People Making a Difference

by: deciminyan

Fri Mar 04, 2011 at 10:14:12 AM EST

We often emphasize the fact that a way to make a difference and mitigate the scourge of anti-environment, pro-polluter Republicanism is to work hard to elect progressives at all levels of government. That's critical - we need regulations, standards, and incentives that only government can provide. But that's just one aspect of making the world greener and more sustainable.

Grass-roots action must go beyond the ballot box, and Sustainable Cherry Hill is one organization that is starting to "walk the talk." Two hundred environmentalists, businesspeople, senior citizens, and politicians gathered last night at Camden Community College in Blackwood to use their collective brainpower to develop ideas for sustainability. Don't let the name of the organization fool you - there were people from 35 towns in six counties participating in enthusiastic discussion in the school's cafeteria.

There's more...

Sustainable Cherry Hill's Lori Braunstein

deciminyan :: People Making a Difference

This was not one of those "Death by PowerPoint" meetings, either. After some introductory remarks by school officials and local politicians, the group's organizer, Lori Braunstein, put the participants to work. Using a technique called "World Café" (which, to this old-timer seems like traditional brainstorming), the participants broke up into small groups to discuss various topics of mutual interest.

In keeping with the theme, the breakout sessions were around tables decorated with centerpieces made from "recycled" hubcaps that looked like they were just harvested from I-295. The first session that I attended was on Green Building. I learned a lot about incentives, the lack of cooperation by utilities for certain energy initiatives, counterproductive regulatory standards, and issues with the electricity grid. The second session was on Transportation - most of the participants were proactively using means other than cars, such as biking, walking, and public transport. Several ideas were brainstormed that might encourage automobile addicts to find alternate means of getting from point A to point B.

During the wrap-up, several participants discussed some of their ideas with the larger group. Braunstein indicated that additional sessions will be held in the tri-county area in the future.

Now, the challenge is to turn these ideas into actions with real goals, measurable milestones, and quantifiable objectives. Those of us in the baby boom generation have an obligation to leave a world for our kids and grandkids that is better than the one we inherited. Groups like Sustainable Cherry Hill and its affiliates are a way to help achieve that goal. But actions speak louder than words. Not every idea is good or even feasible, but let's take those that are doable and make things happen.

Tags: Sustainable Cherry Hill, environment, Lori Braunstein, energy, transportation, Camden Community College, bicycling, walking, public transportation, (All Tags)

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People Making a Difference | 2 comments

Simply put... (0.00 / 0)

Lori Braunstein rocks sustainability in South Jersey! Three cheers for Lori!

by: toaonua @ Fri Mar 04, 2011 at 16:13:23 PM UTC

Thanks to Lori (0.00 / 0)

....for making Cherry Hill so shovel-ready. when sustainability became cool a few years back, she had already done all the hard work to give our hometown a running start. she's a leader in this community and has fans from all side of the political universe.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Fri Mar 04, 2011 at 17:08:40 PM UTC