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Van Jones

Van Jones

Posted: September 25, 2008 11:26 AM

Jumpstart The Economy: We Need Green Jobs Now


George W. Bush's house of credit cards is falling down - on the heads of the American people. We need dramatic action - but not just to bail out financial titans who destroyed the economy.

We need to throw a green life-line to the people who want to rebuild it.

There is only one comprehensive solution to the present mess: put America back to work retrofitting and repowering America with millions of green-collar jobs.

A new study from the Center for American Progress and PERI shows that it can be done.

Saturday, tens of thousands of people in all 50 states will be rallying, demanding real solutions for our communities. We are calling the events: "Green Jobs Now! A day to the build the new economy."

This massive green jobs day of action is being co-produced by Green for All, 1Sky and Al Gore's WE campaign - with more than 100 partner organizations. It is the first of its kind in the history of the country, and it will include people from all walks of life (including low-income people and people of color).

As of today, we have more than 600 events planned. You can pull up event details (and see a cool animated VIDEO) on www.greenjobsnow.com.

Now is the time for the USA to pivot away from an economy based on borrowing and toward one based on building. We need to rely less on credit from abroad and more on creativity here at home.

Please sign the petition! And join us!

And here is more detailed info:

Green Jobs Now, a national day of action this Saturday, September 27 to advance a socially just and inclusive green economy.


In collaboration with Green for All, 1Sky, and Al Gore's We Campaign, and many more organizations, we have organized nearly 600 Green Jobs Now events in all 50 states! Together we are building a movement to lift millions of people out of poverty and solve the climate crisis.

Our actions will send the message that people of all classes and colors are ready for a new economy - one that uplifts people and honors the planet. These events will call for building green pathways out of poverty and into prosperity for millions of people. From coast to coast, tens of thousands of people will tell the world: "Were ready for the green economy."

Goals for the National Day of Action

1. Encourage elected leaders and presidential candidates to prioritize green jobs and an inclusive green economy.

2. Build a powerful and diverse base of organizers, promoting the movement for green jobs as the best way to fight poverty and global warming.

3. Elevate the voices of low-income people, people of color and other vulnerable constituencies in the movement for green jobs.

For more information and to find an event near you, visit: www.GreenJobsNow.com .

George W. Bush's house of credit cards is falling down - on the heads of the American people. We need dramatic action - but not just to bail out financial titans who destroyed the economy. We need to...
George W. Bush's house of credit cards is falling down - on the heads of the American people. We need dramatic action - but not just to bail out financial titans who destroyed the economy. We need to...
 
 
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01:36 PM on 09/27/2008
let's make sure that "green" jobs don't come at an enormous cost to our ecosystems, ok? installing PV, solar thermal, geothermal heat exchange, microwind, and smart meters on existing structures and retro-fitting existing structures to be "net zero" or even "net producers" of renewable energy will not only create FAR more local, skilled jobs that cannot be outsourced, but will also prevent millions and millions of acres of our open spaces from permanent destruction (as in, giant, industrial wind and solar power plants, which kill an average of 10,000 acres apiece).

we cannot "save" the planet from indirect harm by killing it directly, so let's keep the larger picture in mind and focus our resources (financial and political) on gaining ENERGY INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS in the form of home and business conservation and generation systems that free us from Big Energy monopolists (yes, including Big Solar and Big Wind people like Pickens), and which focus on keeping our ecosystems free of industrial destruction.

the way to accomplish this is by making the first wave of "green collar jobs" be entirely about getting the existing infrastructure into line with sustainable energy (and water) models. if more is needed after a giant push for point of use systems, we can discuss how brownfields and superfund sites near existing transmission can be utilized.

no ecosystem deaths, please! they aren't helpful or necessary!
02:06 PM on 09/26/2008
Actually I think that this is an exciting time. Bailouts and B-S aside, the future of America IS in the greenification of the country. I believe that there is way too much doom and gloom out there. I say let's focus on BUILDING and RETROFITTING this country to be green and energy independent. It'll be a cleaner world, and there will be SO MUCH opportunity for investment and the building of new businesses that are based on bringing the whole country up to speed. Solar, wind, water, ocean waves... we can DO it. Rather than pointing fingers as how Wall Street and the multinational corporate fascist conglomerates have screwed "the American people," the American people need to prove our HYPE is true. We go around the world, propagandizing ourselves as these GREAT and INNOVATIVE, and RESILIENT people... But if you ask me, I see a bunch of whiney crybabies who lack any sense of personal responsibility, let alone civic or political responsibility. A bunch of self-deluded hypocrites pointing their finger at how bad everything is, and offering no solution other than... "They need to . . ." or "Somebody needs to . . ." or "The government needs to get their butts in gear and . . ." But the truth of the matter is that WE need to . . . It's NOT UP TO THE GOVERNMENT to greenify this country. It's up to the private citizen to take the initiative and start DOING it.
07:50 PM on 09/25/2008
Van Jones says some of the most interesting stuff I've heard in a long time. His ideas are going to be crucial to rebuilding this nation. And we do need to rebuild it, right now. The current setup is a scam, as you can now see from the financial disaster. It's also inevitable that our current financial system will lead us into conflict with the financial world. It totally ignores a massive part of reality; that is, ecology.
03:57 PM on 09/25/2008
I'm looking forward to attending the day of action in Washington DC! Van Jones is joining the stage with DC Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Marion Barry and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Anacostia DC could be transformed by a new green economy, and I'm excited to be a part of the movement! More details about the event here: http://events.greenjobsnow.com/greenforall/events/show/5174