The Faces of Environmentalism

Unity College Community Debates Green Issues and Seeks Hands-On Involvement, Finding Common Ground to Achieve Progress an Important Goal

     Though the 2008 race for President continues to offer surprises, perhaps one of the biggest of them all has been how voters age 18 to 29 have so far shaped the primary races.  For too long, members of that age group have been known to commonly express interest in political races, but turn out to the polls in anemic numbers.  Judging from the track record of the young who voted in the primaries, the 2008 Presidential election may be the first decided by America’s youngest voters.

     While Unity College is not stressing a particular dialogue about the Presidential campaign or other issues, whether local or statewide, as a general concept the College encourages students to consider widely and do the legwork necessary to have informed opinions.

     Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Knisley notes that on any given day, a wide range of dialogue is occurring in classes.  During the Plumb Creek development debates of 2007, one Unity class for first year students that stresses civic engagement became very involved, staging a debate for the campus community, attending a legislative hearing in Augusta, and inviting guests from both sides of the issue to present their views directly to students.

Dr. Amy Knisley

     Knisley notes that Unity College students are not told what to think about issues, environmental or otherwise, but they are encouraged to consider widely as part of their intellectual development.

     In inter-personal and organized ways, the entire Unity College community is engaged in a running dialogue about green issues.  This dialogue does not only concern green issues within the context of the 2008 race for President.  It concerns how green issues are being addressed by private industry, at the federal, state and local levels, and around kitchen tables.

     The dialogue also concerns what factors will help create a greener and therefore, many at Unity believe, more prosperous future for the United States and world.

     An example of the kinds of diverse environmental projects that members of the Unity College community are engaged in may be seen in the highland restoration project currently being pursued in Scotland, United Kingdom.

     In early March, Wildlife Care and Education Assistant Professor Amy Darcangelo, her graduate student husband Joe ’07 Environmental Writing, Assistant Professor Aimee Phillippi – a Ph.D. marine biologist and conservation biology professor --, and her husband Mick Womersley, Director of Sustainability and Associate Professor at Unity College, journeyed to the 24,000 acre Scottish Highland estate of British millionaire Paul Lister.

     The team is advising Lister on approaches to “rewilding” Alladale, as the estate is known, and return it back to a time when it was part of the Caledonian forest.  Part of this project will involve reintroducing certain predator species back into the countryside.

     This project is but one among others being pursued by Unity faculty, staff and students.  Details of the project are available on the Unity College sustainability blog at http://ucsustainability.blogspot.com/.

     The campus dialogue does not limit itself to geographic boundaries (eg. The Scottish “rewilding” project) and is taking place in classrooms, at lunch, in the library, cafeteria, via e-mail, the Lapping Lecture Series at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts  and student government sponsored events.  Details of Lapping Lecture Series events, which are free of charge and to the general public, are online at http://www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/LappingSeries2008.aspx.

     This far ranging dialogue is engaging in discussions about green issues as they relate to public policy, philosophical inquiries, the role of government and private industry in both seeking and implementing green solutions, and green concerns (snowmobile access to trails on the college owned wood lot, the campus master planning process, approaches to sustainability) particular to the Unity College community itself.

     The overall goal of Unity College is to provide dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources.  Graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences.

     Virtually every day, members of the Unity College community reach out to the larger world in a variety of ways, whether as volunteers or problem solvers, and therefore are helping to find solutions to the complex environmental challenges of this time.

                                                What “Green” Issues?

     One question to be answered concerning the race for President is whether the issues so often explored by the media covering the campaigns closely match those of primary interest to young voters, or voters such as members of the Unity College community, who are primarily focused on environmental issues.

     It is no surprise that faculty, staff and students at an environmental college in Unity, Maine, offering two and four year environmental degrees, consider their daily efforts to closely relate to the future of the environment either directly or indirectly.  Many have expressed frustration that green issues have so often taken a back seat during recent local, state and national campaigns, while also barely receiving a mention in most of the Presidential debates and speeches.

     Some members of the Unity College community wonder about the connection between large corporations with an axe to grind concerning global warming or environmental regulations, and the lack of substantive green debate occurring on the Presidential campaign trail.  They point out that some of the corporations that are affected by environmental regulations also own media outlets, the inference between that the “Chinese wall” between management and the newsroom is in practice more an idealistic notion than firewall against business preferences shaping news coverage.

     They often wonder aloud whether the media is doing a good job examining a full range of issues including green issues, or allowing hot button issues and even disinformation to dominate.

                           Where’s the Beef?  Green Issues Not Often Addressed

     Both major political parties have been hit hard and often by shadowy disinformation campaigns, salacious news stories of questionable worth, and back-and-forth charges that shed little light on problem solving for the 21st century.

     Environmental policy major Aaron Witham ‘09 of Fairfield, Maine, is indicative of the motivated, engaged young demographic that is proving to be the wild card of the 2008 Presidential race.  He wonders why Americans aren’t demanding more substance from their political candidates and media.

     A strong supporter of Senator Barack Obama’s bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Witham participated in his local Democratic caucus.  A member of the Editorial Staff at the Center for Environmental Education (ceeonline.org) at Unity College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Maine at Farmington, Witham is educated, savvy and follows wide ranging news coverage and opinion, from CNN to right-wing talk radio.

Aaron Witham

     Two recent issues caught Witham’s attention as embodying problems that exist in how both the Democratic and Republican Presidential campaigns are being covered, and the topics that the general public often seems to seize upon.  On a nationally syndicated right-wing talk radio show broadcast in Maine early one evening in February, a caller recounted a Fox News story about Senator Obama not placing his hand over his heart during the national anthem.  The right wing radio host did not correct the caller about her erroneous belief in what had been proven to be a discredited story, thereby allowing the story to be perpetuated through his silence.

     The right wing talk radio host also allowed the caller to express concerns unchallenged about Obama’s loyalty to America by virtue of his middle name “Hussein.”

     Days after this unfair right wing attack on Obama, who has also suffered from the distribution of inflammatory and factually inaccurate mass e-mail messages, the New York Times ran a story about the personal friendship between the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and female lobbyist during his campaign for President in 2000.  An implication of the story was clearly the possibility of a romantic tie, which McCain strongly denied.

     The entire tone of the Presidential campaign coverage is for Witham cause for disengagement from the political process, except that he refuses to become disillusioned.  The stakes are too high for that.

                                                 The Economics of Green

     Witham feels his political beliefs are within the mainstream of Unity College, which might trend slightly to the left of center, though there is a vocal segment of students who describe themselves as conservative and Republican.

     “Politically, I would describe myself as a liberal, and my party affiliation is Democrat,” said Witham.  “I believe I’m in the mainstream of political beliefs at Unity.”

     He is concerned that green issues are not receiving much media attention.  “I think the reason why is because voters don’t demand that attention,” he said.  “Voters generally seem to be more concerned with debates over our military role and the economy, even in election cycles when neither of the two issues are pressing.”

     Unity College Vice President for College Advancement Rob Constantine sees green issues in expansive terms, relating to economics, issues of war and peace, jobs, entrepreneurship, higher education and technological innovation.

     He voted in the New Hampshire (his home state) primary and has met former Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, but is not revealing whether he will support a Democratic or Republican candidate for President.  No matter which party wins the White House, Constantine thinks that green issues will take on increasing importance and eventually capture the public imagination.

     “I’m not sure how the next President should specifically address the big problems facing the United States, but I would like to see them addressed in ways that include ensuring that green solutions are part of the comprehensive approach to problem solving,” Constantine said.  “I see environmental issues as more central an aspect to problem solving than some people might.”

Robert Constantine

     “A lot of the Presidential candidates are focused on the economy, and I’d be very impressed by a candidate that recognized the tie between our economic and environmental issues,” said Constantine.  He points to the two new sustainability majors -- Sustainable Design and Technology and Agriculture, Food and Sustainability -- at Unity College as evidence of how green issues are so clearly bread-and-butter economic issues as well.  Graduates of those programs will help school districts to buy locally grown and harvested foods.  They will help towns, cities and businesses become more efficient, saving money on energy and related expenditures.  Some of these graduates will also start their own green businesses.

     “America will eventually decide to address the environment in a serious way, because it will have no choice but to do so,” said Constantine.  “When this happens, an entire green industry will be created with many new jobs added to the economy.” 

     “I see environmentalism as an economic issue,” stated Constantine.  “It’s often framed as a moral issue, or in terms of being friendly to the Earth, but it’s not framed as strongly in terms of its connection to economics as it should be.  I think environmentalism is becoming an important economic issue.”

                               Considering Oil, War, Political Ads and Prosperity 

     “One of our concerns (in the United States) is the cost of oil, and that’s essentially an environmental issue,” Constantine said.  “The cost of oil has an impact on our economy from a variety of standpoints.  We are not addressing our consumption of carbon producing fuels, which create environmental degradation and contributes to global warming.  We need to ask what the economic impact of our current environmental practices really have been and will be in the long-term.”

     “The economy is an issue that is important to voters right now and we’re hearing it being discussed by candidates to a lesser degree than I would have hoped,” noted Constantine.  “We’re not hearing much from Presidential candidates about the economic piece of environmentalism, and that needs to change.  They’re not making the environmental aspect of how they’re going to address our economy as import it should be.”

     For John Zavodny, Chair of the Department of Instruction and Advising Services and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Unity, campaign finance, social justice and economic issues are intricately connected.  Following the money is key.

     “Campaign finance reform is of great importance to me because it is necessary for real change to be achieved,” Zavodny explained.  “It’s at the heart of what’s wrong with democracy in America right now.  We’ve got people in office who have more to gain and lose by pleasing or displeasing corporations than by serving the people who elected them.  The influence of corporate money on our democracy affects everything, including the cost and availability of health care.”  Environmentalism is also a public health issue, Zavodny adds.

Dr. John Zavodny

     Whitham echoes this last point, noting that medical research could be adversely affected by the degradation of habitats and regions which may hold the key to curing cancer or other diseases.  Also, some medicines are not created in labs, but rather harvested.  As the regions where those medicines are harvested shrink due to environmental degradation, those medicines will either be in short supply or become extinct, he added.

     One step in the right direction might be to greatly limit or eliminate paid political ads, which Zavodny says tend to reduce political dialogue to sound bites.  Since sound bites do more to create public policy problems than solve them, Zavodny feels America has a great deal to gain from addressing this most basic way that money influences politics.

     “We should standardize the political process by requiring that all candidates follow the same path,” Zavodny said.  “This would help American political races be determined by substance and ideas, not by either who has or can raise the most money.”

     He notes that in the United Kingdom, where the influence of money on politics is severely limited, public policy debates among candidates are much more substantive than in the United States.

     Zavodny thinks that ultimately, change will come in a number of important areas, from finally creating a single payer health care system in the United States to improving environmental policy.

     “When things get bad enough, there will be no option but to seek change,” said Zavodny.  “The only question is how bad it will have to get for the tipping point to be reached.”

                                       Texas – Home of Big Oil and Wind Farming

     Clayton Kern ’08, an Environmental Biology major from York, Pennsylvania, is both a conservative and Republican.  He is politically active and feels that conservative principles have much to offer America as it seeks to address significant problems, including effective approaches to economic stimulus, free enterprise, energy needs, the regulatory structure at state and federal levels, and green issues.  He leans Republican but does not believe in any brand of rigid political dogma.

     On Saturday, February 23, the New York Times ran an article on the front page about how Texas in general, hardly a hot spot for environmentalism nationally, and the town of Sweetwater, in particular, is becoming a leader in wind farming.  Surprisingly, former or current oil men are taking the initiative.

Clayton Kern

     In some parts of Texas, the horizon features both oil wells and wind turbines, some 20 stories high.  Unlike some areas of the nation that have held up wind farm projects due to a variety of reasons, from enormously complex energy regulations to esthetic concerns, entrepreneurs in Texas saw an opportunity to make money and went for it.  The state of Texas itself put up few roadblocks to the building of wind farms.

     Kern, who read the article, was impressed but not surprised.

     “It’s really amazing, in my lifetime I have seen the amount of revenue generated by green businesses go from practically non-existent as a child, to businesses making billions of dollars a year on green technologies,” Kern said.  “It’s really about time people realize that the economic possibilities are practically endless in this field.”

     “I remember the first time I saw a field full of colossally sized wind turbines along the Pennsylvania turnpike when I was about 14-years-old, they were the most incredible things I had ever seen,” Kern offered.  “They gave me a small spark of hope that our world might actually be changing.”

     He read news stories about (Massachusetts Senator) Ted Kennedy and (Massachusetts Senator and former Democratic nominee for President in 2004) John Kerry opposed a wind farm project on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, ostensibly because the project would disrupt the ocean views from their mansions, and was dismayed.

     “That (their opposition to the wind farm) really angered me,” Kern stated.  “Their opposition didn’t surprise me though.  It’s great to see now that people are actually realizing how much money is available in green technologies and businesses.  Texans are awesome like that, they’ll take the huge wind turbines and actually enjoy them, and the money.”

                             A Hunter Weighs In on Environmental Issues

     Like Kern, Joe Saltalamachia ’94, Wildlife, is a conservative and Republican.  Some environmental groups do not impress him due to both their messages and approaches.

     He is also Unity’s Associate Director of Admissions and an avid, lifelong hunter.  At Unity first as a student and then an employee, he found an environmental community that embraces different perspectives, including the important role played by hunting in conservation.  The hunting culture on campus is strong, and Unity is one of the few colleges nationally that allows students to keep their weapons in a locked storage area on campus.  It is not uncommon to see students on campus with weapons in hand on their way to hunting or target practice.

     Students who keep weapons in the locked and monitored storage area on campus must complete a training program and follow strict guidelines for access, Saltalamachia and other members of the Unity College community are quick to point out.  Allowing weapons for hunting is testament to the fact that Unity is an environmental college that values hunters and hunting.

     Saltalamachia is careful not to place all hunters into one bundle in terms of political or green perspectives.  He notes that his friends who hunt hold a variety of political perspectives, some liberal, others conservative, Democrat, Republican, independent and green.

Joe Saltalamachia

     “I am a hunter and environmentalist in the truest sense of the word,” stated Saltalamachia.  “I get things done.”

     He takes issue with how some tend to view the Democratic party as more environmentally sensitive than the Republican party, and he is displeased with the political process unfolding on the national scene.

     “I don’t like any of the Presidential choices,” Saltalamachia said.  He also has an issue with politicians in general, who he feels pander instead of problem solve.

     “All politicians do is tell you what you want to hear to try to buy your vote with talk,” he said.  “Talk is cheap.  Show me something that has common sense attached to it.  I think folks need to get off this ‘green is Democratic’ stuff.  I don’t consider myself or many of my conservative friends who are green to be liberal at all.  Well need to use common sense when thinking about the environment.  Sometimes that means making unpopular decisions when broad economic implications are at stake.”  The Kyoto Treaty is not in the best economic interests of the United States and therefore should never be signed, he added.

     The influence of money on politics is a concern for Saltalamachia.

     He does not believe that the average citizen will ever be able to compete against special interest dollars, and that the only way to fight those with money is to raise more than they have.

     In terms of news coverage Saltalamachia favors Fox News, which he feels is more accurate in general, but also feels is more slanted to favoring the Republican party.  He feels that other major television media including ABC, NBC and CNN, is slanted in favor of the Democratic party.

     As for Maine environmental issues, Saltalamachia calls the issue of open access for hunting a “no brainer.”

     “Considering that hunters support the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with more money than any other group, open access to hunting should be a top priority,” he said.  “Hunters are the big conservationists in this state when it comes to action and finances.  Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to check the books and the facts.  I guess it (what you feel is most important) depends on your priorities.”

     Saltalamachia is optimistic about the future of both the United States and environmentalism, but feels more common sense and concern for the economy is needed.

     “Protecting the environment is important,” he said.  “I would like to see Maine clean up our water, air and our soils without hurting the economy.  Be kind to the environment, but use common sense.  The state shouldn’t be responsible for (the cost of) clean-ups.  Go after the assets of the polluters.”

     In recent years though environmental issues have been covered more by the media, Saltalamachia feels if a greater priority were placed on common sense when seeking to find environmental solutions, the entire movement would be further along.

     “Education (concerning environmental issues and approaches to environmental problem solving) is important as is ensuring that the truth be a guide, and that it is not stretched to push specific agendas,” said Saltalamachia.  “If someone tells a white lie, and not the whole truth about any issue, then they are committing an injustice.”

     “I have to believe that in the majority of cases, when individuals are given accurate information, they will make the correct (environmental) decision,” he stated.  “The problem is that most people seem to be too busy watching American Idol or Brittany Spears to pay attention to environmental issues.”

     “Priorities have changed as have family values,” he added.  “If you want people to care about the environment, relate something in the environment to their life and they will pay attention.”

     “Remember, the environment and caring for it isn’t (and shouldn’t be) a left or right thing, it is the correct thing.  Be kind of mother Earth and she will be kind in return.”

                                   The Quest for Environmental Consensus

     There may never be across-the-board harmony among the many divergent groups with an interest in the environment, but with dialogue some believe that common ground can be identified.  Once that hard give-and-take has been achieved, the real work of environmental progress will get done.

     On the subject of seeking environmental outcomes through compromise, Knisley points with pride to a recent community discussion about snowmobile access to Unity College owned trails that was sponsored by the student government association.  Some students took a hard line against allowing snowmobile access on trails owned by the College, citing a host of environmental concerns including the unnecessary consumption of fossil fuel.  Other students were highly motivated to gain snowmobile access to the trails, since many of this group own snowmobiles which they keep on campus.

     Though the process is ongoing, a proposal being examined is seeking the compromise solution of opening up just one trail to snowmobile access.

     Knisley sees that compromise proposal as indicative of how environmental progress is achieved, one compromise at a time, one good faith discussion at a time.

     Zavodny sees hands-on projects to benefit society as extremely important and often the point where education, social activism, character development and environmentalism intersect.  On two occasions Zavodny and his wife, Anna McGalliard, the Director of the Health and Wellness Center at Unity College, have led relief trips to hurricane ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana.  Unity College students worked to clear debris, slept in a parking lot, and partnered with a grass roots community organization in that city’s less affluent and some would characterize as mostly ignored Ninth Ward.

     During Spring break in March, Zavodny will lead a group of Unity College students to help communities in Tennessee that were hard hit by a recent tornado.

     Victoria Arnold ’08 is an Ecology major from Martinez, California.  She is also a Staff Assistant at the Center for Environmental Education at Unity College.

     “Politically I’m fairly neutral except when it comes to environmental and education issues,” said Arnold.  “I don’t necessarily agree with most of what is going on in politics or messages being conveyed.  I believe the system needs to be re-evaluated but I guess it works for now.”

Victoria Arnold

     She defines herself politically as an independent.  “I am not sure what the mainstream (or mid-point) of Unity’s political beliefs really are, they seem to fill the whole political spectrum.”

     Politicians are discussing green issues more now than in the past, but Arnold feels this is partly due to the green movement in America prompting discussion.

     “They (politicians) only talk about what they believe people want to hear,” said Arnold. She considers green issues and how they play out in the political arena to be important.

     “Seeing as how politics is supposed to be the driving force behind this country, green politics do interest me,” she said.  “Green issues in politics seems the only way to get a mass movement to happen.  So yes, I have a mild interest in green politics.”

     No matter the good will involved going in, Arnold says that politics remains a difficult subject to discuss openly, even on the Unity College campus.

     “Most definitely I am somewhat disengaged (from politics),” Arnold noted.  “Politics can be a touchy subject with discussions often ending in a heated debate and name calling.”

     For now, Arnold isn’t taking sides in the Presidential election.

     “I will remain neutral until I can see for myself who is the better person,” she said.  “Hillary (Clinton) or (Barack) Obama seem to be the favorites (nationally).”

     The issue of education is important to Arnold.

     “The addition of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007 to the No Child Left Behind revision for this year is fairly important to me, but I don’t believe any of the candidates have touched on that subject,” noted Arnold.  “This act is important for the youth and future of this nation.” 

     If America’s youth are infused with knowledge and appreciation for nature, then perhaps this nation will have a green future, Arnold believes.

     Arnold is careful not to place too much importance on the election of the next President of the United States. “Isn’t the President just a head for decision making?” she asked rhetorically.  “The real working body of the United States government is the legislature and the whole checks and balance system.”

     What a person thinks about environmentalism is often determined by geography, Arnold says.  The variety of building, energy consumption and related activities that involve sustainability, which revolves around practices that can be continued indefinitely without adversely impacting the environment, she considers to be the vanguard of the green movement. 

     “There is a small, visible connection between green issues, sustainability and the average working person, but it really depends on where you live,” Arnold said.  “Some states push the sustainability issue more than others.  This small, visible connection is this mass movement to becoming green that seems to be happening in America.”

     “For example, many large corporations are going green in order to increase profits and cater to this movement,” Arnold said.  “We now see entire organic sections in grocery stores and gas stations are offering biodiesel or donating money to environmental causes, such as Shell oil supporting research in Antarctica.”

     Politics does not at present inspire Arnold.

     “The more I learn about politics, the more confused I am by the system,” she said.

                                          Confusing Times, Hopeful Signs

     Zavodny is from the more liberal side of the Unity community.  He is more vocal about politics than either Saltalamachia or Arnold, and has a slightly different take than Arnold concerning the level of political dialogue occurring on the Unity College campus.  Without question liberals are the most vocal segment of the campus, and often birds of a feather flock together.

     “Folks at Unity are definitely engaged politically,” Zavodny said.  “Lunch is a good example – everyday at lunch a number of smart, engaged folks sit together and talk.  The talk is mostly about the primaries and upcoming elections these days.  Who is more electable?  Who would bring about more social progress, a black man or a woman?  Who matches up well against whom?  What role does fundamentalism play in American politics in the year 2008?”

     “I think that liberal-minded people in their 40’s are probably more focused on the historical implications of electing a black man or a woman to the White House than they are on green issues, per se,” Zavodny said.

     That is not to say that green issues are not very important to Zavodny. 

     “Green issues are important to me and I feel like our politicians and candidates aren’t doing enough to address the issues, but I think that the environmental crisis itself coupled with popular outrage will soon force the hand of our politicians,” Zavodny said.  “We may be able to avoid the (green) issues until November, but it won’t be long after that (for green issues take center stage).”

     Zavodny remains torn between supporting Clinton or Obama.  He sees signs that discussion of green issues is becoming more important on the campaign trail.

     At a campaign stop in Ohio on Sunday, March 2, for instance, Hillary Clinton spoke about how in some parts of Europe, widespread use of solar power has created green jobs to support the industry.  Such hands-on green jobs can’t be shipped overseas because local labor is always required and therefore, once these green jobs are created in America, they will stay in America, Clinton pointed out.

     Where Zavodny sees the Democratic Presidential candidates as offering the best chance to move green issues forward in the United States, Kern takes the opposite tact.

     “Politically I would describe myself as a conservative environmentalist neoluddite,” Kern explained.  “I definitely go my own way in terms of overall politics, but in terms of the environment, I believe that I have as strong if not stronger views than most people at Unity.”

     Kern believes that green issues do not receive enough media attention.

     “Some of the Presidential campaigns themselves I believe focus adequately on the environment, it’s just that you have to go digging for those views because you don’t see them expressed in most media outlets,” said Kern.

     “I am in my early 20’s and believe that many of us twenty somethings are focused very much on environmental issues,” offered Kern.  “Many of us have been exposed to the environment and can see the direction it is headed if we continue down our current path.”

     Is the less than impressive track record of young voters in past Presidential elections a good indicator of present engagement, or the likelihood of similar disengagement in the 2008 Presidential election?  Kern doesn’t think so.

     “As with any situation, there are those (young Americans) who are very involved in politics, and those who could care less,” Kern noted.  “There are some members of the Unity College community that are very vocal about their political views whatever they may be.  Some of these individuals argue over e-mail, and even get paid for it.  Must be nice.  Then there are those who could not care less and are not thinking about politics whatsoever.”

     Though Kern is deeply engaged with political issues, he doesn’t see the forthcoming Presidential election as transformative.

     “I just see the same old party allegiances,” said Kern.  “Democrats are supporting Democrats, and Republicans are supporting Republicans.”  One notable exception is Saltalamachia, who as a Republican feels that conservatives have not been given a viable candidate.

     At some point, the Republican race took a turn for a worse, Kern feels.  He is willing to cross party lines.

     “There are a number of Presidential candidates that I supported,” said Kern.  “Many of them unfortunately are out of or almost out of the race at this point.  I supported Governor Bill Richardson (Democrat), Governor Mitt Romney (Republican), Governor Mike Huckabee (Republican), Representative Ron Paul (Republican), and Senator John McCain.”

     “I don’t know for sure who I would support for the general election, many things can change from now until then, so we’ll see,” said Kern.

                                 Deciding Which Issues Are Important and Why

     The environmental issues that are most important to Kern is the development and use of alternative energy sources, reduction of air pollution including CO2, energy independence, animal rights and making more public land available.

     While McCain is not embraced by conservatives, Kern is finding things he likes about this candidate.  He defines what is “green” as anything that promotes more sustainability (efficient use of energy, materials, approaches, etc…) and less impact on the environment.

     “McCain has consistently been involved in promoting energy independence, and has voted to reduce air pollution including CO2,” Kern said.  “He has also voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWAR – a hot button issue for conservatives who want oil drilling there).  He voted for including oil and gas smokestacks in mercury regulations, for ending commercial whaling, for preserving and protecting public lands, and for pushing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do more regarding mercury.”

     This list of preferences would tag Kern as a Democrat by some observers, though Kern sees such labels as narrow and less than helpful.

     “(Senator Hillary) Clinton has done a few good things for the environment, such as adding $5 billion for green collar jobs, seeking better testing for toxics in toys, removing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Hudson River (also a cause championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s environmental organization, Riverkeeper, located online at http://www.riverkeeper.org/) , and pushing the EPA to do more regarding mercury (as has McCain).”

     “Obama has also done a few things for the environment,” said Kern.  He mentions that Obama has promoted green technologies and fuel efficiency standards, is for protecting public lands, and has organized inner city recycling programs.

     Kern believes in limited government that regulates to a small degree, most assuredly not to the point where regulation stifles the economy.

     “Green technology and sustainable methods don’t just make sense environmentally, they also make sense economically,” Kern said, taking a page from the Rob Constantine playbook.

     “The job of the government is to teach and show that being green will save tons of money, and may even help you make money,” Kern said.  “To quote John McCain, ‘our economic prospects depend greatly upon the sustainable use o ample and unspoiled natural resources.  A clean and healthy environment is well served by a strong economy.  History shows that poverty is a poor steward.’”

     Kern disagrees with Kermit the Frog, who said it’s not easy to be green.

     “I think it is easy to be green,” said Kern.  “It makes perfect economic sense.”

                                  Perceptions Matter and Stick Like Glue

     Like Zavodny, Whitham is liberal and feels a strong tie to the Democratic party.

     “I think the perception around across campus is that Democrats are interested in primarily establishing universal health care, bringing an end to the war in Iraq, and creating a more green economy as a mechanism for making the economy stronger,” said Whitham.  “Students seem to perceive that the most important issues to Republicans are also ending the war in Iraq (despite the front-runner John McCain wanting to be there indefinitely), stimulating the economy, and also finding ways to initiate green incentives in the economy.”

     “Certainly, I think there are independents and party supporters who are misinformed and also disengaged,” he continued.  “Interestingly, the fact that the nomination process has gone on for so long this year has motivated some new people to get involved, and yet disenfranchised others because they are either sick of hearing about it, or don’t like the choices.”

     Witham believes strongly the candidacy of Senator Obama and feels he will win the general election.

     “The most important green issue for me is how to guide economic forces to adopt renewable energy and decrease pollution,” Witham said.  “I feel that all three major candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, take this issue seriously, but I think that Obama and Clinton are far more willing to heighten the federal government’s role in accomplishing this.”

     One green issue that Witham wants to see become a serious priority for the next President is to make “going green” an economic incentive for small businesses, as well as for multi-national corporations.  He also wants the next President to elevate the status of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to more than just an agency, but make the EPA Director a cabinet position.  Witham also wants to see the United States establish partnerships and long-term goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

     Zavodny is interested not just in the upcoming Presidential election, but a number of “smaller” political issues that aren’t top-of-mind for many voters.

     “I am very committed to ‘hiring’ a historic President – either a black man or a woman,” Zavodny stated.  “A tough choice for me would be if there were a candidate that represents social progress by virtue of who she or he is (minority, woman, gay, etc.) but holds political views with which I don’t identify,” he said.  “Happily that’s not really the case this time.  Maybe I’ll be challenged in that way in the future – one can only hope.”

     Two other issues that are highly important to Zavodny are climate change and campaign finance reform.

     He believes that his reasons for being concerned with climate change are self-evident, or should be to most people.

     “I’m concerned about campaign finance reform because I can’t help feeling like every issue would get a better hearing if we had confidence in the independence of our politicians,” Zavodny said.  “Whenever anyone wants to play the if-you-could-change-one-thing-about-American-politics game, I always say campaign finance reform.  It’s also an issue that crosses the aisle. I believe that most Americans – no matter their political affiliation – would agree that it’s needed.”

     “We all think we’re right about everything, right?” Zavodny quipped.  “We also all believe that politicians are driven by special interests of one kind or another, right?  Therefore, we would likely agree that we’d all agree with me if every issue got a fair hearing.”

     Kern thinks that environmentalism needs to become more egalitarian.

     “There is a huge gaping hole between environmental issues, sustainability and the average person,” Kern said.  “We need some type of nationwide education campaign to demonstrate real world examples of how much economic good can come from sustainability, and making green changes.  Most individuals who are just struggling to make ends meet believe that being sustainable costs a lot of money that they don’t have.  This is because even the green companies focus their products on the upper echelon of society that can shell out lots of money for it.”

     “It all comes down to the commercial interests in this country,” Kern continued.  “(Large business interests) are very much against education because this would take money out of their pockets and put it back into the hands of the people.  If our government for even once focused on the needs of citizens rather than the needs of special interest groups, our country would change immensely (for the better).”

                                  Wrapping It Up With a Neat Bow – Sort Of

     “Environmental education I believe is the number one solution to our and the world’s environmental crisis,” stated Kern.  “People who live in cities and sometimes have no concept of what the environment is, or even why we should care about it.  How can you help save something you know nothing about?”

     He feels that environmental education should not be limited to school age curriculums, it should be more comprehensive.

     “People can make lots of money by getting involved in the environmental movement,” Kern stated.  “That is the largest stumbling block from the past, perceptions of what environmentalism means.  In the past, it was a common misconception that being environmental was only for ‘rich’ people, and costs lots of money.  This stereotype needed to be destroyed, and people need to be taught that it’s really the opposite that is true (environmentalism / sustainability saves money and is for everyone).”

     Kern did a bit of digging and found something surprising: large corporations own “organic” interests.

     “I found an incredible web page last week by Dr. Phil Howard and he has mapped the relationship of organic and sustainable food companies to big corporations, and unsurprisingly, many if not almost all of the “organic” companies are owned by big corporations,” said Kern.  “These companies have no incentive to make being green and eating green cheap, their main incentive is to increase profits.”  Kern points to a web page with this information at http://www.msu.edu/%7Ehowardp/organicindustry.html.

     Why aren’t more candidates for public office talking about environmental issues?

     “I think the biggest stumbling block at present, and in the past, has been that candidates tend to be afraid to talk about green issues because they don’t want to be perceived as being anti-economic growth,” said Witham.  “I think Barack Obama, if elected, would find ways to make green issues not so scary to the average American by showing that great economic investments can be made in green industry.”