America's legal system is one of its greatest virtues and one of its greatest curses. Generally it works, and generally it reflects our values. But the greatest and most important dynamics are the growth and change in China and India, with more than 35% of the world's population. America's environmental consciousness had roots in the philosophy of longtime native peoples and the Transcendental religious movement in the mid-19th Century, reflected in Thoreau's Walden. The rapid change period that birthed today's approach was a result of America's economic growth and prosperity in the 1950's and 1960's. Writer Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, warning of the dangers of chemicals and attracting the attention of then president Kennedy. First lady, Lady Bird Johnson in the mid-1960's campaigned against litter and for native plantings on the developing national highway system memed as "Keep America Beautiful". The most epic breakthrough was the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act n 1970, signed by president Richard Nixon.
India and China are approaching a time when a growing middle class, an overwhelming majority, will press for a better environmental quality of life, at the expense of narrow business optimization.
Indian attorney-litigator M.C. Mehta provides a perspective on environmental case law in South Asia. Mr. Mehta is known for his successful campaign to reduce air pollution near the Taj Mahal, acidic pollution that was literally dissolving the building marble. He has worked elsewhere in the region framing legislation and seeding an awareness of the law as a tool for a return to a healthy environment.
Mehta speaks tonight at the Lewis and Clark Law School. The event is organized by the The Indus Entrepreneurs oregon.tie.org. It's at Lewis and Clark College Law School. Parking there is strictly regulated: you can get a pass the the L&C Law School front desk or pay for parking that the main school lots. %:30PM registration, 6 talk, 7 reception.
Abu Dhabi is a small oil-rich city on the boot toe of the Arabian peninsula in the United Arab Emirates. Interestingly, it faces Iran across the narrow Strait of Hormuz. Portland architectural firm Sera and Portland engineering firm Interface Engineering have a project to build a sustainable university town from scratch a little inland there. It will be roughly equivalent to Corvallis in size, and the university is focused desert ecology, agriculture and Bedouin culture. Paul Pawlowski and Omid Nabipoor speak about the project tonight. Their target is net-zero, a city that produces all the energy it needs, in this case despite being sited in a massively energy exporting country. Of course photovoltaics, bicycles and water conservation are a part of the plan. Just like Portland! I find it interesting that the UAE has a system, "Pearls" similar to the LEED ratings. It is part of the Bright Lights series sponsored by the local architecture magazine Portland Spaces and the City Club, a thoughtful public interest group. At Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th. Doors 5:30PM, discussion 6. Free
