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May 31, 2008
Green Blackmail
In June 2007, San Francisco Mayer, Gavin Newsom, banned bottled water from being purchase by city departments. Water coolers were included in that ban, though given five months before that part of the ban went into effect. Also in the summer of 2007 Charlie Crist, Florida's Governor, directed that as of January 2008, green-designated hotels were the only hotels in Florida that could be used for government-sponsored conferences.
Green blackmail is becoming one way of getting people's attention about environmental issues. When taken far enough -- or too far -- it becomes environmental terrorism. Will you take environmental steps on your own, or will you wait until either green blackmail or government regulations force you?
I'm seeing more hotels and restaurants offer preferred, or even free, parking to environmentally friendly cars. That hits the pocket a bit differently than most blackmail efforts, but it's probably effective just the same, from the consumer's perspective.
On a bigger scale I'm hearing about construction projects that are being slowed or stopped through blackmail, often union-based blackmail. It feels that the unions are exploiting environmental issues and concerns to get project labor agreements (PLAs) signed so that only union members will be hired for the project. If the PLA isn't signed the threat is to tie the project up for years with environmental lawsuits.
In one case the hotel/convention center pulled out, rather than signing the PLA or dealing with the environmental charges; this cost the city thousands of new jobs. In another case the city council saw through the attempted blackmail and rejected the environmental complaints, and the project continued. In yet another case the energy company met to discuss the environmental problems and ended up signing the PLA, at which time the environmental problems were resolved.
I have been saying for years that we're better off taking action to protect the environment from both daily operations and development before the government steps in to regulate that action for us. I think financial incentives would be a good way to get the government involved in our directing our own environmental actions, but that's about the extent I think the government should get involved.
Get used to green blackmail and decide if you'll work with the directives being passed down or not. I hope that's the extent of green blackmail you experience.
And being who I am, a proponent of green hospitality operations, I have to once again urge you forward into greening your hospitality venue. Recycle. Conserve water and energy. Serve locally grown, organic foods and compost the waste. Avoid herbicides and pesticides, as well as scented products. And tell your guests and prospective guests what you are doing so they can choose you from the crowd of hospitality choices they face.
Posted by Kit
