GREEN AND BLACK

Black and green. If you add red, those are the colors of the Pan-African flag, created in 1920 by Marcus Garvey’s UNIA. Its meaning? Red for the blood that unites all those of African ancestry (which, is, after all, the whole human race) and that spilled in liberation struggles, black for black people, and green for the natural resources and wealth of Africa. Black and “Green” are two colors Luchenpur Darwin wants to put together in Second Life, through his “Show Me the Green” Expo running at the Museum of the African American Experience through July 18. Go to: http://slurl.com/secondlife/SugarHill%20Retreat/24/35/60

Luchenpur Darwin wants to expose the black SL population in particular to ideas about how the planet can be improved through daily choices, as well as activism. The Expo has 15 booths devoted to eco-friendly concepts, as well as others erected by sponsors of the event and the Museum. “My goal is to bring the message of being green to a wider audience,” says Darwin. “The main thrust was to speak to the demographic that does not show up—that being people of color involved in Green. The standard ‘green’ person is a fairly well-educated, so-called white person. Not all of the exhibitors fit that description. We are wanting to expand the discussion.”

Darwin points out that one of the booths, created by the Avatar Action Center, includes information on environmental racism. Their “11 Facts about Environmental Racism” notes that “People of color make up the majority of those living in neighborhoods located within 1.8 miles of the nation’s hazardous waste facilities”—a chilling statistic. They also observe that “racial disparities of color exist in 9 out of 10 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regions,” and that health risks in these hot spots are abnormally high.

Darwin points out that knowledgeable persons of color can make a huge difference through grassroots efforts. Tatia Andel demonstrates this in her booth that showcases Majora Carter. This South Bronx native, whose background was in acting and film, became an environmental activist and consultant, galvanized by the ugliness endemic to the area. In 2001, she founded Sustainable South Bronx, which she headed until 2008. The organization did a complete makeover on an illegal dumping site, turning it into Hunt’s Point Riverside Park, an attractive and much safer environment. Carter, who won a MacArthur “genius grant,” speaks passionately about not only “greening the ghetto,” but training people for “greencollar” jobs. Listen to her inspiring speech here: http://www.ted.com/talks/majora_carter_s_tale_of_urban_renewal.html

Many of the Green Expo booths are sponsored by non-profits, such as Public Policy Virginia or HUMANBE Council, interested in sustainable strategy planning. They cover a gamut of environmentally-friendly topics, from solar power to animal rights, conservation, and recycling. Several are personal efforts. Artemisia Mathy of Africa Live! explores climate change and conservation initiatives, particularly those of African wetlands and mangrove environments. Your fearless reporter has a scattershot booth meant to encourage Westerners and Africans to learn from each others’ green and non-green practices for global improvement. It includes everything from Larry Vass’s digitally-engineered post-Katrina shotgun houses to using worn tires to sole shoes. Luchenpur Darwin himself, as well as fellow Chicagoan Paolo Rousselot, have for-profit real life ventures that they have brought into SL. Darwin, a developer, promotes rl homes that follow guidelines of sustainability, and his Expo exhibit (very professionally done!) explores sensible water practices. Rousselot’s booth showcases his Heat Saver Thermal Shades.

Darwin credits Rousselot with involving him further in bringing “Green” to the forefront. “I came to SL looking to build a virtual model of the RL home I hope to build, and I ended upon Etopia [an eco-minded region]. I told him [Rousselot] what I wanted to do, and he encouraged me.” Rousselot spoke warmly about their interactions. “I've met Luch in RL,” he says. “He is as wonderful and gentle, wise, in Real Life as he is here. I am honored that he is my friend and would do whatever I could--any time, anywhere--to support him, because I know his heart and his desire for a whole and healthy life and planet.”

Certainly Darwin and Museum curator/owner Winn Wellman (who eternally wears the black, red and green) deserve accolades for their efforts. They are not charging exhibitors, and only last night remembered to put out a tip jar. They have put a great deal of persuasion, enthusiasm, time and research into organizing the Expo and shepherding and nudging its exhibitors (well, me, at least) into timely readiness. I asked Darwin if the preparation was formidable. He replied, “Actually this isn’t bad. The grand opening I did for the sustainable home was hair-raising, because I had never done anything like it in SL or RL. I have had a year to form contacts, learn the ropes, and I still listen to Paolo sometimes, too.”

Darwin teamed up with Wellman, admiring his positive efforts on SL. “He had a certain vision,” says Darwin of Wellman, and the collaboration is fruitful. “I had met Winn last year when he had the Black Expo, and then again at the Obama rally he had here. So I brought a friend here to expose them to some of the more positive aspects of SL.” It was a match. Wellman is an enthusiastic proponent of many green-related issues, from the YouTube video he produced about young William Kamkwamba, whose electricity-generating windmill brought new hope to his Malawian village (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1XvqpKvrVs) to his own vegetarian practices and his Expo windmill construction. He personally collared this reporter, bombarding her with facts about the superiority of hemp textiles, till she caved in cowardice and created a hemp jacket for her Expo booth.

It is that kind of passion that allows ecomissionaries to make converts, even amongst the dancing avatars at the Expo’s opening, grooving to the soulful ballads of live performer Zerbie Magic and the dj’ed music that followed. I lassoed one visitor, Warrington Skytower, and was excited to learn he is planning an SL ecofurniture venture, presently confined to XstreetSL, but soon to be in a shop as well. Skytower, a RL civil engineer, says that he has considerable RL experience with green design. He feels his venture into ecofurniture “would be a good opportunity, since I couldn't find that many builders who use eco-friendly materials.” And which eco-friendly material was first on his list? “Well, in terms of fabrics, hemp is indispensible.” Skytower also uses “both bamboo and recycled wood, or sustainable harvested wood, where it’s collected without severely depleting forests. I believe the Sustainable Forestry Council sets guidelines for sustainable wood harvesting.” Skytower noted that formaldehyde is often present in pressed wood and particle board, which can create health hazards (it’s also present in much clothing, the main ingredient in “permanent press”). “The whole idea of sustainable design is to reduce the impact not only on the environment but also to people,” he noted.

While posing as an urban marketer, fruit and vegetables displayed before me, I saw a number of SL notables perusing the exhibits. Puff Klang bought my (adorable!) Green With Envy eco-shoes, with recycled tire soles and bamboo heels, while Indea Vaher joined Skytower, jacmacaire Humby of HUMANBE, and AfricaLive!’s artemisia Mathy in conversation and watermelon after viewing the Saminaka slideshows. The resulting friendly banter and conversation highlighted one of SL’s best features, its abilities to create cross-continental dialogue and create links and bonds through interests.

Darwin’s own interest grew long ago. “We were doing green stuff back in the 80s before they called it green. It was energy efficient uses--but Mr. Reagan set us back 20 years. I was remodeling my first home in the first energy crisis. So insulation and windows that didn’t leak made a lot of sense, so we did what we could do on the limited budget we had.”

With the Expo, Darwin has planted more seeds. He says he likes all the exhibits—“The polar bears are funny but true, the Peak Oil is very sobering, as is the Africa Live, but Saminaka is a lot of fun and Informative, too.” (The Saminaka Compass is dedicated to publishing every pro-Saminaka comment made, even if elicited with a nudge.)

Even the indifferent will find a trip useful, as some freebies are available. As well as many informational tracts, T-shirts of many green hues are available for the taking. Darwin’s Water4Life booth includes a Rivanna Conservation Society pack that combines info cards with some SL landscaping tools, while Mathy’s Africa Live! exhibit has free African textures, an Ndebele house and vases, and even a talking drum from OpenBuilding and OpenCafe. The Avatar Action Center has a carbon goggles HUD, while Coughdrop Little (self-described EcoWarrior) offers free wind turbines in two sizes.

Although July 18 is the official closing date, Darwin points out that really means that visitors will be able to talk with the exhibitors during that week. “The exhibits will remain for a while, so people can still come,” he says. Go and turn Green!