Tears from Heaven: Dr. King Would Want Climate Justice

Forty-one years ago today, on a balcony in Memphis, TN, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was taken from us. His dream, however, did not die on the balcony.

One year ago, on the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination, I was in Memphis at a very special and important gathering, the Dream Reborn Conference organized by Green for All. This gathering jumpstarted a nationwide movement for an inclusive green economy. Over the course of a year this movement grew so quickly and became so powerful, that we got $500 million dollars for green jobs training in President Obama's economic recovery plan.

Now, our movement for climate justice and economic opportunity has a critical role this month. We must fight for federal clean energy legislation that will create jobs, help end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and combat global warming.

This week, Congressman Henry Waxman, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Congressman Edward Markey, Chair of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, released a draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES). Here is a summary of the bill.

This legislation takes a step towards ending global warming, and by working with our environmental movement allies we can align the cause of ending urban poverty with the need to protect our environment. That is, if we can connect the dots between what's good for our planet and what's good for low-income urban communities.

You see, it is mostly poor people of color in the U.S. and around the globe who are feeling the impact from climate change, through increases in heat-related illnesses and deaths, rising energy costs, and of course natural disasters, like Hurricane Katrina.

We can end poverty and save our climate at the same time. Our demands in the month of April to our Representatives in Congress should be to create Clean Energy Jobs, rebuild our economy, save consumers and businesses money through industry efficiency, protect consumers from energy price spikes (like $4 a gallon gas last summer), and cap global warming pollution to protect our vulnerable communities and avert the high price of inaction.

One piece of legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, can do all this for us, if we make it so. Nothing is guaranteed for Urban America in this green conversion, if the streets stay silent on this issue.

We have come so far over the course of a year, as a movement we worked both to elect the people we want to best represent us, and at the same time, we fought hard on the issues that matter. Opportunity is before us, and we must seize it.

I gave a speech one year ago, as the keynote to the opening plenary of the Dream Reborn Conference. Davey D, a renowned Hip Hop journalist, remixed it. I would give the same exact speech today, April 4, 2009 as we still fight for the Dream. Listen to the speech with an introduction from my good friend Van Jones:

You can also listen here: Davey D's Hip Hop Corner

Comments

[Raco]

Whatever. This whole thing is running out of steam.

[burnsrunner]

I agree that wealth vs. poor is a major issue here. Most people relate to living green as an extra expense that just doesn't fit their budget. There are some really great resources out there to help the average American live greener, and help the environment. "The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget," by Josh Dorfman shows in his book how to realistically go green without all the hassle or expense.
It is written for regular people who want to save money and be more eco-conscious but who would never be caught dead in tie-dye or Birkenstocks. http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/

[Badger84]

Thanks Reverend. Environmental Racism is not a new concept. It is probably more accurate to say it is class based though. A trip to Louisiana's toxic alley is required for to see who bears the costs of pollution. We are fortunate to have you and the green evangelicals addressing this moral and health issue.

[valkyrie607]

Hear hear Rev. Lennox! I've been a big fan of Van Jones for about a year now, and am glad to see he's getting the exposure he deserves. Green For All is an amazing organization. And I agree: Rev. King would have been very concerned about the disproportionate impact of climate change on the world's poorest people, those who have done the least to cause this crisis.

[JWI1974]

I agree with everything about this article except using Dr. King. I do agree he would probably be in favor of this 100%, but we don't know for sure, and we don't know what specific ideas he would have. It is now 41 years after his death. Maybe he'd have ideas bigger and better than the ones we have now. I just don't think it's fair to speak for Dr. King on the issues of 2009. The right wingers are starting to use him like this too, which is just awful. We should let only Dr. King speak for Dr. King.

[JEP57]

The average global temperature has remained level over the last ten years. But let's say for the sake of argument that there are rising and sweltering temperatures in the cities (which no one has noticed happening that I've heard of). Since it's "global" warming, this excessive heat would also affect the health of most Americans of every race and every area in the country. Sorry, I don't buy it. And weather is just weather, no matter what causes it. It's not an injustice. No one has set out to raise the temperatures to make someone sick.

[valkyrie607]

Rather than making a real point, you've just exposed your ignorance here--about weather, about climate, about the difference between the two, about climate change, about environmental justice, and about social justice. There are so many false assumptions underlying your statement that can't address them all. Suffice to say that while warming is global, changes in climate patterns are local and will be more or less severe depending on location. And climate models predict that people living in the "global south" who are disproportionately poor and of color will also be disproportionately affected by climate change.

Of course, if you think that climate change models are just hocus pocus cooked up by one world conspirators bent on stealing your hummer and your guns, then there's really nothing I can say. Climate change models are scientific and verifiable--but not everyone is capable of verifying, apparently.

[WCanyon]

The idea that we should listen to a Reverend about a scientific concept is absurd.

[valkyrie607]

The interesting thing about climate change is that it's forcing us to abandon the distinctions between science and social justice. I think Rev. Lennox is making the point that climate change is a social justice issue, and it is a very good idea to listen to a Reverend about social justice issues.

[ev19]

yup, all those poor people of color are going to really appreciate and extra grand or two in their energy bills if cap and trade ever passes

[mightbesane]

I'm sorry, but I don't appreciate invoking the names of iconic figures in furtherance of causes about which there is no compelling historical record.

I don't know whether Jesus would shop at Walmart and I don't know if Dr. King would exchange all of the lights in his home with flourescents and neither does anybody else. You want to talk about racial justice, about the futility of war? Fine. Dr. King's speeches provide plenty of fodder for the thoughtful.

Climate change, ecology, and living green? There are plenty of eloquent, thoughtful people who dedicated their lives to the cause and whose words can be invoked. Don't project on Dr. King. That's just too easy.

[unkn1]

I thought Steele was the president of the hip hop caucus.

[GardenerNorCal]

It's not a matter of color, it's more about wealth vs poor. Cap and trade is not the answer it's just the next ponzi scheme for the financial sector to game. We have pollution laws, why don't we start by enforcing them. Businesses shouldn't be able to sell the right to pollute to others, that make no sense. It would be like a sober person selling the priveledge to drink and drive to an alcoholic.

[valkyrie607]

Where did Lennox mention cap and trade? You missed the point.

[WilliePilgrim]

Do you believe that just because you're the sort o' guy, excuse me, the kind of clergyman who is prone to believing what he feels in his heart must be right?
I think King would indeed want environmental justice and would presume that he was smart enough to see that the alarm over climate change is the wrong response and that the trillions spent on decreased efficiency in energy will be borne by the poor of every nation and yet those who are going to run the cap and tax plan, the same guys who not long ago were telling us our economic system was in great shape, will be crafting the cap and trade, and handling it and quite possibly doing some "pretty good business" as a result of this mega-monumental marshalling of economic resources to tilt at these oh so convenient windmills.
Check out Bjorn Lomborg's discussion of this. If you really want economic justice and environmental justice, dont go sending all your dollars away to fight a war that will not be won while you children at home can't afford mosquito netting.

[realpolitic]

Dr. King would want climate justice. I believe he would have spoke out forcefully against the Iraqi war as well. The moral opposition to the war would have been much greater with Dr. King's voice. Now, many poor kids in America grow up with asthma and other ailments because their communities are closest too toxic spewing industrial plants. The poorest in the developing world will see the effects of climate change first and have contributed to it least. Dr. King would be a forceful, effective spokesman on all these issues.

[PlugINCarsRule]

There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources. Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. It costs the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to charge and drive an electric car. If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trains the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.We have so much available to us such as wind and solar. Let's spend some of those bail out billions and get busy harnessing this energy. Create cheap clean energy, badly needed new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What a win-win situation that would be for our nation at large! There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com