\nGeorge Monbiot reported
\nrecently<\/a> on the unlikely groundswell of environmental progress in Wales, the
\nAppalachia of the U.K.<\/a> Its national Plaid Cymru party is more progressive and
\nmore ambitious than Britain’s three leading parties when it comes to building a
\nlow-carbon economy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Monbiot argues that it’s
\nthe unusually flexible and open political climate that enable Wales’ success: “The
\nEnglish like to think of themselves as a modern and sophisticated nation, and
\nsometimes ignorantly view the Welsh as backward and uncouth. But as far as
\ndemocracy is concerned, the English are light years behind.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I tried to make a <\/p>\n If you want the audio <\/a><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hey, look: Denver has a bike-sharing program<\/a><\/p>\n Massey denies time off for workers to attend funerals of mine victims<\/a><\/p>\n
\nsimilar case last month. After visiting Welsh cleantech businesses and research
\nhubs for a week, I suggested<\/a> it’s the political culture plus a national existential crisis brought on by the
\ncollapse of the coal-mining industry that are driving Wales’ ambitious effort to become a cleantech leader. Because West Virginia
\nand other coal-dependent regions of the U.S. are following the same coal-driven
\ntrajectory, just a few decades behind, Wales has a lot to teach them.<\/p>\n
\nversion, I spoke
\nwith Marc Steiner of WEAA Baltimore<\/a> about Wales’ lessons for Appalachia. Or
\nyou can skip right over me and listen to Marc talk to West Virginia mountain-defender
\nMaria Gunnoe, who knows
\nher stuff<\/a>.<\/p>\n