The Right People for the Right Job

At least, in the Environment.... Obama's Cabinet and agency choices should favor science and fact over corporate interests and cronyism.

Much has been written about Steven Chu, the Energy Secretary proposed by the next President. And he'll have Carol Browner on his team, someone who knows the ins and outs of the EPA.

One of the appointments I'm most excited about is Dr. Jane Lubchenko, who will head up NOAA. Lubchenko is an oceanic climate expert who is a professor at Oregon State University. She's an environmentalist of the highest order and her program at OSU teaches: "outstanding academic environmental scientists to be effective leaders and communicators of scientific information to the public, policy makers, the media and the private sector."

Lubchenko understands the science and yet has the ability to bring people to concensus and to inspire passion about the work we need to do to help save the oceans and the planet. She got her bachelors degree at Colorado College, her Masters in Zoology from the University of Washington, and her PhD in Ecology at Harvard. She studied and worked with Dr. Gordon Orians, a champion of environmental protection from industry and an outspoken expert about Agent Orange. She has experience testifying in front of congressional committees, and may be one of the best academic/scientific administrators active today.

According to Alaska blog "Progressive Alaska", Lubchenko:

"understands that we need to act soon, particularly on ocean acidification, and on stopping the massive amounts of pollutants entering our oceans from rivers, large and small. Many of her talks describe holistic approaches that would throttle the actions of industrial giants producing oil-based fertilizers, and of such crops as those from Monsanto-produced seeds which are made to work hand-in-hand with products like Roundup."

I may not agree with all Obama's choices, nor his stance on certain issues, but I believe that we will have a 180 degree turn in our position on the environment after 4 years, with people such as Dr. Lubchenko working on our behalf.

"The Bush administration has not been respectful of the science. But I think that's not true of Republicans in general. I know it's not. I am very much looking forward to a new administration that does respect scientific information and that considers it very seriously in making environmental policies."

"I know there have been many times in the past where public opinion can shift very very rapidly on an issue," ranging from cigarette smoking to slavery, she said. "I think we are getting closer and closer to a tipping point on climate change and other issues that affect our health, prosperity and well-being globally. And I am hopeful we will get there in time."

~~ Dr. Jane Lubchenko