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Join the Green Economy Revolutionby Serge and Kasey Charlebois
November 26 2008
| | | If you’re a little freaked out about the state of our economy right now and are wondering what’s going to happen, well let me assure you you’re not alone! And if you’re worried that our government will put environmental initiatives on the back-burner until the economy turns around you’re not alone there either. But we can’t stop at knowing we aren’t alone we have to let our government know that we still expect them to invest in environmental action even though the economy is in the can. In fact, there must be a way to help the economy and stimulate green initiatives and create green jobs at the same time…and here it is.Many, including the humble authors of this text, believe that the best way to handle this economic slow-down is to convince the government to invest in creating green jobs specifically in the green energy sector (solar and wind farms). Dirty energy is a problem that we’re dealing with anyway so if we can solve it and at the same time stimulate the new green economy well, can anyone see anything wrong with that picture? So we ask you, reader, concerned Canadian, environmentalist, political activist and political slouch alike, join our letter campaign! Send the following letter, or your own words, to your local MP and to Stephen Harper’s office (pm@pm.gc.ca) and let ‘em know that we expect action on this one! This plan makes sense on many fronts. One great point is that the people in the manufacturing and auto sectors that have lost or will loose their jobs can make the side step to the mechanics of wind-turbines and producing its mechanical parts quite easily. To find your local MP go to http://canada.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html and under ‘Find Your Member of Parliament’ use your postal code or your MP’s name to find his page. Click on your MP’s name to find his or her e-mail address. After reading the following letter, put your name at the bottom and send it to your local MP and Stephen Harper (his e-mail address: pm@pm.gc.ca). If you believe in this cause, tell everyone you know to visit TheGreenCity home page and send this message to their MPs. Together we can make the government do what it’s supposed to; follow the will of its people!Letter to MPs and the PMDear [MP]Over the past few weeks it has become increasingly clear that the economic slow-down is a problem that the people and leaders of this country are not sure how to solve. With suggestions of Auto-sector bailouts, and other easy and/or quick make-work programs being initiated, it is obvious that the Government is going to have to take care of its people through these rough times. People are looking for a bold but safe move from their government, and I believe investing in green energy is that move. Consumers are scared to buy right now and even if they wanted to buy they can’t get the financing they need to make big purchases (such as vehicles…). It’s no wonder they’re scared with the amount of media coverage, confusing opinions, and lack of direction from their leaders. Canadians are confused, scared, and trying to choose between self-preservation (i.e. saving their money and paying off debt.) and a patriotic duty to consume. People are mostly choosing the first option and if consumers don’t want to spend then you must spend for them. There is an opportunity here to use government money to take care of two major problems at once. Investing in green energy initiatives, such as wind and solar farms will lower Canada’s environmental impact. Canada is quickly becoming an ‘environmental dinosaur’ when comparing our governmental action to large energy initiatives supported by governments such as Denmark, Sweden, and many others. We can use this economic crunch to create a real shift in Canada’s environmental policy and at the same time create jobs that will be long lasting and providing Canadians with clean energy, a service that they need and are demanding anyway.I am sure there are many different interest groups vying for government bailout money, so why the Green energy and not the Auto industry or other government programs? - Providing your people with a cleaner and cheaper energy source, saving them money in the long run
- Creating a base of stable jobs (because green energy is not reliant on commodities its a renewable and unending resource)
- Wind turbines are made up of mechanical parts similar to those of a car, the learning curve wouldn’t be all that steep for laid-off auto-sector and manufacturing workers to move into these new jobs
- Economic slowdown won’t affect business, energy is always needed and the Canadian government may see the profits
- Quick fix programs may not have the lasting solution and consumer base that Green energy does
- Creating a sustainable and responsible industry that Canadians can be proud of!
This is an opportunity to do something that is morally right and to send a message to Canadians that their government is on their side and hears their cries for clean, renewable energy, green jobs and a greener economy. You can’t turn a blind eye to the large environmental problem anymore even in an uncertain economy. The environment nurtures life and if we don’t take care of it we aren’t taking care of our own well-being. This is a project that will take a little more planning and foresight than other quick, make-work projects but if the government was considering bailing out the auto-sector then I for one support a similar injection of cash to existing wind and solar farm projects to allow more workers to be hired and to expedite the harvesting of clean energy. Thank you for your consideration, Serge and Kasey CharleboisFounders, www.TheGreenCity.ca | | |
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