After listening to Van Jones speak to Powershift 09, I get the impression that he hasn't given up his goal for communist revolution. It has just been re-badged as 'green for all' and the 'green economy.'
Some comments from the speech, in no particular order:
"Coal miners are people too." - He then goes on to slam the coal industry.
(The United States) is "a pollution based economy."
"Green for everybody"
"What about people who come here from all around the world who we're willing to have out in the fields with poison being sprayed on them, poison being sprayed on them because we have the wrong agricultural system." - Referring to immigrant agricultural workers.
"We obviously need some help [from immigrants]. We need some wisdom from some place else. Because what we have come up with here don't make no sense at all." - Referring to the current US economic system.
He also speaks of "...older veterans like myself." Was he in the military? From the context of the speech, he seemed to be referring to himself as a 'veteran' in the fight to change our economic system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVNtoAiOh1k
A little about Powershift, in their own Words:
Quote:
Our Demands
We want politicians to stand up to the dirty energy lobby and pass the energy and climate policies we truly need. We expect the politicians we elected in November to listen to what science is telling us and act immediately to reduce emissions, create jobs and re-engage globally to tackle the climate and economic crises.
Goals of Power Shift 09:
o
Push the new administration and Congress to pass bold, comprehensive energy and climate legislation.
o
Prepare our leaders and our movement for the international climate negotiations in December 2009 where we will help build and ratify a strong global climate agreement - one that allows all communities to participate and benefit.
o Develop a comprehensive strategy for continued political pressure and accountability and a shared vision to facilitate the development and implementation of individual and group action plans for local, state and national campaigns.
o Strengthen the bonds between diverse youth constituencies while we train and empower each other with the skills needed to create one movement that tackles climate change, environmental injustice, and economic failure.
o Connect with fellow organizers and build community to build our power and sustain our own involvement for the long-term.
o Understand the magnitude of both the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crisis and explore our own capacities to create transformative change.
http://www.powershift09.org/about/goals
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