With our new president Barack Obama now in office, I am hopeful that change is now here-- and that sustainability will continue to be on the forefront. The website www.change.org is a social entrepreneur venture from San Francisco that has gotten major publicity recently. Their campaign "Ideas for Change in America" fueled grassroots participation with the promise and hope that these ideas would reach President Obama with the people's concerns. The campaign received almost 8,000 ideas, more than 600,000 votes, and more than 175,000 participants.
The good news is that after a long standstill at position number 12, "Develop and Implement a National Strategy for Sustainability" pushed it's way to a Top 10 idea. Ok, so what exactly does this plan mean and how will it be used?
The idea for "Develop and Implement a National Strategy for Sustainability" stems from the 1992 (and 2002) UN Rio Earth Conference, because uh-oh, although the United States said that we'd reduce our environmental impact, the truth is we haven't done enough.
The US Citizens Network for Sustainable Development (see the website here), sponsor of the strategy, suggested the following things to help achieve the Strategy*:
- green building practices; transitioning to renewable energy; protecting and restoring the natural environment; limiting toxic chemicals; investing in all types of green jobs; adopting sustainable business practices; educating for sustainable development; ensuring that all people's basic human needs can be met; and integrating artists, engineers, educators, and restoration scientists on infrastructure, restoration, and sustainable community projetcts; etc.
These are all great things, but here is what I wonder. Obama has already announced his education plan and sustainability is no where to be seen. While the first priority for K-12 education is to reform No Child Left Behind, I don't see any mention of No Child Left Inside (NCLI) as a possible--or additional alternative. There is nothing about sustainability curriculum in the "Make Math and Science a National Priority" or in mention of teacher preparedness and support.
And while we have heard great promise for millions of new Green Jobs, it is worth mentioning that most of those jobs seem to be in energy efficiency, home weatherizing, and clean coal. (See Obama's Energy & Environment plan here).
I do still have hope for change in K-12 education. It's wonderful that the National Plan for Sustainability made it to the Top 10 of our nation's concerns. But I have to wonder to what that will really translate.
Topic for Discussion: Even though I can't find it mentioned anywhere, do you think that Sustainability in the K-12 sector will be adequately addressed? Is my outlook more pessimistic than it ought to be? What do you think? Share your comments now!
* Italics my own
2 comments:
. "We are 19 days away from changing this country. Nineteen days away. But for those who are getting a little cocky, I've got two words for you: New Hampshire," said Mr Obama.
"I learned right here, with the help of my great friend and supporter Hillary Clinton, that you cannot let up, you can't pay too much attention to polls. We've got to keep making our case for change. We've got to keep fighting for every single vote. We've got to keep running through the finish line."
Also Mr Obama warned high-roller supporters: "Don't underestimate the capacity of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't underestimate our ability to screw it up."
But much of Mr Obama's speech in Londonderry - punctuated by cries of "We all love you Obama", "I love you" and "We will work with you" - was devoted to the kind of quasi-religious sentiments and motivational-coach style exhortations, the kind of pride that set him up for a big fall in January.
"I want you to believe," said the candidate, clad in an open-necked shirt and barn jacket. "Not so much believe just in me but believe in yourselves. Believe in the future. Believe in the future we can build together. I'm confident together we can't fail."
There was a carnival atmosphere among the crowd of some 4,000, who almost drowned Mr Obama out as he reached his crescendo and said: "I promise you. We won't just win New Hampshire/America. We will win this election and, you and I together, we're going to change the country and change the world."
The Washington post described Mr Obama as “preternaturally confident” in a gushing endorsement on Friday.
His supreme self-belief has also been the target of late-night comedians. "With just 19 days left until the election, Barack Obama warned supporters today to guard against overconfidence," Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live reported.
"Then he boarded Air Force One, blasted 'We Are The Champions' and shouted 'I'm King of the World'."
Both Democrats and Republicans in New Hampshire appear convinced that Mr Obama will win.
"We feel we're on the brink of a whole new life in this country," said Betsy Whitman, 69.
"Sure, he'll win," said Marlene Hulme, 70, at the Londonderry event. "Our expectations were high today and he knocked it out of the park."
For the above part of Obama speech Iam sure that changes will come and American will highly enjoy the fruits of changes through the wise vision of President Ballack Obama.
Bright Sospeter
Tumaini University at Iringa
Tanzania.
. "We are 19 days away from changing this country. Nineteen days away. But for those who are getting a little cocky, I've got two words for you: New Hampshire," said Mr Obama.
"I learned right here, with the help of my great friend and supporter Hillary Clinton, that you cannot let up, you can't pay too much attention to polls. We've got to keep making our case for change. We've got to keep fighting for every single vote. We've got to keep running through the finish line."
Also Mr Obama warned high-roller supporters: "Don't underestimate the capacity of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't underestimate our ability to screw it up."
But much of Mr Obama's speech in Londonderry - punctuated by cries of "We all love you Obama", "I love you" and "We will work with you" - was devoted to the kind of quasi-religious sentiments and motivational-coach style exhortations, the kind of pride that set him up for a big fall in January.
"I want you to believe," said the candidate, clad in an open-necked shirt and barn jacket. "Not so much believe just in me but believe in yourselves. Believe in the future. Believe in the future we can build together. I'm confident together we can't fail."
There was a carnival atmosphere among the crowd of some 4,000, who almost drowned Mr Obama out as he reached his crescendo and said: "I promise you. We won't just win New Hampshire/America. We will win this election and, you and I together, we're going to change the country and change the world."
The Washington post described Mr Obama as “preternaturally confident” in a gushing endorsement on Friday.
His supreme self-belief has also been the target of late-night comedians. "With just 19 days left until the election, Barack Obama warned supporters today to guard against overconfidence," Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live reported.
"Then he boarded Air Force One, blasted 'We Are The Champions' and shouted 'I'm King of the World'."
Both Democrats and Republicans in New Hampshire appear convinced that Mr Obama will win.
"We feel we're on the brink of a whole new life in this country," said Betsy Whitman, 69.
"Sure, he'll win," said Marlene Hulme, 70, at the Londonderry event. "Our expectations were high today and he knocked it out of the park."
For the above part of Obama speech Iam sure that changes will come and American will highly enjoy the fruits of changes through the wise vision of President Ballack Obama.
Bright Sospeter
Tumaini University at Iringa
Tanzania.
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