Green Labor Journal - Working for a Substainable Future

Obama Has Spoken, Now Let's Act

Pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation now

Print this article

June 22, 2010 - Last week, President Obama gave an address about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico -- and what it teaches us about America's economic and ecological future. President Obama has heard and joined our call for bold, decisive action to clean up the spill and build a safe, clean-energy future for the Gulf region and for America. Now, we must help him and Congress turn his words into the change we need.

In his address, the president called the BP oil spill "the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced." He vowed to hold BP accountable for the terrible damage it has caused. And he promised to remove the threat of future spills by ending America's dependence on oil and building a strong clean-energy sector that can power our economy.

We all need to join President Obama's call and tell our Senators to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

Altogether, we learned one important thing from the President's speech: he is listening. And that means it's time to speak more loudly, clearly, and consistently about what America needs now.

Since the spill began, you have helped Green For All and its allies speak clearly about the two things BP must do to mitigate this disaster:
1.    Repair the damage from the spill, and
2.    Rebuild the Gulf region's economy by investing in green jobs and green business.

By echoing those calls last night, President Obama showed he is listening to us.  Luckily, we have much more to say.

This July, Green For All is calling for a Dirty Energy Independence Week of Action. As the President pointed out, America is addicted to oil and fossil fuels. It is only fitting that, as we celebrate our nation's freeing itself from Britain, we also move boldly on the next frontier of American independence: independence from dirty, deadly fossil fuels that are polluting our country, compromising our security, and costing Americans their livelihoods.

The Houma Nation in Louisiana is on the frontlines of this battle. They have lived on this land for generations and now are at risk of losing their homes and everything they have worked so hard to build. The people of the Houma nation are one reason why we need to take action today.

We need you to help make Green For All's Dirty Energy Independence Week of Action a success. Take a stand for a safe, prosperous, clean-energy future for America.  Join us.

President Obama has called for bold action. Let's show him we are ready to meet that call.

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
CEO, Green For All