The Dallas Post Dallas, PA" Wednesday, August 26, 1992 - 5 The economic viewpoint Gore's book offers environmental program By HOWARD J. GROSSMAN In a 408 page book which should be read by every citizen, Senator Al Gore of Tennessee has provided a new frontier for environmental protection in the United States. Gore takes each environmental “issue, describes the problems fac- ' ing the world as well as the nation in relation to the issue and pro- ~ ceeds to discuss ways in which ° these various issues can be re- solved. One of his major themes is that environmental degradation : and the extent to which the envi- ronment has been despoiled in a "global sense means severe econ- omc distress and requires massive “and immediate global action. His solution is the creation and im- . plementation of an environmental _ Marshall Plan similar to the _ Marshall Plan in Western Europe . following the end of World War II. : One of the striking characteris- tics of the book is the extent to which he discusses and portrays environmental issues. To him, the environment is in the midst of a . or national and international "crisis of proportions previously unknown to the world. He wants to catapult and rocket the nation into extreme consciousness of involve- ‘ment and action to create a new "climate of awareness and policy “direction which would cause a Marshall Plan to be undertaken. In his opinion, if a Marshall ~ Plan approach is not undertaken “'soon, only disaster will befall the ' many countries of the world facing ‘already serious and substantive ““environmental problems. He points to those problems facing the "Commonwealth of Independent , oe (formerly the Soviet Union), ‘E¥itern European Nations and ~others whose legacy has been a "terribly degraded landscape with lair, water and land pollution of unbelievable proportions. While he believes some impor- tant actions have been taken in the United States and some other nations, he points to the fact that despite committing hundreds of ‘ millions of dollars on hazardous waste cleanup, there are so many .-superfund sites remaining to be .~cleaned up and at such an ex- +. pense that it will be near to impos- _-Sé¢ to find all the resources nec- sex¥®ary unless the solutions are so long to become a 100 year war crather than a 10 year war. He @ieves that only a total commit- ~m®nt much like the Manhattan .~Atomic Bomb Project or a Marshall «Plan approach can be effective. .- Recently this writer had the rare riopportunity to be invited to Alaska to advise on regional economic ‘development and to participate in ~a major workshop involving the TP -e Be CC aC) CRCOICRC RCN) esses sescasoaAn 13th Regional Economic Develop- ment Organizations in that state. Sponsored by Alaska Regional Development Organizations, the workshop discussed a series of programs and actions designed to enhance the relatively new role of regional economic development organizations in Alaska. The most striking observation in relation to the future of eco- nomic development in the State of Alaska is the way environment plays the most significant influ- ence on why economic develop- ment does not take place at the level and pace required. Alaska faces serious budgetary problems, in relative terms equal to those being faced by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but has so many natural resources in the way of oil, coal, gold, and other resources of similar nature that it is difficult to believe that the State would not be the most economically favored of all 50 states. Relying on a heavy dose of travel development and tourism, Alaska knows well why the environment must be pro- tected. On the other hand, those in- volved in economic development in the state believe that Alaska is looked upon as the national sym- bol of environmental action in re- lation to the beauty and majesty of the mountains, rivers, and lakes offer to the attraction of the tourist dollar. Thus, if any action is re- quired in a state such as Alaska, it isa much more balanced approach by those outside the state who believe that the state represents symbolically the last bastion of enviornmental preservation in the nation. Those inside the state need to take another look as to ways toward a more appropriate media- tion approach between develop- ment interests seeking economic growth and environmental inter- ests seeking environmental pro- tection and sensitivity. perhaps some type of structured organ- iztion similar to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council which takes a balanced approach toward this issue would be appropriate for the State of Alaska. Alaska, as a major hub of the environmental movement, reflects greatly what Gore says in his book. His Marshall Plan would call for clarion action which would include, among other elements, the follow- ing: 1. Stabilizing the world popula- tion with policies designed to cre- ate in every nation of the world the conditions necessary for the so called demographics transition-the historic and well documented change from a dynamic equilib- rium of high birth rates and death rates to a stable equilibrium of low oes ecoas CCRC SC RC RC NC SC NC RC CRC CRC RCC RCC NC RC SC aC) LC) CCC RC RC RC RC RC RC RC NC RCC CRC RC RC RC IC CC) eee a e% "a a" ae a "a0" "a" % "a a Ya 2 9a a eee a a a a "a a a 0" SOTO BRC SC BB RR BR e008 00 Pizza & Pasta “1 i I 1 I : | : i I ; : I : ; x ! I 1 i i ] ! i i : I k f I = Every Wednesday & Thursday Special Pasta w/ Meat $2-99 w/ Salad $3 Try one of our Specialty Pizzas: Taco, BLT, Chicken Wing (Hot or Mild) Open Daily at 11:00 A.M. 675-7347 Near 309-415 Intersection birth rates and death rates. 2. Rapid creation and develop- ment of environmental appropri- ate technologies-especially in the field of energy, transportation, agriculture, buidling construction and manufacturing-capable of accommodating substantiable economic progress without the concurrent degradation of the environment. 3. A comprehensive and ubiqui- tous change in the economic “rules of the road” by which we measure the impact of our decisions on the environment. We must establish- by global agreement-a system of economic accounting that assigns appropriate values to the ecologi- cal consequences of both routine choices in the market place by individuals and companies and larger, macroeconomic choices by nations. 4. The negotiation and approval of a new generation of interna- tional agreements that will em- body the regulatory frameworks, specific prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, cooperative plan- ning, sharing arrangements, in- centives, penalties and mutual obligations necessasry to make the overall plan a success. 5. The establishment of a coop- erative plan for educating the world’s citizens about our global environment. He goes on to say that the plan should have as its more general, integrating goal “the establish- ment, especially in the developing world-of the social and political conditions most conductive to the emergance of substantiable socie- ties-such as social justice, a com- mitment to human rights, ade- quate nutrition, health care and shelter, high literacy rates, and greater political freedom, partici- pation and accountability. The book should be read by public and private sector officials and citizens who need to concern themselves with the long range future and 21st century life in the nation. It is a book written by a political leader but not for political reasons. As a model for under- standing the environmental con- ditions facing the nation and the world, it could serve as text in the colleges and schools of the nation where the teaching of understand- ing and the ability to assemble a thought process regarding our nation’s future has great potential for helping to set new standards of excellence over the long term and with a strong and dynamic inter- national context. Howard Grossman is executive director of the Economic Develop- ment Council of Northeastern Penn- sylvania. He lives in Dallas. tL Learn & Play Places for Little Folks The COHKIE GORNER - Limited Openings for September - Nursery School e 3 year-old classes ® 2 1/2 hrs./day - Two Days/Week Day Gare: Pre-School Toddlers e Part-time or Full-time ¢ Extended Hours, as needed. "Serving you for eleven-and-a-half years..." PLANNING ADULT PROGRAM — are shown, left to right, Front row, row, Lynda Rogers, Frank Razny, John Turner and Ed Pall. Shavertown UMC plans new adult program A new adult educational pro- gram, “Sunday Morning Live,” will begin on September 13, 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Shavertown United Methodist Church, accord- ing to Carol Coolbaugh and Mary Ellen Pajor, Adult Ministry Coordi- nators. The program will continue each Sunday at the same hour and will be held in the Church lounge. Ses- sions will begin with refreshments. The first emphasis will be, “Min- istry with Baby Boomers,” based on resources using the video and study book by Robert Paul. Lead- ers will be Mrs. Pajor and Pastor Harriet Santos. This will be followed through the Fall quarter by “What Chris- tians Should Know in the Year 2000,” led by John Turner; “Straight Talk to Families,” led by Bring SKICR. SPORTS Free Binding Checks oe The Adult Council members responsible for planning the program Carol Coolbaugh, Susan Razny, and Pastor Harriet Santos. Second Mary Ellen Pajor, Pastor James Wert. Absent from the group are Ed Pall; “Christian Hope and Hu- man Emotions,” led by Mrs. Coolbaugh; and “Potpourri,-The Symbols of Our Faith,” led by Lynda Rogers. Further sessions will be announced later. called “Tuesday Night Live,” and guest speakers will be announced; “Exclusively Women” discussion group on interests of women led by Dr. Victoria Jaen, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Bible Study Groups led by Pastor James A. Wert, which will meet each Thursday, with identical groups at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., beginning October 1. ; Back Mountain briefs | Twins and Triplets Club will meet Sept. 14 The Luzerne Mothers’ of Twins and Triplets Club will hold its first meeting of the year on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. Meetings are held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Academy and S. River Streets, Wilkes- Barre. All mothers of multiples are welcome to attend. For more. information about the club, contact, Michelle Coombs at 639-2699. Country Adult Bible Study sessions will also be held each Sunday morning 9:45 a.m. led by Elwood Swingle. 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