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

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

Van Jones Debates @ Economist.com

Van Jones has sure come out punching like a love warrior. He is debating Andrew Morriss at Economist.com. He is arguing that creating green jobs is part of the government’s responsibility. Morriss argues that only the market should dictate. It’s a really interesting debate. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/dgs3EJ

Posted by:

The Editor

Van Jones: “Will All Americans Have A Fair Shot At America’s Fair Share?”

In one of his first appearances since returning to the Center for American Progress, senior fellow Van Jones told attendees of the CAP-Apollo Alliance conference, “Picking a Winner: How to Make the U.S. a Leader in the Clean Energy Economy,” that we now know that the clean energy economy is coming. There are “three key questions that need to be addressed” about the emerging clean energy economy, Jones said, that need to be addressed, but only two already have a “robust policy discussion.

video after the jump.
… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Biko Baker

A Return to Glory and A Bit of Irony!- Van Jones Receives NAACP President’s Image Award

The NAACP, the oldest and most powerful Civil Rights organization in America, is going to Honor former Green Czar Van Jones with an Image Award. The NAACP is stating that he is a pioneer in the “green collar jobs” with movement. This well deserved award is so ironic as roughly 6 months ago, Fox News Anchor Glenn Beck single handedly caused a furor within the conservative right community that led to Mr. Jones Resignation. Beck took a series of Van’s remarks out of context and blew them out of proportion, leading to unwanted negative attention on the newly appoint ‘czar’ on green economy.

Where the irony lies is that the NAACP Image Awards are aired each year by the Fox Network, and is a prestigious awards show that honors the achievements of people of color and their allies for advancements in the areas, of Music, Movies, Social justice and Civil rights!!! I am sure that Glenn Beck sat in astonishment as the NAACP announced that Van Jones would be receiving the Presidents Award. The Presidents Award is the most prestigious award handed out at the NAACP Image Awards and has been awarded to others such as President Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali and Ruby Dee just to name a few. Awarding Mr. Jones an award such as this directly counteracts the damage that Glenn Beck and other conservatives have to leverage on many progressives that President Obama has placed in his administration.

Many in the movement, those who fight for green collar jobs, environmental and climate justice and all other aspects of the green movement, felt betrayed and hurt by the resignation of Mr. Jones as their one ally that they trusted left them in the dust. Yet in the end, justice comes full circle the very same network that worked to lead Jones to his resignation will also be showing his return to Glory!!! Don’t you just love Karma? Maybe Glen Beck and others will realize that you can’t keep a “ Good Man Down”!!!!

In addition to Mr. Jones receipt of the Image Award, Mr. Jones will also be joining Princeton and the Center for American Progress. This is return to glory for Mr. Jones, and I cannot wait to see how he will continue to fight for the underserved in his new endeavors. Please tune in on Friday February 26^th at 8pm on FOX network to watch the 41^st NAACP Awards, and the rise of one of America’s Brightest and most influential minds today.

Posted by:

Kirin Kennedy