New Article from Van Jones: Speaking of “Small People”

Check it out:

Speaking of “Small People”

Will the Energy Bill Hurt or Help All Americans?

here’s a quote:

As we move forward, how can we ensure that legislation will bring real and tangible benefits to low-income communities? Any piece of energy legislation should protect the lowest-income consumers from higher energy bills while also creating real jobs and economic opportunities in vulnerable communities. Put another way, such proposals should minimize the pain and maximize the gain.

Quick summary: Van thinks its a step in the right direction, but not a leap. And as we’ve become fond of quoting around here lately, “you can’t cross a chasm in two jumps.”

Posted by:

Sam Patton

I’m a fan but. . .

If you recall during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, while Democrats were chanting “Yes We Can,” Republicans were chanting “Drill Baby Drill.” On June 20th, 2008 this initially prompted Candidate Obama to give a speech in Jacksonville, FL proclaiming “When I am President, I intend to keep in place the moratorium here in Florida and around the country that prevents oil companies from drilling off Florida’s coasts.” A short time later when the Energy Reform Act came before Congress for debate,  Candidate Obama changed his position to say that he was open to offshore drilling, in an effort to compromise and reach an agreement with Republicans. Fast forward two years later; on March 31st of this year,  President Obama announced that his administration was expanding oil and natural gas drilling off Florida’s and other coastlines. Now, less than a month later we have complete devastation off US boarders in the Gulf of Mexico. A BP Oil Rig exploded, resulting in human fatality and one of the largest oil spills off US coastlines in our nation’s history. Mr. President you said that with new technology our coasts would be safe in terms of offshore drilling. It’s reported that this was one of BP’s newest rigs. I’m a fan of your policies Mr. President, but next time maybe you should think twice before compromising your position to try to please others.

Posted by:

Jabari Paul

Earth Day 2010 – New Interview with Van Jones

It’s Earth Day 2010, and Van Jones has a new interview on Climate Progress about Earth Day 2.0.

Check it out, right after you Take Action for a Cleaner Future by Contacting Congress Now!

Posted by:

Sam Patton

Playing Good Cop15

From my friend Christina Polcari:

What if Obama announced a plan today that promised green jobs for our urban youth, window panes and lower energy bills, urban gardens and lower medical bills, clean air and clean streets?

The Yes Men dare us to think so. They dare us to imagine the world is as we wanted it just for a minute. Earlier this week in Copenhagen, Canada dropped jaws when it announced a radical reversal of its climate change policy at the COP15. It was exactly the kind of action the world has been waiting for–bold and badass. But it was all a prank, compliments of the Yes Men.

We wanted a global deal out of the COP15. The Yes Men put the spotlight on countries standing in the way to publicly humiliate them. Because the people, the media, and the UN responded, and for a moment, we saw the change we believe in.

Last night, Jayme and Mahfam sat on the rogue Yes Men stage at the “Good COP15″ to tell our leaders about how urban communities are building a better environment and a better economy. People working together on projects like Green the Hood are the true agents of change.

This week, Mahfam has made us realize we need to go back home and “blow up our efforts and take them to the next level…to scale the movement.” She’s absolutely right. Coming from a global conference, to me, the next level looks more local. Our leaders can and must take bolder action but we have to do even more at home to show them exactly what that action looks like. Here’s to the next steps for our communities, the ones to scale the movement and to give our leaders no room to budge.

Posted by:

Heather Box

Heather and Jayme: Live From #COP15, Blowin Up The Radio Dial!

Heather Box and Jayme Montgomery on Davey D’s Hard Knock Radio

Check out this interview about COP15 and the talks in Copenhagen, aired on 12/17/2009 on Davey D’s Hard Knock Radio. Jayme and Heather talk about the mood of the conference as well as some of the intense protests they saw. Hard Knock Radio airs every day at 4PM on KPFA: check out the page for the show here!

Also, check out this clip from Heather, interviewed on 12/18/2009 on the KPFA Morning Show:

Heather Box on the KPFA Morning Show – 12/18/09

Heather talks about the general atmosphere in Copenhagen and the mood after President Obama’s speech about the climate negotiations. The KPFA Morning Show airs every weekday at 7:00 AM Pacific time on KPFA: check out the page for the show here!

Posted by:

Steve Romain