Tag Archives: election
Ann Vileisis: Will Obama take on food?
In the months leading up to the election, food activists (see the video by The White House Organic Farm Project, a.k.a. TheWhoFarm.org below) have been salivating over the possibility that they could convince the next president to turn up some sunny expanse of White House lawn and put in a lush and leafy organic farm. The bounty of veggies could feed not only the first family but also Washington’s needy and fresh-food-deprived school children. The example of the first family eating fresh vegetables, prepared by a savvy chef, could also direct positive new attention to the goal of reforming America’s notoriously unhealthy diet.
The election of Barack Obama makes this dream a distinct possibility.
Ever since I saw Obama’s logo, the now familiar O with undulant red-and-white stripes across the bottom half, evoking at once our American flag but also our agricultural landscape—spread before a dawning sun, I’ve been excited. I thought: WOW—This is the first time I’ve ever seen a candidate put land upfront, and the power of the sun to boot—both potent symbols.
About Ann Vileisis
Ann Vileisis is the author of Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes From and Why We Need to Get it Back, which was recently recognized as a Finalist for the Connecticut Book Award.
Elizabeth Grossman: McCain and Palin’s Environmental Policies
“I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem,” says Alaska Governor Sarah Palin – What his VP pick says about McCain’s environmental policy
Upon learning that Senator John McCain had chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for his vice-president my immediate thoughts were: 1) oil, 2) the New York Times photograph of a polar bear swimming in the Chukchi Sea, apparently heading towards the nearest ice some 400 miles away, and 3) what choosing Governor Palin says about a McCain administration’s energy, environmental and science policies.
The news media has immediately focused on Governor Palin’s personableness, her experience, strong “pro-life” position, NRA membership, and efforts to reform Alaska’s government corruption. Here are some other notes to consider:
With Arctic Sea ice at its lowest point since measurements began – scientists assessing Arctic conditions say what’s happening indicates we’re moving past the point of no return – under Governor Palin the State of Alaska filed suit against the Department of the Interior to stop the Endangered Species Act listing of polar bears. Alaskans don’t need other places telling us what to do, says Palin. Although she’s fished commercially, she supports the Pebble Mine – what would be North America’s largest open pit copper and gold mine – that would threaten Bristol Bay’s wild sockeye salmon run, the largest in the world.
Palin established a sub-cabinet committee on climate change but doesn’t believe global warming is caused by humans. She strongly favors oil and gas drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and has called the area under consideration “flat and barren.” Those opposed to drilling in ANWR (a group that would include former President Jimmy Carter), she labeled “extremists.” A Wall Street Journal column called her “penchant” for increased oil and gas exploration “even bigger than John McCain’s.” And in July, Palin told Investor’s Business Daily, “I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem….” Palin is eager to see to see oil extraction in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas – areas now literally on the front lines of climate change. She’s been praised for standing up to big oil companies. What this entails, however, is negotiating better deals for Alaska, a state whose economy depends on oil revenue.
Palin voices respect for animals but opposed a bill that would ban aerial hunting of wolves - a practice authorized under her administration’s predator control policy, which includes killing of grizzly and black bear mothers and cubs, and bear-baiting – previously not allowed in Alaska. In September 2007, dozens of scientists signed a letter to Palin, protesting these practices and urging her to re-examine the biological and ecological basis of Alaska’s predator control programs. As for science in a McCain administration, if his VP has a say as she did during her gubernatorial campaign, it would support teaching creationism alongside of evolution.
There are hard questions about energy and environment to be asked of Obama and Biden but Biden’s League of Conservation Voters ratings ranged from 88 to 96% until missed votes lowered his 2007 score to 67%. McCain’s average score is just shy of 28%. It was 0 in 2007 when he missed every environmental vote – including bills to increase energy efficiency and consider global warming’s impact on water resources (all bills Biden and Obama voted for). Meanwhile Obama’s first term rated 96% and like Biden dropped to 67% due to missed votes last year.
Governor Palin may bring fresh personal energy to the McCain ticket and she clearly relishes time in the great outdoors, but her record does not signal a fresh policy direction for Republicans on energy or the environment.
What do you think? Leave us a comment.
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Elizabeth Grossman is the author of High Tech Trash: Digital Devices, Hidden Toxics, and Human Health.
About Elizabeth Grossman
Elizabeth Grossman is the author ofHigh Tech Trash, Watershed: The Undamming of America (Counterpoint Press, 2002), and Adventuring Along the Lewis and Clark Trail (Sierra Club Books, 2003). She is also the co-editor of Shadow Cat: Encountering the American Mountain Lion (Sasquatch Books, 1999). Grossman’s writing has also appeared in a variety of publications, including Amicus Journal, Audubon, California Wild, Cascadia Times, Chicago Tribune, Environmental News Network, Grist, The Nation, New York Times Book Review, Newsday, Oregonian, Orion, the Patagonia catalogue, Salon.com, Seattle Times, Washington Post, and Yes! A native of New York City, she has a BA in literature from Yale University. She now lives a minute’s walk from the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. When not at her desk writing she's out exploring—hiking, camping, paddling, sketching, and watching birds.
Courtney White: “Relocalization” and the Presidency
I can’t get excited about the presidential race.
I know who I’ll vote for, and I’ll dutifully fulfill my democratic obligations on Election Day this fall, but I won’t be doing much more than that – which surprises me. In the past, I’ve eagerly participated in the quadrennial circus to elect a new President. In addition, over the years I’ve volunteered for various congressional campaigns, contributed (very) modest amounts of cash to candidates, and eagerly stood in long lines to cast my vote.
This year I reserved all of the above for a colleague who ran for county commissioner here in Santa Fe. And I did so for two reasons.
First, no one nationally is talking intelligently about issues that matter to me (whether they are talking intelligently about issues that matter to fellow Americans is an open question, I think). Take food and energy policy. Or climate change. Or family farming and ranching. Nothing substantive is being proposed, not by the two presidential candidates or by anyone in Congress (with a few exceptions). Take the new Farm Bill, please. There was a golden opportunity to change course. Instead, we’ll be growing more corn for ethanol.
I can guess why substantive discussions are being avoided: our leaders understand that as a nation, we’re in a jam of serious proportions. The proverbial chickens are coming home to roost after partying hard for sixty years and no one is willing to confront the mess we’ve created.
For example, on Independence Day, I listened to a great deal of chatter on the radio about energy independence. All I could think was: “We’re about twenty-five years too late.” At least the fireworks were pretty!
Second, if I’ve lost faith in our national leaders, I hold out a great deal of hope for local ones. In fact, I think over the ensuing years, the most important political unit will be the county and the most influential political leader the local county commissioner. That’s because commissioners have real power to change things at local scales and because they are responsive (or ought to be) to local communities.
And out West, where I live, counties are large in size, and thus control many resources.
“Relocalization” is much in the air these days, from talk about local food and farms to innovative ideas about local energy production. And given rising energy prices – which promise to go much higher – these discussions will only become more numerous, which is a great thing. I suspect it’s a harbinger of bigger things to come.
The next step is to relocalize democracy. Start over at the grassroots – including, the grass and the roots.
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Courtney White is co-founder and Executive Director of The Quivira Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building bridges between ranchers, conservationists, public land managers, scientists, and others. He is the author of Revolution on the Range: The Rise of a New Ranch in the American West. For further ruminations by Courtney, see www.chronicleofconsequences.com.
About Courtney White
In 1997, Courtney White voluntarily dropped out of the "conflict industry" to co-found The Quivira Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building bridges between ranchers, conservationists, public land managers, scientists and others. In 2006, The Quivira Coalition ventured into the ranching business when 149 heifers were delivered to its Valle Grande Ranch, located on the Santa Fe National Forest. White likes to say The Quivira Coalition is now a “conservation organization that runs livestock for land health and profit.” His writing has been published in numerous magazines. His essay “The Working Wilderness: a Call for a Land Health Movement” was recently published in Wendell Berry’s collection of essays entitled The Way of Ignorance. A collection of White’s essays titled Revolution on the Range will be published by Island Press in June 2008. White lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his family and a backyard full of chickens.
