May 8, 2013
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No Such Thing as Clean Coal
Air currents do not
have borders
by
M. L inda J aramillo
The recent Earth Day
celebration was an op­
portunity to renew our
commitment to being re­
sponsible stewards of our planet.
Every year, we are reminded of the
multiple concerns related to eco-justice
that need attention. Among the issues is
how U.S. consumerism affects lives all
over the world because of demand for
lower priced products such as radios,
computers, and televisions.
Climate change has finally come to
the center of global attention as a key
environmental justice issue. Numerous
scientific reports have been released
describing the urgency of taking action
right now to stop the trajectory of the
global warming, even though we can’t
turn back the clock on damage already
done.
Coal is the dirtiest of the fossil fuels
producing toxic chemicals that include
mercury. The damage caused by coal
dust to humans as well as fish, wildlife,
farmland, and water sources is well-
documented, but many insist on ignoring
this tragedy.
Due to stricter U.S. environmental
standards being imposed to reduce haz­
ardous pollutants in this country, the use
o f coal energy has dropped by over 7
percent since utilities have used cleaner
burning natural gas.
Instead of taking steps to reduce the
coal’s carbon footprint with alternative
sources of energy, coal producing com ­
panies have resorted to exporting coal to
countries all over the world, most re­
cently to Asia in name o f profit margins.
By encouraging and expanding world­
wide coal use, not only will our global
neighbors suffer similar negative health
consequences just as we have, but more
U.S. and international communities will
be impacted by the transfer of products farming, fishing, and other sectors near
across land and sea.
the tracks and the loading terminals.
For example, coal producers have
Denis Hayes, chief executive of the
leased the rights to mine more than Seattle-based Bullitt Foundation and the
2.1 ?billion tons of coal in the Powder organizer of the first Earth Day put it well
River Basin, which stretches for more she explained how we don’t accomplish a
than 250 miles through Wyoming and better environment when we export coal
southern Montana. Since the coal is to countries in Asia, because it will pollute
mined so far inland, there is no choice but the atmosphere we all share.
to transport coal across the western
We join major national organizations
portion of the United States and Canada. such as Earth Ministry and Sierra Club
Trains carrying coal are already going along with thousands of religious lead­
across British Columbia. Now, Cloud ers, elected officials, community activ­
Peak Mining Company has secured the ists, environmental leaders to oppose to
rights to ship coal through Washington to the further leasing of federal lands to
terminals in Bellingham and Longview.
pave the way for contaminating the
As a coal train, up to P/2 miles long, whole earth in the interest of financial
moves down the tracks in uncovered profit for a few.
cars, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe
We must understand that air currents
Railway managers confess that between do not have borders. No matter what
500 pounds of coal is lost, spreading a ton coal producers say, there is no such
a coal dust on its way.
thing as clean coal.
While the coal industry benefits, thou­
M. Linda Jaramillo is executive
sands of human lives are in jeopardy and minister o f Justice Ministries with the
jobs are lost in tourism, small business,
United Church o f Christ.
The Unlikely Path to Entrepreneurship
T 'X
• ' l l «
Building on success
as you go for your
dreams
optimism needed.
St. Louis left a stable position as a
lawyer to open her own business, Bijte
Lingerie - a successful store that sells
lingerie for full-busted women. "It's a
journey that's going to be long, but
by D edrick M uhammad
ultimately, fulfilling if that’s what you
The path to a career in
really want to do," St. Louis says.
the early 21st century is
Though her passion lay elsewhere,
anything but a straight line.
St. Louis earned a law degree and
The very idea that you
worked at a law firm for five years
will just have one career
before striking it out on her own. "For
is becoming increasingly
me, lawyering was a means to end. I
antiquated.
knew I would always have it - it's one of
We have to be creative in our plans for those things where it could have gone
economic sustainability. This means build­ either way. I wanted to create as many
ing upon success and, even as you go for options as possible," she says.
your dreams, having apractical means to
Her lucrative position helped her save
meet the demands of your economic up a sizeable nest egg for her business.
reality.
And having a Plan B if something went
Diana St. Louis' transformation from wrong was important. "I needed to do
a prestigious lawyer to a successful en­ this so I have a basic foundation I can go
trepreneur is the perfect example of the back to if something goes wrong," she
versatility and mixture o f realism and says.
When she was finally ready to take
the leap, she did her homework by learn­
ing as much about the industry as pos­
sible. But research doesn't just mean
looking up the risks ~ it means checking
in with yourself to make sure you're
emotionally ready for a long, unpredict­
able and sometimes scary journey.
"Figure out how deeply you desire to
have your own business - you have to be
prepared for anything good, bad or ugly."
Beyond that, St. Louis suggests planning
out a business trajectory. "Will it remain
a hobby or will it become your primary
source of income? Either way, you need
to know how your business should de­
velop in the future," she says.
St. Louis was also fortunate enough to
have the guidance of an industry mentor,
though she found the mentor relatively
late in her entrepreneurial journey. Hav­
ing the guidance and help of an industry
mentor is absolutely pivotal when start­
ing your own business, she says. "Even
if that person can't answer a question,
they will at least know individuals who
can," she says.
She also found it helpful to set up a
support system of people to vent to -
whether that's a fellow business owner
you can commiserate with, or, as she
puts it, "people who might think you're
crazy but who still support you."
St. Louis also has advice for students
who are trying to figure out their career
path: Don't get stuck on a track too early,
and don't be afraid of inventing or com ­
bining job positions. "Talk to as many
people as possible and learn more about
the jobs that are out there," she says. She
stresses the importance of pursuing all
your interests, "So much of it is about
really making a point of enjoying every
experience, even if it doesn't turn into a
billion dollar opportunity."
Dedrick Muhammad is senior di­
rector o f the NAACP Economic De­
partment.
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