I suppose I'd characterize myself as having a faith-based optimism. My faith is parental and Darwinian.
Denis HayesEarth Day gathered up those strands, and dozens more, and knitted them together in the public consciousness as "environmental" issues. The nation was pretty startled when 20 million people hit the streets. Congress, which had adjourned for the day to go back to its districts, was blown away.
Denis HayesObama wants to build such things as smart electrical grids and high-speed rail lines, which will offer big environmental improvements. Another obvious thing is that large-scale project financing is virtually frozen, so a lot of renewable energy projects are on hold. If the system doesn't get unclogged before the developers run out of cash, they will be cancelled. Money matters, and we are racing against time.
Denis HayesThere are a few obvious consequences and perhaps one subtle possibility. One obvious thing is that, to stimulate the economy, President Obama has committed to creating millions of green jobs that will leave a legacy - much as Roosevelt's public works did during the new deal.
Denis HayesMake Earth Day Every Day.โ While we might not always live up to this ideal, I try to keep this quote from Denis Hayes, founder of the Earth Day Network and president of Seattleโs Bullitt Foundation, in mind when I need a little extra motivation to be a better environmentalist: โListen up, you couch potatoes: each recycled beer can saves enough electricity to run a television for three hours.
Denis Hayes