Speakers Fan the Embers

My passions no longer run to fiery, a sad fact. But listening to Bioneers conference speakers this weekend, something fanned the embers. Watching Eve Ensler (V-Day founder, Vagina Monologue’s author) and Majora Carter (Sustainable South Bronx environmental justice advocate) breathe their fire (swear I smelled sulphur), soaking up Green Chemistry with Paul Anastas (Yale University’s Green Chemistry program director), hearing achievements of local activists, I was moved, awed, humbled.

The message was clear: Now is the time. Saving, changing, reclaiming the environment will be done, is being done, not by the few but the many. And since the power structure won't get together on the issues, it will be done without benefit of national policies to guide us. This is not a problem, because local activists collaborating nationally can be more creative, less fettered, and ultimately more effective.

A strong underlying message brings out the need to connect human rights (unfulfilled residue of the civil rights movement and beyond) with environmental improvements underwritten by a Green Economy so strong it lifts people out of poverty.

Heady stuff! Wish you could have been there, Weezie!