Amid the fight to save endangered species, clean up rivers, end plastic pollution, address the climate crisis, and so many other environmental challenges, the painful realities of environmental injustice(s) too often seem to and/or are actually left-aside and left unaddressed within the activism. Picturing a polar bear on a melting iceberg doesn’t help in visualizing the urban youth asthma sufferers driven by diesel pollution or cancer clusters in minority communities suffering from chemical plant pollution. There are serious movements, at this time, that seem to be making a serious dent in (reversing) what has often been a seeming blind spot (for many) in seeking to create a cleaner future. From environmental organizations, to state legislatures, to the Democratic Party’s platform and VP Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan, serious environmental justice actions and investments seem core to plans for moving forward toward a clean energy future. Tomorrow, Clean Energy For Biden is hosting an event that will directly address environmental (in)justice realities, challenges, and opportunities — and how VP Biden will drive for real environmental justice. In that discussion will be Representative Raúl Grijalva and 350.org‘s North American Director Tamara Toles O’Laughlin , moderated by the Center for American Progress’ VP for Energy & Environment Ms. Christy Goldfuss,
The title for this post comes from a reaction to active Twitter humor about jokes. Amid these mainly laughable moments was a painfully on one of tomorrow’s speakers:
I have a climate justice joke but nobody sees color.
Tamara Toles O’Laughlin
Perhaps, as might get discussed tomorrow, we are seeing — are creating — a new reality where climate and environmental justice are taken seriously as we — collectively — see color.
As to the CE4B event, for which the initial/lowest donation amount was deliberately set quite low ($10) to encourage broader participation, here are the details:
Clean Energy for Biden event on Environmental Justice
Monday, July 27, 2020 at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET
Please join Clean Energy for Biden with Representative Raúl Grijalva and Ms. Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, moderated by Ms. Christy Goldfuss, for a discussion on environmental justice. Speakers will discuss what Vice President Joe Biden can do to support this important issue when he takes office, both by working on the ground with environmental justice communities and leaders, and with Congress. Joe Biden has demonstrated his commitment to this topic in his recently unveiled $2 trillion Build Back Better plan and this discussion will focus on what all of us can do to execute on this mission if he’s elected.
As a leading Congressional voice on environmental justice, Representative Grijalva has championed the Environmental Justice for All Act and has held several hearings on this topic through his role as Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. Ms. Tamara Toles O’Laughlin is the North America Director of 350 Action and has long been a tireless advocate and leader for environmental justice policies, communities, and programs through her work in the state of Maryland and Washington D.C. Ms. Christy Goldfuss is the Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress and led the White House Council on Environmental Quality under President Obama.
Note: Prior to the event, for a useful perspective on her thinking, see this 2015 O’Laughlin post: Why should you care about equity over equality in environmental work?
And, as to those Twitter joke tweets, here are a few other environmental/energy ones;