[greenyes] re: Worthless Workshops in Sacramento

[mcdc@no.address]

As someone studying environmental issues, I found this thread of e-mail sad 
and discouraging. Yes, I'm in academia which means that right now I am not 
on the back of a recycling truck. But this doesn't mean that people who 
aren't picking up the recycling and dealing with the day to day of waste 
don't know anything about the subject.  If anything I hope this e-mail 
thread points to the need for 'people in the trenches' to have a louder 
voice in govt adminstrations, non-profit orgs, universities, etc. and 
better dialogue btwn the 'trench workers' and 'bureaucrats and experts'. 
Increase the dialogue -don't cut it off!  If voices are missing, then let's 
be heard at these kinds of workshops in greater #s, not less.  Like Sharon 
suggested, increase the access...
These emails also seem to say that the bureaucrat or expert side is 
worthless. That's really short-sighted. Often we see what we want to and 
believe what we want to - studies and such are done b/c what we think is 
happening from our 1 point of view isn't how everyone sees things and by 
understanding things from a broader view we can find better opportunities 
for change.  No, they don't always work but we try and learn from those 
experiences.
You also can't assume what people have or haven't done in their past - 
we're all working towards eliminating waste but in different ways.  And 
believe it or not, while they may not be all equally valuable at all times 
you can't dismiss some kinds of work and knowledge out of hand.
best,
Christa McDermott

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> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 10:14:20 -0800
> To: greenyes@no.address
> From: Sharon_Gates@no.address
> Subject: Re: [greenyes]
> Message-ID: <OFBB5B0FD3.83D33B38-ON88256E46.0062DBA4@no.address>
>
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