Dirty Water to Clean Air

Dirty Water to Clean Air!
Just got back from an incredibly motivating speech which reached my core. It was Van Jones speaking on the potential of "Green Collar Jobs".He ispoke of the Third Wave of Environmentalism" that we are now witnessing. The first was Conservation (Teddy Rosevelt/Muir and the development of national parks), the second was Regulation (Rachel Carson, ENGOs lobbying government to initiate changes in law for protection of human health and other species, forests) and lastly, Investment (opportunity driven). Here in Vancouver, we have tremendous potential in the clean-tech sector which is expected to reach $167.2 billion by 2015.
Instead of looking at the traditional government structure investing in large projects full of red tape, green scisors will cut through this red tape and promote green industry and no one will be left behind.This needs a partnership in community and business. It is not about finding our own small solutions in dealing with crisis (like the current water crisis which I would argue is really part of the larger climate crisis), it is about coming together and investing in the future.
You can take action. There is an event that I am organizing that is promoting this same concept and you are all invited.

Clean Air Auto Show

Local residents and businesses are teaming up to demonstrate their electric and biofuel vehicles in an effort to spark local dialogue on the future of green transportation in the GVRD.

The Clean Air Auto Show will feature a collection of locally owned bio-fuel and zero-emission vehicles followed by a panel of community and business leaders. The panel will discuss solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions; to promote alternative transportation; and to develop a strong green economy within the GVRD.

Vehicles on display range from a vegetable oil Mercedes and a biodiesel fueling truck to a 1912 electric car called “The Detroit” an original “Lady driven” car that has been part of BC’s history since 1913.

WHEN: 3pm - 6pm, Saturday, December 2nd, 2006

WHERE: Delaney’s Pub, 5665 Kingsway, Central Burnaby

VISUALS: Green vehicles of various shapes & sizes – live demos and training.

PARTICIPANTS:

- Local owners of biofuel & electric vehicles.

- Local NGOs.

– Local politicians and entrepreneurs/businesses.

-- Media

Hope to see you all there!
JM "Ignoring climate change will be the most costly of all possible choices, for us and our children." Peter Ewins, British Meteorological Office