<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for The movement’s greatest challenge is its own lack of diversity]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Jon Rynn http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:04:58 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/1 Need to connect to wider movement

As I have argued before, it seems to me that if environmental groups were part of a larger movement of economic justice, that such a movement would be attractive to those who are concerned about the environment as well as those who are concerned about pulling hispanic and african-american communities out of poverty and neutralising racism.

This is why the work of Van Jones is important, as he is attempting to link movements by pushing for green collar jobs, that is,  jobs that work to solve our environmental problems, such as retrofitting houses and installing solar panels, while at the same time offering good jobs to the poor and peoples of color.  This work needs to be strengthened and broadened to transform the economy into something sustainable and just.

I think that until the environmental goal of creating a sustainable economy is integrated with the goal of creating jobs in all of our communities, building diversity in the environmental movement will be difficult.  In other words, we need to have an environmental-african-american-hispanic-american (and add more communities here) movement, not just  an environmental one.

]]> Need to connect to wider movement

As I have argued before, it seems to me that if environmental groups were part of a larger movement of economic justice, that such a movement would be attractive to those who are concerned about the environment as well as those who are concerned about pulling hispanic and african-american communities out of poverty and neutralising racism.

This is why the work of Van Jones is important, as he is attempting to link movements by pushing for green collar jobs, that is,  jobs that work to solve our environmental problems, such as retrofitting houses and installing solar panels, while at the same time offering good jobs to the poor and peoples of color.  This work needs to be strengthened and broadened to transform the economy into something sustainable and just.

I think that until the environmental goal of creating a sustainable economy is integrated with the goal of creating jobs in all of our communities, building diversity in the environmental movement will be difficult.  In other words, we need to have an environmental-african-american-hispanic-american (and add more communities here) movement, not just  an environmental one.

]]> Comment #2 by GreenMom http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:33:57 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/2 Exactly right, Jon


A green technology boom is building in this country, and should be a focus of both public and private investment (state and local gov't especially right now, Google, etc...)  

If we can make arguments for that investment that focus on jobs, growth, keeping or bringing back the technical and manufacturing edge to this country, and employing our workers, then we'll build support so much more quickly.


]]> Exactly right, Jon


A green technology boom is building in this country, and should be a focus of both public and private investment (state and local gov't especially right now, Google, etc...)  

If we can make arguments for that investment that focus on jobs, growth, keeping or bringing back the technical and manufacturing edge to this country, and employing our workers, then we'll build support so much more quickly.


]]> Comment #3 by Erik Hoffner http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:35:47 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/3 economy, but health, too

Yes, it's an important aspect, connecting with the economy. Which is why I'm glad to also have on my board of advisors with Marcelo the director of United for a Fair Economy. These folks are drawing all of the sorts of connections you envision in ways quite complementary to Van Jones: http://www.faireconomy.org

Another piece not mentioned is the connection with health. Environmental health is an axis even more important than the economic one.

Erik

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,100+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

]]> economy, but health, too

Yes, it's an important aspect, connecting with the economy. Which is why I'm glad to also have on my board of advisors with Marcelo the director of United for a Fair Economy. These folks are drawing all of the sorts of connections you envision in ways quite complementary to Van Jones: http://www.faireconomy.org

Another piece not mentioned is the connection with health. Environmental health is an axis even more important than the economic one.

Erik

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,100+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

]]> Comment #4 by Delay And Deny http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:41:56 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/4 How To Diversify Gargantuan Evil Corporations


You know, you guys have been railing against the "evil corporations" ever since I was an undergraduate in Princeton.  I lived in a house with some hardcore vegetarians.  

I used to say to them: go, get an MBA...join an insurance firm...rise to the top via scraping and executive backstabbing...then change the world.

They rather beat the drums and chant.   Kind of like Grist.

My Log


]]> How To Diversify Gargantuan Evil Corporations


You know, you guys have been railing against the "evil corporations" ever since I was an undergraduate in Princeton.  I lived in a house with some hardcore vegetarians.  

I used to say to them: go, get an MBA...join an insurance firm...rise to the top via scraping and executive backstabbing...then change the world.

They rather beat the drums and chant.   Kind of like Grist.

My Log


]]> Comment #5 by Tasermons Partner http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:54:04 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/5 The ends...

I used to say to them: go, get an MBA...join an insurance firm...rise to the top via scraping and executive backstabbing...then change the world.

That sounds awfully close to sounding like the ends justify the means...which is how much of the environment got to be in such a sorry state to begin with.

]]> The ends...

I used to say to them: go, get an MBA...join an insurance firm...rise to the top via scraping and executive backstabbing...then change the world.

That sounds awfully close to sounding like the ends justify the means...which is how much of the environment got to be in such a sorry state to begin with.

]]> Comment #6 by Erik Hoffner http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:58:31 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/6 DR Works

DR Works is having a training soon that'd be helpful for diversity efforts:

http://www.dismantlingracism.org/trainings.html

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,100+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

]]> DR Works

DR Works is having a training soon that'd be helpful for diversity efforts:

http://www.dismantlingracism.org/trainings.html

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,100+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

]]> Comment #7 by egret123 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:18:38 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/7 Making environmental issues relevant

Marcelo and Jon's points are both critical to how to make environmental issues more relevant to the vast majority of people, not just people of color, in this country. It is especially true for people of color though, that in order to resonate, environmental issues must be relevant to people with limited job opportunities, poor access to health care and unequal access to a good education.

Marcelo has laid out an excellent framework for how to start  doing this at the broadest scale. Jon's reference to Van Jones and Green for All (http://www.greenforall.org/) is an excellent example of linking specific environmental concerns (energy production, climate change) with economic concerns for people of color.

]]> Making environmental issues relevant

Marcelo and Jon's points are both critical to how to make environmental issues more relevant to the vast majority of people, not just people of color, in this country. It is especially true for people of color though, that in order to resonate, environmental issues must be relevant to people with limited job opportunities, poor access to health care and unequal access to a good education.

Marcelo has laid out an excellent framework for how to start  doing this at the broadest scale. Jon's reference to Van Jones and Green for All (http://www.greenforall.org/) is an excellent example of linking specific environmental concerns (energy production, climate change) with economic concerns for people of color.

]]> Comment #8 by brigitte http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/ Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:58:24 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/how-to-diversify-environmentalism/8 money is a factor

I have been a huge fan of the Apollo Alliance and Van Jone's for their efforts to make environmental issues relevant for more people, especially poor people of color, but I also think that it is important for mainstream conservation and environmental organizations not to assume that all people of color are poor.

We need to look not only at the shifting population dynamics in this country with increasing numbers of people of color, but the buying power of these communities, which has grown disproportionately more than the buying power of the white community over the past few years. This is an important point because historically mainstream conservation orgs have targeted a tiny select pool of high end wealthly folks as their major donors, constituents and members.

This phenomenon IS beginning to change from being an exclusively white man's world. While it is true that there are many communities of color in this country that are poor, there is simultaneously a growing number of people of color who are becoming strong financial powerhouses. Bill Gates is no longer the richest man in the world, for example. He has been surpassed by Carlos Selim, from Mexico. I think this may be another important angle to take in advancing diversity issues within these organizations.

]]> money is a factor

I have been a huge fan of the Apollo Alliance and Van Jone's for their efforts to make environmental issues relevant for more people, especially poor people of color, but I also think that it is important for mainstream conservation and environmental organizations not to assume that all people of color are poor.

We need to look not only at the shifting population dynamics in this country with increasing numbers of people of color, but the buying power of these communities, which has grown disproportionately more than the buying power of the white community over the past few years. This is an important point because historically mainstream conservation orgs have targeted a tiny select pool of high end wealthly folks as their major donors, constituents and members.

This phenomenon IS beginning to change from being an exclusively white man's world. While it is true that there are many communities of color in this country that are poor, there is simultaneously a growing number of people of color who are becoming strong financial powerhouses. Bill Gates is no longer the richest man in the world, for example. He has been surpassed by Carlos Selim, from Mexico. I think this may be another important angle to take in advancing diversity issues within these organizations.

]]>