Martin Luther King press conference-Trikosko/Library of Congress
By Suzanne Maxx Continue reading
Tag: green jobs (Page 1 of 2)
Freedom, Choice – Independence Day
"The Statue of Liberty"- photo by Suzanne Maxx
By Suzanne Maxx
I love celebrating “The Declaration of Independence” and this year, Independence has great meaning on 4th of July in NYC. True independence is within our vision, now evidenced by the sweeping changes abound;
We have a new Energy Bill thanks to representatives Waxman & Markey’s; American Energy and Security Act (ACES). It just made it through the House of Representatives(HR2454). This bill is a step towards the first law of its kind for the USA, which could help us on the path towards Energy Independence and allow the alternative sources like solar; wind, tidal, geothermal to grow. Obama seems to be in favor of it, although there werelast minute controversial changes.
Independence from Oil, now that would merit a big celebration, and fireworks.
With “Copenhagen” in December there is a true possibility of the first ever Global Environmental Treaty ratified for our world. We have more countries than ever before attempting to work together to take on the Climate Crisis, that is significant.
The USA is manufacturing electric vehicles and the automotive industry is transforming.
Serve.gov is one example of how Service, Contribution, Integrity and Environmental Responsibility are being valued as a commodity and the world of business is being reformed.
The Web, social networks, streaming media, multiple channels of TV: withviewer “Independence” and so much choice, the entertainment industry is transformed.
EPA declares Greenhouse Gases pose threat to public health–and a greater accountability from polluters is born.
The ARRA creates green jobs, and funds the kind of projects that will insure our independent future, and asks for a smarter electrical grid, and Utilities are being transformed. Solutions are born.
Let us celebrate our greatest gift we have in this country-freedom. It is so exciting to live in a time of change, where the possibility of creating a future independent from the past is real.
World Team’s green building (that intends to have the option to function independent of the electrical grid is closer to reality)—and a new for profit Delaware corporation ; “World Team –Building LLC” that will contribute to World Team Now, is born.
In truth we are all dependent on the love that we need from one another and more that is ineffable: the air we breathe, water, food and something bigger and beyond each us— some call it “nature,” I say “God” (call it what you will, but let’s answer the call with reverence and respect).
May you realize the greatest gift that grows from Independence; Freedom
Freedom gives choice—how do you choose to use your resources; Time, Energy, Action and Money?
A twist of irony–to celebrate independence at a time where there is “dependence” on the Team of people who are all working on our growing World Team Now. Thank you All— and we welcome All!
By Suzanne Maxx
President Obama signed The Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law on February 17th since then the billions of dollars allocated to revive our economy, and create opportunity for transformation, bring to question: is money enough for a solution? With the inherit dysfunction of traditional large US banks and corporations failing, industry is being forced to morph in a new direction. We are ready for innovative technology, alternative vehicles, re-structure infrastructure, and a smart grid. It is time to give up the addictive dependency on fossil fuel and the quest for more money. Maybe now we can invest in renewable energy and be more responsiblity of our resources.
The ARRA presents the opportunity with of infusion of “green” jobs and for funding too many of the projects that could sustain humanity. There are many possibilities open to not only World Team Now, but each of us individually with the ARRA. It attempts to call attention to that question that is emerging collectively: Will humanity be able to live in balance with our resources and one another?
The website, Recovery.gov, is the main vehicle to provide information, about grants, biz /contract opportunities, loans, benefits, and view the time line. This gives us the chance to participate in the oversight, proving transparency to move policy into action with specific measurable results. Here you can watch, interact, or simply to learn more click here . The ARRA calls to mind the following word:
危機; pinyin: wēijī;
The Chinese word 危機; pinyin: wēijī; may better speak to the world’s view of the USA’s ARRA… The compounded Chinese word “crisis” is composed of two characters: One represents “danger”, and the other represents “opportunity” or more accurately translated to “crucial point”.
By Suzanne Maxx
“To the hard working men and women of the EPA it is a new day, it’s a new day,” proclaimed Michelle Obama. “The Obama EPA is on the job. It’s a new day!” she exclaimed, “and the truth is we can’t wait one more minute with the recently signed Recovery Package”, and she continued to inspire with her speech. The First Lady describes her first most important job as being a “Mom”. I asked my Mom to watch this as she had worked at the EPA for many years and had left the federal government during another adminstration:
Video of Michelle Obama to EPA
She was moved to tears, and regained hope… It is a relief to know that energy and the environment are being championed with bold new policies and decisions, and for the affirmation that science will be at the heart of environmental policy.
Michelle’s prioritization about the importance of the environment for this administration, left few dry eyes in the audience, now coming out from the dark into a bright light, and very eager to see. It is comforting to actually hear, “You have partners in the White House who believe and support you,” those words are powerful, coming from the First Lady and a Mom.
As a child growing up our normal dinner table conversations about PCB’s, super fund clean up sites, hazardous wastes, water contamination, aquifers, floods, hurriacanes, and other natural and man-made disasters were the side effects of two parents passionate about their work in public service for the then fledgling US Federal Government Agencies: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They both met working together at the Army Corps of Engineers. My Mom remained at EPA working as an environmental scientist for Region 2 in water supply for almost two decades.
Tom Maynard, my Step- Father worked at HUD as an urban planner, and the start-up, FEMA. His presence is deeply missed now since is passing. Tom served as a board member for World Team Now, our non-profit then named, Team World Corps. His respected skills as an urban planner and in his later years as a private consultant, allowed him to win many government grants, and he had planned to attain grants for us. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado chapter of the American Planning Association posthumously. With all the opportunities, and challenges World Team faces with our green building projects now, Tom is deeply missed.
This is the foundation our non-profit organization World Team Now is founded on, and I’m thankful for these two parents who I admire and respect for their choices respectively to serve the public, and my chance to grow up, and be exposed to this environment.
http://www.epa.gov/
Leadership “Yes, WE Can…”
We , humanity are at a cross roads, and now the many plans emerging from The environmental movement in the USA are finally being considered, and taken seriously by our new President of the USA, Barack Obama. Hard to believe it was just one month ago today that he was sworn into office as the 44th President of the USA.
The first monday morning President Obama’s first full work week in office, he took a stand for renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal), green jobs, plug in electric vehicles (PEV’s) and was able to communicate the integrated correlation between where we are environmentally, with where we are in the global ECOmony. He signed docs before the press, and started his week with action. He froze all policies pending from the past administration.
After President’s Day, less than one month in office, President Obama made the largest investment in clean energy and green jobs in our history of the USA with his signature on the previously reviewed 787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now legislature..
Thank you to all at World Team Now who believe these issues around energy and transformation are important. We are benefiting from your time, energy, and money with our actions and events. Our example is heard at a level where change can begin, with small actions like our net metering project, and larger ones now in government with policy. If governments can change why can’t we the people of the world unite together and work together for change?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan offesr possibilities for our alternative and renewable energies to emerge into mainstream, with programs to support change and inspire innovation now.
Closely tied in content to the stimulus package, for economic recovery and environmental transformation, is the RETECH event. Towards the bottom of the page along with UN’s NGO Committee, and the The U.S. Green Building Council, World Team Now joins this prestigious team of “Supporting Partners” for RETECH. This is the one of the 1st major US conference’s and convention following the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ACORE’s RETECH in Las Vegas, Nevada teases out many of the core topics we at World Team Now are focused on in energy, with not only solar thermal farms, and nano-technology, but also tidal; and wave. This is a chance to learn more about net metering, the smart grid, EV’s, LED lighting and more through a large fun event, that seeks solutions form being on. This is the place to be on the cutting edge of renewable energy and technology, which may translate to “green” for you, in many ways. Join in this coming week February 25th-27th in Las Vegas.