Tim et al.
In terms of "watchdogging", I think the focus in this past decade has not been on the regional and point focus of environmental damage caused by organizations, but more so on the broader impact. That is, global warming versus localized/regionalized oil spills. For example, when BP's pipeline's in Alaska leaked, I don't remember observing too much outcry. Maybe the shift will go back to an operational focus again, but does that hurt the broader longer term issues? Yes, they are related but sometimes the focus becomes so tunnel visioned that we lose sight of the many other environmental issues that exist.
It also makes me wonder how many of the 'properly' functioning deep sea oil drilling locations have been leaking significant amounts of petroleum for years.
I also agree with most on here that it was a systemic failure and that we, as consumers of cheap petroleum products, are to take some of the blame.
Here's a snarky 'bright-side of life' thought. At least this petroleum will slightly reduce the amount of carbon emissions that enter the atmosphere.
-Joe
________________________________________
From: Organizations and the Natural Environment Discussion [
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Timothy M. Smith [
smith463@UMN.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 6:43 PM
To:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Industry capture
A thought I have had recently is related more to the "capture" of watchdogs
and NGOs. Particularly early on, I was surprised by the lack of
mobilization from advocacy organizations (at least a lack of volume); I went
back through email and it took 8 days for a message to hit my inbox from
Sierra Club. It seems that this may be slowly changing as the situation
lingers and grows, however, it also seems that cross-sectional
"collaborative" solution-making has become an important strategy for
environmental NGO's legitimacy efforts. As NRDC, EDF, Sierra Club, TNC
invest significantly into partnerships for environmental change, they
provide legitimacy to corporate environmental improvement (and perhaps
facilitate significant gains). But, they also may reduce their impact as an
outside watchdog (unwillingness to jeopardize corporate relationships,
concern over reputation as a "good" future partner, fear of association,
etc.). Are only "radical" organizations left to play the part of social
mobilizer (i.e. corporate collaboration is increasingly required to be
considered "mainstream")? If so, who/what else is available to play this
part? What does this mean for "collaborative problem solving" going
forward? Will these same NGOs continue to provide legitimacy to private
governance efforts, or have their images also been tarnished through this?
Just wondering if anyone else is thinking of these things more seriously. I
have been "Sunday morning quarterbacking" in this space recently, but would
love to hear other (better developed) thoughts, if they are out there.
Best, Tim
_______________________________________________________
Timothy M. Smith
Director, NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise
Institute on the Environment
Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management
Bioproduct & Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
Phone: 612.624.6755 (BBE)
Phone: 612.624.2648 (NISE/IonE)
email:
timsmith@umn.edu
web:
www.environment.umn.edu/nise
-----Original Message-----
From: Organizations and the Natural Environment Discussion
[mailto:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Rudell, Fredrica
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 9:25 AM
To:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Industry capture
Yes, I think Bob Herbert has expressed it best in a recent column, "More
Than Just an Oil Spill" NY Times 5/22/10 (print edition).
"It permeates and undermines the ecosystem in much the same way that big
corporations have permeated and undermined our political system, with
similarly devastating results."
Full Op-ed online here:
www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/opinion/22herbert.html?emc=eta1<http://www.nytime
s.com/2010/05/22/opinion/22herbert.html?emc=eta1>
Fredrica
________________________________
From: Organizations and the Natural Environment Discussion
[
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Timothy Hargrave [
THargrave@UWB.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 9:46 AM
To:
ONE-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Has anyone noticed the environmental missteps by BP and the
USgovernment in the Gulf?
Industry capture also seems to be an important and emerging part of this
story. As in Enron, the mortgage crisis, etc etc, neither the company nor
the 'police' did their job. The much celebrated move towards more
collaborative public policy perhaps needs some challenging and rethinking.
Tim