Working with EarthRights

So, I'm pasting what I wrote on Facebook, below. (You are right, Elaine, there is a lot of overlap between blogs, facebook and diary - invariably something loses out). One thing I've been thinking about since I wrote this, though, is the need for basic climate education in developing countries. These are the people who will be (are) affected the most by climate change. Giving them a basic understanding of the science behind climate change - the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, the difference between climate change and the ozone hole - is empowering. It gives them knowledge they will need if they choose to fight back....

Here's my post:

So some of you (Elaine, Erin and Ryan, ahem!) know I'm really sick of thinking about biofuels. You'd think that traveling in Asia, I'd get to forget about it for a little while. No such luck. I taught at EarthRight's Mekong school (which has 2 students each from each country in the Mekong region - Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Burma and Laos) on biofuels this morning. It was fascinating to hear their experiences with it. There is some really horrifying stuff going on with jatropha in Burma (see http://www.terraper.org/key_issues_view.php?id=17), which I heard about first-hand from the Burmese student.

The students were very engaged and kept asking really complicated questions requiring drawings and long explanations of the carbon cycle, eutrophication, carbon trading, U.S. politics, international climate agreements, etc. Since I'm so sick of thinking about biofuels, I was happy to go off on tangents. One of the Chinese students felt that all countries should sign on to the next climate agreement, but that the U.S. should reduce more, say, "by half." She asked how willing Americans are to change their lifestyle. They all seemed a little shocked when I told them how attached Americans are to their consumptive lifestyles. But I mentioned Obama's acceptance speach - how for the first time in a long time, sacrifice was tied to patriotism. They seemed excited about Obama, but a little cynical. One of the students asked how he would be able to accomplish his goals if the big corporations went against him. She also asked if I thought he'd be assassinated. Ouch. I told her I was more optimistic than scared, and she agreed with me.

Anyway, it was a great experience. The students are so well-spoken and inspiring. I know they'll all go on to do great things. I think the EarthRights model, giving people the tools to fight for their rights (human and environmental) in their home countries, makes so much sense. It's cool to see it in action.