News-Record.com

Green jobs supporters in Greensboro will be participating in a national fundraising and grassroots organizing event for presidential candidate Barack Obama from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20 at Sticks and Stones restaurant on Walker Avenue.

Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama (CT4-O) and other environmental leaders from around the country are organizing, with the support of the Obama Campaign, an “Evening to Re-energize America.” The event will bring together thousands of people at over 300 house parties/fundraisers across the country, including San Francisco and Colorado Springs.

Attendees are responsible for their own food and drinks. To RSVP, e-mail pjmdesign AT gmail.com.

By the way, find here the environmental positions of Obama and John McCain along with a comparison by the League of Conservation Voters. Let me know of any related events going on in support of McCain.

One doesn't have to live next to a smokestack or mountain top removal coal mining site to understand and sympathize with the plight of people living on the underbelly of industrialization.

All one needs is a sense of decency and compassion. But as this country lurches from one economic crisis to another, the question becomes will decency and compassion or fear and competition undergird the next wave of jobs? And can the transition being pushed by many to a "green economy" happen without repeating the social sins of America's past?

About 200 activists, community organizers, educators, students and business owners struggled with this and other questions at a green jobs conference that took place on Saturday at N.C. Central University.

This movement, pioneered in New York and California, has taken hold in the Tar Heel state and folks wanted to know how North Carolinians could enable and benefit from new industries that pay adequate wages while reducing the state's dependency on fossil fuels and better managing its natural resources.

The city of Greensboro had its day in the spotlight last year when former mayor Keith Holliday signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a first step toward it becoming a "Cool City."

Now, local residents are working to expand sustainability efforts at the county level. The group, called Green Guilford, is working with Rob Bencini, the county's director of economic and community development. They aim to educate the public about environmental issues, support governmental purchases of environmentally-friendly products, create a neighborhood sustainability advisory board (Ahem... homeowners associations), and tap into existing soil and water conservation groups.

Now, the group must win over the public and county commissioners. I anticipate this plan could get a lot of resistance from businesses that stand to lose money if the county switches products and services. But many "green businesses" are willing and eager to take their place.

What do you think about this group?

President Bush and many educators have worked over the past several years to close the academic achievement gap between groups of students. Should his educational legacy also include closing the nature gap as well?

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is gathering support for the No Child Left Inside Act, a federal bill that would offer states incentives to develop Environmental Literacy Plans and integrate environmental education across K-12 curricula. The No Child Left Inside Act aims to ensure that schools have the resources and training necessary to help the next generation understand and address the challenges of protecting the environment.

Connecting children with nature is a goal that is beginning to gain steam here in Greensboro. Last Saturday, about 30 people viewed a documentary at The HIVE in Glenwood about the disconnect between today's generation of children and nature and unstructured play.

Given that No Child Left Behind has been underfunded since its inception and criticized for faulty implementation, I'm not sure another federal law is the best approach toward this issue. However, a healthy dialogue about the children's lack of exposure to the outdoors is needed.

One local legislator wants to require retail stores to recycle their ubiquitous plastic bags.

One way to discourage plastic bag use: charge for them. By the way, I like this idea, which is used at Deep Roots Market in Greensboro: give customers a small discount for bringing their own bags.

Steve McCollum, co-founder of Environment Stewardship Group of Greensboro, is organizing a canvassing for Dan Besse, a Democrat who is running for North Carolina lieutenant governor. McCollum is endorsing Besse because of his experience working on environmental issues.

McCollum will also host a meeting with Besse at his home from 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Says McCollum:

"If you haven't met Dan yet, please plan to drop by and bring another committed Democratic primary voter with you!! Oh, yes, I was sure you'd ask: There is no required or even suggested donation for the April 16 event; however, you can bet that if Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are still raising money after reaching the $100 million plus stratosphere each, the you'd better believe Dan Besse needs whatever financial support we can give him as he takes on two of the most well-heeled Dems--Walter Dalton and Hampton Dellinger, each with several times in their campaign coffers as Besse. If you want the GREENEST possible North Carolina, then consider a little green investment in the best environmental steward on the ballot."

Contact McCollum at 286-8665 or smccollum@triad.rr.com  if you are interested. 

Check out this video on TED.com, an updated talk on climate change by Al Gore. He argues for a global mobilization toward a low-carbon future and says, "We now have a culture of distraction. But we have a planetary emergency."

Also, a global campaign to stop global warming, founded by Gore.