From environmental activist to government official

US EPA very smartly embraced an environmental activist from Houston and appointed him on the post of Director Environmental Justice. It is a well established department in US environmental watchdog. Its objective is to provide environmental justice to those who are suffering from various types of the environmental degradations.

Matthew Tejada

It is a smart move because before being tapped as Director US EPA, Matthew Tejada was very vocal to raise voice against environmental pollution in his area. He was leader of an activist group Air Alliance Houston. He fought against pollution in poor neighborhoods surrounding Gulf Coast ports.

Is it a welcome move?

Analysts are watching this move by US EPA with mixed feelings. One group is welcoming this with the hopes that now Tejada would be more effective to further his cause through an official platform. They believe now he can register any type of environmental violation at the relevant forum and can authoritatively take action against the offence. They think that US EPA has to fully use his abilities for the cause of environmental protection and conservation.

However, another group – that is quite vocal for the green cause - is of the view that after joining US EPA as director environmental justice he would have to keep in view of the limitations of the government as well. It is a globally followed practice that government can’t please all and it has to take a clear stance over certain issue. Those who want acts of environmental violations go unheeded are themselves powerful lot and have say in power circles. Therefore, now it would be quite difficult for him to remain as vocal against the acts of polluting as he used to be during his previous role.

Environment or development

Secondly everywhere around the world environmental violations are defended on the name of development. Global communities are still unaware of the concept of the sustainable development. Environmental watchdogs’ measures for the cause of environmental care are countered with the shield of development without any consideration for sustainability. Many industrialists and their associations all around the world evade following environmental practices with the argument of their inability to bear its cost. They contend if they go through the process of environmental care in their operations, the cost of their produce would shoot up and ultimately consumers have to pay the higher prices. They make government afraid of economic slowdown if the prices move up as a result of their going green.  

Conclusion

In such a scenario turning of an environmental activist into a government official is not a positive sign. It would have been more negative if it had happened in a poor country where government departments are notorious for their inefficiency and corruption. Rising environmental degradation calls for massive support of civil society, media and environmental activist. The above individual example of a green activist’s joining of government green forces doesn’t have any huge impact. But if this practice goes on in every country where environmental watchdogs keep on grabbing active environmentalists by and by then voice against pollution would lose its power.