Posts tagged revitalization

What would Rachel Carson think?

(via the Post-Gazette)

It’s doubtful that Rachel Carson ever would have imagined a time when Pittsburgh would be seen as an example of environmental sustainability.  Yet, as the Post-Gazette now reports, Pittsburgh has been chosen to host World Environment Day 2010.

I often think back to the “Rust to Renewal” video I stumbled upon months ago - long before we were picked to host the G-20 Summit, and even before it seemed that many people were talking about Pittsburgh as a “clean energy leader” - and I have to wonder how much of this new reputation is simply the result of the way the city has chosen to represent itself.  That is, if simply saying you’re green means you’re green, there’s no doubt we’ve succeeded.  But if that’s all it is - if it doesn’t mean a complete shift in our industry and our core environmental consciousness - I have to wonder, is it that easy being green?

1. Connect and reconnect with the virtual Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh must replicate its famous bridges, by building metaphoric bridges to other countries, states, companies, and groups and above all to the diaspora of people and institutions with historic ties to Western Pennsylvania. We must build a global Pittsburgh.

via Mike Madison’s Pittsblog

I thought it was worth quoting the first of Mike’s seven principles here.  If you didn’t know already, his blog is essential reading for any politically or socially engaged Pittsburgher.