[SustainableTompkins] County government pursues sustainability

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

Dan et al,
 
I share everyone's concerns and goals about building social equity into our  
work.  However, I just want to make sure everyone understands that this  
effort is focused only on county government operations and facilities, not on  the 
residents and businesses of the county.  The EMC started the local  climate 
action plan as a means of helping the County government 'walk its talk'  and try 
to be a role model for others in the county in reducing greenhouse gas  
emissions.  The County has made a considerable investment in energy  improvements 
in their facilities, but nobody had yet taken on the  EMC's recommendation that 
county employees learn about energy efficient  behaviors.  
 
For some of those involved in the Sustainability Team, this is the first  
time they have explored the concept of sustainability and the reasons for taking  
action.  I found it very encouraging that the group quickly moved  from just 
energy education to undertaking a more comprehensive look at  overall county 
operations.
 
My suggestion that we design for the involvement of all county  employees in 
the initiative was well received by the county department  heads.  It will be 
important for county employees to work across some of  the hierarchies and 
departmental boundaries that tend to exist in  government agencies (and other 
institutions).  That's a proven way to find  the necessary innovations in 
developing and adopting more sustainable  practices.  There was general agreement 
that "top down" doesn't work, as  proven by failed initiatives in the past.
 
By working together in each building and department to solve some of  the 
practical issues of energy conservation, resource management, and toxic  
exposures, I think we will build awareness about the social equity and  mutual 
accountability aspects of sustainable living.  These are important  skills and 
viewpoints that need to be developed in all of  us to enhance the local sustainable 
community movement.  
 
I don't want to make assumptions about anybody's attitude about social  
justice, but I feel confident that Kathy Luz Herrera, our county legislative  
liaison, as well as other county staff and legislators, would embrace the idea  of 
using the sustainability initiative to explore the social equity aspects of  
becoming a more sustainable organization.  
 
I hope that the language we use to raise this topic can be free of  
accusations and assumptions.  When you are learning how to do  something for the first 
time, it's a bit deflating to be told immediately that  'you're doing it all 
wrong' when you haven't even gotten started.  CRESP  recently hosted a speaker 
on transformative action, who emphasized the need to  move out of the roles of 
victim and oppressor, and move into roles based upon  our common humanity.  I 
think the folks on the county Sustainability Team  will be receptive to 
suggestions, especially if done in an encouraging  way.  
 
Thanks again for your concern and input.  Wishing you a good  holiday and 
safe travels.
 
Gay
 
In a message dated 11/17/2006 10:33:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
dnr6 at cornell.edu writes:

This  announcement is wonderful but one concern I have is that we are  calling
things 'sustainable' without seriously addressing the social  justice
dimensions of the equation.

I could see how the  'comprehensive plan' and 'waste' issues have social
implications but that  needs to be highlighted in explicit terms otherwise
this committee will be  seen by groups in the community committed to the
issues of low income,  communities of color, and other marginalized groups as
just another 'green'  effort that doesn't relate to them.

We need to SPELL OUT THE SOCIAL  SIDE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY EQUATION
OTHERWISE THIS IS JUST ENVIRONMENTALISM  WITH A NEW NAME, AND PERPETUATES
RACISM, CLASSISM, ETC...

The social  component of this effort is right beneath the surface we just
need to draw  it to the surface and make this about equity also, otherwise
people wont  see the connection and neither will we.

For example this task force  could

Focus also on using local contractors to help them meet their  targets.
Be sure that women and people are color are chosen as initiative  leaders
Focus on energy savings in homes that are commonly supported by DSS  (saving
DSS money)
Highlight how these efforts are improving the quality  of life in government
sponsored places like Ithaca Youth Bureau and  GIAC.

Maybe these things are obvious to some, but other people wont  make the
connection that sustainability has anything to do with equity  unless we are
EXPLICIT.


DAN ROTH





----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY  14850
agn1 at cornell.edu