It’s Getting Hot In Here

By now you’ve learned of Van Jones stepping down as an adviser to President Obama.  Across the internet, the print media, and the radio the militant right is reaching out to find quotes and statements from the environmental movements sites that cast doubt on Van’s ability as an adviser to this President.  “Why is this guy in our government anywhere near the President?” came out of Glenn Beck’s mouth, because he was able to pull up a video on YouTube, a video that I published years ago with the best of intentions, and has used it as a tool to put this great man down, to cast doubt on his ability to create Green Jobs and battle poverty.

Lying in bed tonight, I hopped up knowing that I needed to share these thoughts with you.  Something as simple as Van Jones asking for “a new system” of re-usable energy, has been used to put pressure on the Obama administration, to cause even more chaos amidst the battle over health care reform.  Something created by all of you, something published by videographers on this very site just like me, has become a weapon of the militant right and has been used in an assault on a good man that we all respect. Continue reading ‘Weapons of Mass Distraction’

“The people who are in charge of this system, who are in charge of this society believe that we have a disposable planet, and we have disposable people, and we are here to say as one movement that we do not have any throwaway resources, we don’t have any throwaway species, and we don’t have any throwaway children or neighborhoods either. It’s all precious.” – Van Jones at Power Shift (video)

We face our first opposition since Power Shift as policy makers fight to protect the status quo. We have put an emphasis on renewable energy; we have put an emphasis on eliminating coal plants and reducing our planetary carbon impact over the next 43 years. In reading many overviews of the proposed Energy Bill I wanted to remind everyone of an important aspect I fear may be forgotten. When we all rallied together, be it in person at Power Shift or at home watching our coverage from the event, we all cheered Green Jobs, Not Jails. Rarely in reading these overviews do I see the Green Jobs message clearly declared, so it falls to us, to put it back in the minds of those making this decision.

Continue Reading about Green Pathways out of Poverty >>

Choice speaker clips from Power Shift with exclusive interviews with Van Jones and Majora Carter. “We don’t want people using our need for Oil, with their need to go to war.” – Nancy Peloci at Power Shift.

Power Shift was a powerful experience for me. I am happy to finally post the first “official” video from the California Student Sustainability Coalition. CSSCTV will be following the movement as it grows and we hope to share the experience with all our new friends from Power Shift.  This video contains new footage from Van Jones, as well as an Interview with one of the sexiest men alive, Billy Parish.

As we recover from Power Shift the message that Nancy Peloci sent us rings true, we want a new direction as a country. We are locked into a war with a country that has never attacked us, over a resource that will eventually run out. It is as if we are playing a game of “Who wants to use all the worlds oil?” in prime time on Fox. It is in these times that voices emerge and challenge us to put our actions where our ideals are, and deciding how to take those actions can be hard. What message do I send? What is my voice?

I also agree with Teryn Norris’ statement that we must leave behind our focus on “the “planetary crisis” and the regulatory-centered agenda, and embrace an energetic and inspiring vision that captures people’s minds, hearts and votes.” The key that we must not forget as we forge these new politics, is who we are doing this for. I am a father, and when I look into the eyes of my son I do not want to think about a crisis, I want to think about an opportunity. If we can’t agree on global warming as a nation, can we at least agree that sustainable living with renewable energy and practices cuts down on air polution? Cuts down on landfills? The Church of fossil fuel will no longer be able to wage a war in our names when we stop praying at the pump in its name.

Continue reading “Sustainability vs. the Crisis Catch Phrase”

Power Shift 2007 has come and gone. Again I will acquaint myself with the concept of sleep, meals might once again occur three whole times in the same day and the whereabouts of the nearest 9v Battery retailer will cease to haunt my dreams.

As a part of “I Shot Power Shift” I spent my days dragging camera and crew to and from speakers, sneaking into panels and placing our CSSC flagged microphone in the face of anyone willing to talk to us. Even though Power Shift is over, and I will again focus on my own personal sustainability, I am going to sorely miss playing in that playground with my new friends.

I want to share a story with you, be it related to Power Shift at your own discretion.

Continue reading ‘Recovering from Power Shift’