I received an email request last week from Sam Adams, Portland’s Mayor-Elect, asking for Portlander’s advice on ways our region can capitalize economically by introducing sustainability to China. Adams leaves September 4th for a two-week trip to China hosted by the National League of Cities to discuss green practices and energy efficiency.
“Supporting China in its efforts to become sustainable is not only a moral imperative; it is also an economic opportunity. One of the goals of the trip will be to place Portland and its businesses in a strategic position to benefit from the ‘greening’ of China,” says Adams. (For text of the entire email, please read It’s Time for Portland to SELL more good and services TO China)
If you have followed any of my rhetoric on sustainability (see my Sustainability post on this blog) you know that I advocate balancing the economy, the environment, and equity. Adams is touting the economic and environmental benefits of trade partnerships between Portland and Asia, but looking to boost our bottom line at the expense of human rights is in no way sustainable. Oh, it’d be nice to see all of our wallets get a little fatter – especially with economic conditions in America worsening everyday – but we are past getting rich by repressing people (or at least I hope we are trying to get past that).
If we in Portland were true leaders in sustainability, we would make a stand and show the world that to progress in the 21st century, supporting regimes that rule with an iron fist is not acceptable.
In my dream of dreams, Adams would visit China touting our goods and services that they cannot live without, but before contracts are signed, money is distributed, and our products set sail across the Pacific, we declare that absolutely no deals will be made until Tibet is free.
Let Mayor-Elect Adams know your thoughts at:
samadams@ci.portland.or.us
1221 SW 4th Ave., Rm 202
Portland, OR 97204
tel: 503-823-4128
fax: 503-823-3017
www.commissionersam.com
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September 12, 2008 at 11:01 pm
threedegrees
I received a comment back from Adams’ office concerning my blog post:
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Sam has many of the same concerns as you in developing stronger trade relations with China. He has stated, many times, that the definition of sustainability must include social justice as well as environmental sensitivity and economic foresight. The “triple bottom line” is in the foreground of his vision.
I welcome your ideas on how responsible trade can be achieved as we encourage Portland’s own sustainability by positioning the City within the global marketplace.
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Though it’s probably not the most popular idea, I still support Portland making a stand by saying “no trade until China chooses equality over domination.” It’s what a progressive leader with conviction would do.
September 23, 2008 at 10:53 am
threedegrees
Fortune Magazine takes the peak oil conversation into the mainstream with their story “Here comes $500 oil” with their interview of Matt Simmons, a long term oil investor.
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Simmons believes that a radical change in the way we live is inevitable. “We should basically be going back to creating a village economy, so that we really reduce the energy intensity of how we live,” he says. “We need bigtime conservation, not feel-good conservation. Make things where they’re used. You’ll end long-distance commuting, and we have the tools to do that now with webcams. Grow food locally. Grow food in your backyard. If they’re not commuting, people will have time to do that.”
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I don’t think trade with China would help create a village economy.