Grassroots Political Actions

5. Give examples of grassroot political actions that can have an impact on government environmental policy. Do you practice any of these actions?

Grassroots Political Actions Affect government environmental policy • Pesticide action • Climate action • International rivers • Women’s environmental and development networks

Example • Global Water Partnership • Work toward supporting the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels • Focused on problem by bringing together government private sectors and international organizations

How? • Collaborate across national borders and monitor the environmental activities of governments, corporations, and international agencies • Expose corruption and violations • Ex: World Bank and World Trade Organization

Do you? • No we are not part of these organizations • However some parents may take part

Politics, Environment, and Sustainability questions 7&8 Connor Autry & Chris Soell

What type of civil suits can a plaintiff seek? • Class action- When a group of people who share a passion for a cause, they then group together and file a suit against a large business • Injunctions- a legal action that restrains a person from beginning or continuing an action

Question 8

Educational institutions & Environmental Security Erwin, Kat, Destiny Block 2

Educational Institutions • Mostly college campuses • Implementing concepts of environmental sustainability. • Students work with administrators to gather data on harmful practices and make changes • Recycling programs, food from local organic farms, fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Examples • Oberlin College • Solar powers that produce 30% more electricity than the building uses • Car-sharing program and activity fees to subsidize public transportation • Northland College • Implements a “green fee” of $40 per semester on themselves to finance the colleges sustainability • Middlebury College • Opened a biomass gasification plant that reduces its carbon footprint by 40% and lowered fuel bills

Things to do at BWHS • Incorporate solar panels • Recycle • Start clubs that go out and help clean up • Promote more environmental volunteer work

Environmental Security • If non-renewable resources become scarce, this effects the economy as these goods will go up in price • National security will no longer relate to just the military but to problems such as watersheds, croplands, forests, climate and other factors essential to the nations security

Environmental Presentation Kuljeet Singh Thomas Shively Colin Sperry

Governments levy higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco products because they are harmful to human health and the environment. The spike in taxes and awareness (1950s scientific studies and Surgeon General report in 1964) of the hazards has led to a significant decrease in usage of these products. Full Cost Pricing

Lack of government oversight of our rivers allow for chemical companies to pollute and dispose of waste into the rivers. Multiple cities use the river as a water source so we are putting harmful chemicals into our drinking water. Market Failure

The ocean is an example of a resource used by many people. However, there are no laws that affect the entire ocean. Instead, countries are left to control and regulate each of their own coastlines. This means that the area beyond each country’s specified area is more susceptible to pollution. A large amount of trash can be found at the center of large circular currents or gyres which are very harmful to the ocean ecosystems and wildlife. Tragedy of the Commons

Lack of long term solutions due to more focus being put on reelection • Lack of funding for environmental regulatory agencies Governments Hindering Ability to Deal with Environmental Problems

Global Solutions By MorganneCieslak, Kirsten Kwitnieski, Chris Morales, and Leslie Basurto

Why is it difficult to solve environmental problems at a global level? • Not everyone is educated on environmental issues • Different types of governments make it difficult to compromise • Creating environmental policy is an extremely difficult process • Large opposing parties—lobbying • Most issues start at local level, hard to stretch influence further than states

What types of environmental effort occur at the global level? • International conventions—influence international companies • 500+ Multilateral environmental agreements • Global institutions/organizations (Greenpeace) • Growing popularity of eco-efficiency

What organizations are involved? • World Wildlife Fund (WWF) • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) • Sierra Club • National Wildlife Federation • Audubon Society

What obstacles must be tackled to create a more environmentally sustainable society? • Nations must cooperate just as they do for security purposes • Politicians need to focus on long term issues • Educate the public • Developing/monitoring environmental treaties

Question Three and Four By: Weston, Ryan, and Gautam

Question Three • How can lobbyists have an impact on government policy? • Lobbyists work to educate and inform members of Congress and their staffs on issues and legislation that affect their industry/constituency. • They often propose legislation and/or provisions that would help the group of people they represent, and then advocate for the bill’s passage so that it will hopefully become law • Lobbyists use financial tools such as Political Action Committees (PAC) that donate money to a member of Congress’s campaign in order to provide support and gain influence.

Question Four • What other steps must be taken to successfully Implement policy? • In order to implement laws, executive branch departments and agencies issue regulations and guidelines to provide specific instructions on how they will execute the laws.

Question Four, Part 2 • What potential problems can result in implementing environmental policy? • The potential problems with many environmental policies is that they require industry to take actions to meet standards that requires them to invest profit to comply with the standard, or change production procedures, or material that is being used to produce the product they are making. • These environmental policies can in fact directly attribute to a company losing substantial revenue and potentially the loss of numerous jobs and loss of benefits to its employees. • Additionally, at times, the policy makes their production less efficient and can cut down on their production rates/income.

REASONS WHY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SUITS ARE DIFFICULT TO WIN

REASON #1…. • PLANTIFFS NEED SOLID PROOF THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HARMED PHYSICALLY OR FINANCIALLY BY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

REASON #2... • LAW SUITS ARE EXPENSIVE

REASON #3… • WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CONSENT, PUBLIC INTERESET LAW FIRMS CAN NOT PAY ATTORNEY FEES….BUT PRIVATE CORPORATE LAW FIRMS CAN….CAUSING UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD IN LEGAL CASES

REASON #4… • PLANTIF MUST BE ABLE TO PROVE DAMAGES WHICH REQUIRES EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE INVESTIGATION

REASON #5… • STATUES OF LIMITATIONS IN MOST STATES PLACE A LIMIT OF TIME THAT A PLANTIFF CAN SUE AFTER A PARTICULAR EVENT OCCURS

REASON #6… • COURTS CAN TAKE YEARS TO MEET A VERDICT DURING WHICH TIME A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO CONTINUE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM

Grassroots Political Actions