Last year, our partners including Green for All made sure that the 2007 Energy Bill included the Green Jobs Act and Conservation Block Program, which both are critical to building an green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Are you ready to help make that a reality?
Yesterday, our champions in the House of Representatives fought a tough battle and secured $22.5 million for the Green Jobs Act in the fiscal year 2009 House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) Appropriations bill. Many other programs are getting slashed in this tough budget year. But with help from your emails to Congress, we were able to secure the $22.5 million for this new program. It’s not the full $125 million, but it is progress of which we can be proud.
But the appropriations process isn’t over yet. Next week it goes to the Senate.
On Tuesday, June 24 the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee will vote on their version of the fiscal year 2009 LHHS bill.
The extent to which politics plays a role in scientific reports on the environment is incredibly disappointing for those of us that care about climate change. Government whistleblower Rick Piltz and journalist Ross Gelbspan featured in Everything’s Cool demonstrated that many government and news reports have been skewed to misrepresent the threat that global warming presents - thus widening the gap between what scientists know and what the public understands.
“Our investigation,” the report said, “found that during the fall of 2004 through early 2006, the NASA Headquarters Office of Public Affairs managed the topic of climate change in a manner that reduced, marginalized or mischaracterized climate change science made available to the general public.”
Revkin also noted that Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, the New Jersey Democrat who wrote the request for the inquiry stated:
“Global warming is the most serious environmental threat we face, but this report is more evidence that the Bush administration’s appointees have put political ideology ahead of science,” Mr. Lautenberg said in a statement e-mailed by an aide. “Our government’s response to global warming must be based on science, and the Bush administration’s manipulation of that information violates the public trust.”
There is no doubt that this type of suppression is having an impact on our government policy or the lack thereof. Our partners at 1Sky are mobilizing for strong climate legislation from the next Congress. In the mean time we will continue to push for the truth.
On Earth Day many people are looking to environmental organizations to help them understand how they can reduce their consumption, stop global warming, and other efforts to improve the health of our Earth. These are important issues to tackle, but I find it even more exciting to discover organizations that are making additional strides to address environmental and social justice at the same time.
The Oakland Food Connection, is an environmental justice organization in the Bay Area that brings together practical gardening, food security and nutrition to urban schools. One of their projects includes creating a rooftop vegetable garden at a local elementary school. I found out about this project on RyanIsHungry.com, where Ryanne explains, “These vegetables will serve as more than just a healthy meal, they’ll help educate kids and their parents about the possibilities that exist beyond processed, packaged foods and the often limited variety of produce sold in stores.” It’s my hope that they will also be turned on to issues around industrial agriculture and its negative consequences that spans economic, labor, and the environmental issues. Check out the video to hear from the director of the Oakland Food Connection and learn more.
Other environmental justice organizations that focus on green jobs are also receiving more attention as the climate justice movement is growing. In the extra from the Everything’s Cool Activist DVD, Green Job Revolution , Van Jones who is the Founder and President of Green for All explains that there is only one solution to the ecological and the economic crisis: we need a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Green for All is at the forefront of the national movement to building an inclusive green economy.
Check out the Green Job Revolution video below to hear more of what Van Jones has to say and see what the Chicago-based organization Growing Home is doing to provide job training and create employment opportunities for homeless and low-income people in Chicago within the context of a non-profit organic agriculture business.
Solutions are rooted in every city and town in America. Today and all year long - since Earth Day is everyday - let’s support and celebrate efforts for environmental justice.
Movie and Action: Stop the Fossil Fools from acting like Everything’s Cool with Climate Change!
Everything’s Cool explores what it will take to move America from laggard nation to world leader on addressing global warming and ushering in a new energy economy.
Working Films has brought together the filmmakers and messengers featured in Everything’s Cool and the Energy Action Coalition. We invite you to host a movie and action night for Fossil Fools Day on April 1st. Join thousands of youth from around the world who are taking action against the biggest fossil fools and building a cleaner and just energy future.
Hold on… this is bigger than changing your light bulbs!
Register your movie and action here. If you are one of the first 100 to sign up, we will send you the special edition Activist DVD free of charge. All other activists may purchase the DVD for the affordable price of $10.
Tie your screening to an action!
After you’ve registered your screening. Find out ways that you can promote green job creation, get clean energy policies passed on campuses and other local and national action ideas by checking out the Energy Action Coalition.
Are you interested in bringing together your friends and neighbors for an entertaining and engaging conversation about global warming? This month the Sierra Club’s book and film club, Let’s Talk, is featuring Everything’s Cool, so you can do just that. Every other month Let’s Talk recommends an illuminating movie and book while providing background reading materials, tips on hosting a film club, and questions to help spark a good discussion.
Make your screening meaningful, check out the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities and Cool Counties campaigns and get involved by urging your local government to move forward with innovative energy solutions that curb global warming, save taxpayer dollars, and create healthier cities!
Our partners at Clif Mojo and Focus the Nation want you to propel your creative Global Warming solutions into action with Project Slingshot. Three winners will receive up to $10,000 to slingshot their ideas into reality. How can you best utilize your skills, talents and passion to make a difference? There will be one winner in each of three categories:
1. Outdoor Fanatics: How will you protect the places you love to play?
2. Artists: How will you inspire your communities?
3. Innovators: How will you challenge our expectations?
If you haven’t already seen Everything’s Cool, this is your chance! Just as many states are going into their presidential primaries, the Sundance Channel is broadcasting Everything’s Cool beginning Tuesday, January 22. Want to pressure the presidential candidates to make global warming a presidential priority? Invite your friends over to view the film and get involved with the organizations partnering with us on our Hot Leaders Cool Actions campaign: the League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club and Carbon Coalition.
Broadcast Schedule:
Tuesday, January 22 at 9pm Wednesday, January 23 at 2:10am
Friday, January 25 at 12:35am
Friday, January 25 at 10:35am
Sunday, January 27 at 3:35pm
Monday, January 28 at 7pm
Everything’s Cool is Opening for a One Week Run in NY and LA this weekend.
Please spread the word and come out to support this great film.
Downtown LA’s Laemmle Grande 4-Plex
345 S. Figueroa Street
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90048
(213) 617-0268 www.laemmle.com Showtimes: Fri-Sun: 1:10 PM, 3:20 PM, 5:30 PM, 7:40 PM, 10:00 PM
Mon - Thurs: 5:30 PM, 7:40 PM
NYC’s Cinema Village
22 East 12th Street
New York, New York 10003
(212) 924-3363 www.cinemavillage.com Showtimes: 1:10 PM, 3:20 PM, 5:10 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:10 PM
Special NYC Question & Answer sessions Fri. Nov 23rd 7:00pm w/ filmmakers Daniel B. Gold, Judith Helfand and Adam Wolfensohn with character Rick Piltz Sat Nov. 24th 1:10pm w/ filmmaker Judith Helfand and Greenpeace Sat Nov. 24th 7:00pm w/ filmmaker Judith Helfand Sun. Nov 25th 7:00pm w/ filmmakers Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand and Green Drinks Mon. Nov 26th 7:00pm w/ filmmaker Daniel B. Gold and NY League of Conservation Voters Tues. Nov 27th 7:00pm (limited seating left) w/ filmmakers Judith Helfand and Adam Wolfensohn and NRDC Thur. Nov. 29th 7:00pm w/ filmmaker Adam Wolfensohn and Hazon
Everything’s Cool is a must see for anyone who is wondering whether to change their light bulbs or how to vote.
Going to Power Shift this weekend? This is not only your chance to connect with 5,000 other youth climate change activists, its’ also your chance to catch up with one of the stars of Everything’s Cool and one of the bad boys of the climate change movement, Michael Shellenberger.That’s right the famous, or in some circles, infamous co-author of The Death of Environmentalism will be at Power Shift to talk about his vision for a new energy economy. Thanks to our Friends at Energy Action, you can read a great interview with Michael at the It’s Getting Hot in Here blog. Check out what Michael has to say about the youth climate movement and then find out how to host a screening and watch him and fellow bad boy Ted Nordhaus in action in Everything’s Cool.
Ok all you aspiring filmmakers. ..If you’ve been inspired by the global warming messengers in Everything’s Cool, now’s your chance to put your filmmaking skills to use and do your part to get the message out about global warming. Current TV’s 60 Seconds to Save the Earth contest is your chance to encourage folks to be part of the solution (and for you to win prizes) . You just have to make a spot of 15, 30, 45 or 60 seconds that inspires people to get off the couch and do their part to reverse global warming. For more info on the contest check out the 60 Seconds to Save the Earth page on the Current TV site.
Last year, our partners including Green for All made sure that the 2007 Energy Bill included the Green Jobs Act and Conservation Block Program, which both are critical to building an green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Are you ready to help make that a reality?
