As California goes, so goes the nation? One wishes. Already California with its surprisingly progressive Governator, is implementing many "green" policies, far beyond those of the federal Government.
And San Francisco is pushing forward on its own. As Gavin Newson, its mayor, writes in the HuffPost: "In San Francisco, we are moving aggressively to combat climate change because we believe we can be a model for other cities."
As President George Bush has steadily rolled back environmental protections -- his shocking commitment to open up our beautiful coastlines to offshore drilling is only the latest outrage -- the responsibility to protect our environment has fallen to cities, states and many dedicated individuals.
San Francisco is one of the greenest cities in the country today because we did not wait for Washington. We are taking action now to green our environment and our economy from the ground up. But we are making so much progress because we are working with so many talented people.
One of our most visionary partners in protecting the environment is Van Jones. Van is the founder and president of Green For All. He is combining solutions to America's two biggest challenges -- social inequality and environmental destruction -- by creating and promoting green collar jobs...
With the help of people like Van we are establishing a new green economy in California while reducing our dependence on foreign oil, slashing the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the environment, and promoting clean and renewable energy. We are ensuring that the neighborhoods that were locked out of the pollution-based economy are locked in to the new green economy...
We have already attained carbon emission reductions that bring city and county levels nearly to 1990 levels, and city government emissions are already below 1990 levels. San Francisco has the highest recycling rate in the nation at 70%. And we have just committed to 75% by 2010.
SF has the coolest tools showing what's green as well. This map site which "introduces you to the area's many environmental education resources by pulling them together and creating a graphic portrait of the region's green reality," is representative. And if you're interested in SF's solar installations, this site is for you (the image above is from the site.).
Wish that New York city's mayor had a similar sensibility.
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Posted by: Dissertation Writing Help | Feb 20, 2010 at 02:53 PM
I love the tall redwood trees in San Francisco.
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