The
ultimate goal of the Green Coalition is to make Ojai a model green
community. Baird recognized that to do so, collaboration would be
needed from the many facets of the Ojai Valley community. “Sometimes
environmentalism seems to be a contact sport,” Baird said. “You don't
have to be the greenest person in the valley to be talking about this
issue.”
First
District Supervisor Steve Bennett thanked the approximately 200 people
who turned out for the summit. He said the global response to the
climate crisis would be viewed as a great movement 30 years from now.
“Every great movement had their most productive and best success when
the people associated with those movements lived with personal integrity,”
Bennett said.
Wright
introduced keynote speaker, Hunter Lovins, who teaches business management
at Presidio School of Management based in San Francisco and speaks
internationally about environmental issues. She cited examples from
cities like Seattle and Vale that have already installed environmental
policies. “It may be time for humans to learn to live with limits,”
said Lovins. “We see limits as something to be broken through and
overcome.”
She
said businesses like DuPont and Wal-Mart have changed practices because
of the environmental concerns of its customers and employees, saving
money or increasing their stock values because of it. “The business
community is starting to take this seriously,” said Lovins.
New
technologies are being developed to create earth-friendly power and
cities have begun investing in solar and wind technology to power
their communities. “Climate protection is profitable,” Lovins said.
“It also generates intangible good will.”
To
get started on changing environmental behaviors, Lovins recommended
a community should set a “Big, hairy, audacious goal.” Implementing
new business policies and requirements can begin the momentum of change
needed in a community. Small steps, like switching to LED traffic
lights, can also save a city money.
“Margaret
Mead said, the only thing that likes change is a wet baby,” said Lovins.
“We're using two-thirds of the ecosystems on which life depends …
What right have we to so change the planet that entire species may
cease to exist?” Lovins suggested that humanity can buy time by radically
increasing resource productivity.
Lovins
said that some environmental problems stem from overpopulation. “Some
say: more people, more brains, more ideas on how to fix things. I
say it's high time we start using them.” She added that even Governor
Schwarzenagger now accepts the science of global warming and hoped
that skeptics will continue to acknowledge the reality.
When
Lovins finished speaking, individuals attended different presentations
and forums to proactively discuss the logistics needed to move the
Ojai Valley to adopt green policies. Environmentally friendly vendors
and inspirational movies were also offered for attendees.
Vendors
offered information on products like organic cotton, soy fabrics and
paper,
automobile
fuels made from recycled vegetable oil, green gadgets, and recycled
bicycles.
The
summit wrapped with Lovins answering questions in the auditorium.
“We've had a great day. What do you see as our next tangible steps?”
Baird asked.
“Make
yourself real, pay some money so the coalition can get a staff person,”
Lovins replied. She said many people talk about helping improve the
environmental issues facing the planet, but few follow through the
way OVGC has done. “The do-to-talk ratio is what really matters,”
said Lovins. “As cowboys say, there's no try, there's just do.”
Lovins
shared with the participants one of the questions she regularly asks
her students. “What are you going to do with this one, wild, precious
life?” For information about joining or sponsoring the Ojai Valley
Green Coalition, visit ojaigreencoalition.com.
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