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Green can fatten Nevadans’ wallets too
The green in "green energy economy" is money as much as environmentalism. That was the message Tuesday from academics, business leaders, governors and other politicians to more than 1,000 attendees at the National Clean Energy Summit at UNLV.
We Can Prevent Energy Disaster
Too often in our history, national transformations are born only of great calamities. The New Deal arose from the Great Depression, our manufacturing sector matured during World War II and the end of slavery required a Civil War. Fortunately, the situation today is reversed: We can transform our country and prevent a calamity by moving now toward a clean energy economy.
C.O.R.E. Sells Out to Exxon
The Congress of Racial Equality was once one of the strongest, most dynamic civil rights organizations around. C.O.R.E. was first founded by a multiracial group of young people committed to the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. How far from Gandhi's message have they traveled. It's also a stark contrast between the values of some from the boomer generation of black leaders and younger ones like Green for All's amazing Van Jones who has inspired the nation to consider green collar jobs that can pair the work that most needs to be done with those who most need the work.
Jones to Netroots: in four years, you may miss George W. Bush
In the closing keynote address at Netroots Nation, civil rights and environmental activist Van Jones called for a New Deal-esque movement to create green jobs to forestall an economic crisis and warned Netroots audience members that should not take for granted that changes will come with Barack Obama’s potential election to the presidency.
Van Jones rallies the netroots
Van Jones delivered the final keynote address at Networks Nation today, stopping in Austin to talk about green jobs and the political prospects for addressing both the energy and climate woes of the country. The message from the netroots, he said, should be clear: "We cannot drill and burn our way out of this problem. If we do, we will burn this planet."
Green Leadership
One of our most visionary partners in protecting the environment is Van Jones. Van is the founder and president of Green For All. He is combining solutions to America's two biggest challenges -- social inequality and environmental destruction -- by creating and promoting green collar jobs.
An Interview With Van Jones
Van Jones, a social and environmental activist, believes a greener economy not only could save the planet, but also must provide pathways out of poverty for America's disadvantaged communities. A civil rights lawyer from Yale University, Jones started promoting the idea of "green-collar jobs" in 2005 through the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, California. In September 2007, he launched the "Green for All" campaign, [which is now a national organization.] Jones recently took time to share his perspectives with Mongabay.com.
American Revolution, 21st century style
Last Saturday I watched Van Jones stoke that rebellious spirit with a motivated audience - 3,000 socially active delegates at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. We can't drill and burn our way to energy independence, said the 40ish leader who has led a green movement in Oakland, Calif. and is co-founder of the ColorOfChange.org e-advocacy movement.
Donning a Green Collar
Last year Congress passed the Green Jobs Act, a $25 million pilot program that will train participants in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Van Jones, creator of Green for All, an Oakland, Calif., organization started last year to focus on using the green economy to fight poverty, helped draft the act. Jones has created national momentum around this issue through appearances, including a charismatic speech last month at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Lowell. Jones, a mentor to MaGJC cofounder Kalia Lydgate, has given the organization guidance and support in its legislative efforts.
Building a local movement toward a green economy
The United States is moving from "a pollution-based economy" that has left many people behind to an "inclusive, green economy," [Van Jones] said. While technology is driving many of the changes, people need to act to make sure the new economy provides good-paying jobs accessible to all. Already, local communities are moving ahead to create green job opportunities, in cities ranging from Chicago to Oakland to Richmond, Va., Jones said. Some of the best organizing is happening in low-income communities, where many workers – in particular young people of color – can benefit.
Thousands of contracts; millions of jobs
Van Jones is the founder and president of Green for All, a national organization working to get "green collar" jobs and opportunities to disadvantaged communities. In an interview last week with Insight News, Jones said, "We have to move into a greener economy. Oil is past tense. Coal is past tense. All of that stuff is too negative to keep using. We have to keep moving into something more clean and green. Billions of dollars are already flowing in that direction. We want to make sure that there is an equal opportunity and an equal access agenda. We don't want to build a green economy that is a white only economy or an eco-elite only economy," he said.
Vangelism
What does the green jobs and justice community think about the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act? To get one perspective, Grist caught up with Van Jones, the founder of Green For All, a group that promotes green-jobs policies and environmental justice. Jones, a civil-rights lawyer and the founder and former executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, has become a leading voice for building a green economy.
We Can Build An Inclusive Green Economy
This morning, Senate debate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act came to an end. It was a missed opportunity to robustly debate a critical issue facing the country. The bill had the potential, particularly if strengthened during the amendment process, to affect profound and positive change for both the American people and the planet.
With Investment, Millions of Blue and White Collars Can Be Turned Green
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Building a green economy has the potential to affect millions of workers in occupations throughout the country, and a new report highlights some of those jobs than can be transformed, with the right investment, into green jobs.
What Is a Green-Collar Job, Exactly?
What do presidential candidates John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have in common — aside from the obvious? They all love green-collar jobs. Obama promises to spend $150 billion over 10 years to create 5 million new green collar jobs. Clinton references the term repeatedly on the trail, and says her energy plan will create millions of new green-collar jobs as well. McCain is less willing to cite numbers, but he too assures campaign audiences that action to decarbonize America's economy will produce "thousands, millions of new jobs in America."
Green industries offer job growth opportunity
When a Republican candidate for president starts talking about limiting greenhouse gases during a speech at a wind turbine plant you know there’s an environmental wave going on. All the presidential candidates, including John McCain who spoke about climate change at a wind energy facility in Oregon this month, have green initiatives on their agendas, and states across the country are embarking on initiatives to cut pollution and a reliance on fossil fuels. Not to mention homeowners who don’t want to be at the mercy of electric and oil companies. Solar, wind and biofuels are all growing alternatives, and these fairly young industries will need people — people to produce, install and sell their products. That means a wave of employment opportunities — so-called green-collar jobs — could sweep the nation.
Pink slip leads to green-collar job
After getting pink-slipped a second time by an auto supplier thanks to the woeful economy, David Shaw shifted gears. "I'd had it with auto manufacturing," said Shaw, 48, a married father of two young children who lives in Harrison Township. "I wasn't sure what I would do next but knew I wanted to be in control of my own destiny for a change." Shaw spent months weighing options and kept coming back to one thing: alternative energy. With oil prices marching higher and society focused on being green, he figured that would be more recession-proof.
Report states millions of U.S. workers to be in demand for green jobs
Shifting from the "dirty fossil-fuel-based" economy to one of clean energy would be a boost for millions of American workers, according to a report released Tuesday by a coalition of conservation and labor groups. The report, "Job Opportunities for the Green Economy," studied employment conditions in 12 states including Indiana, looking at a range of occupations and income levels that would benefit from America's transition toward a clean energy economy.
Van Jones on CNN's "Issue #1"
On Monday, June 2nd, Van Jones spoke about the Warner-Lieberman bill and his vision for a green economy that can transform this country.
Green jobs coming to Albuquerque
On Wednesday of last week Mayor Martin Chávez signed a “Green Jobs Pledge” at the ICLEI summit, held in Albuquerque, committing the city to invest in community-based jobs training to ensure a skilled local workforce for emerging green industries. The green jobs pledge signed by the mayor was developed in part by the folks at Green For All, who also provided help with the creation of the city council initiative. Such across the board agreement bodes well for the future of Albuquerque workers, as well as the companies who depend on them.
