Here’s an article about the very socially active Michelle Obama, and her involvment not only in the promotion of green building, but in restoration of underdeveloped neighbourhoods in the US. The program the article spotlights is Youthbuild, which empowers young people in low income areas to learn the skills necessary to become the major influences in renewing those areas.
Image courtesy of Rusty Darbonne. Click image to view Flickr stream.
One thing that struck me with this, besides the night and day contrast between the two Presidential administrations with regard to environmental issues, is the idea that green building is an accessible set of concepts and techniques. It seems to me that because the standards of green building have yet to truly solidify, that a lot of it can be viewed as subjective, and not practical on a mainstream level.
But, this is becoming no longer the case. You don’t get as mainstream as the Leader of the Free World. And that the First Lady can rally behind an effort to promote green building along with an investment in her nation’s youth at the same time speaks volumes.
I think too that a lot of criticism aimed at a generation of children who thrive on instant-gratification is delusory as well. It seems to me that building green and investing in the future is very much in the consciousness of most young people. And luckily in the US at least, it’s in the consciousness of the government too.
Cheers!
Rob.
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