On Tuesday June 2nd, iconic 1199 President Henry Nicholas will kick off a major forum at the Electricians Local 98 Union Hall in Philly. The
forum will include trade unionists, environmentalists, community activists, clergy, people of faith, and many others. This forum will help launch a new coalition to simultaneously save the earth from climate change and create hundreds of thousands of family sustaining, high paying union jobs.
We have the technology right now to convert much of our energy consumption to green, sustainable, climate friendly sources including wind, solar, tidal and river currents.
“We don’t have to blow up the earth and poison our water and Philly neighborhoods with extremely dangerous fracking,” said anti-fracking organizer Elizabeth Arnold.
Before I became 1199’s Chief of Staff, I served in the same capacity at the Utility Workers Union of America.
I know we have natural wind tunnels and spots perfect for solar panels and ocean and river currents that could be harvested right now to drastically reduce energy from carbon-based fuel that is choking our planet to death.
I also know that such a transition would create a demand for 170,000 trained, skilled, well paid workers both in unions now and thousands more who could join unions.
Moving from carbon-based to green energy is a win-win.
I was at the table as we were trying to pass President Obama’s climate change bill. We had the votes to pass it and defeat the filibuster until the radical right-wing Republican Party pulled Senator Lindsey Graham off the bill just to deny a victory for President Obama.
Additionally, our global competitors are already making the transition. When I last checked both Germany and China were leading the world in moving to green energy.
Event details:
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm
Location: Electricians Local 98 Union Hall, 1719 Spring Garden St in Philadelphia, Pa
Image source: ClimateWeekParis.org
