Former North Carolina Senator, 2004 Vice Presidential Candidate, and 2008 Presidential Candidate John Edwards is the first to create an agenda to address climate change and the need for green collar jobs.
In June at Take Back America, sponsored by the Center for American Progress; Edwards boldly addressed climate change and his plans to stand up to face the impending disaster.
He recognized the opportunity for green collar jobs and investing in low income communities through conservation and weatherization. He believes that efforts such as this brings a chance for the US to take advantage of the emerging “green economy.”
Edwards has stated that green jobs have a DOMESTIC and GLOBAL place in the economy because it could create jobs across Africa. He believes we can help build African capacity to grow sources of renewable fuel. He said “If the US says they’re a leader in the world, then we have to lead by example.”
Edwards’s “Green Collar Jobs” initiative will train and employ at least 150,000 workers a year in new energy economy jobs. He will dedicate 50,000 Stepping Stone jobs—subsidized employment that form part of Edwards’ anti-poverty plan—to energy-related occupations. In addition, the Green Collar Jobs training initiative will work with employers, unions, community colleges and high schools to prepare and engage the next generation of workers.”
The Edwards campaign has partnered with the Apollo Alliance, the Ella Baker Center, and the Urban Institute to create this plan.
Pessimists have said that this plan was released by the Edwards campaign to save face for his exchange with Hilary Clinton at the NAACP Power Beyond Measure Conference. But, when you think about it, and when the unemployed in rural and urban areas think about it, does a discussion with a comrade on political strategy really matter? Not when the same guy is willing to implement millions of clean jobs in destitute areas across the country.
The fact of the matter is that Edwards and his staff are bold enough to be the first to create a plan for the new Green economy. The only question is whether his competitors will take the same stance. Rumor has it that the Obama camp may be working toward a similar plan, but we shall see.
In conclusion, I am going to throw in a shameless plug for the Green Jobs Act of 2007. So, if you are tired of seeing the rich get richer by polluting our earth with fossil fuels and you want to see “Green Collar Jobs” expand in the emerging renewable energy based economy; now is the time to take action and urge your representative to co-sponsor this landmark legislation.
John Edwards is leading on all of the issues. He is offering the boldest change, which is why the establishment media has tried to destroy him. He’s not status quo, like Hillary Clinton. Obama is homogenous. He becomes whatever he is around the most. He has promise, as long as we can get him from around the DLC in DC. Maybe he needs to be John Edwards’ running mate in 2008.