The price of oil plummeted to a record low yesterday. Storms continued to sweep the southeast, killing 34 people in what is shaping up to be the country’s deadliest tornado season in nearly a decade. And a deadly respiratory pandemic has killed over 40,000 people in the U.S., led to mass levels of unemployment, and hurtled us headfirst into a recession.
If there was ever a time to come together to turn the tide on an economy that puts profits over people and the planet, it is now.
Across the country, workers and communities celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by calling for just that:
- In Chicago, the Earth Day to May Day Coalition is taking to the digital streets. At a virtual town hall on April 22 at 12 p.m. CST, activists and organizers will talk about their demands for “a people-centered recovery built with equitable and just policies to protect and support frontline communities, workers, immigrants and the vulnerable.” Join the town hall here, and check out the list of other digital Earth Day and May Day events here.
- Our allies at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) released a report “NYC Climate Justice Agenda 2020: A critical Decade for Climate, Equity, and Health” that explores the overlaps between environmental justice and COVID-19, outlining policy recommendations for a just transition. Read the report here.
- The organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970, Denis Hayes, told the Labor Network for Sustainability that “the first Earth Day would not have happened without labor support.” Read more about the critical role unions and workers play in Earth Day celebrations, and learn about other digital mobilizations through here.
As ever, Jobs to Move America is working to wield the power of our public dollars to create good jobs and a clean economy. Join us.