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Green New Deal project

Green New Deal project

What’s this all about? Responding to the climate crisis with a “just transition” to renewable energy while addressing social inequities, poverty, and the need for massive infrastructure replacement and repair.

VIDEO: How the Green New Deal Fixes More Than Just One Problem


Meet the policy architect behind the Green New Deal: Rhiana Gunn-Wright  (Vox Conversations podcast/audio, 2019 — Content starts around the 2:00 mark.)

The Green New Deal: Rhiana Gunn-Wright (Columbia Energy Exchange podcast/audio)


What might life look like in 2030, as long as we get going with the Green New Deal?

VIDEO: A Message From the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

(Image by Amelia Bates, Grist magazine)

VIDEO: This is how to WIN the “impossible” Green New Deal

What IS the ‘Green New Deal’?

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VIDEO: Greta Thunberg, speaking in October at the United Nations Climate Summit. (Use CTRL+ to increase the size of the video screen.)

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Smart, critical summary and analysis of the GND proposal (January 2019):

https://grist.org/article/heres-the-green-new-deal-debate-you-havent-heard-yet/

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The actual proposal of legislation and concepts:

HOUSE RESOLUTION (Feb. 2019) “Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal”:

https://templatearchive.com/green-new-deal-resolution/.

Where the language comes from: The 1930’s FDR administration’s “New Deal” set of programs, policies and agencies. Here’s a cool site that “aims to inventory, map, and publicize the achievements of the New Deal and its public works.”

https://livingnewdeal.org/

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Join an organization working for the Green New Deal!

If you are not already part of an organization, consider getting involved in one (or more!) of the following organizations. They will be engaging in actions, and can help provide resources to do even more organizing. The ones with (*) are youth-led. Check out: 

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Recent Reporting & Commentary:

Jan. 15, 2020: BlackRock — the world’s biggest asset manager — just made a commitment to turn away from fossil-fuels, and to drive their clients to invest in “sustainable” portfolios.

How important is BlackRock’s climate announcement?

Things are happening, especially on the State level in California! — These reports document recent changes to state law on programs integrally involved in the Green New Deal.

CA passes Free College! — 2 yrs tuition-free for new Community College students. [LINK NEEDED]

Public Banking — Banking can be done WITHOUT CORPORATIONS — OR PROFIT MARGINS! — And now Public Banking is legal in California! — https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/10/03/stunning-rebuke-predatory-wall-street-megabanks-california-gov-signs-law-allowing-creation-of-Public-Banks


Spring 2019 Reporting & Commentary about the Green New Deal:

Nine Questions About the Green New Deal by Lisa Friedman at the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/climate/green-new-deal-questions-answers.html?module=inline

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/juliana-versus-united-states-the-climate-change-lawsuit-that-could-stop-the-u-s-government-from-supporting-fossil-fuels-60-minutes/

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https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/10/opinions/green-new-deal-ocasio-cortez-climate-change-romero-jones/index.html

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https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/2/7/18211709/green-new-deal-resolution-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-markey

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More reading/viewing links:

Special program on the GND during All In with Chris Hayes  on Friday, March 29: https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-explains-why-the-green-new-deal-is-about-more-than-climate-1468164675990

— This is the link to the first 15-minute segment of an hour-long program — if you watch this first segment, the ones that follow will start up automatically.

— Extended conversation:

http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/aoc-on-the-green-new-deal-an-extended-conversation-with-msnbc-s-chris-hayes-1468154947968

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May 2019 Youth Climate Strike call:  https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/youth-climate-strike/?referrer=group-350org-joint&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit

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DemocracyNow!’s coverage of the Youth Climate Strike, including Oakland’s Met West High School student leader Isha Clarke:  https://www.democracynow.org/2019/3/1/teen_climate_activist_to_sen_dianne

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Commentary Resisting the Green New Deal:

The problem with the Green New Deal — A deeply unserious proposal to tackle climate change by I.K. on The Economist’s Utopia Now page: https://www.economist.com/democracy-in-america/2019/02/11/the-problem-with-the-green-new-deal

The Green New Deal Is Everything That’s Wrong with Progressive Environmentalism  by David French at the National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/green-new-deal-is-everything-thats-wrong-with-progressive-environmentalism/

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Spring 2019 Assignment Prompt for Essay 2: What’s the Deal with the ‘Green New Deal’?

The Mission: Develop a strong understanding of the proposed ‘Green New Deal’, and develop and present — in writing, and possibly in a presentation — a general summary of what the proposal includes, a focused discussion on at least one specific aspect of the proposal, and your recommended action(s) regarding this proposal.

In other words, write a research-inclusive essay (or prepare and make a presentation) expressing both your understanding of what the Green New Deal would include, and your recommendation(s) for action to be taken by you, by the U.S. Congress, and/or by other people in this class and in your community.

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*The specific focus part should probably come from one of the ‘points-of-inquiry’ listed below, or have a similar level of specificity.

Students will be assigned the following steps during the month of March:

  1. Read (and watch/listen to) several texts assigned by the instructor, as well as finding other relevant texts to satisfy your curiosity and inquiry interests*;
  2. Build, as you go, a list of the texts you are taking on, with brief summaries and evaluative notes. This list will comprise an ‘Annotated Bibliography’ (academic nickname ‘Ann Bib’), which will serve you well during your research and writing process!
  3. Write a research-inclusive essay (or prepare and make a presentation) expressing both your understanding of what the Green New Deal would include, and your recommendation(s) for action to be taken by you, by the U.S. Congress, and/or by other people in this class and in your community.

*A research orientation on March 20th will assist students with gaining access to some texts that are not available to the general public — but mass-consumable texts are very valuable, too! This should be helpful with the specific focus portion of the essay/presentation.

Students should choose whether to work alone, or in a partnership with one other classmate.

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Points-of-Inquiry — Questions developed in class (English 1A, Laney College, Spring 2019)

How would we generate the financial resources to execute the GND?

How will we pay for the GND – Deeper deficit?

How can we generate the resources to support the GND?

Will the GND help with our current debt problem? –How?

How long will the GND take to enact? What process does this entail?

Is 2030 a little too soon? What is the timetable for energy transition – and is it realistic?

How can we proceed with the GND while having a President with opposing ideals?

Will the GND create new jobs for the working class? If so, how many?

Will new jobs be easily accessible to those without a higher education?

How will the GND help people of color?

Is there any connection between the Green New Deal and the movements to ‘reform’ policing & mass-incarceration?

Will workers such as coal miners get first opportunities at new energy jobs?

How will companies & corporations be held accountable for their environmental impact?

Is there any part of the GND that the ‘right’ and ‘left’ can agree on?

How can the GND affect both rich and poor communities if they are in the same rate level?*

(*This question is not clear enough to understand – it will need to be revised and clarified.)

Are the technologies for the energy transition already available to be used if the GND gets accepted?

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