LAST THURSDAY, Students for Environmental Action (SEA) put on its first-ever flash mob. A SEA member dressed all in black — the embodiment of dirty coal — sprinted across campus with a stolen wind turbine held on his shoulders. Ten green-clad students chased after him screaming, “Give us our clean energy!” Some bewildered bystanders looked on in amusement. But as others yelled, “Yea! Get that dirty energy,” we couldn’t help wondering if our message would really resonate with the throngs of on-lookers.
The goal of the flash mob was to get students to think about environmental and energy related issues in time for the election and, later, to give letters to the local Obama offices regarding the truth about clean coal, the possibility for five million green jobs, and the fact that the environmental movement does not end Nov. 4.
For the past two semesters, SEA has directed much of its energy towards Virginia’s most salient environmental issue — coal mining and mountain-top removal — by holding rallies, meeting with Virginia’s state delegates and other educational awareness activities. Though the issue has gained recognition in Virginia as a result of widespread opposition to the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Wise County, many Virginians remain woefully uninformed.
SEA has sought to bring this issue to the attention of the Charlottesville community and the student body. How many Virginians are aware of the recent report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy that found that the Commonwealth could meet close to 20 percent of its electricity needs by 2025 by investing in energy efficiency — a strategy that would cut utility bills by $15 billion and create nearly 10,000 new jobs? How many people are conscious that when we turn our lights or any electric appliance on, that energy is derived from coal?
SEA’s actions are motivated by the fact that the environment does not have a strong voice of its own so everyone must speak up for it because we all have a stake in it. The environment is strongly connected to major issues such as health, the economy and urban development. If you care to help cities avoid the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, let’s prevent global sea levels from rising and more turbulent storms from occurring due to global warming. After all, Hampton Roads, Virginia is the second most vulnerable area after New Orleans to rising sea levels.
If you care about living in a city that passes clean air quality standards, unlike most northern Virginian cities, let’s be mindful of our carbon emissions. If you care about saving a little bit more money these days, let’s fight to prevent Dominion power from increasing electricity rates by 18 percent again for the Virginia’s residential customers to pay for new power plants, including those using coal. If you care about improving health, let’s prevent the construction of more coals plants to lower the high rates of lung diseases and respiratory problems in coal towns such as Wise County.
The point is that the environmental movement, which is about environmental justice as much as social justice, requires the voice of everyone. The environment needs my fellow classmates who are studying public policy, engineering, or the sciences to fight for it because they are going to lead change for the world’s future.
We challenge the student body to do three things. First take the little steps: Use compact fluorescent lights, recycle, turn off the lights when you’re not using it, ride your bike or walk, if you must drive then drive smart, get an energy audit. It is important to be consistent.
Second, join professors in research on renewable energy or do an independent community engagement project of your own on composting or the like.
Third, join together to give the environment an active and persistent voice. Check to see what your neighborhood or local community is doing. Then if you’re up for the challenge, see what your representatives at the state, and national governments have promised to the environment, hold them accountable for their promises and challenge them to do more. Recently, we met with David Toscano, the 57th district representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, and other community members to discuss the destruction of coal.
The most important idea is to be active and resilient to any failures or resistance from the people that don’t recognize the importance of environmental justice. Environmental and energy issues have been pushed aside for too long and now we’re panicking because we finally realize we’re consuming our natural energy sources too quickly. Even coal, with an estimated supply for 250 years, will eventually be depleted. Let’s be preventive in our actions as best as we can. Let’s not forget that fighting for environmental justice is fighting for social justice. Let’s show how many diverse voices are willing to stand for the environment, and let’s act.
Veronica Yeh is Community Outreach Co-Chair and Andrew Moore is Actions Committee Co-chair of Students for Environmental Action.
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