The last one, I promise...

Surprisingly, one of the more tense and interesting sessions I went to was one entitled "A new generation sites environment is their #1 issue. What do they really mean???"

I went to this session because, even though I don't consider myself a part of a new generation, I don't consider the environment to be even in my top 5... I'm actually quite tired of the environmentalist push to get everyone else to drop their issues. That's exactly what this "#1 issue" rhetoric sounds like to me.

Anyway, that's what I was expecting from this and I wanted to talk it out. It just so happens that other people have similar opinions and came to talk about their issues with environmentalists and their orgs. So, in addition to how to take action on environmental justice in 2008, we talked about why those orgs need to be making organic foods and sustainable jobs and housing accessible. They can't just go into communities and try impose themselves on people... especially when the larger ones wont even consider acting on the issues those communities raise organically...

The environment is not going to be a priority for me until I know that people passionate about the issue are a part of a larger movement that's not about ranking.

Now that doesn't mean I don't do my part to reduce my carbon footprint. I have to do that no matter what my priorities are.

If only the people who say the environment is their primary issue would consider being allies to other orgs and engaging in more collaboration...