Transcript Environmental Racism - Osmek Storage

Having Our Cake & Eating it Too:
The Falseness of Having to Choose Between SocioEconomic Progress or a Peaceful Clean Earth
Presented By: Lilia A. Abron, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Earth Day 2016
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
Earth Day
• First Earth Day celebrated on April 22, 1970.
• Goal: Force environmental
protection onto national agenda.
• Gaylord Nelson, then a
WI U.S. Senator hired Denis Hayes
to direct a national “teach-in” about
environmental issues.
• Hayes recruited a handful of
young college graduates to come to
D.C. to begin planning the first
Earth Day.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
2
Ecocide & Environmental Racism
• Ecocide: Destruction of natural environment, or loss of
ecosystem(s)
o Originated in 1960s; mainly used to refer to destructive impact of
humanity on earth.
o Considered an international crime since1970s, e.g. Vietnam War
o In 1985, many experts proposed that genocide be broadened to
include ethnocide and ecocide in its definition.
• Environmental Racism: Placement of low-income or minority
communities in environmentally hazardous or degraded
environments, such as toxic waste, pollution and urban decay.
The interplay between environmental issues and social
indicators are key to its understanding. Ex. Flint Water Crisis
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
3
History of Collective Bargaining
•
1937: BSCP signed 1st collective bargaining agreement w/ Pullman Co.
•
1st labor organization led by blacks to receive a charter in AFL.
o Merged in 1978 with Brotherhood of Railway & Airline Clerks
(BRAC), a.k.a. Transportation Communications International Union.
•
Led to a series of “firsts” for Black workforce in the U.S., including
recognition of civil rights for all in the U.S.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
4
WWII: U.S. Women Enter Workforce
• 1942: Rosie the Riveter—
Cultural icon in U.S.
• Women took on all maledominated roles, which
represented a ‘game
changer’ in U.S. workforce.
• U.S. government needed the
workforce, supported and
embraced it.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
5
1945
• March 8, 1945: Lilia Ann
Abron, born in Memphis,
TN, 3 sisters
• Father: University graduate
(1942), son of a Pullman
Porter, and a porter himself
during WW II; teacher and
principal
• Mother: University graduate
(1941), feminist; family is
large landholder in
Arkansas; school teacher
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
6
The Early Environmental Movement
Postwar Period: 1948-57
• First legislation to lay down federal regulation of water quality
– Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) passed by
Congress in 1948 and strengthened in 1956.
• First U.S. conference on air pollution in 1950.
• Adverse effects of DDT and chlorinated pesticides were about
to be discovered.
• Heavy smog / air pollution episodes plague urban centers and
exacerbate respiratory illnesses.
• Nature conservancy was established in DC.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
7
Citizens Embrace Environment
Period of Awareness: 1957-1970
• The Silent World by Jacque Cousteau brings attention to oceans.
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson ignites public into action for
environmental protection; California begins its reign as leader in
emission standards.
• U.S, Dept. of Interior publishes Quiet Crisis.
• Sierra Club gains national recognition for effectively lobbying to
remove Echo Park Dam from Colorado River project.
• Ohio’s Cuyahoga River catches on fire & burns.
• Santa Barbara oil well blowout spills over 200,000 gallons of oil into
ocean for 11 days straight.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
8
“Cold War is Being Fought with Slide Rulers, Not
Rifles”
• In the midst of Civil Rights Agenda, Russia took over!
o Shocked U.S. gov’t. & citizens into action on education & workforce.
• U.S. started spending $$$$$ to train scientists, engineers,
mathematicians (at all levels) to sustain superiority.
o Lilia Abron along with millions of other elementary school children all over the US
immediately tracked into science and mathematics oriented classes.
• Led directly to the creation of NASA.
• Actions led to US dominance in science and technology.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
9
The “Sputnik Effect”
• Period of public fear/anxiety about perceived US-USSR tech gap.
• Space served as dramatic arena for US-USSR competition in 1950s.
• 1957: Sputnik launched.
• National Defense Education Act in 1958
poured $1B into new science & math curriculum.
• Despite “space race” there was only a small
in bachelor level engineer population.
increase
• Significant increase occurred in 1970-1980s,
most likely corresponding to energy/environmental
movement.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
10
The 1960s Effect
• 1960: JFK becomes President; OPEC was created, U.S. sends
3,500 troops to Vietnam; first weather satellite TIROS-1 launched.
• 1961: Yuri Gagarin becomes first person in space; 1 month later first
American goes into space; Peace Corps and World Wide Fund for
Nature are created.
• 1962: James Meredith becomes 1st African-American student to
Note: FY 2014 goal does not
enroll at the University of Mississippi.
include projected revenue
• 1963: JFK was assassinated; MLK Jr. gives “I
speech; U.S. begins to use zip codes.
increase resulting from new
equipment
investment
have
a dream…”
• 1964: LBJ sign Civil Rights Act into law.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
11
The 1960s Effect (Cont’d.)
• 1964: NASA's Mariner 4 is 1st spacecraft to take images of Mars
from deep space; Poitier becomes 1st black actor to win “Best Actor”
Oscar; BASIC language is introduced.
• 1965: LBJ signs voting rights act; USSR cosmonaut 1st person to
"space walk"; MLK leads Selma march; Vietnam War escalates
protests become more common; mini-skirt becomes fashion craze.
• 1966: USSR's Luna 9 unmanned spacecraft lands
moon,
Indira
Note:on
FY 2014
goal does
not
include projected revenue
Gandhi becomes PM of India.
increase resulting from new
equipment investment
• 1967-68: Thurgood Marshall 1st SCOTUS justice; MLK Jr.
assassinated; Civil Rights Act 1968, NASA launches Apollo 1.
• 1969: US lands on moon; ARPANET relays 1st communications
between UCLA and Stanford.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
12
Government Motivated to React
Wave of Legislations: Air pollution control, clean air, water
quality, motor vehicle air pollution, endangered species, wild and
scenic rivers, national trails system, NEPA, etc.
• First earth day celebrated in 1970: ~20 million people
participated nationwide, making it the largest demonstration
ever in American history.
• Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-74 results in fuel shortages,
skyrocketing oil prices, and creates new dialogue about
alternative energy and energy security.
• EPA and NRDC established in 1970 and DOE in 1977.
• Millions of $$ poured into STEM, energy and environmental
education.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
13
Women in Engineering
• In1960: < 1% of recorded engineers were women.
• Strongly encouraged to pursue traditional roles.
• Despite 2nd wave feminism & civil rights movements,
enrollment into engineering were still low compared to men.
•
Affirmative action & similar efforts implemented to increase
STEM enrollment rates.
• Vietnam war stimulated entry of millions of women and
minorities into engineering and other fields.
• Predilection to professions with social relevance.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
14
Evolution of Environmental Engineering
• In the nexus of energy, food, water, and built and natural
environment.
• Every aspect of human experience has its ecological impact.
• Like every independence and civil rights movements, it takes the
collective will of everyone from arts, sciences and all walks of life to
leap frog into sustainable, clean, carbon neutral future.
• Community engagement, learning and education is key.
• At the highest levels, environmental engineering it turns into an
economic theory/ philosophy, and leads to social progress and longterm sustainability.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
15
Women & Climate Change
• More vulnerable to climate change than men due to their central role
in their families and communities.
• Climate change is a women’s rights issue.
• Socioeconomic and political barriers limit their coping capacity.
• Women with responsibility to secure water, food and fuel face the
greatest challenges.
• With unequal access to resources, decision-making and limited
mobility, women are disproportionately affected.
• More affected by energy poverty and threat to health.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
16
Women: Secret Weapon to Tackling Climate
Change
• Women must play huge role in devising gender-sensitive strategies
to respond to environmental/ humanitarian crises.
• As stewards of natural/household resources makes them effective
agents of change to help adapt to changing environmental realities.
• Create a “multiplier effect” in local communities as more of their
earned income is spent on food, healthcare, home improvement and
schooling.
• Key to improving land productivity and availability of clean water,
reducing energy poverty, and promoting climate-smart agriculture
and low-carbon growth.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
17
“Icy” (I See) Science
•
Scientists can study Earth climate ~800,000 yrs. ago by drilling core
samples from deep underneath Greenland/Antarctica’s ice sheets.
•
Best evidence for link between CO2, human activity and global temp;
contains detailed info on air temp & CO2 levels trapped in these
specimens.
•
Current polar records show intimate connection between atmospheric
CO2 & temp in natural world— when one goes up the other follows.
•
Data shows climate has been variable over past 650,000 yrs.
o Earth underwent several “cold” and “warm” periods.
o Atmospheric concentration of GHGs now higher than anytime in
past 650,000 yrs. — unusually high for any “warm” period.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
18
Ecocide in America
• Flint, MI — state-sponsored ecocide
• 11 million homes very likely facing severe lead-in-water problems,
and they don't know it.
• 112-day leak at Alison Canyon gas storage facility released ~5Billion
cu. Ft. of CH4 into atmosphere —biggest single emitter leak in USA.
• 99% of worlds seabirds will ingest plastic waste by 2050; 1.5 mi of
glaciers/permafrost melting in Alaska.
• Disenfranchised communities bear a disproportionate burden of
toxic contamination due to pollution in/around their neighborhoods.
• Energy bills represent approx. 20% low-income Americans'
budgets.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
19
The “Millennial” Environmental Movement
• An Inconvenient Truth - Documentary hosted by Al Gore that
opened world’s eyes to climate change. This was their “ah ha”
moment.
• Student UNFCCC delegates’ thoughts on climate change
o Found common ground in a discussion with a climate denier by talking about CA
drought and almonds
o “It’s my life’s work. I see effects now, it is hard to imagine what the planet is
going to be like when I am 90 years old, if nothing is done”
• Destiny Watford, winner of Goldman Environmental Award, stopped
a waste to energy plant from being built in her Baltimore community
4 years ago, and is now leading an effort to build a community solar
farm on the property.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
20
Press Play
• First generation in US to live a << shorter life than their parents
• Can we slowly/steadily create a blue zone through implementation
of green philosophies?
• Significant advances have been made in studying the interaction
between social and behavioral sciences, and the environment - i.e.
environmental health inextricably linked to individual health
• Existing research describes patterns and states of play and explains
how play shapes our brains, creates our competencies, and ballasts
our emotions.
• Harness power of play to create transformational differences within
individual, families, schools, communities and the planet.
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
21
“A Budget is a Moral Document”
• Multilateral development banks still fail to solve energy poverty.
• $$ wasted on stranded coal assets could end world energy poverty.
• Smart data/computing can unlock billions in EERE investment.
• Collective bargaining worked once, it can again— on & off-site low
income community solar cooperatives; green financing mechanisms.
• Demand at minimum a “triple bottom line framework— people,
planet and profit— for all local, state and federal budgets.
• Grid-Parity Matters!!
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
22
Our “Moonshot” Moment
• Paris Accord
• AC/DC appliance revolution for off-grid structures
• Task force dedicated to prosecuting environmental racism & ecocide
• Stackable “lego-like” solar battery packs
• New frontiers in clean energy generations— nuclear fusion, marine
hydro-kinetic, offshore wind, solar thermal, high-energy physics
• Estonia has free wi-fi all over their country— why not us?
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
23
Lilia’s “Theory of Everything”
• Hypothetical single, all-encompassing, coherent theoretical
framework of physics that fully explains and links together all
physical aspects of the universe.
• Environment now in the nexus of energy, food, water, human rights
& built environment.
• Everything we do/think on this impact the planet— we have to
expand our scope and thinking.
• “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
24
Contact Information
Pollution, Environment, Energy and Resources
www.peercpc.com
Lilia A. Abron, Ph.D., PE, BCEE
President and CEO
202.478.2060
[email protected]
Engineers  Scientists  Planners
25