TO THE EDITOR:
The selection of Michael Bloomberg as the 2012 commencement speaker comes at the perfect time to serve as a reminder of the potential of issues to transcend partisan boundaries.
Bloomberg is a former Republican turned moderate politician and a successful businessman. Also worth noting is his donation this summer of $50 million to the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign.
“Coal is a self-inflicted public health risk, polluting the air we breathe, adding mercury to our water, and the leading cause of climate disruption,” Bloomberg declared during the announcement of his donation.
Considering his enormous success as a businessman, his donation also speaks for the financial and business credibility of the transition from coal to clean energy.
Bloomberg has said progress on coal will come from “driving action at the city and local level.” His upcoming appearance is excellent motivation for students to take action here at UNC. Let’s show Mayor Bloomberg that Tar Heels can lead the way beyond coal — by transitioning to clean renewable energy at our on campus power plant, and by divesting our endowment from dirty and dangerous coal, and reinvesting in renewable energy.
Katie Orndahl
Sophomore
Environmental Science
