Teamsters are Going Green

With permission, I am supplying BW readers with a fantastic diary by TomP that appeared today on the Daily Kos. It's great news...our unions are thinking green and now acting on it too.
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This is big.

Great news for all of us who seek a Blue/Green Alliance! The Teamsters today left the ANWR coalition, a group in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jim Hoffa has just announced that the Teamsters are pulling out of the coalition supporting drilling in ANWR and are shifting their support to efforts to build coalitions with green groups to create a sustainable energy economy around sources like solar, wind and geothermal.

"We are not going to drill our way out of the energy problems we are facing—not here and not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," Hoffa told labor and environmental activists at an Oakland, Calif., summit on good jobs and clean air. "We must find a long-term approach that breaks our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the development of alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power."

Hoffa Rejects 'Drilling Our Way Out' of Energy Crisis, Demands Long-Term Policy Solutions

Jim Hoffa announced the union’s withdrawal from the ANWR coalition, citing the need to build a green economy that fosters the development of alternative energy sources and creates good union jobs—instead of lining the pockets of big oil tycoons.

"Our economy is in shambles. Gas is climbing to $5 a gallon. The dollar has collapsed. Inflation is on the rise. Americans are seeing their paychecks shrink. Their family health care is being slashed," Hoffa said. "Finding a long-term solution has a tremendous upside. It will be environmentally friendly and will serve as a much-needed boost to our sagging economy."

Hoffa also thanked labor’s partners in the environmental movement, who are currently working to reduce emissions from port trucks. He urged the strengthening of the alliance, known as the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, to achieve a common goal: Good jobs and clean air.

"If we are to prosper as a nation, our future lies in a green economy," he said. "But it’s up to us to help define the rules of that new green economy. A green economy means we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. And it means creating good union jobs in America’s growing industries."

Hoffa Rejects 'Drilling Our Way Out' of Energy Crisis, Demands Long-Term Policy Solutions

This is the core of the Blue/Greeen alliance that will rebuild and remake a just America:

"A green economy means we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil. And it means creating good union jobs in America’s growing industries."

Both.

The Sierra Club praised the Teamnsters for this move.

"The Sierra Club and the environmental movement applaud your announcement and look forward to building a powerful movement together—a movement that helps workers, protects the environment, prevents global warming and rebuilds our economy with good, green jobs," said Greg Haegele, The Sierra Club’s Director of Conservation. "We are proud to stand here today, as allies and friends of the Teamsters."

Hoffa Rejects 'Drilling Our Way Out' of Energy Crisis, Demands Long-Term Policy Solutions

Hoffa and the Teamsters are joining with Al Gore and Barack Obama in working to build a Green economy and all realize that we cannot drill our way out of this mess. We need alternative energy.

Barack Obama last week:

"For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as President. It’s a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer."

Gore: "end our reliance on carbon-based fuels"

Al Gore laast week:

We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.

But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.

The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.

In my search for genuinely effective answers to the climate crisis, I have held a series of "solutions summits" with engineers, scientists, and CEOs. In those discussions, one thing has become abundantly clear: when you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices. Moreover, they are also the very same solutions we need to guarantee our national security without having to go to war in the Persian Gulf.

What if we could use fuels that are not expensive, don't cause pollution and are abundantly available right here at home?

Gore: "end our reliance on carbon-based fuels"

Jim Hoffa today:

"We are not going to drill our way out of the energy problems we are facing—not here and not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," Hoffa told labor and environmental activists at an Oakland, Calif., summit on good jobs and clean air. "We must find a long-term approach that breaks our dependence on foreign oil by investing in the development of alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power."

Working together with labor, environmentalists and Democratic candidates, we can change America, solve our energy crisis, rebuild a greeen economy with good union jobs, and address global warming.

Jim Hoffa at Yearly Kos in 2007.

(personal note: TomP and I sat together as we heard Hoffa's talk at YearlyKos 2007; John Edwards had just spoken to him about a union agenda)

We need to work with the Teanmsters and other unions to rebuild a Green America. Thank you Mr. Hoffa and all Teamsters! Solidarity!

Update. From Change to Win in the comments. Grist has a good write up on this:

For years, the Teamsters have supported opening the Arctic Refuge and other protected areas to oil drilling; they ran ads bashing John Kerry on it in 2004. So it is a Very Big Deal that the Teamsters have just come out and rejected drilling as a solution to the energy crisis.

At an event in Oakland, Calif., Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said that drilling won't do anything to help; he announced that the Teamsters are withdrawing from the coalition pushing for Arctic drilling; and he stressed that pushing for "alternate energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power" will revitalize the economy and create jobs.

It looks like reality is finally starting to bite in American politics.

UPDATE: Kate called up Teamsters spokeswoman Leigh Strope for more on the move.

"Americans are suffering in this difficult economy," said Strope. "[President Hoffa] really realized, like a lot of people have, that there needs to be a long-term energy solution. Like he said, we can't drill our way out of this problem ... We need a comprehensive energy policy to deal with this crisis."

"It's important to our members," Strope continued. "There's an opportunity to really explore the whole issue of green jobs, and that would obviously benefit Teamsters and all Americans."

grist: Blockbuster Teamsters announcement rejects oil drilling as an energy solution

Go Teamsters! Here's a song for them and Change to Win:


Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses by Kathy Mattea

Friends of the Earth New Radio Ad in NH for JRE

I got this tidbit from an e-mail.

Radio:
Ask: Where does your candidate stand on nuclear power?

NEW HAMPSHIRE—Friends of the Earth Action will begin airing a new radio ad in New Hampshire tomorrow that encourages voters to ask candidates where they stand on nuclear power in advance of the state’s Tuesday presidential primary.

“Nuclear power is dangerous and expensive. Private markets won’t support it, which is why the industry is trying to get taxpayers to foot the bill,” said Friends of the Earth Action President Brent Blackwelder. “Voters need to be informed about this. If the industry gets the money it’s asking for, new reactors could be constructed at Seabrook and elsewhere in New Hampshire. The next president can play an important role in stopping these new plants.”

The ad, titled “Ask,” notes that President Bush recently signed a congressional omnibus spending bill that includes $20 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of new nuclear plants. This money could jumpstart a new era of nuclear plant construction across the U.S.—including new reactors in New Hampshire—and stick taxpayers with the bill.

Friends of the Earth Action’s aim is to raise the profile of this issue prior to Tuesday’s vote.

TV ad to come also, here's a preview: http://www.agit-pop.com/c4nuke/c4nuke3.html

Hillary is for Nuclear Power and Barack Obama has taken $250,000 from nuclear operatives.

Update: FOE has questions about Obama and His Stance on the Environment here.

Happy Birthday, Emma Claire Edwards

Emma Claire is 9 years old. And she is the apple of dad's eye, as seen in this photograph from January 27 on Energy Action Day. This is where they helped a family in Pennsylvania "winterize" their home. Jack, the inspiration for "Benny", is on the stairs.

Our future first family will be travelling together this summer and the fall, and they will be seeing New Hampshire. Speaking of NH, Edwards picked up 40 endorsements from Granite State legislators and was the first Democratic (and may be only) from their state senate, as reported yesterday. That rocks!

John Edwards Says to Detroit: Invest in Our Hubs

Let carmakers lead energy shift, he says

April 22, 2007

BY KATHLEEN GRAY


The U.S. government should invest billions to help Michigan become the hub for transforming the nation's energy economy, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Saturday.

Speaking to more than 1,800 Democrats at the annual Jefferson Jackson dinner at Cobo Center in Detroit, Edwards said he'd like to see Michigan evolve.

To read the liveblog from the J-J Dinner, go here.

JRE Buzz: Granite State Edition

Elizabeth Edwards, on the trail with John ------->


Edwards draws packed house in Salem
By JIM DEVINE

SALEM – More than a hundred supporters packed the home and living room of a Corinthian Drive home yesterday to pose questions and hear more about John Edwards' Presidential primary run.

Edwards described his plan for universal health care as a solution to make health care spending more effective in the country while making it available for all Americans by repealing Bush tax cuts made for Americans earning more than $200,000 a year.

"Universal health care is not cheap," Edwards said. "I'm not saying it isn't. But I think it's critical for America to remain strong in the long run."

Edwards said his plan would cover preventative care, chronic care and long-term care while driving down administrative costs that account for 40 cents on every dollar spent on health care in America.

LINK to Union Leader article, which was favorable for a change.

Health care was not the only issue Edwards discussed at the house parties (as he called them on Face the Nation this morning). He also discussed energy.

Check out this video:



ABC News' Terry Moran spent some time with JRE yesterday too. A snip here:

Saturday, Edwards, along with his wife Elizabeth, embarked on his third trip to New Hampshire since he announced his candidacy. Despite New Hampshire's bitter cold weather, the Edwardses campaigned from Nashua to Salem, hopping from house party to house party. Crowds of supporters packed in to hear Edwards speak.

For Edwards, New Hampshire is one of the crucial battleground states needed to survive the primary elections, which are less than a year away. Unlike other candidates, who have to overcome their unpopular positions on the Iraq war or their modified views on abortion, Edwards' two biggest hurdles appear to be Clinton and Obama, who have emerged as the Democratic favorites.

Despite this, Edwards believes that his message is getting across.

"I think our fairest estimate would be that the three of us are all being heard very well right now," he said. "I think some of the other candidates are struggling to be heard, but I have no concern about being heard."

You can catch it on Nightline tomorrow night.

Daphne C, a brand new blogger to the John Edwards08 community, had this to say about seeing Edwards yesterday:

I have been following this primary with more attention and concern than I have ever given a primary before. I do feel that this is an absolutely critical time in our nation's history, and to hear Senator Edwards' commitment to the balance of powers which is the foundation of our government was both inspiring and reassuring. This is a man who is outraged -- something that doesn't necessarily come across in his television appearances -- at the gap, not only between the wealthy and poor in this country, but between what this country can be, and what it has become.

I have never been a registered Democrat. That is changing. I have never worked for a presidential campaign. That is changing. In order for America to change, we must change. I must change. There is no room to simply sit back, to bide our time, to stay on the sidelines. There is no time to do so. The time to act is now, when for once we have the opportunity of putting in the White House a man who knows what it's like to be a working-class Amercian (because he was one), a man who I believe is running, not because he loves power, or influence, or for his own personal gain, but because he loves, and believes in, America. The same America that I love and believe in. I cannot remember the last time I saw a deep, abiding moral outrage in a candidate -- an outrage that, in fact, equals my own. And I will be doing my damndest to equal John Edwards' commitment to a better future -- not for a select few, but for every American.

I think I've heard that story more than once.

Edwards Gets A Hybrid: Promotes Action Day

Finally! JRE got a hybrid. I've been nagging about this (not online, but to friends) that he needed to get one.

How do I know? I got an e-mail from him today.

Dear Benny,

People everywhere are responding to our call to change America.

In the three weeks since we launched our campaign, One Corps has grown to more than 800 chapters in all 50 states. Thousands of Americans are signing up to take action now -- people like you and me who are not willing to wait until the next president is elected to begin changing our country.

One Corps allows people to join with friends and neighbors to take action in our local communities. And next Saturday, January 27, we're all coming together for our first National Day of Action -- working together in our communities to conserve energy and fight global warming:

Click here to join us in your community on the National Day of Energy Action next Saturday

Since announcing my candidacy, I've been speaking of our need to break our country's addiction to oil and create a new energy economy. I've also been speaking about the huge moral issue that global warming presents for America and the entire world.

These are tremendous challenges which won't be solved in a day -- but each of us can take responsibility in small ways that make a big difference.

For example, after years of driving a regular SUV, Elizabeth and I just purchased a hybrid SUV.

I'm not asking each of you to buy a new car, however, or fight this problem on your own. We can all work together in our communities -- educating others and changing the way we use energy in our homes and workplaces -- to bring about the change we need today:

Take the first step by pledging to do what you can to conserve energy in your home and life -- then sign up to take action in your community on January 27th

We all know that government or technological innovation alone will not solve global warming or increase energy efficiency. To solve these problems, we need to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war.

Today, I'm asking you to join with thousands of One Corps members across the country and be patriotic -- to make a difference in how you and your community use energy, and to get the word out on January 27th.

Thank you for taking action.


Your friend,
John

So in the spirit of the Action Day, what have I been doing?

My spouse bought compact florescent bulbs last week and installed them in several places in the house and in our front yard lamp. We recycle at least once, but some times twice weekly, in which once is by our waste company's pick-up, the other I take to the town's recycling center. I reuse my grocery bags every week when I go shopping (I get funny looks sometimes because the bags are not necessarily from the same grocer) and I keep one in the Prius that I drive if I need one during the week. I buy gas every 3 weeks. I keep the house at about 64 degrees in the winter and 80 during the summer. Most days when it is sunny, I open the drapes to let the sunlight in. The kitties love sunbathing, and it warms up the room during the day.

I still don't do enough, but it's a good start.

So the real question BW readers: what do you pledge to do to help our environment? Little bit goes a long way and we're all in this together.