A Busy First Day

Wow.  That one word really sums it up.  The ability to hear so many of our nation’s top elected officials in one day is nothing less than an incredible honor, really something that I’ll never forget.

The day started off with our delegation’s breakfast-- hanging out with some energetic folks from Robeson County, downing some scrambled eggs and copious amounts of coffee, listening to the Lt. Governor of Arkansas.  Then it was on to the Unconventional Women’s  meeting (focused on female leadership development ) during which just about all of the Democratic female senators spoke, including my personal favorites, Sen. Barbara Boxer  from California and Sen. Amy Klobacher from Minnesota.  I admire Boxer for her work on the Environment and Public Works committee and Klobacher is a hilarious, down-to-earth Minnesotan.  Unfortunately, very few of the women brought up environmental issues in any depth – except for Boxer, who spoke briefly on the immediacy of the need to deal with climate change. 

I must say that there remains a general tangible feeling of frustration, disappointment and sadness emanating from Sen. Clinton’s supporters.  I sense that many of the women who were Clinton supporters have thrown their support to Obama, but many have not, at least not yet. 

There were a fair number of protesters at the event, interspersed within the audience, and many were taken out of the theater by the police.  The protesters were largely focused against the war in Iraq and were most active when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke. 

Over the course of the day, I heard too many speakers to list them all, but  two of the ones who made the strongest impressions on me were Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts (who I thought looked pretty good considering his health) and former Republican Congressman Jim Leach, who spoke the most in depth on environmental issues of all the speakers I heard. Leach’s talk mentioned climate change, deforestation issues and conservation. I also was impressed by Michelle Obama’s speech. 

In addition to the speakers, a short film was shown on the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina – a problem that obviously still needs to be addressed on multiple dimensions. 

Between each of the speakers dance music was played over the loudspeakers to keep us energized. (I thought playing the Stevie Wonder song “Isn’t She Lovely” after Michelle Obama’s speech was just a tad over the top.)  We all danced in our seats. I developed a theory that the higher up the elected official is in the North Carolina delegation, the worse dancer they are:  Secretary of State Elaine Marshall – rhythmically challenged – and Gov. Mike Easley, not far behind. 

Throughout the five hours at the convention, we each held a series of seven or so different signs, depending on who the speaker was (seven signs x 4,000 delegates – that’s a lot of cardboard. I hope they used recycled paper stock and will recycle them when done).  There were compost, recycling and landfill bins throughout the Pepsi Center, and many of them were manned by a recycling staff who instructed the delegates where to put their trash.  However, the bins that weren’t staffed were a bit of a mess.  I was disappointed to see that the food choices were limited to the typical fare – hotdogs, pretzels and pizza, none too healthy, local or organic.  I read somewhere that the convention organizers outlined specific food guidelines which specified healthy choices. I’m not sure where that stuff is, or if that idea got canned. I’ll look into it.

Unfortunately due to some location and timing issues, I was unable to make it to the Global Sustainability evening.  Oh well, can’t do it all. 

Okay, it is 3:30 a.m. North Carolina time and I have to get up in five hours.  I’m exhausted, but exhilarated! Until tomorrow, Betsy