The guide to Environmental Nonprofits was a good article. I am not the biggest environmentalist and in the past when I have looked into environmental nonprofits I have gotten lost so I felt as though this article read my mind. I liked that it was straight and to the point with it descriptions but kept everything interesting. A few groups I found interesting were the Ocean Futures Society and the Global Coral Reef Alliance… Never would I have thought there was a group that looked out for coral reef!
The Saving the Environment for a Profit article was a little confusing, but one part that I totally understood (at least I think) was when the author mentions the policy makers developing a market approach for trading pollution rights. In another class I am taking we have discussed tradable permits for pollution abatement. The trade of pollution permits allows economists to look at the actual COST of pollution, which I am sure helps those for profit groups to determine whether they would like to enter the environmental world or not. I still don’t understand how people can make money off pollution, like the selling of trees in the Amazon so you can use more carbon? Things like that are still a little confusing, but if environmental protection becomes an issue for not only non profits but also for profits, I don’t think I see a problem with that… maybe. J
Paul Hawken’s address was cool. I like that he was straight forward, but hilarious at the same time, and really put the pressure on our generation to do something about the issues our world and environment face. Like I mentioned above, I am not really an environmentalist, not because I don’t find the environment important or anything, it just doesn’t interest me as a career path, but after this article I think I have found some new found respect for those that are trying to save the world for the benefit of all, talk about selflessness.
Coming from the Eugene area, I have always been taught the importance of the rivers that run through the Willamette Valley. I am happy to see that there is an organization like the McKenzie Watershed Council that has a voice out for the natural resource that many would love to overuse and ruin. The MWC looks to be doing great things, like the fish habitat enhancement program and the river monitoring. Fun fact, when I was younger I was actually involved with the MWC, I worked with them to plant vegetation in an open field, which was responsible for large amounts of debri and sediments running off straight into the river and I also worked on stamping of street drains! In reading this annual report, I got interested in the annual river cleanup, and I hope that I remember to look for it later this year so I can get involved..
