“The Green Collar Economy”

On the heels of the ridiculously successful Green Jobs Now day of action comes the second of a one two punch

amplifying Green Jobs to a whole new level. Van Jones new book “The Green Collar Economy” is out Oct 7th. If this book can debut on best sellers lists, it will reach an entirely new audience. People are looking for books on the economy, and they are looking for hope. This book holds both.

Ok, I can understand and appreciate the anti-consumerist bone in our bodies, some like to dumpster, others like their jeans well worn and off the thrift store rack, but…. If there is a reason to buy something in the next few days there is no better reason then ponying up to pre-order Van Jones new book, “ The Green Collar Economy”. If 5000 copies are pre-ordered by Tue Van’s book could debut on the multiple best sellers list. This holds with it great ramifications.

1. Getting on the best sellers list will amplify the idea of green collar jobs to potentially brand new set of audiences

2. No African-American author has ever written an environmentally-themed book that became a best seller. Strong sales will pave the way for other vital new voices in the environmental movement!

3. There is a perfect storm around climate change, our economy, and what just solutions exist. This book brings a creative hopefulness at a time when folks are holding a lot of apprehension, uncertainty, and confusion about what some of our country’s next steps need to be. This book highlights, what I feel, are inspired stories, victories, solutions, and next steps to achieving a green economy.

4. With the momentum from the Green Jobs Now DOA, the book will usher in a new dialog about our economy, our work force, and what we are demanding they consist of.

Here is a quick rundown of the book…

Inside The Book - Real Solutions for Both Planet and People

* How can the next U.S. president create millions of new green jobs?

* How can we lower energy prices without drilling our shorelines and burning up our planet?

* How can the government help create energy independence – at practically zero cost to the tax payer?

* What is eco-apartheid? What is eco-equity?

There is obviously no more appropriate time to inject ideas from this book, and from all communities creating green jobs, into the national dialog as people begin to ask “what next?” Where is this current economic roller coaster going to end, and how can we create stability? As we watch the last debates weighed down with rhetoric and nuanced ways of dodging real questions, I’m inspired that there are an ever-growing number of voices not dodging the tough questions. Why? Simply because they have reasonable and tangible answers.

6 Responses to ““The Green Collar Economy””


  1. 1 morgan Oct 6th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Just ordered my copy!

  2. 2 Josh Lynch Oct 7th, 2008 at 1:16 am

    We’re up to #29 on Amazon.com! We hope to make it to the top for release day (tomorrow - 10/7). Spread the word and order a copy or two! Thanks Morgan.

  3. 3 Hamid Oct 7th, 2008 at 4:40 am

    Hello there

    I have actually copied a part of your text to my own Blog: http://environment.mkfc.se and linked back to yours for more info. Hope that it’s OK. Otherwise I can delete it if you don’t like the idea.

    //Hamid

  4. 4 Marianne Manilov Oct 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Here is the book website and there is a video interview with quotes from each chapter.
    Also, if anyone is interested in having this book be part of a class this spring and wants to help organize an effort of students who are getting this onto college campuses, please contact me at marianne@greenforall.org

    http://www.vanjones.net/page.php?pageid=2

  1. 1 » “The Green Collar Economy” Trackback on Oct 7th, 2008 at 4:36 am
  2. 2 Green Jobs in the Media: Green Bailout and Getting Van Jones’ Book to the Top of The Bestseller List! « Travelographer Trackback on Oct 8th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Leave a Reply




About Nick


Nick Magel is the Director of the Freedom from Oil Campaign at Global Exchange in San Francisco. Prior to that Nick went to graduate school at the Audubon Expedition Institute where he focused on radicalizing education models while developing a deeper application of critical and feminist pedagogies in environmental education.

Power Vote Twitter!

Follow live updates from the Power Vote Campaign and the Clean Energy Movement with the Power Vote Twitter feed

Flickr Photos

DSC_0419.JPG

DSC_0316.JPG

DSC_0089.JPG

DSC_0424_2_2.JPG

More Photos
block.png