Building Political Power

In a few weeks, global leaders will meet for Rio+20, the UN sustainable development summit. These international meetings are usually long on talk and short on action, so many serious green advocates have learned to be skeptical.

At the same time, global conferences obviously offer a chance to make progress on a much bigger scale than national politics can. If we're serious about sustainability, we have to push our leaders to sit down and make a deal--an intelligent, equitable one.

Nebraska residents reject new Keystone XL route

As I reported earlier, the newly proposed Keystone XL route still threatens the world's largest fresh drinking water source, the Ogallala Aquifer. After TransCanada submitted a new application for the pipeline, Jane Kleeb of Bold Nebraska vowed to continue the fight:

President Obama kicked off his re-election campaign in Columbus, Ohio this weekend... coincidence? I think not. He is acknowledging the youth vote that won him the election, starting with the largest University in one of the most important swing states. Two main messages were clear: “I believe in you. I’m asking you to keep believing in me.” & “Corporations are not people.”

.. and for the most part, WE AGREE. Corporations are not people. Students are outraged that student debt has reached 1 TRILLION DOLLARS in a society plagued with unemployment and where corporations get bailed out to keep financing decisions that only benefit them.

Cross posted from the Southern Energy Network blog.

Dirty energy corporation Progress Energy is at it again in Florida – just this week, Progress announced its plans to ask for a 78% increase in its nuclear cost recovery fee from rate payers, raising the added monthly cost of new nukes in Florida from $2.86 to $5.09 next year.