Bad choices by some in Washington are bankrupting our future.
- Billions in tax breaks for the rich.
- Billions in subsidies for Big Oil.
- Billions to bail out Wall Street's recklessness.
- Billions more squandered on an endless war.
Now we're borrowing billions from China to buy more Mideast oil, instead of investing
in renewable energy projects that will put millions to work and put America on
the road to energy independence.
So, we have two choices. We can keep on hoping Washington comes to its
senses. Or we can take action to secure a better future for our children and
grandchildren.
Millions of Americans have already chosen not to wait on Washington to move
us in a new direction.
We're the millions of people who are members of the labor unions and environmental
organizations behind the Green Jobs for America campaig.n
On the face of it, we might seem like different sorts of people. But the values and causes
that unite us are greater than any differences you might think we have.
In fact, we're united in rallying support here for changes that Washington needs to
make.
The Green Jobs for America mission is both urgent and bold. We're advancing
public policies that create good jobs, a cleaner environment and a safer world.
In short, we're committed to securing energy independence by increasing investments
in the clean, renewable energy sources that can provide the next generation
of manufacturing jobs, fight global warming and free us from our dangerous
dependence on oil.
We urge you to read this brochure to learn more about the Green Jobs for
America Action Plan for Energy Independence. Together, we can seize the opportunity at hand to influence the choices a
new administration will make next January.
Instead of sitting still for more bad choices, the Green Jobs for America campaign is
pressing for investments in good green jobs in renewable industries – jobs that will
fight dangerous global warming, move America toward energy independence and
end our harmful dependence on fossil fuels.
What's a green job? Simply put, it's work that helps us build the clean energy economy. And there are millions to be
had, if our leaders stop making bad choices and start investing in energy independence:
- Jobs producing the steel plate for the blades and towers in the growing wind energy industry.
- Jobs for electricians, steam fitters, plumbers, sheet metal workers and other skilled tradesmen retrofitting America's buildings to make them more energy efficient, save money, and reduce global warming pollution.
- Jobs manufacturing the stainless steel needed to build biomass refineries and the American-made clean energy vehicles needed to cut global warming pollution.
- Thousands more jobs constructing a new smart electric grid to bring clean electricity into our homes, offices, and factories.
- Jobs installing solar panels on homes and buildings and erecting the wind turbines we need to bring us clean electricity.
- The engineers and researchers that will perfect the clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies we need to fight global warming
A whole new world of green job growth is possible. What's missing are the investments needed to speed us on the path to energy independence. Investments on a scale like those we made to fight World War II when Americans transformed our economy almost overnight.
Most all, it takes foresight – something wanting in our leaders today. So, the Green Jobs for America campaign isn't waiting on politicians to act. We're pressing for policy changes that reward the innovation and cooperative spirit of our fellow citizens, instead of those that favor the privileged. Changes that:
- Reward everyday Americans with tax credits for retrofitting their homes for greater energy efficiency instead of squandering tax cuts on millionaires.
- Commit to a 2% reduction per year in global warming pollution – 80% by 2050.
- Create a Renewable Electricity Standard that adds millions of megawatts to the electric grid and secures investments in renewable energy.
- Speed investments in the clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies that help solve global warming and save hardworking families money, instead of lavishing billions in tax breaks on Big Oil.
- Stronger regulation of trade with countries that recklessly pollute, instead of looking the other way with those, like China, that lead the world in carbon emissions while dumping toxic medicines, food, toys and other products onto our shores.
In short, we're pressing for energy independence because it will give us the best of two worlds: a new wave of job growth in manufacturing, construction, and other industries and a clean, secure energy future.
Energy Independence can't be created by waving a magic wand or hoping some politician will ride to the rescue. Simply put, we're the ones we've been waiting for. Millions of citizens like those of us in the labor and environmental movements who are committed to making the policy changes that will create a new generation of good green jobs and help us fight global warming.
We urge you to join us. For the sake of our nation, the health of our planet, and a better economic future for our children
and grandchildren.
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