The event attended was a book reading/ discussion at Bluestockings, the radical bookstore and vegan café on Allen St. (between Stanton and Rivington), at 8 o’clock on Wednesday, December fourth. About forty or fifty people attended this event, the topic of which was acclaimed activist Van Jones’s new book, entitled The Green Collar Economy, How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems. Mr. Jones flew from Harvard University to speak at Bluestockings, apparently at the request of the owner of Bluestockings, who was a good friend of his.
Given the nature of the bookstore, the crowd attracted to the discussion was very much on the liberal side of the political spectrum, which helped contribute to the persuasive, passionate activist-like tone of the event. Jones’s focus on the current environmental/political state, as well as important theories within his book was received very well, and the audience seemed full of thoughtful discussion at the end of the hour and a half long speech.
Jones began by addressing the current economic crisis, and explained that with the ever-expanding force of globalization also come global problems. Wrenching economic changes are approaching, and require planning. On an optimistic note, Jones said, “Sometimes a breakdown can open the door for a breakthrough.” He acknowledged the fact that the floor had essentially been torn out from under our feet, but also pointed out that in many ways, i.e. technology and decreasing social oppression, the ceiling had also been torn away. “Will we fall or fly,” he asked, “now that the floor and ceiling have been torn away?”
The speaker then addressed the fallacies that he felt brought us here, and refused to place all the blame on the administration of the last eight years. Instead, he explained, we had to realize that the current economy’s problems could be traced back to at least thirty years ago. He pointed out also that the right wing movement of the nineties had a lot to do with our situation at present. The first of the three fallacies in economic policy over the last thirty years that he listed was that the US economy could survive solely off of consumption, which, he exclaimed, is not sustainable. The second was that Americans could survive on credit, rather than smart savings. That debt-ravaged economy, Jones pointed out, just crashed. The final fallacy, which he emphasized the most, was that America could survive based on environmental destruction, and not ecological restoration.
Jones then critiqued the current economy and its corrupt attempts at “going green” against the parameters of his ideal “green economy”. He pointed out that it has always been assumed “green living” was only for an elite group of people who could afford to spend extra money on environmentally friendly lifestyles. Jones contrarily stated that because of its sustainability, the “green economy” will be “the only part of the economy that will survive in light of this catastrophe”. Jones then called out “dirty greens”, or powerful administrators in green businesses who have become corrupt, as well as the process of political green-washing, whereby parties feign concern about the environment, while emissions continue to go up. Again, on a more positive note Jones assured us that, “We are now having the right conversation.” The environment has become a moral, political, and economic problem, as evidenced by the fact that President-elect Obama plans on putting 150 billion dollars towards solving environmental issues and creating 5 million green jobs by 2012.
On this note, Jones began to merge the environmental and economic crises by explaining the endless amount of new jobs available in a green economy. “We want eco-equity, not eco-apartheid,” he explained. He then asked how we could make sure this movement will be effective. The answer offered: cities. Poor, less energy-efficient homes must be improved first. “Everything for the environment can be a job…nothing can be done without labor,” declared Jones. In discussing a new green economy and its many elements, he warned his audience about corporate corruption and an eco-fascist economy.
The speaker then began a description of his ideal “Green Collar Economy”, which, he explained, addresses pathways to progressive living. There will be a place for the impoverished in this new economy, Jones assured us. He passionately declared that we must get off the path from resource wars and clean up. No longer can we dismiss this issue, he said. “We must all respect and honor the Earth.”
The speaker then brought up a green energy grid, called in his book the National Smart Energy Grid, which would connect clean energy power centers to population centers. Not only could energy be brought to people, but people could also add to the energy available by installing solar panels or wind turbines on their property.
Interestingly, after passionately supporting the idea of a green energy grid, Jones declared that it would be “necessary, but radically insufficient”. He explained that if all we do is change our source of energy, we will have the same problems, but solar powered, and we will essentially cook the planet. We mustn’t only treat symptoms of this problem, he implored, but must breakdown and rebuild to be green everything we can in our society.
Attending a discussion of this sort outside of school was a new, and fascinating experience for me. The venue was small enough that the mood was very intimate, rather than a lecture hall that elicits an impersonal feeling. I feel that this added to the impact Dr. Jones’s speech had on the audience. It is especially important when talking about such a vast issue that it doesn’t seem overwhelmingly large and out of our hands. From listening passively to the audience’s chatter after the speech I gathered that I wasn’t alone in my feeling of empowerment with regard to this issue.
Besides specific details about the Green Collar Economy (which I am learning more of from the copy of the book I purchased) I was left with something that I feel is infinitely more valuable, and that is the confidence that we simply will change our way of living. We must. As much as learning about environmental issues in class drives home the fact that we have to change, and have to do it now, the amount of information can get a little overwhelming, and disheartening. This discussion, I feel, was an excellent supplement to class, seeing as it was more personal, and because it wasn’t an academic environment, I suppose Jones could take some creative license in his delivery of the information. I therefore left feeling significant, and in a way powerful, for it is we, after all, who will be making the change happen.
I think the event had great value to the community, and I hope that Mr. Jones remains in New York for a while to speak at other venues of this type. I would say that he should increase the size of his audience to better reach the community, but I feel that speaking to a larger audience would in a way dilute his message. I would hope that his audiences stay this size and just become more frequent. The event definitely had a positive impact on everyone involved, and seemed very successful in informing and inspiring people to take action against the destruction of our planet.
Overall I was very happy with my experience at this event and found it extremely worthwhile. Seeing as Bluestockings has events almost every night, I will definitely pay more attention to their events calendar in the future, in hopes that there will be other discussions about the environment soon. I also plan to finish Mr. Jones’s book over Winter Break, so as to fully understand his arguments.
