Join the  continuing discussion on the  New Green Deal blog! It was set up on Aug.7, 2008. http://thenewgreendealof2009.blogspot.com/ 

The New Green Deal of 2009 is the result of a group of Bay Area activists meeting and reaching a consensus dealing with the environmental, economic and social justice issues facing a new US Federal administration. We look forward to a discussion here to further the concept of a New Green Deal and hopefully draw upon a diverse group of concerned people for help. There is a wave of awareness building as the reality of global warming, increasing demand for resources and economic uncertainty is spreading throughout the planet. This shift of priorities will need a focus and clear goals for change. We welcome your comments and suggestions. 

The New Green Deal of 2009 *

The incoming US Federal administration of 2009 will have an important opportunity to launch a New Green Deal that promotes locally directed efforts to solve many of our urgent problems. This is a time of economic and environmental crisis, and we need to demonstrate authentic leadership in pursuit of a vibrant, healthy society that is sustainable and equitable. A New Green Deal can address domestic economic, social and ecological problems in a way that also has a positive impact on foreign policy and relations.

The New Green Deal focuses on developing basic requirements for moving towards sustainability such as green collar jobs, regional ecological restoration, and inclusion of under- represented communities. Its mission is to enable comprehensive long-lasting social, economic and natural resource policies. The New Green Deal can become the foundation for healthy, productive domestic programs that reduce our nation's oil dependence and provide proactive responses to reduce global warming.

The New Green Deal's founding principle is there needs to be regional improvements to local Conditions, carried out by local people, businesses, and communities. This means the overall approach to accomplishing programs will vary according to the places where applied: New York City will have a different emphasis than Los Angeles, and Puget Sound from Chesapeake Bay. The New Green Deal should then be applied in five general directions:

1) Survey, inventory and evaluation of local/regional renewable and non-renewable assets. These include but are not limited to food, water, energy sources, building materials and methods, open space, and transportation alternatives with an emphasis on a North American, inter-regional railway system.                                                                                    

2) Public participation in designating and implementing priorities for projects and activities.

3) "True cost" analysis to evaluate and select the most sustainable alternatives.

 4) Green Collar employment programs in the following areas:

                a) Ecosystem restoration,
                b) Remanufacturing that maximizes use of recyclable
                        and/or post-consumer materials,
                c) Renewable energy production and use,
                d) Regionally-based sustainable agriculture,
                e) Converting all wastes into resources,
                f) Water conservation and reuse,
                g) Energy efficiency,
                h) Green building, living roofs, and landscaping,
                i)  Ecology and conservation education,
                j)  And special Green Collar job training programs in
                        vulnerable communities.

5) Create or transform governmental institutions and agencies with policies that promote localization and embody principles of sustainability.

*This is a genuine stimulus package on the scale of the 1930's New Deal for the present day. The New Green Deal promotes positive programs to replace catastrophic activities that underlie climate change, economic inequities, water and food shortages, habitat destruction, and species extinction.

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Comittee For A New Green Deal

Email: mail@planetdrum.org 
Postal address: Committee for a New Green Deal, 
P.O. Box 31251, San Francisco, CA94131

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