Buck Parker
Moving an Environmental Agenda When the Government Won't
Wednesday, October 05, 2005, 12:30 PM
Vawter (“Buck”) Parker explores the function of environmental law in
emphasizing the rights of communities, including the international
community and future generations. He also looks at the growing
importance of citizens' ability to enforce environmental laws at the
very time that this ability
is being undermined. In addition, Parker examines the significance of
science in environmental
decision-making and how that is also threatened. Parker is executive director of Earthjustice. He is a 1967 graduate of Stanford University and a 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School. Buck practiced law for eight years in Portland often representing conservation groups "pro bono", before joining Earthjustice (then the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund) in 1980. Before becoming executive director of the organization, he served as litigation coordinator and, later, general vice president. Parker established and directed Earthjustice’s international program in the late 1980s and 1990s. He serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Canadian environmental law group Sierra Legal Defense Fund and of the board of directors of the Campaign for America’s Wilderness.
This lecture was part of a series co-sponsored by Reed College entitled "The Challenges Ahead: Emerging Environmental Issues." Illahee appreciates this partnership.
BRIEF SUMMARY
Buck Parker pointed out the insidious nature of the industry / government revolving door, with lobbyists writing obscure, seemingly inconsequential, but devastating riders into national legislation. One such rider requires the federal government to examine all laws for potential costs to industry. Parker maintains this is just a method for industry to delay the time a law takes effect, until a natural resource can be fully exploited.
Parker highlighted several other quiet ways in which anti-environmental interests have gutted the federal government’s ability to protect our environment and our health. His recommendation: increasing transparency to increase accountability.
