Anderson@Large

Can Environmentalists, Shale Gas Producers Get Along?

It was serendipitous that I read about a collaboration between environmentalists and unconventional gas drillers while attending Wharton’s Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership’s conference on the nexus of energy, food and water. The goal of the gathering was to engage the business community in a conversation on how to build business value by embedding sustainability.

I was tweeting about Neil Hawkins’ call for collaboration when a Google alert about the new center popped up. Hawkins is Vice President of Sustainability and Environment, Health & Safety for the Dow Chemical Company.

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development is breaking down silos. The participating partners include Chevron, CONSOL Energy, Environmental Defense Fund, EQT Corp., Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Shell and William Penn Foundation.

Robert Vagt, President of the Heinz Endowments, said in a statement:

CSSD is the result of an unprecedented effort that brought together a group of stakeholders with diverse perspectives, working to create responsible performance standards and a rigorous, third‐party evaluation process for shale gas operations. This process has demonstrated for us that industry and environmental organizations, working together, can identify shared values and find common ground on standards that are environmentally protective.

Bruce Niemeyer, President of Chevron Appalachia, added:

Raising the bar on performance and committing to public, rigorous and verifiable standards demonstrates our companies’ determination to develop this resource safely and responsibly. Throughout the development of CSSD, the collaborative effort of environmental organizations, foundations and energy companies has been the key to achieving consensus on regional performance standards.

Energy companies seeking certification must meet 15 performance standards that address air quality, water resources and climate. The data-driven performance measures will build trust and break through the myths and unfounded fears.

Indeed, the Washington Post editorialized:

Last week brought a heartening breakthrough in the war over fracking: A handful of major green groups and big drillers agreed on environmental standards… These new rules are a large step toward striking the right balance, and everyone involved deserves credit.

But not all environmentalists are singing “Kumbaya.” Deb Nardone, the Sierra Club’s Beyond Natural Gas Campaign Director, dismissed the agreement as “akin to slapping a band aid on a gaping wound.” In a statement, Nardone declared:

The majority of natural gas must stay in the ground if we want any chance of avoiding climate disaster.

That makes no fracking sense says the Post:

The center provides a model for environmental groups, too. They advance their cause much further when they accept that the country is fracking and push for sound regulation, instead of unrealistically insisting that all that natural gas stay in the ground.

Truth be told, some ‘fracktivists’ are more interested in mobilizing around an issue than collaborating on solutions because it’s good for business.

What's the Matter with Republicans?

I would like to share an excerpt from my BlogHer post about the Republicans and their fixation on United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice:

I have watched with bewilderment as Republicans ratchet up their attacks on United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice.

To be sure, Congress should investigate what happened in Benghazi. After all, four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens who reportedly had expressed concern about the “security vacuum” around the consulate.

But a quick glance at the State Department’s organization chart shows that embassy and consulate security is not included in Rice’s portfolio.

Why haven’t Republicans hauled Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy before Congress? If Sen. Lindsey Graham wants answers, why not ask the person directly responsible for “ensuring that the United States can conduct diplomacy safely and securely around the world,” Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Eric J. Boswell.

Read more: Why Do Republicans Keep Picking on Susan Rice?

Bravo! GOP Fox is Guarding the Hen House

On the eve of Independence Day, Pennsylvania announced that 758,939 registered voters do not have a PennDOT ID, including 186,830 voters in Philadelphia.

The state plans to spend $5 million in Help America Vote (HAVA) funds “on educating voters with regard to voting procedures relating to the recently enacted House Bill 934, which imposes a new requirement for voters to present photo identification at the polls, beginning with the November 2012 General Election.”

In the run-up to the April 24 primary election, the Bravo Group proposed PSAs to educate voters about the new photo ID requirement. The videos show a stunning disconnect with the voters who blocked by the voter ID law.

The Bravo Group has since been awarded a $250,000 contract to develop the “Community Outreach and Public Relations portion of the 2012 General Election Voter Education Media Campaign.” The contract was awarded under an “expedited RFP” in arguable violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The President & CEO of the Bravo Group is Chris Bravacos, a lobbyist, former executive director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Mitt Romney fundraiser.

While his plan is unlikely to “reach specific populations that could be less likely to have acceptable photo identification,” Bravacos likely “shows an understanding of the project objectives.”

Unhappy Dependence Day

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the national unemployment rate was “unchanged” at 8.2 percent. By contrast, the employment situation has changed for African American workers. The black joblessness rate rose to 14.4 percent, up from 13.6 percent in May.

While private payrolls added 80,000 jobs, the Social Security Administration reported 85,000 were added to the disability rolls.

Wells Fargo, Fraudsters and Tainted Money

For preachers and some civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, no money is tainted. For them, the only thing wrong with tainted money is there t'aint enough.

But enough is enough.

Today, the Justice Department announced a $25 billion agreement with the five largest mortgage servicers: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally Financial (formerly GMAC). Attorney General Eric Holder said:

This agreement – the largest joint federal-state settlement ever obtained – is the result of unprecedented coordination among enforcement agencies throughout the government. It holds mortgage servicers accountable for abusive practices and requires them to commit more than $20 billion towards financial relief for consumers. As a result, struggling homeowners throughout the country will benefit from reduced principals and refinancing of their loans. The agreement also requires substantial changes in how servicers do business, which will help to ensure the abuses of the past are not repeated.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller added:

This monitored agreement holds the banks accountable, it provides badly needed relief to homeowners, and it transforms the mortgage servicing industry so now homeowners will be protected and treated fairly.

In his remarks on the landmark housing settlement, President Obama said:

By now, it’s well known that millions of Americans who did the right thing and the responsible thing – shopped for a house, secured a mortgage that they could afford, made their payments on time – were, nevertheless, hurt badly by the irresponsible actions of others: by lenders who sold loans to people who couldn’t afford them; by buyers who knew they couldn’t afford them; by speculators who were looking to make a quick buck; by banks that took risky mortgages, packaged them up, and traded them off for large profits.

The NAACP and the National Urban League trade their credibility, such as it is, for sponsorship by banks that engaged in discriminatory and fraudulent lending practices. Pariah corporations have long sponsored civil rights organizations to buy their silence.

It's up to the rest of us to make some noise. Hey, Ben Jealous, how's your “partnership” with Wells Fargo working out?

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