During the week of March 5 – March 9, more than 500 people packed the conference rooms of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in New Orleans La., to observe, listen, learn and participate in the 10th annual HBCU Climate Change Conference sponsored by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice located in New Orleans, La., the Robert Bullard Center for Environmental Justice located in Houston, Texas and We Act for Environmental Justice located in New York City. Attending the conference were six members of our Africatown C.H.E.S.S. (Clean, Healthy, Educated, Safe & Sustainable) Community Environmental Team. The atmosphere that engulfed the entire 5 day conference was very uplifting and motivational for everyone that attended, especially considering the negativity that has been spurned nationwide during the last six weeks concerning Environmental Justice and Climate Change. To those critics I will simply echo one of our Africatown Sayings, ” Never take something from someone that has nothing, because that someone now has nothing to lose”.
The young people from our HBCU’s and other schools were very impressive. They presented their papers with the appropriate data to back up everything they were presenting. They were environmental studies students, chemists, engineers, financial, accounting and human relations students. Even more impressive was the fact that these 18 – 24 year old students were in New Orleans, La. (fun city) for five days but still showed up for every session. Props to the students and their instructors that were there with them. One young lady who is a native of Africa and attends college in America presented her study on wind turbines. She begin by noting that the electricity is turned off (in some areas) in South Africa 3 to 5 times everyday to preserve energy. She pointed out that the strong winds that cause the violent hurricanes in the united states begin in South Africa and sweep across the Atlantic Ocean and reap Havoc along the Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Shores of America. She used her data to point out that with the installment of wind turbines throughout South Africa enough inexpensive electricity could be produced so that daily blackouts would not be necessary in South Africa and all would have access to the energy. If I was a Human Resource Officer I would put this conference on my schedule every year as I search for highly trained and motivated new employees.
Some of the Major Speakers at the conference were: Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Dr. Paul Goodloe with The Weather Channel, Dr. Beverly Wright with DSCEJ, Dr. Robert Bullard with BCEJ, Bernice Miller-Travis, Dr. Paul Mohai with the U. of Michigan, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr, with the Hip Hop Caucus, La. Congressman Troy Carter Sr., Dr. Earthea Nance former EPA Regions 6 Administrator, Dr. Daniel Blackmon former Regions 4 Administrator, Jacqui Patterson founder and Executive Director of The Chisholm Legacy Project and a Special song was performance by Antonique Smith titled “Love Song to the Earth.”
Wednesday evening session begin with a Power to the People Coalition Meeting that consisted of CBO’s ( Community Based Organizations ) or the communities that are on the frontlines fighting for Environmental Justice and Climate Change Preparations for their families and friends survival. I relate the CBO’s to the frontline troops in the military. In the Marine Corps we say that the troops need BEANS (food), BULLETS(something to fight with) and BANDAGES(repair my wounds so I can fight some more). This conference supplied all that and more. The beans/food was supplied with the electric atmosphere that provided everyone with enough nourishment to take us through another year in the struggle, The bullets/something to fight with, was provide through the various data information systems that are available and how to use the data to our advantage, the bandages were supplied as we all licked our wounds and hugged each other as we prepared to take the fight to the opposition. We all enjoyed this conference and look forwarded to others that can provide us with more “FUEL FOR THE FIGHT” that looms ahead. To all I say,’ Lets not only save our Community but also Save Our Country.”
Dr. Major Joe Womack USMCR(ret)
