RRedford, Reid, J Ringo Launch 'Apollo Challenge' for Bold Energy Plan

[NVMojo]

6/13/2006 5:56:00 PM


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To: National and State Desk

Contact: Toby Chaudhuri or Anne Thompson, 202-955-5665, both of the Campaign for America's Future

WASHINGTON, June 13 /U.S. Newswire -- Actor and activist Robert Redford and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., joined Apollo Alliance president Jerome Ringo at the opening luncheon of the Campaign for America's Future's annual "Take Back America" conference to announce the launch of the "Apollo Challenge" - a new campaign to encourage elected leaders to end the nation's addiction to oil and create 3 million good jobs.

The "Apollo Challenge" plans to inspire a quarter-million citizen-soldiers to rise up and challenge our nation's leaders to push a new Apollo Program for energy independence and good jobs this election year. The Apollo 10-point energy plan was the first plank of a progressive "common good" agenda for this year's midterm elections outlined by progressive activists at the Take Back America conference.

Sen. Reid told the crowd of leading progressives that America can solve its energy problems by eliminating tax breaks for oil companies.

"We have to take America back from ExxonMobil," said Sen. Reid. "We have to take America back from those who would hide the science. This is our task and it is our time. I think it's something that must be a priority."

Inspired by the Apollo moon launch, Apollo Alliance president Jerome Ringo laid out a plan to kick the nation's oil habit.

"Don't talk to me about jobs versus the environment," Ringo told the crowd. "It's now jobs for the environment."

Redford urged the Democratic base to lead the fight for strengthening the economy while protecting the environment.

"There is a stranglehold on both houses, probably the Supreme Court to boot, and the bully pulpit," said Redford. "What are you going to do? Well, where is it going to come from? It can only come from one place, and that's from the bottom up."

The Apollo Alliance unites nearly 16 million union members and 11 million environmental organization members across the country dedicated to creating new jobs, new energy, and new independence for America by investing in the domestic clean energy sector. Redford presented the first-ever "Right Stuff Award" to United Steelworkers International president Leo Gerard, a charter board member of the Apollo Alliance and labor leader who has brought more than two dozen labor organizations for new jobs for the environment.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=67481

[IndyOp]

1. Video of Redford at 'Take Back America' - Apollo Challenge

Video of Redford at 'Take Back America' - Apollo Challenge

[MelissaB]

11. Thanks for the link!

:hi:

[blm]

2. This is exactly what Kerry proposed in 2002 - glad Reid is on board now.

.

[sandnsea]

5. Did you see Hillary's kids health plan?

Too bad we don't have any leaders or big ideas in the party. :sarcasm:

[blm]

7. She put out a plan like Kerry's Kid's First plan instead of supporting his

That's Dems for you.

[zeemike]

3. That is great news

Now if more pile on board the wagon we will get somewhere.

[NVMojo]

4. I agree, I've been following the Apollo Project since they first popped up

I was really glad to see Reid on board.

[NNadir]

6. Sigh.

It's always an Apollo Project or Manhattan Project. This has to be the 9,000th time I've heard this motif used about "energy independence." The first time I heard it, Richard Nixon was proposing it. Then Jimmy Carter proposed it. And so on. Now it's Robert Redford. Oh boy.

Sigh.

It is not a matter of inventing something at this point. We know what works. Nothing huge in the energy field remains to be invented at least there is nothing that will work in time. Somehow though, I have the impression that people here are talking about inventing something grand. What exactly?

The decision is a matter of choosing between the options we already know. Everybody wants to pretend that there's something to invent, but there isn't. It's a matter of industrialization.

In 1961, the science of rocketry was already known. It was a matter of scaling it up.

In 1941, the science of nuclear fission was already known. It was a matter of scaling it up.

Of course, the Manhattan Project and Apollo Project were conducted in what was then the richest nation on earth. That same nation is now the poorest nation on earth, even if nobody's recognized that yet.

[Dead_Parrot]

9. This is why we're going to fall on our arses

We're sitting around waiting for the miracle that going to to save the planet, rather than using what we've got. not using wave, but waiting for cheap solar. Not using nuclear, but waiting for ZPE. Not using veg oil, waiting for ethanol...

That's why I lean towards Kunstlerian Doomerism: Not because we can't replace our current production methods, but because we won't.

[NNadir]

10. Yeah. We're committing suicide by stupidity.

You left out nuclear fusion. It's always fifty years away.

[Dead_Parrot]

12. I remain hopeful about fusion...

...but cheerfully admit I'll be pushing up daisies long before we get it to work. Since fusion work is on such a long timescale, it's ruled out - even by it's own supporters - as being a fix for our current crisis.

[kestrel91316]

8. Energy self-sufficiency for the US needs to be NATIONAL POLICY.

It needs to be a MUCH higher priority for us than unprovoked war and chasing after imaginary enemies.

But it won't be, as long as Republicans run things. They're much too feebleminded to see the profit potential therein.