Free Essay

The Clean

In: Novels

Submitted By kikidr15
Words 1846
Pages 8
Economic Inequality in Toni Cade Bambara's The Lesson
Essay on The LessonA short story by Toni Cade Bambara

On Action and Change
Toni Cade Bambara’s "The Lesson" revolves around a young black girl’s struggle to come to terms with the role that economic injustice, and the larger social injustice that it constitutes, plays in her life. Sylvia, the story’s protagonist, initially is reluctant to acknowledge that she is a victim of poverty. Far from being oblivious of the disparity between the rich and the poor, however, one might say that on some subconscious level, she is in fact aware of the inequity that permeates society and which contributes to her inexorably disadvantaged economic situation. That she relates poverty to shame—"But I feel funny, shame. But what I got to be shamed about? Got as much right to go in as anybody" (Bambara 604)—offers an indication as to why she is so hard-pressed to concede her substandard socioeconomic standing in the larger scheme of things. Sylvia is forced to finally address the true state of her place in society, however, when she observes firsthand the stark contrast between the rich and the poor at a fancy toy store in Manhattan. Initially furious about the blinding disparity, her emotionally charged reaction ultimately culminates in her acceptance of the real state of things, and this acceptance in turn cultivates her resolve to take action against the socioeconomic inequality that verily afflicts her, ensuring that "ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin" (606). "The Lesson" posits that far from being insurmountable, economic and social injustice can be risen above, but it is necessary that we first acknowledge the role that it plays in our lives, and then determine to take action against it; indifference, and the inaction that it breeds, can only serve to perpetuate such injustices.
Sylvia’s languid regard for Miss Moore, whom she refers to as "this nappy-head bitch and her goddamn college degree" (601), is a reflection of her initial disregard for the role that social injustice plays in her life. Miss Moore, with her "proper speech" (601) and desire to "take responsibility for the young ones’ education" (601), is a foil to Sylvia: educated, discerning, analytical. Her informed and realistic perception of the society in which they live qualifies her as an embodiment of truth within the story, and Sylvia’s rejection of her is thus symbolic of her overarching rejection of the truth. More than just refusing to acknowledge the verity of her poverty—"And then she gets to the part about we all poor and live in the slums, which I don’t feature" (601)—Syvlia even subconsciously runs away from it. "Don’t nobody want to go for my plan," Sylvia says, "which is to jump out at the next light and run off to the first bar-b-que we can find" (601). Her compulsion to stray from Miss Moore suggests that on some subliminal level, she seeks to avoid confronting the truth that the lesson conveys about her indigent state.
Upon arriving at the toy store, Sylvia notes: "‘This is the place,’ Miss Moore say, presenting it to us in the voice she uses at the museum. ‘Let’s look in the windows before we go in’" (602). That Miss Moore introduces the children to the store in her "museum" voice is indicative of her desire for the children to thoroughly analyze their new environment and synthesize what it might suggest about social stratification; Miss Moore means to show them that, like a historically significant painting in a museum, the society in which they live is worth studying intently. Although the explicit differences between the ghetto and Manhattan are immediately apparent, Sylvia initially fails to make the implicit connections between these external differences and larger social inequity. She boggles at the concept of a woman in a fur coat—"Then we check out that we on Fifth Avenue and everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. White folks crazy" (602)—but fails to interpret what she sees in relation to the disparity between the rich and the poor. Instead, all she can do is point fingers and criticize.
The children’s discovery of the fiberglass sailboat marks the story’s climax and signals the transition from rising to falling action. The cost of the sailboat provokes an as yet unseen emotionally charged, one might saytrue reaction from Sylvia: "‘Unbelievable,’ I hear myself say and am really stunned" (603). More than just being stunned at the price of the sailboat, however, Sylvia is perhaps on some deeper level stunned at the emotions that have been roused within her. It is at this point in the story that her overriding indifference towards the roles that economic and social injustice play in her life begins to yield to a real emotional response to them.
Although Sylvia has begun to respond to the disparity between the rich and the poor, she is still reluctant to fully accept it: "So me and Sugar turn the corner to where the entrance [to the toy store] is, but when we get there I kinda hang back. Not that I’m scared, what’s there to be afraid of, just a toy store" (604). The hesitation Sylvia encounters upon entering the store is a reflection of her desire to insulate herself from the feelings of inadequacy she is beginning to experience: she understands that if she enters the store, she will be forced to finally confront the actuality of the socioeconomic gap that separates her from the people that the store caters to. The door to the toy store symbolically manifests this divide, as the toy store itself, with is exorbitantly priced items, is symbolic of the world of the wealthy. Sylvia’s struggle to get a hold of the door is indicative of her continuing struggle to accept absolutely her disadvantaged economic situation.
Once inside the store, Sylvia can no longer ignore the blinding imparity between the rich and the poor. Her discovery of an overly priced toy clown prompts her to consider what could be bought for its price: "Thirty-five dollars could buy new bunk beds for Junior and Gretchen’s boy. Thirty-five dollars and the whole household could go visit Granddaddy Nelson in the country. Thirty-five dollars would pay for the rent and the piano bill too" (605). Sylvia is forced to finally address the socioeconomic inequality that works against her while simultaneously conferring certain luxuries on the rich: "Who are these people that spend that much for performing clowns and $1000 for toy sailboats? What kinda work they do and how they live and how come we ain’t in on it?" (605).
In stark contrast with her earlier disregard for economic and social injustice, Sylvia is now incensed by it. Her anger is further incited when Sugar speaks on the implications of these newly perceived inequalities: "‘I think,’ say Sugar pushing me off her feet like she never done before, cause I whip her ass in a minute, ‘that this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means an equal crack at the dough, don’t it?’ […] I am disgusted with Sugar’s treachery" (605). In concretely addressing the existence of socioeconomic inequality and its effects on their own lives, Sugar cements its realness in Sylvia’s mind—she can no longer run from it. It is thus the truth in Sugar’s words that she is disgusted with, not Sugar herself.
Sylvia’s powerful emotions ultimately culminate in her resolve to not just acknowledge the roles that economic and social injustice play in her life, but to understand these injustices and eventually rise above them: "We start down the block and she gets ahead with is O.K. by me cause I’m going to the West End and then over to the Drive to think this day through. She can run if she want to and even run faster. But ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin" (606). That Sylvia does not run with Sugar is symbolic of her refusal to run from the truth any longer; she now understands that it is her responsibility to face her situation head-on so that she might one day overcome it. Ironically enough, in the end it is the most cynical of the pack—the one whose idea it was to ditch Miss Moore—who extracts the most meaning from the day’s activities.
In his analysis of "The Lesson," Jerome Cartwright addresses the significance of Sylvia’s realization in relation to how it moves her to take action: "[Sylvia] is changed in a way that promises hope for her ability to respond effectively to the newly discovered reality she faces" (Cartwright 61). However, he suggests that although Sylvia’s realization regarding "the unfairness of life and, as a black girl, her often low position in the scheme of things" (61) is central to the story, "the conflict between rich and poor and the economic injustice it reveals" (61) is not what drives it forward. For Cartwright, "the story is essentially about the value of lessons themselves, the value of learning and thinking. […] The children do not simply need to learn one lesson: they need an education" (61). While the importance of the children’s education should not be underestimated, Cartwright compromises the story’s primary importance by generalizing each of Miss Moore’s lessons into a collective importance. To conflate the importance of Sylvia’s realization about her socioeconomic status with the importance of the less critical lessons Miss Moore offers throughout the day—from the uses of the microscope to the components of the paperweight—is to downplay the story’s value as a commentary on economic and social injustice. Cartwright’s generalization in this way belies the story’s true meaning.
Although historical surveys of the collective economic status of African Americans point to a long-standing relegation of blacks to lower income levels, "current information points to a continuation of a long-term trend toward parity with national levels and absolutely higher levels of affluence than those experienced by most populations outside the United States" (Wikipedia 10). Moreover, "since the mid to late 1990s, […] over 1.7 million African Americans have gone off the poverty rolls, earnings by African American women have moved to within a few percentage points of white women’s, and unemployment among blacks in recent years has dropped below the 10 percent mark" (10). While these numbers are not enough to invalidate the existence of socioeconomic inequality, they affirm that in this country, social and economic injustice can be mitigated. The "unprecedented access to higher education and employment" (11) that African Americans have been party to since the Civil Rights Movement speaks strongly to the opportunities for change that this country affords its citizens. However, the value of the struggle cannot be lost on us. We must recognize that such fundamental change does not manifest itself overnight: it is achievable only where a lasting commitment to it is available. Change is not beyond us. Action, however, is its necessary predecessor.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Batting Clean-Up And Striking Out Analysis

...Individuals are defined in several different ways such as neat or sloppy, but the word neat or sloppy may have numerous diverse meanings to others. Suzanne Britt, the author of “Neat People vs. Sloppy People,” used a direct tone to favor messy people. She also defined two individuals in today’s society by the way they keep their environments hygienic. Britt mainly focused on explaining how neat people are really sloppy and how sloppy people are really neat in their own ways. She wanted her readers to learn not to be as uptight in their lives and increase time for friends and family. In contrast to Britt, Dave Barry, the author of “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out,” used a humorous tone in his article to exemplify how men and women have different...

Words: 1714 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Clean Water

...Clean Water The Controversy Up until the mid-20th century it was practice for cities to use bays, harbors, and rivers as dumping grounds and sewage run off. In fact major industrial parks built their waste pipes to spill directly into some of the rivers and lakes we use today as recreation (Congressional Digest, 1985). These are some of the Point Sources of water pollution. These are places that can be directly identified as points of pollution like city storm and sewer drains, sewage treatment plants ("Clean water act," 1972). Then there is a non-point source which is a combination of smaller sources that collect into lakes, rivers, and streams. These can come from agriculture farms or even contaminated wash from our freeways and roads. There are almost an infinite amount of water pollutants that run off into our waterways each day. Pathogens such has salmonella, novo virus, and parasitic worms grow and thrive within our waters. Chemicals such as insecticides, herbicides run off from farms and other agriculture areas. Storm water runoff can introduce many types of fuels and oils, and heavy metals. Then there is immense amount of industrial waste like ammonia, sulfur dioxide from power plants, trash from illegal dumping (Pitt, 2001). It’s it important to ensure our fresh water resources are protected and ensured. Although in most industrialized countries access to clean water is at 100 percent; in places such as Uganda and Mozambique where only 52% of the...

Words: 2092 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Clean Water Act

...Table of Contents Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………..Page 1 Abstract…………………………………...……………………………………………………...2 History of the Clean Water Act..……………………………………………………...…………3 The Purpose and Intent of the Clean Water Act……………………….…......………………….5 Summary of the Clean Water Act...........................................................................................…. .5 How the Clean Water Act affects Businesses………………………………………..…………..6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...…………………..10 References……………………………………………………………………………………….11 Appendix Case Study …………………………………………………………………………...………..7   Abstract This paper was written with the attempt to educate the reader on the inception and brief history of “clean water act of 1972”. Before this important law companies used our waterways as liquid landfills. This law was one of many that was desperately needed to help make America a better place for generations to come.   Antonio Hines Environmental Science November 3, 2014 The Clean Water Act of 1972 History of the Clean Water Act Dead fish floating in our river ways and different wildlife lying on the banks of our streams was common place in the early 60’s. In Ohio, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland was so polluted that it caught fire – for the tenth time! Time Magazine reported that Lake Erie was dying from all the waste dumped into it. Saint Louis took its drinking water from the muddy Missouri River because it had gotten to the point that no one wanted...

Words: 2419 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Clean Water Act

...The Clean Water Acts was created to regulate and prevent pollutant discharges into the water of the United States. The Clean Water Act made against the law for industries to discharge pollutants into the water without a permit by the EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Although the CWA is meant to prevent pollutant discharges in the water, it seems to have some loopholes in some of their regulations. Mines industries had been taken advantage of two loopholes in the Clean Water Act, according to Targeting News Service: Under the new rule, wetlands, ponds and other small water bodies can only be protected if they are within 4,000 feet of a stream or river. However, if a wetland is just one foot over the arbitrary 4,000-foot...

Words: 377 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

You Think the Drinking Water Is Clean

...- Do you really think that every bottled or tap water you drink is completely clean?  Every soda, juice and energy drink all have to start off with water.  Now you’re probably asking yourself why I should care about water pollution. There is an estimate of 14,000 people die every day from water pollution, and in a year that’s 5,110,000 people! There are two main types of causes for water pollution and they are animal manure and homes sewage.  For instance, the main cause in industrial agriculture is manure and its effects toward the environment and towards human health, 2 how the sewages affect our homes and communities.  Industrial agriculture is one of the biggest causes of water pollution in the United States because of manure.  Organizations that were supposed to protect the environment have help pollute the environment.  For instance, Environmental Protection Agency was found polluting forty eight percent of streams and river and forty one percent of lake waters. Most of the water pollution comes from storage and animal manure.  Plants, animals, and humans die from lack of care for the environment.  Industrial farmers store all the livestock manure into big tanks called lagoons.  Lagoons hold over one million gallons of manure. Imagine what would happen if one of these tanks burst open? If farmers do not check the lagoons they don’t notice that the lagoons have cracks and leaks in them.  So basically manure just is leaking out into vast areas.  It gets really bad when...

Words: 849 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Display Board Case Study

...detergent display board is: it’s a freshman student’s first time to buy laundry detergent, and he/she has no idea of which brand to choose. At this scene we show them our laundry display board to help them make decisions. And we record their process of making decisions and analysis the attributes they value most. This is the Laundry Detergent Display Board. | Brand A | Brand B | Brand C | Brand D | Price | 11.99 | 11.99 | 17.99 | 11.99 | Scent | Clean Breeze | Lavenders | Clean Breeze | Lavenders | Liquid/Powder | Liquid | Powder | Liquid | Powder | Inclusion of Fabric-Softener | Yes | No | Yes | No | Part 2 Responses and interpretations At this part, each of our 4 group members interprets the 6 responses and we recorded their order to uncover the information. Can’s interpretation of 6 responses Response 1: Male The most important attribute: Scent- Clean Breeze: Brand A C The next important attribute: Liquid- Brand A Interpretation: Scent is the most important attribute to him, and after he optimize with “Clean Breeze”, he looks for the information of whether detergent of two remaining brands is liquid or not. After seeing Brand A is liquid, he chooses A. Which shows Liquid is the next most important attribute to him, and he just need to optimize with the Liquid. Response 2: Female The most important attribute: Scent- Lavenders: Brand B D The next important attribute: Liquid- Brand D Interpretation: Scent is the most important attribute to her, and after...

Words: 2602 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Babe

...The final topic I choose is wind energy; about is it clean cheap and practical? As people know that wind energy is totally clean and just use wind to convert energy. I will figure out what is the advantage of wind energy and how to get the clean, environmental wind energy. However, people don't know how to gain wind energy; the process of converting is clean or not. Furthermore, what kind of machine like windmill can make wind energy, that’s also a question. First, I will introduce the wind energy which has different types, and their different function. Using the official language in the google to describe it, also when and why wind energy comes out. Like talking about wind energy’s history. And I will tell the wind energy machine, how to make it and how long to make it. also, how much pollution it will have during the making time. Then, I will say something about how wind energy developed and figure some celebrity in this area and their contributions. And what they didn't do and the difficult points for them and future wind energy. The next step I will talk about the wind energy in worldwide, how it works and what range does it works, then specify to different countries, such as the U.S. and China. And the result and how wind energy works efficiently in those countries. For the detail of those information, I will use website or database in library. At last, I suppose to say that the advantage and disadvantage of the wind energy. Also, compare what wind energy can...

Words: 278 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Bago Tribe Term Paper

...I have wondered before if I will have the chance to see the real beauty of life that I can’t find here in the busy city. But at last, after almost two hours of travel, I have seen what I am looking for; the clean river, the cold breeze, the leafy trees and the welcoming smiles of the Bago tribe, such an amazing treasures behind the mountains. Maybe it is the treasure in the end of every rainbow I see. For the pot of gold lie in the hearts of the tribe, their culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of the people. Despite of the developing municipality of Suyo, their culture remained; it is not damaged by the changes. They made sure that their culture will not die by letting the children learn in mind and heart their wonderful culture. The smiles in faces of the children showed that they really love what they are learning. It is soothing to the ears to hear their angelic voices; their ethnic dances made me forget the contemporary dances and how they beat their bamboo instruments made me feel the magic of nature. Even if I cannot understand what they are singing, I felt that they sing to show how proud they are to be part of the Bago tribe and to be thankful of all the blessings that God had given them. They gave thanks that day through a ritual, and a pig was butchered that I think is a sign of their respect and belief to the Lord. Every song they have sung reflected how they live their life in the past and now. I am amazed how they used bamboo cylinders as water containers...

Words: 376 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Summer Vacation

...thought triggered me to ask myself, “What would be my ideal summer vacation looks like?” To start my visualization, I would like to spend it in a place afar from the noisy streets of the city. A place where the only sounds I can hear are the chirping of the birds, the waves crashing on the shore and the laughter of my family. In that place, the trees are dancing gracefully and flowers are waving gently with the wind. In the distance, the shore is filled with sand so white, crystal clear water and with porpoises on the sea side. On the top of the hill resides our home, a small bungalow type but filled with so much contentment and joy. Inside of it are simple things to suffice our needs. Upon entering the entrance door, you will see the clean and tidy living room, with a window on the right that offers a beautiful sight of the blue ocean. Beside our home, there stood a tall and old narra tree that gives us shade during the day. Flowers of different kinds and varieties grows around the yard abundantly. Then, I can see the endless sky above with shiny shimmering stars blinking at night and in the water, it seems the unreachable stars are within my grasp. In a distance, I can see the fire keeps burning from the bonfire we have made, and beside it, sitting my loved ones with a happy face. Generally, my summer vacation would be an ideal one, even though I may not have those picturesque sceneries, what matters most will be the tranquility I have when I am with my...

Words: 323 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Oca 10

...Sean Pack BUS 101 OCA Donatos Pizza 1. We decided to use a total of 3 employees for cooks in the kitchen at Donatos. The number of 3 would not only help us with making orders, but also with the clean duties after the rush hours. In the year or so, HR will extend our cook employees to 4 per shift for better efficiency. 2. As a Pizza/ Fast Food chain, yes we do compete for employees. We feel that the atmosphere, our salaries and benefits, interest our potential employees more than our competition. 3. After a year of being with us, we sit down with the other managers and grade an employee’s performance on a scale of 1-10. The next day we call in the employee, and let him know how he/she did last year, and how he/she can do better in the coming year. 4. First we look internally. If there isn’t an employee that fits the criteria for that particular position, we check our other stores that are close by. If all else fails, then we advertise employment. 5. Yes. Donatos wants every piece of diversity it can muster. We believe that different people bring different ideas that can help this company grow and be more successful. We do not discriminate against any race, background, or family history. Everyone has a fair chance to be a part of the Donatos family. 6. We would sit down with that employee, and try to understand his reasoning, if we can’t come to an agreement; he/she would be moved to either a different dept. of a new store entirely...

Words: 337 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Clean Edge

...Arguments for launching Clean Edge as a niche product A primary of launching the Clean Edge as a niche product is that the company would incur a lot less cannibalization of its Pro and Avail product lines, which allowed Paramount to capture the unit-volume market-leader position in 2009. Though a cannibalization rate of 35% is expected with the launch of Clean Edge as a niche product, the rate is significantly lower than the 60% expected if Clean Edge was positioned as a mainstream brand. As Rosenberg indicated, a niche positioning strategy would be a better fit to the company’s existing product portfolio. Furthermore, the niche positioning strategy would incur considerably lower marketing expenses than the mainstream positioning strategy. Marketing expenses for the niche positioning strategy is $15 million for the first year and $16 million in the second year. The niche option is much lower compared to the expected marketing expenses for the mainstream option, which would cost $42 million in the first year and $39 million in the second year. A strong quantitative argument could be made for launching Clean Edge as a niche product because it would cost $50 million less in marketing expenses over the course of two years. Moreover, greater advertising expenditures for the mainstream launch may not be justifiable given the fact that the cost of advertising is increasing greater than the rate of retail sales dollars in the super-premium segment. The scenario analysis conducted...

Words: 1619 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Clean Coal

...Clean Coal Daniel Robinson DeVry University Understanding what clean coal means can be confusing and the potential impact on the environment can be confusing. Hearing the words clean coal makes most of us think we have finally found a way to actually make coal a clean sustainable resource to generate our electricity. After reading “The Environmental Injustice of ‘‘Clean Coal’’: Expanding the National Conversation on Carbon Capture and Storage Technology to Include an Analysis of Potential Environmental Justice Impacts” I have come to agree with the article that coal will never be clean in a way that is feasible to anyone that has to live near these coal plants. First let’s define clean coal, clean coal as Liebert says is “The term ‘‘clean coal’’ is used to refer to burning coal in a way that reduces emissions or otherwise lessens coal’s environmental impact. ‘‘Clean coal’’ technology includes ‘‘washing’’ coal of minerals and other polluting components, gasification, and the treating of flue gases to lessen sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and mercury emissions. In the context of climate change, the term ‘‘clean coal’’ is used most frequently as shorthand for technology that burns coal more efficiently and or decreases its CO2 emissions. While some might read that and think that we could find a way to get coal without having any CO2 emissions which is not the case. While carbon capture and storage sounds like fantastic technology that has three stages of capture...

Words: 780 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Clean Edge

...1. What changes are occurring in the non-disposable razor category? Assess Paramount’s competitive position. What are the strategic life cycle challenges for Paramount’s current products as well as for Clean Edge? 2. How is the nondisposable razor market segmented? Examine consumer behavior for nondisposable razors. Non-disposable razor has been experiencing 5% growth per year with refill cartridges growth of 2% per year. The market segments are super-premium (34%), moderate (44%) and value (22%).. The industry experienced a significant growth in super-premium in last decade. Recent studies showed that consumers purchased razors and replacement cartridges more frequently than before. Customers’ behaviors are maintenance shavers (33%), aesthetic shavers (28%) and social/emotional shavers (39%). Customers are moving to highly involved segments. In addition, the rate of new products introductions had accelerated with 22 SKUs introduced between 2008 and 2009. Paramount is a major player in the market. Main competitors are Prince, Benet & Klein and New entrants (Simpsons and Radiance). All of them played in super-premium segments. Paramount’s competitive edge is they are well known brand in the moderate and value segments. In addition, Clean Edge is the most innovative product, a product leader. No products can match it unless Navi which has similar functions offered by Radiance. However, Radiance is a new entrant which might not be able to complete with Paramount. The...

Words: 408 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Clean Edge

...Executive Summary Problem Jackson Randall, product manager for Clean Edge must recommend how to the position, and determine the marketing budget for the companies newest razor. Analysis Clean Edge is the newest razor providing the closest shave for men. Paramount should be aware of the threat of competitors replicating the product in the near future. Alternatives The team agrees that the product should enter at a super-premium price point. Paramount has the option of entering the mainstream market where they have existing products or entering the niche market for the first time. Decision Criteria In order to be a viable option, unit sales must reach 1 million and 3.3 million in the niche and mainstream market, respectively. Marketing and advertising costs must be kept to a minimum to avoid the need to reallocate funds. Finally, the chosen market needs to enhance the overall brand image. Recommendation Paramount should position Clean Edge in the niche market under the name Clean Edge by Paramount. More elite distribution channels should be considered for the product. Research and innovation will be required in order to stay ahead of the technology curve. Problem & Decision Statement Paramount Health and Beauty Company is preparing to launch their newest nondisposable razor, Clean Edge. Jackson Randall, product manager for Clean Edge has been given the task to recommend which market is best to position the razor, how much the marketing budget should be...

Words: 2465 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Clean Tech

...Clean technology Clean technology includes recycling, renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, hydropower, biofuels), information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, Greywater, and many other appliances that are now more energy efficient. It is a means to create electricity and fuels, with a smaller environmental footprint and minimise pollution. To make green buildings, transport and infrastructure both more energy efficient and environmentally benign. Environmental finance is a method by which new clean technology projects that have proven that they are "additional" or "beyond business as usual" can obtain financing through the generation of carbon credits. A project that is developed with concern for climate change mitigation (such as a Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism project) is also known as a carbon project. While there is no standard definition of "clean technology," it has been described by Clean Edge, a clean technology research firm, as "a diverse range of products, services, and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes." It notes that "Clean technologies are competitive with, if not superior to, their conventional counterparts. Many also offer significant additional benefits, notably their ability to improve the lives of those in both developed and developing countries". Many countries have developed...

Words: 348 - Pages: 2