25th Anniversary of Wisconsin Women of Color Network Inc.
Environmental concerns focus of conference
Environmental concerns focus of conference
| Heidi M. Pascual* Publisher & Editor * 2006 Journalist of the Year for the State of Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA) |
resources are fast depleting. The quality of the air we breathe suffocates people gradually but surely. Population growth and industrial
development have changed nature big time. The threat of decay seems not far behind. What can we, as individuals and as a community do, to
help preserve our environment and conserve our resources? This question was tackled by the special guests of the Wisconsin Women of Color
Network on Sept. 27: Annette Miller, Community Services Manager, MGE; and Monette McGuire, Purchaser, City of Madison.
An emotional welcome
WWOCN President Rachelle Ashley is Native American, and with a topic very close to her heart, she didn’t hide her sadness as she spoke.
“To indigenous people around the world, we have the wish (to protect) our land, and if you live on your land, you have to find a way to recycle it
and to stay,” Ashley began. “You know, we always hear people talking about ‘wandering tribes. ‘ Well, we weren’t wandering; we were making
sure that we were not dirtying the environment that we live in. We were making sure that there was a chance for the land to recover, for the
animals to recover, for the things that we ate to recover.” Madison — just like all other places in the U.S. — used to be the home of Indian
peoples, and traditional remnants are still visible to this day.
“You need to remember that there was something very special that went on in the spring, in the summer, in the fall around this ‘isthmus,’ as
they call it now.,” Ashley said. “Some of the ways we know that now is because of all the mounds that are here, the celebrations and the living
that used to go on around here, in those months.” Almost in tears, the WWOCN president said that sometimes we forget about that. “I’d like to
think that on certain days, I could look out and see what it used to be. You can see the villages. You can see the women working. You can see
the water. I remember, when people up north come down here, they were always very excited to see the lakes because there are lots of stories in
the north about the lakes — about Monona, Mendota, and Waubesa. “ She added that Waubesa, in the Algonquin languages, means “swan,” so
Waubesa Lake means “Swan Lake.” However, nowadays, Native Americans who come to Madison are saddened by the dirt and pollution of the
lakes.
“So let’s keep some of that in mind today,” Ashley concluded. “Let’s keep in mind what this place was, what this place is, and what it can be.”
Annette Miller (Keynote)
At the outset, Annette Miller admitted that she is not an environmental expert, but because of her work for Madison Gas & Electric, she now
helps provide guidance and understanding about how to save energy and what alternatives are available to help protect the environment. “The
best thing that we can do is be informed and be aware, and then you can make choices for yourself about how you want to embrace being
green,” Miller said. “But as women of color who come from many cultures, we already know intuitively what it means to be aware of the
environment and think about how we can protect it. It’s not that we don’t understand it; it’s not that we didn’t learn about it when we were young,
from our grandparents and our moms and dads. But with time, things have changed, especially in technology. We’re now in the 21st century, that’
s the difference. Lots of things are in place now that are quite interesting and fun that give a different sense on how you make an impact on the
environment. “
Miller defined “being green” as “supporting environmentalism” and quoted Webster’s definition of environmentalism as “advocacy for work
toward protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution.” She likewise used the term “sustainability,” defining it as “the use of an
item that is going to be depleted but can be sustained naturally.” Admittedly “being green” is a huge, complex topic. Miller broke it down in ways
that her audience understood. She gave examples of practices that she and her family try to accomplish in order to help reduce energy
consumption and save some money, too. Citing Rachelle Ashley’s background, Miller said that cultures also influence people’s views on the
environment, and challenged her audience to assess their own practices that impact the environment.
“You have to think about what being green means to you as an individual. And what you can do as you live, work and play in your home, in your
neighborhood, in your community, in the city, in the state, (and) as a country.” Miller encouraged the audience to think about resources they use
regularly, consciously or unconsciously, and their environmental impact.
Areas to consider (according to Annette):
Transportation- Can you drive less? Can you go car free? Can you walk? Can you sell that second car? Can you ride the bus? Because we’
re using fuel that is in limited supply, we have to talk about depletion and sustainability.
Recycling – We generate about 2 ½ pounds of residential trash per day, and we use about a thousand plastic bags per year. It is said that it can
take up to a thousand years for plastic bags to decompose.
Water – On average, Madison residents use about 82 gallons of water per person per day. How can we reduce that impact in this area?
Perhaps we take a shower versus a bath, and make it a quick one, five minutes or less; use low-flow shower heads or faucets in our bathrooms and
our sinks. Maybe we can use rain barrels to capture the water and then use that to help us garden and grow our food.
Food – Food is the third largest waste category in our state, and 16 percent of food is in our landfill. Miller suggests making a compost in our
backyard for our own gardens and other community gardens. Or join a CSA — community supported agriculture. How about growing some of
your own food such as vegetables and spices?
Energy – The average U.S. home size is 2,349 sq. ft., compared to the U.K. average home size of 815 sq. ft. The British have taken on a
minimalist perspective. What does mean if you have a house that size? On average, a U.S. household could use 11,000 kilowatt-hours of
electricity annually, compared to U.K’s 4,607 kilowatt-hours annually.
Miller then talked about her own household and what they do to reduce energy consumption. “In terms of the heat, we keep it low, and low
being 67 degrees (Fahrenheit). So during the winter, we have it at 67, and when we’re not at home, we keep it turned down at 55.
“Ours is a household of five, two adults and three kids,” she said, describing her home’s size as 1100 sq. ft. with three bedrooms. “We live in
a small, modest house; we have our girls double up in one bedroom, and our son is in his own bedroom … and we live a lot in our living room.
There’s some nice opportunities that come from something like that, if you think about it in terms of a household. It creates intimacy; it creates
relationship; it creates your children and your spouse feeling connected because when you’re at home, you’re spending your time together in a
small space. So when we talk about what’s happening today in terms of our children and our families sort of being stressed thin and not being
connected, I’d say that’s the exact opposite in our household.”
Miller’s household uses CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) instead of regular incandescent bulbs. CFLs, while more expensive than the latter,
use less heat and emit more light. Room lights are always turned off when no one needs them. During the day, Miller opens her drapes to let
natural light in. She has also learned not to turn on bathroom lights, since natural light comes in through a bathroom window.
Water – The Millers installed low-flow faucets and shower heads, and use cold water as much as possible.
Car usage – The Miller family has two cars: a van and a small car. Miller uses the smaller, gas-efficient car because her work requires her to
go to places to educate people on energy use.
Food consumption – “We bring our lunch, so we don’t buy lunch,” Miller said. “That’s been actually pretty fun because it makes me think
about when I was a kid growing up, so it’s one those small values.”
The city of Madison has made trash bins for recyclables available, and Miller is very happy about that because families can recycle stuff.
Miller also shared her experience with swapping clothes, toys and books, which gives longevity to items that otherwise would have gone to the
landfill.
MG&E and energy consumption
Moving to the bigger picture, Miller focused on energy consumption, quizzing her audience about the top energy users at home. “Furnace
is first, water heater second, and refrigerator is third,” Miller said, stressing the need to know first off which are the top energy users in one’s
household to be able to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment and at the same time save dollars. “So you got to know what the
energy users are in your home, and more importantly, you got to know how much energy you’re using in your home. Do you know that? How
much energy are you using per month? When I say energy, I’m talking about electricity and natural gas. Natural gas typically provides heat, and
electricity, I think that’s pretty straightforward. How much are you using and how does your use compare to the average use of electricity and
natural gas. Because if you don’t know that, how are you going to make an improvement?
“On average, our MG&E customers use about 600 kilowatt-hours per month. Kilowatt-hour is electricity, and a single family household uses
about 725 kilowatt-hours per month. The question you have to ask yourself is, how do you compare? As an example, our household — and I am
pleasantly surprised to learn this: for a family of five, with our 1100-sq. ft. home, we actually use somewhere between 400-500 kw-hr. per month! I
was quite proud of myself, because I thought it would be much higher. The highest we’ve ever used was 513 kw-hrs. I talked to my coworkers who
have worked at MGE for more than 20 years so they are pretty knowledgeable about this whole notion of energy and usage, and they were really
impressed. I got a little pat on my back.”
Miller suggested that we look at our MGE account and see how much we use and the trend of our energy usage. Monitoring it is the first
step toward improving our behaviors to lessen energy consumption and also save money that can go to other uses at home.
Next installment will focus on energy-saving tips and the presentation of Monette Mcguire on City of Madison’s efforts at going green.
development have changed nature big time. The threat of decay seems not far behind. What can we, as individuals and as a community do, to
help preserve our environment and conserve our resources? This question was tackled by the special guests of the Wisconsin Women of Color
Network on Sept. 27: Annette Miller, Community Services Manager, MGE; and Monette McGuire, Purchaser, City of Madison.
An emotional welcome
WWOCN President Rachelle Ashley is Native American, and with a topic very close to her heart, she didn’t hide her sadness as she spoke.
“To indigenous people around the world, we have the wish (to protect) our land, and if you live on your land, you have to find a way to recycle it
and to stay,” Ashley began. “You know, we always hear people talking about ‘wandering tribes. ‘ Well, we weren’t wandering; we were making
sure that we were not dirtying the environment that we live in. We were making sure that there was a chance for the land to recover, for the
animals to recover, for the things that we ate to recover.” Madison — just like all other places in the U.S. — used to be the home of Indian
peoples, and traditional remnants are still visible to this day.
“You need to remember that there was something very special that went on in the spring, in the summer, in the fall around this ‘isthmus,’ as
they call it now.,” Ashley said. “Some of the ways we know that now is because of all the mounds that are here, the celebrations and the living
that used to go on around here, in those months.” Almost in tears, the WWOCN president said that sometimes we forget about that. “I’d like to
think that on certain days, I could look out and see what it used to be. You can see the villages. You can see the women working. You can see
the water. I remember, when people up north come down here, they were always very excited to see the lakes because there are lots of stories in
the north about the lakes — about Monona, Mendota, and Waubesa. “ She added that Waubesa, in the Algonquin languages, means “swan,” so
Waubesa Lake means “Swan Lake.” However, nowadays, Native Americans who come to Madison are saddened by the dirt and pollution of the
lakes.
“So let’s keep some of that in mind today,” Ashley concluded. “Let’s keep in mind what this place was, what this place is, and what it can be.”
Annette Miller (Keynote)
At the outset, Annette Miller admitted that she is not an environmental expert, but because of her work for Madison Gas & Electric, she now
helps provide guidance and understanding about how to save energy and what alternatives are available to help protect the environment. “The
best thing that we can do is be informed and be aware, and then you can make choices for yourself about how you want to embrace being
green,” Miller said. “But as women of color who come from many cultures, we already know intuitively what it means to be aware of the
environment and think about how we can protect it. It’s not that we don’t understand it; it’s not that we didn’t learn about it when we were young,
from our grandparents and our moms and dads. But with time, things have changed, especially in technology. We’re now in the 21st century, that’
s the difference. Lots of things are in place now that are quite interesting and fun that give a different sense on how you make an impact on the
environment. “
Miller defined “being green” as “supporting environmentalism” and quoted Webster’s definition of environmentalism as “advocacy for work
toward protecting the natural environment from destruction or pollution.” She likewise used the term “sustainability,” defining it as “the use of an
item that is going to be depleted but can be sustained naturally.” Admittedly “being green” is a huge, complex topic. Miller broke it down in ways
that her audience understood. She gave examples of practices that she and her family try to accomplish in order to help reduce energy
consumption and save some money, too. Citing Rachelle Ashley’s background, Miller said that cultures also influence people’s views on the
environment, and challenged her audience to assess their own practices that impact the environment.
“You have to think about what being green means to you as an individual. And what you can do as you live, work and play in your home, in your
neighborhood, in your community, in the city, in the state, (and) as a country.” Miller encouraged the audience to think about resources they use
regularly, consciously or unconsciously, and their environmental impact.
Areas to consider (according to Annette):
Transportation- Can you drive less? Can you go car free? Can you walk? Can you sell that second car? Can you ride the bus? Because we’
re using fuel that is in limited supply, we have to talk about depletion and sustainability.
Recycling – We generate about 2 ½ pounds of residential trash per day, and we use about a thousand plastic bags per year. It is said that it can
take up to a thousand years for plastic bags to decompose.
Water – On average, Madison residents use about 82 gallons of water per person per day. How can we reduce that impact in this area?
Perhaps we take a shower versus a bath, and make it a quick one, five minutes or less; use low-flow shower heads or faucets in our bathrooms and
our sinks. Maybe we can use rain barrels to capture the water and then use that to help us garden and grow our food.
Food – Food is the third largest waste category in our state, and 16 percent of food is in our landfill. Miller suggests making a compost in our
backyard for our own gardens and other community gardens. Or join a CSA — community supported agriculture. How about growing some of
your own food such as vegetables and spices?
Energy – The average U.S. home size is 2,349 sq. ft., compared to the U.K. average home size of 815 sq. ft. The British have taken on a
minimalist perspective. What does mean if you have a house that size? On average, a U.S. household could use 11,000 kilowatt-hours of
electricity annually, compared to U.K’s 4,607 kilowatt-hours annually.
Miller then talked about her own household and what they do to reduce energy consumption. “In terms of the heat, we keep it low, and low
being 67 degrees (Fahrenheit). So during the winter, we have it at 67, and when we’re not at home, we keep it turned down at 55.
“Ours is a household of five, two adults and three kids,” she said, describing her home’s size as 1100 sq. ft. with three bedrooms. “We live in
a small, modest house; we have our girls double up in one bedroom, and our son is in his own bedroom … and we live a lot in our living room.
There’s some nice opportunities that come from something like that, if you think about it in terms of a household. It creates intimacy; it creates
relationship; it creates your children and your spouse feeling connected because when you’re at home, you’re spending your time together in a
small space. So when we talk about what’s happening today in terms of our children and our families sort of being stressed thin and not being
connected, I’d say that’s the exact opposite in our household.”
Miller’s household uses CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) instead of regular incandescent bulbs. CFLs, while more expensive than the latter,
use less heat and emit more light. Room lights are always turned off when no one needs them. During the day, Miller opens her drapes to let
natural light in. She has also learned not to turn on bathroom lights, since natural light comes in through a bathroom window.
Water – The Millers installed low-flow faucets and shower heads, and use cold water as much as possible.
Car usage – The Miller family has two cars: a van and a small car. Miller uses the smaller, gas-efficient car because her work requires her to
go to places to educate people on energy use.
Food consumption – “We bring our lunch, so we don’t buy lunch,” Miller said. “That’s been actually pretty fun because it makes me think
about when I was a kid growing up, so it’s one those small values.”
The city of Madison has made trash bins for recyclables available, and Miller is very happy about that because families can recycle stuff.
Miller also shared her experience with swapping clothes, toys and books, which gives longevity to items that otherwise would have gone to the
landfill.
MG&E and energy consumption
Moving to the bigger picture, Miller focused on energy consumption, quizzing her audience about the top energy users at home. “Furnace
is first, water heater second, and refrigerator is third,” Miller said, stressing the need to know first off which are the top energy users in one’s
household to be able to take steps to reduce their impact on the environment and at the same time save dollars. “So you got to know what the
energy users are in your home, and more importantly, you got to know how much energy you’re using in your home. Do you know that? How
much energy are you using per month? When I say energy, I’m talking about electricity and natural gas. Natural gas typically provides heat, and
electricity, I think that’s pretty straightforward. How much are you using and how does your use compare to the average use of electricity and
natural gas. Because if you don’t know that, how are you going to make an improvement?
“On average, our MG&E customers use about 600 kilowatt-hours per month. Kilowatt-hour is electricity, and a single family household uses
about 725 kilowatt-hours per month. The question you have to ask yourself is, how do you compare? As an example, our household — and I am
pleasantly surprised to learn this: for a family of five, with our 1100-sq. ft. home, we actually use somewhere between 400-500 kw-hr. per month! I
was quite proud of myself, because I thought it would be much higher. The highest we’ve ever used was 513 kw-hrs. I talked to my coworkers who
have worked at MGE for more than 20 years so they are pretty knowledgeable about this whole notion of energy and usage, and they were really
impressed. I got a little pat on my back.”
Miller suggested that we look at our MGE account and see how much we use and the trend of our energy usage. Monitoring it is the first
step toward improving our behaviors to lessen energy consumption and also save money that can go to other uses at home.
Next installment will focus on energy-saving tips and the presentation of Monette Mcguire on City of Madison’s efforts at going green.
WWOCN President Rachelle
Ashley was emotional when
she spoke of the importance
of the environment to Native
Americans
Ashley was emotional when
she spoke of the importance
of the environment to Native
Americans
| MGE Community Services Manager Annette Miller delivered a keynote address highlighting her personal experiences on saving and conserving energ, and being responsible citizens by helping protect the environment and our natural resources. |
by Heidi M. Pascual
Part 1 of 2
“You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves
rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree
frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The
mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful.
And all of a sudden it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like
taking a deep breath and going … ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about
this.’” — Al Gore in the opening monologue of “An Inconvenient
Truth”
“What it means to be Green”
“An Inconvenient Truth” is a documentary about the severity
of the climate crisis presented by former Vice President Al Gore.
The film educates people about global warming and its grim
consequences if we don’t do anything about it. Gore’s advocacy
for the protection of the environment is one of the many efforts
taking place worldwide since the early ‘70s. We have heard the
term “Sustainable Development,” coined by the Brundtland
Commission (World Commission on Environment and
Development-UN), to describe the policy of using resources to
Part 1 of 2
“You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves
rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree
frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The
mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful.
And all of a sudden it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like
taking a deep breath and going … ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about
this.’” — Al Gore in the opening monologue of “An Inconvenient
Truth”
“What it means to be Green”
“An Inconvenient Truth” is a documentary about the severity
of the climate crisis presented by former Vice President Al Gore.
The film educates people about global warming and its grim
consequences if we don’t do anything about it. Gore’s advocacy
for the protection of the environment is one of the many efforts
taking place worldwide since the early ‘70s. We have heard the
term “Sustainable Development,” coined by the Brundtland
Commission (World Commission on Environment and
Development-UN), to describe the policy of using resources to
meet the needs of the present while preserving the environment for future generations. We have
heard the term “Green Development,” on land-use planning that considers environmental
implications. Being “Green” has achieved a globally accepted new meaning, an ideology of sorts,
that names environmental protection and resource conservation as necessary goals for mankind’s
survival.
Efforts such as the above are in direct response to what we now experience. Our natural
heard the term “Green Development,” on land-use planning that considers environmental
implications. Being “Green” has achieved a globally accepted new meaning, an ideology of sorts,
that names environmental protection and resource conservation as necessary goals for mankind’s
survival.
Efforts such as the above are in direct response to what we now experience. Our natural