Articles by David Roberts

MLK Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (despite Dick Cheney's objections), and while Grist is taking the day off, it's worth remembering both the incredible progress the U.S. has made on civil rights in a relatively brief time (Matt Yglesias has some good stuff on this subject) and one area where justice continues to lag, namely, the environment.

The low profile of the environmental justice movement within the larger green movement is a scandal, and one of the issues we'll be discussing more in our ongoing series on the (alleged) "Death of Environmentalism."

For more on environmental justice, check out this EPA page, the Environmental Justice Foundation, and the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark University, where we find the principles of environmental justice and this bit of history:

Just three decades ago, the concept of environmental justice had not registered on the radar screens of environmental, civil rights, or social justice groups. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to Memphis in 1968 on an environmental and economic justice mission for the striking black garbage workers. The strikers were demanding equal pay and better work conditions. Of course, Dr. King was assassinated before he could complete his mission.

Of all the many quotes from perhaps the most quotable man of the last century, on this day environmentalists should above all heed this one: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Plastic, now with fresh, fruity scent!

Of the nasty things about plastic -- a subject upon which our own Umbra is prolific -- perhaps the worst is its origins in petroleum. What if the many wondrous benefits of plastic could be had without the petroleum inputs? That would be cool.

Along come researchers at Cornell University, who have apparently discovered how to make plastic from citrus fruits and carbon dioxide. Use less oil; use more CO2 (rather than pumping it into the atmosphere). Nifty.

(via BoingBoing)

Top green products

organicARCHITECT, a green architecture firm and research think-tank, today announced the recipients of its 2004 organicAWARDS. This first annual award recognizes the most exciting products introduced in the past year that promote both design innovation and environmental responsibility.

Check it out. (I'm particularly fond of the stapleless stapler.)

The important thing

I have great respect for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., but this AlterNet essay exemplifies a fundamental flaw in the thinking of current mainstream environmentalists. His argument is that, despite Bush's re-election, the election actually demonstrated broad support for environmental protections. He says:

In the face of recent rhetoric about an alleged mandate, it's clear the challenge is greater than ever. But the important thing is that the fundamental politics of the environment did not change with this election.

But this gets things backwards. The "important thing" is not that despite Bush's election, people still support green positions. The important thing is that despite people's support of green positions, Bush got re-elected.

Broad support for environmentalism should not be blithely considered good news for enviros. We are losing -- losing elections and losing momentum. That we are doing so despite public support for the substance of our agenda is an indictment, not an indication that the losing is some sort of incidental challenge.

Winning is not everything, as Vince Lombardi once said. It's the only thing.