1.253/11.383/11.543/ESD.222  Transportn Polcy & Envir Limit

Fred Salvucci's Famous Walking Tour of Transportation Related Sites in Boston is scheduled to begin at Kendall Square (in front of the Marriot, or in the Marriot if its drizzling) at 4:15PM this Friday, May 19th.  Please RSVP if you plan on coming, so we know to find you.

Dinner is at 7pm at L'Osteria, 104 Salem Street, Boston. Those of you on the walking tour, we will end up there.

And remember, papers are due on Stellar Thursday at 5.

See you all there.

--David

3. Fred today in class mentioned a walking tour of Boston he might give this coming Friday.  It is of important transportation related sites in Boston, important being defined by Fred of course.  If you are interested, we'd try to hold it during normal class hours next Friday (give or take).  Please let me know by Monday if you are interested.  If there is enough interest, I will schedule it.

2.  Dinner next Friday at 7pm at L'Osteria, 104 Salem Street, Boston.  Be there.

1. Your papers are due next Thursday.  Please submit them to Stellar by then.

Thanks for being such good sports about the "game" today.  Fred mentioned to me that it was the best one any class of his had ever done.  Hope to see you all next Friday.

1. Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis (and Fred's former boss) will be the CTL luncheon speaker this Friday (Room 10-110), on the subject of intercity rail. It is sure to be an engaging talk, and is accompanied by lunch.  Details below.
2. Dinner has been confirmed for Friday the 16th at 7pm at L'Osteria.  If you could RSVP I would appreciate it.  L'Osteria is in the North End (104 Salem Street).  Closest T stop is Government Center.

Governor Michael Dukakis
Former governor of Massachusetts
Distinguished Professor of Political Science
Northeastern University

"Why We Need the Steel Interstate-- and Why the Presidential Candidates
Aren't Talking About It"

The governor will discuss the politics and policy of our national intercity
rail network and the prospects for its future in the context of the current
presidential election.

Friday, May 9, 2008
Complimentary lunch served at noon
Lecture begins at 12:30 pm

Bush Room, 10-110
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The dinner is Friday the 16th.  The dinner is Friday the 16th.  The dinner is Friday the 16th.  It is not on Thursday the 15th. The dinner is Friday the 16th.  Time and place TBD.

Materials mentioned this week

• David Osborne, Laboratories of Democracy: http://www.amazon.com/Laboratories-Democracy-David-Osborne/dp/087584233X/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209762752&sr=1-19
• Bury the Chains: http://www.amazon.com/Bury-Chains-Prophets-Rebels-Empires/dp/0618104690
• Climate Change, Everyone's business (referenced by Sonia): http://www.avtclient.co.uk/climatereport/
• Governor's Letters (referenced by Sonia): Available on Stellar.

Did I mention the dinner is Friday the 16th?  It is.


Your responses for this past week:

• What is the 'right' or 'acceptable' amount of greenhouse gases, etc?
• If there is a “war” on global warming, and we are responsible for the pollution and environmental degradation, how does one determine victory?

Regime Change Begins at Home

• Has Massachusetts been successful in its emissions reductions? For instance, they aimed to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. 
• How many states have implemented a plan of this stringency (Besides, most likely, California)?
• How are personal choices a part of the global role of cooperation toward a common goal?

• How else to solve a global issue than with global rules?
• Can (and should) “we” try to convince China and India from making the same mistakes that we have over the past 50 years before their growth suffocates us all?
• How do you prevent nations from making excuses for why they can’t change, and subsequently shifting the blame elsewhere?

• How can the EJ steps outlined by adequately addresses the problem of communities turning into minority/low-income communities after a plant is located in an area that was previously not low-income?
• Results: more equitable? Or simply less bad? That is, fewer noxious facilities altogether (NIABY rather than NIMBY). But how much of that is due to outsourcing our issues beyong not just local borders, but national borders? Does the environmental justice movement need to think globally if it is to be successful?

• To what extent have the EJ Federal orders actually helped? 
• If I’m not mistaken, the intent of the DOT Order on Environmental Justice is to internally reaffirm policies already present in NEPA, the Civil Rights Act, and other statutes. Did the DOT issue this affirmation because environmental justice principles were not being adhered to in agency decision-making, or because these previous pieces of legislation did not fully address the environmental justice issue and the DOT needed an order that tied them all together? If the second option is true, it seems that there is a need for an act of Congress that specifically addresses environmental justice. Why has this act been so difficult to pass?
• Has there been any challenge to the DOT or the FHWA's statements/policies on environmental justice based on street design promoting a non-active lifestyle and leading to obesity (not just focused on air pollution effects but on design effects)?
• Has the social element of the DOT order on environmental justice been challenged?

• Is sensitivity to EJ “just a matter of time” As children are brought up in a time in which environmental justice is important, will they in turn grow up to possess that value?
• If everyone has to bear the burden of “their fair share” of LULUs, will it force us (and policy makers) to better evaluate the need for stricter environmental regulations on both public and private enterprise.
• Do you think that we will see the EJ movement push into age-related protection groups as well?