Environmental activist Van Jones spoke to Occupy Boston Oct 27, 2011. Jones served as a Special Advisor for the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 2009. He is a proponent of a “sustainable, environmentally beneficial economy,” and author of “The Green-Collar Economy; How One Solution Can Solve Our Two Biggest Problems.” He spoke to the crowd about how Washington has failed the American middle class because of the growing number of “banksters.”
Massachusetts farmers gathered at the State House in Boston April 7 for “Massachusetts Agriculture Day.” Gov. Deval Patrick, Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan and Agricultural Commissioner Scott Soares spoke about the importance of local food and sustainable agriculture. The event was also used to announce the establishment of the Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance.
Environmental activist Van Jones visited students at Babson College Feb. 23 to discuss Dr. King’s legacy of social justice and how it relates to today’s sustainable business practices. Jones served as a Special Advisor for the White House Council on Environmental Quality in 2009. He is a proponent of a “sustainable, environmentally beneficial economy,” and author of“The Green-Collar Economy; How One Solution Can Solve Our Two Biggest Problems.”
I first read his book two years ago when I was selected to be an Urban Environmental Justice Fellow at the Institute for Justice and Journalism. My project on food as an environmental justice issue in communities of color was partially inspired by his book. It wasn’t until recently people started to make the connection between the food system and the health of humanity and the planet. Thanks to Michelle Obama’s garden and healthy eating initiatives, as well as a plethora of books and films on the topic, food security in vulnerable communities has become a regular topic of discussion throughout the country.
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By Talia Whyte
Bay State Banner
From the hybrid automobiles that now line city streets to the growing number of rooftop gardens dotting structures, “going green” seems to have moved from buzzword of the moment to everyday reality. While the environmental movement has long been viewed as an exclusive club for privileged whites, a number of events in recent years have highlighted the growing multicultural leadership within its ranks.
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