have us address only certain issues such as environmental justice and racism. Of course we address environmental justice and racism but we do not limit ourselves to these important issues. Many are disappointed when we do not meet their expectations of what our positions should be.

For more click here.

Importance of Minority Participation in Environmentalism

The following is an excerpt from this month's Bay Journal.

We may carry the mantra of improved water quality just for the benefit of living resources a little too far. Of course, we all want a cleaner environment to improve the ecosystem and bolster the populations of blue crabs, oysters, rockfish, brook trout and submerged aquatic vegetation. But we also need to recognize that a cleaner, healthier environment not only benefits the living resources, but also the people in the watershed. It not just a water quality issue, it is a quality of life issue.

We have failed over the years to properly frame the issue and to put it into a context that reaches beyond the traditional environmental community.

-snip-

Full article at link below

Source:
David Bancroft
More minority involvement needed in Bay cleanup
Bay Journal: The Chesapeake Bay Newspaper
Dec 2007

Also, see related BICEP posts:
Environmentalism for All

Maryland Task Force on Minority Participation in the Environmental Community Releases Final Report

Michigan: Governor signs Long Awaited Environmental Justice Executive Directive

Michigan: Governor signs Long Awaited Environmental Justice Executive Directive

Governor Jennifer Granholm’s signing of an executive order promoting environmental justice drew praise today from the Campaign for State Action on Environmental Justice and its endorsers.This action directs the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to develop and implement a plan promoting environmental justice in Michigan. With this move, Michigan joins states such as New York, New Mexico and California that have similar guidance in place.

http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-36898-180696--,00.html

Maryland Task Force on Minority Participation in the Environmental Community Releases Final Report

The Task Force was charged with evaluating minority participation in the environmental community and make recommendations for improved participation.

The report addresses four main areas of concerns centered on: 1) the lack of minorities in key policy positions throughout the state government; 2) the lack of attention and funding support that traditional environmental organizations directed at minority issues and concerns; 3) the lack of minority participation in the efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake and Coastal Bay watersheds, and 4) the lack of public education programs directly connecting minority health issues to the disparate environmental conditions that prevail in some communities. Read the full report here.

Contact:

Vince Leggett
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
410.570.1187
VLeggett@dnr.state.md.us

Subprime Mortgages & The African American Community

An article from my friends at the African American Environmentalist Association


http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/11/subprime-mortgages-african-american.html

Environmentalism for All

Being a professional who has worked and lived in different regions of the midwest and east coast over the past few years, I've had opportunities to meet more people in the fields of environment protection and planning. I've been able to gain more insight about myself as well as about Americans of various races, creeds, and nationalities. As an African American, an environmentalist and as planner, I am consistently reminded of how few minorities there are in these fields. There's been significant talk and writing recently about the state of the environmental movement. Some have even gone so far as to call the movement "dead". Is this true? Have we seen the best of what environmentalism, smart growth and other movements has to offer? Full article here

Katrina aid goes toward luxury condos

Rich developers are getting richer by cashing in on Katrina aid and huge tax breaks that is for building housing for displaced Gulf Coast residents. Low income people in the region will not be able to afford the vast majority of these new condos. So who will buy/live them? Another way to push out the poor and minorities and bring in white, (or black) middle/upper class. Can you say "gen-tri-fi-ca-tion"? I knew that you could. See article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-13-katrina-luxury-condos_N.htm

Does Elitism Exist in the Environmental Movement?

I must say that although I've only been a part of the environmental movement for a few years, I like to think that most environmentalists are enlightened, tolerant people who have the ability to behave civilly even when they disagree. My optimism was shaken this past week when a colleague of mine, African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) President Norris McDonald (above) and his son, who were invited guests, were told to leave the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action on the third day of the gathering in Asheville, NC because, as one of the organizers stated, "We do not share the same beliefs and goals." Read the full story at http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/. To the organizers of the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, I say this:

I find it outrageous that Mr. McDonald, an African American, environmental activist for over twenty years (an extremely rare find, believe me), was treated in such a demeaning way for simply having a difference of opinion in what is supposed to be an enlightened discussion forum. It's bad enough that minorities have been, and still are, grossly ignored by the environmental movement in the community it is supposed to serve and in hiring practices, but to be shut out that manner is disgraceful. You and many others in your elitist circle need to take a good look at yourselves in a mirror, reevaluate what your priorities are and decide what and who you really stand for.

Richmond VA Blacks Were Left out of New City Plan Process

A fellow community and urban planning blogger (Urban Richmond), picked up on this story, On Racism & the Charrette. Accusations of racial exclusion in city planning charrette. This is a topic that is of great interest and importance to me, personally. I plan to follow this and hope to do some future articles on the issue of minorities not being proportionately represented in their community's planning process. Also See: Master Plan Sessions Confront Race, Push Details from Richmond's Style Weekly.