Environmental Committee: Reactions, II

Note: A copy of the Feb. 2023 email sent to the Harrisburg NAACP Environmental Committee follows. Titles to related updates added for Reference.

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Hi, <Redacted>:

I need more time for the fire prevention/fire safety animation. Last week, I did ask during the executive meeting if it’s permissible to self-fund it. 

See Environmental Committee: Fire Safety Cartoon, III below.

To put the answer in my own words: It’s not advised. 

I also asked for the final month of my term. I opted not to run for the executive committee at the most recent election, so my term – it turns out – ended in December. What I thought was a two-year term from my start date (month) in 2021 actually ends for any committee chair on the same calendar year. Therefore, I’m serving as Acting Chair of the Environmental Committee and will update last month’s update to reflect that. 

I’d like to finish what I thought would be the duration of my term. In the meantime, please consider becoming interim chair by appointment thereafter.

On another note, Part 2 of my response to a series of articles <Redacted> sent me follows. As stated in the January update, I’ll narrow the topic to that referenced in their respective topics in the interest of time.
 
“WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Environmental Justice and Congressional Leaders, Advocates Applaud the New Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool” (whitehouse.gov, Nov. 2022)

I applaud that federal agencies have an improved Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (v1.0) to, in part, reflect regions of Black; low-income; First Nations; and other communities marginalized by pollution, redlining, risk of climate adversity, etc. I also understand from the press release that it’s a tool that the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative will use to identify the delivery of federal investments to minimize these factors.

Ironically, the Administration has also expressed nuclear energy as an infrastructural goal in the national transition to carbon-free energy generation. From what I know about nuclear energy, it generates a large  – if not the largest, capacity of carbon-free energy. Yet, a possible meltdown of a reactor or catastrophe to the storage of radioactive waste renders some climatic buffers i.e. greenspace and tree canopies inconsequential.

Also see Environmental Committee: Tree Canopy on Cameron Street Flood Zone below.

“Soup slinging doesn’t aid climate activism” (A. Prang, Nov. 2022)
Thank you for this one. The sample size of the Penn study was small (1,000) but reflective of my casual observations. Albeit subjective, I’ve noticed the more-frequent double-takes and questions by onlookers from multiple demographics noted. 

Coincidentally, I noted the interest factor at a training for the most-recent such action I was part of. At the action itself, on the other hand, I too recognized the political affiliation – another noted demographic – of those who mocked us and – in one instance – led to a physically painful encounter for a fellow participant by a disgusted individual. 

Also see Environmental Committee: Reactions, I below.

To a decent end to Black History Month for 2023 – regards,

Jubalyn ExWilliams
Acting Chair | Environmental Committee
Harrisburg NAACP 
XXX-XXX-XXXX

Firefighter dousing a fire (Credit: "RAF Firefighter" by Defence Images)

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The founding Environmental Committee of the Harrisburg NAACP popularizes awareness for fire safety & prevention in the City of Harrisburg. Upon its formal conception in March 2021, the Committee has been developing a free educational product for young learners about non-arson house fires.

Would you like to join the Harrisburg NAACP and help shape the Environmental Committee, or another committee? Contact the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP at hbgnaacp.com.

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Related: Environmental Committee: Reactions, I (Jan. 2023)
Related: Environmental Committee: Fire Safety Cartoon, III (Oct. 2022)
Related: Environmental Committee: Tree Canopy on Cameron Street Flood Zone (Aug. 2022)
Related: Environmental Committee: Remaining Plans (Nov. 2022)
Related: Environmental Committee: Renewable Energy Suppliers in Pa. (Nov. 2021)
Related: Environmental Committee: Proposal on Harrisburg Fire Safety, Prevention (Mar. 2021)

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