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Climate Justice Makes NYT Bestseller List

By Tommaso Boggia - Oct 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am

Van Jones’ The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems just became the first bestseller on the environment written by a black author, jumping onto The New York Times‘ hardcover bestseller list at number 12. It is in part due to Jones’ visionary leadership and perseverance that issues of environmental justice, sustainable development, and civil rights are finally getting the attention they deserve. I highly recommend that you check our some of his videos and writing.

With no publicity dollars and no national media platform, it was a complete long-shot for The Green Collar Economy to become a bestseller, but through an unprecedented grassroots effort, millions of people across the country learned that we can build a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The success of this book is a testament to the power of the green jobs message and how ready we all are to move past our pollution-based economy to a clean, just, renewable future.

Because of the successes of the green jobs movement in mobilizing over 50,000 people to participate in Green Jobs Now events in all 50 states, our leaders are beginning to talk about real solutions for our economic and environmental crises, and are using the language of green jobs to appeal to swing voters and middle class Americans. Look out for Joe the solar panel installer at the next presidential election!

Unfortunately there is still a lot of disinformation out there, especially surrounding the astounding belief that coal can be clean (it can’t), and that nuclear can be safe and cheap (it can’t). It is essential that green jobs programs don’t get co-opted by the same old toxic industries that caused most of our current problems.

Tags: climate change, economy, employment, energy, environment, Van Jones