The Green Collar Economy

In late August, Carolynn blogged about Van Jones’ and Green For All, an organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. You may also be familiar with Van Jones excellent work at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Well we have an exciting update! On Tuesday October 7th, Van Jones’ first book The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems will be released. The book promises a solution that both rescues our economy and saves the environment. I can’t think of a topic that is timelier given today’s economic and political climate.

In the book, Jones illustrates how we can invest our way out of the pollution-based grey economy and into a new healthy green one. Built by a broad coalition deeply rooted in the lives and struggles of ordinary people, this path has the particular benefit of both cutting energy prices and generating enough work to pull the U.S. economy out of its present death spiral. The book is already receiving rave reviews. Al Gore said, “Van Jones demonstrates conclusively that the best solutions for the survivability of our planet are also the best solutions for everyday Americans.”

Jones also provides a great list of resources of national groups advocating for Green-Collar Jobs. To pre-order the book from Amazon, click here.

Be sure to also check out the profile of Jones in Time Magazine - he was recently honored as one of the Environmental Heroes of 2008.