Bridging the Labor-Environment Gap

If the planets’ progress can be summed up as “two steps forward, one step back”. the Teamsters are the latter on the ANWR issue. Here’s hoping they can still catch the boat.

Posted by jim watson on Jan 21, 2004 at 4:11 AM

GOD help and bless us….......

Posted by ED on Jan 21, 2004 at 9:44 AM

One of the things I am sure of is that when the gap between the rich and the poor hits a critical point there is revolution.  I think it is starting from the ground up.  Too many people are being left behind by big money interests and the result is the type of revolution that cannot be stopped.  This joining of forces is just the way that happens.

Posted by Michele on Jan 21, 2004 at 11:51 AM

Adam,
Great job on explaining why this is a must-do for both groups. . .

A persistent myth has been that economic growth and environmental steardship are not compatable goals. On the contrary, we already have [what could be] a $300 billion jobs program called SuperFund. With the right combination of brains and persistence, the time is long due for these two groups to align themselves for survival of their respective causes.

Example: Awhile ago, a smart lad from the UK developed an energy machine that just sits in the ocean and bobs up and down with the tide. With a few moving parts and a tether to the bottom, it is an incredibly simple machine, and ingeniously produces energy 24 hours a day using the power of the waves - freely available.

Why don’t we have thousands of thse things offshore right now, liberating us from dependence on the Middle East? Why do we not have thousands of people employed in eco-friendly jobs to produce, sell, install and service these machines!?

These are questions that need to be relentlessly asked of our policymakers because we can have it all: jobs, prosperity, clean air, water and security. The incompatabiliy of the two causes is a myth, an advertising construct similar to “Where’s The Beef” and “Mission Accomplished.”

This administration’s policies are bad for families and therefore un-American. It’s time for common-sense Americans of all movements to unite and send these assholes packing. If not for us, then for our children.

Posted by Ed Mellon on Jan 21, 2004 at 2:46 PM

Thanks In These Times for covering this issue. I think it’s absolutely critical to talk about how to bridge this gap.

Posted by Mark Pearson on Jan 21, 2004 at 2:58 PM

I greatly appreciated this story, particularly because it shows the potential for groups to achieve their common interests as they work toward what benefits not only this society, but the planet.  We have reached the point where we have to look beyond the immediate conditition to a higher good; but we can’t do it without taking into consideration those with the most to lose. Perhaps more groups should be working with corporations to show them alternatives also and what might be gained from their support of initiatives to move to other more efficient fuels.

Posted by Gladys Swan on Jan 22, 2004 at 5:20 PM

Keep more coming from mr. werbach.  I liked his article on the bush environmental plans.

Posted by jim jontee on Jan 26, 2004 at 10:21 PM

Keep more coming from mr. werbach.  I liked his article on the bush environmental plans.

Posted by jim jontee on Jan 26, 2004 at 10:21 PM

Keep more coming from mr. werbach.  I liked his article on the bush environmental plans.

Posted by jim jontee on Jan 26, 2004 at 10:21 PM