1Sky Blog Posts about everything

Visit your members of Congress in your district!

Adi — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

As winter gives way to spring and the weather warms up, 1Sky is turning up the heat on Congress! After a successful Valentine’s Day action a few weeks ago that generated thousands of messages to state and federal legislators, we are rallying our grassroots supporters to visit their members of Congress in district between March 14-31. During this time Representatives and Senators will be home on recess to hear from constituents, giving YOU a unique opportunity to communicate directly with your Congressional district offices about the 1Sky solutions — the bold and visionary climate policies we need for a just, sustainable and prosperous future.

Sign up today to visit your Congressional district office! We will provide you with all the resources you need, including talking points, a how-to primer on visiting your elected officials’ offices, and a 1Sky lobby packet to leave with your member of Congress. The first step is getting signed up, so take action today!

Groundbreaking National Green Jobs Conference

Ada — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

As the presidential candidates push forward with the call for a green economy, over 80 organizations are converging for a landmark conference on creating green jobs.

The Blue-Green Alliance – a partnership of the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club – is coordinating the conference, which will bring together a diverse array of players from the Ella Baker Center to the AFL-CIO to Health Legacy. Participants will represent various sectors, including advocacy, policymakers, labor, business, environmental and public health, economic and workforce development specialists, investors, and scientists and technology experts.

The event is intended to launch a nationwide dialogue about moving the country rapidly toward leadership in promoting the benefits of a new green economy. This is a major part of the 1Sky platform – that rapid transition to a new energy economy must be fair and equitable and create 5 million new green jobs.

The dialogue coming from this conference will propel the conversation on green jobs forward from acknowledging their role in keeping our current economy afloat to the transformative role they will play in growing our future economy into one that is cleaner and stronger.

1Sky, one of many collaborating conference conveners, views this as a moment to catalyze the movement for green jobs into our conception of the American dream – and inspire local organizations and communities across the country to organize around creating sustainable environmentally-safe jobs.

Candidates push for a Green Economy

Ada — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

We know that in order to achieve the change we need and usher in green jobs and a clean energy economy, we need nothing short of bold and visionary presidential climate leadership . The 2008 campaign trail has already hinted at the vast transformation to come.

The League of Conservation Voters provides thorough analysis of each president’s stance on energy, which No Impact Man (a widely-read blog created by writer Colin Beavan, who committed to living a zero impact lifestyle in NYC for 1 year) has broken down into an easily digestible table. Obama receives a 96 LCV lifetime score, Clinton receives a 90, and McCain receives a 26.

Most exciting is how both Obama and Clinton have surged forward on calls for a green economy, calling for a $150 billion investment over 10 years.

In a speech given days ago at a GM plant in Janesville, WI, Obama laid out his plan to invest in clean energy over 10 years as part of two programs. The larger program would provide $150 billion to create 5 million "green collar" jobs. Then $60 billion would go to a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to rebuild highways, bridges, airports and other public projects. Obama estimated that could generate nearly 2 million jobs, and many of those would be in the construction industry that’s been hit by the housing crisis. To read more about Obama’s energy platforms, check out http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy/#invest-in-a-clean.

Meanwhile Clinton has called for a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid for in part by oil companies, to fund investments in alternative energy. That $50 billion would be part of a total $150 billon ten-year investment in a new energy future contained in this plan. She further calls for a plan to “catalyze a thriving green building industry by investing in green collar jobs and helping to modernize and retrofit 20 million low-income homes to make them more energy efficient.” Read more about her plan at: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/energy/.

While both candidates have similarly far-reaching green job plans that resonate with the 1Sky platforms, all three front-runners could stand to shift more boldly away from coal. Right now, not a single candidate has agreed to a moratorium on all coal that contributes to greenhouse gas pollution. Moreover, both Obama and Clinton support liquid coal while McCain has not expressed a stance. Please take a moment to send a message to all candidates to step it up on climate by clicking here.

Fuse Washington sends state legislators Valentines

Adi — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Last week we at 1Sky HQ sent out a Valentine’s Day message urging members of Congress to show a little love for the climate by supporting the 1Sky platform. It seems our friends at Fuse Washington also caught the love bug, as they delivered nearly 5,000 cards to their state legislators urging support for a state global waming bill! Read on for an update from Fuse political director Chris McCullough.

"Yesterday, Cupid himself delivered 4,800 Valentine’s Day Cards from Washington State voters to their Legislators urging them to support an important global warming bill.

"Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown got special Valentines signed by thousands of Fuse members from every single district in the State. The legislative leaders who sponsored and championed the bill got special thank you Valentines (and candy!)

"The Valentines were created and delivered by Fuse, a network of progressive activists in Washington State. They are indicative of the broad public support for Washington State Legislators who are taking strong action to combat global warming."

Wall Street Promotes Renewable Energy Options

Ada — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Post from 1Sky Fellow Carolynn Johnson

Last week top Wall Street financiers Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase announced new environmental standards that will restrict coal financing. These banks will ask businesses to consider the inevitability of a cap and trade system and consider alternatives to coal, including energy efficiency and renewables.

When Wall Street speaks, it makes bold statements to the world, and this one is in the right direction. Unfortunately the devil is in the details, and utilities and businesses will fight tooth and nail to find the cheapest and most efficient way to get energy to customers. Right now, even with a mild cap and trade system, that way is still coal.

That’s why we need clear solutions from the federal government. 1Sky’s platform asks for a moratorium on new coal plants that emit global warming pollution. This may seem extreme as coal is one of the cheapest energy sources and helps keep prices low for consumers (and any energy solution must provide alleviation assistance to low income consumers), but the situation is extreme. Never in history have we faced a challenge of this gravity. Climate change will lead to global refugees, droughts, and erratic and unpredictable changes. Instability in the environment will cause instability in our society and economy. Coal is one of the most carbon intensive forms of energy and continuing to finance and support it puts an immense amount at risk.

Supporting clear climate change solutions via the recently updated 1Sky platform is the way to go. We need to take a stand. Take action now and tell the Presidential candidates that climate is a priority!

The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard

Ada — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Minimizing America’s energy use to bring in a new clean energy economy will require a societal shift in how we view consumption.
In "The Story of Stuff" – a new 20-minute film that provides a thought-provoking and humorous illustration of the "materials economy" - Annie Leonard examines the social, environmental, and global costs of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal.

She also gives powerful incentives to rethink our current economy of obsolescence and consumerism. The film suggests that transitioning into a more sustainable and equitable economy will make our lives more meaningful and enjoyable. The film is separated into manageable sections to make it viewer-friendly and is a great opportunity to sit down and discuss personal actions with family and friends. This will certainly get you thinking about how to be a part of the solution in 2008!
"The Story of Stuff"’s interactive website, www.storyofstuff.com, includes resources, educational material, suggested reading lists, ideas for discussion topics, and film screenings. Pass the word!