On Wednesday, December 3, 2008 in the NYU Wagner Building in the Mulberry Conference Room from 6:30-8:00pm there was a discussion of sustainability in the environment and the increasing awareness and therefore demand for jobs in the Environment sector. Four very qualified people: one a public relations and advertiser for environmental issues in the entertainment business in New York, a lobbyist for the New York League of Conservation Voters, an entrepreneur and founder of an environment awareness company of Green Boroughs and a bureaucrat of New York State was there to discuss and help and promote students of NYU to pursue increasingly demanding jobs in the Environmental Awareness field. Many topics were brought up in this discussion about the rapidly growing business sector of helping the environment. Topics that were brought up in the discussion were issues such as "Green washing" where companies would misuse and manipulate the label as being environmentally friendly when they are in actuality not or not all the time abiding by what is considered beneficial to the environment. Governmental policies and politics were also brought up particularly about the near dismantlement of the EPA after the Reagan years and the future hope for its revival that seems bright for environmental awareness. All of the speakers also offered advice or students who are interested in getting in the field of promoting environmental awareness.
The room was packed with people, there weren't even enough chairs for all the people who came. The meeting, although all the speakers and attendants seemed to be very concerned about the environment, had an array of all sorts of opinions and ideas about growing environmental concerns. It had a diversity of people in the environmental awareness career which I felt kind of sparked a bit of what could almost be considered as tension among the speakers. All four speakers were extremely passionate in the field that they specialized in the umbrella of environmental careers. For instance I vividly recall when the lady who worked for the environment sector of New York State Department, Samatha McBride, encouraged and stated to all the listeners in the room to go to Washington if they want to make results in the environment because, she says, it is the only way really to make a difference, if she was young again, she would pack her bags and head to Washington, she was quickly retorted by Joshua, the lobbyist and Deputy Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. Almost before she finished, he tells her that he strongly disagreed with what she says saying, " Don't pack your bags for Washington- that is not the only way....we need you back home as well.." He explains that the National government cannot do some of the things that only the state is allowed to do regarding the environment, the the change will be immensely more immediate at a more local level. Hearing all sorts of opinions and approaches to the growing concern of environmental awareness was overwhelming and at the same time inspiring. In the meeting, one very apparent idea was passed about the room: that there is always more than one way to do things, with everything. One thing, such as the discussion that we had in lab that day earlier before about the billion dollars solution to solve all our environmental problems, will not and cannot make a difference. It was also stressed that the protection of our precious environment is a collective effort, and it takes all or most to make a difference when initiated by a few who when even they have different conceptions and ideas to solutions, promote the same cause.
The Green Businesses were also consistently brought up. Greenopia.org was also a topic that was discussed by Les Judd, the founder of a green company: Green Boroughs, a company that promotes green/eco friendly causes. He talks about the different green businesses on the website and their colored leaf system that rates how "green" or environmentally friendly the self proclaimed "green companies" actually are. He explains that this website is a great way of advertising and promoting environmental awareness and action. On the topic of "green-washing" he says the best way to know and identify these sorts of manipulative advertisement is to ask. To ask the companies why they consider themselves environmentally friendly and what they are doing to promote the protection of it. After hearing him say this, I recalled the class discussion in lab earlier that day about Starbucks and the fair-trade products. In our discussion in lab, Professor Schwartz, almost amusingly, refers to her friend who whenever she passes by a Starbucks, goes in and looks for the Fair-trade coffee, that isn't always there- which is supposed to be a identifying trademark of Starbucks.
This meeting was definitely very resourceful and beneficial for the environmental cause, however it seemed to only have been targeted toward people who already had their attention on environmental issues. If this meeting was larger, had a greater number of speakers and publicized more strategically it would reach a greater number of people who are not aware of environment protection. I feel these people, people who are ignorant of our increasingly dire situation of a perishing Earth that is rapidly being used up by harmful human activity, are the people that these speakers need to reach the most. That way the word will spread faster to the larger masses. Everyone today knows about the economic crisis that the United States is currently in. Apparently the United States and much of the world is currently experiencing a recession that will last roughly until 2011 before the market forces pick up again. Most of us know this because the word is widespread and apparent and broadcasted on all the news stations, papers, talk shows and bank accounts, all of us collectively hopeful of a better future because we know that it is only a matter of time. However, we fail to realize that the environment is not like the economy, for the environment will not pick up once we have exacerbated all that we can of it. In order to persuade and make a change, the panel of speakers nod as Joshua, the deputy director of the New York League of Conservation voters states in his concluding words of advice, " Start where they are, not where you are." Wise words that can be applied to anything, but in this case especially to the rapidly accumulating crisis of our only environment, our only home.
( A political oriented way of promoting and making a difference in the environment, this group of activists aim to elect government officials that will benefit the environment)
(Greentopia.org, consider it a emerging internet encyclopedia promoting all things green such as companies, bands, merchandise and community activity)
( an obvious example of greenwashing.. )
ALL IMAGES FOUND ON GOOGLE IMAGE