🌎 Together for Change: A Vision for a Sustainable World
🗽 Our resolve is stronger than ever, our movement can not be silenced.
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Friends, the reality of climate change is a call to action we cannot ignore. Our environment, our communities, and the future of life on Earth face immediate, urgent risks.
This is our moment to rise, to come together with purpose and commitment to protect the world we cherish.
This week, the United Nations is gathering for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with leaders and advocates from across the globe who are coming together to confront the climate crisis. But the work doesn't stop at international summits; it continues in every town, neighborhood, and household.
This is a story we are all a part of—a mission to heal and restore the planet we call home.
Imagine a world where our energy comes from the sun and the wind, our air and water are clean, and everyone has access to good-paying jobs that help build a sustainable future.
We can achieve this in the future, but only if we stand together and act now.
In the face of rising authoritarianism and climate change denial, advocating for progress—especially on climate change—is more critical than ever. Authoritarian forces will push for the status quo (“drill baby drill”) and threaten the rights of people fighting to protect our planet. But climate activism is a powerful act of resistance; it defends our environment, supports communities, and champions a sustainable future.
That's why we're pushing for the Green New Deal—a bold, transformative plan to tackle climate change head-on. The Green New Deal isn't just an environmental policy; it's a vision for a sustainable economy that prioritizes clean energy, creates green jobs, and safeguards our natural resources.
Current State of Play
In April 2023, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez reintroduced the Green New Deal Resolution, but as of 2024, it has yet to pass. However, since the Green New Deal was first introduced, advocates have seen some progress, with the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act including federal investments aimed at combating climate change.
How much will this cost, and how will we pay for it?
Imagine knowing your home is at serious risk of being reduced to ashes in just a few years. But here's the good news: by taking action and making smart investments today, you can protect it from that fate and ensure its safety for years.
Climate change will inflict "more than $500 billion in economic loss in the United States alone each year by 2090." 1 While lawmakers continue to debate the actual cost of addressing this crisis, we find ourselves leaning toward Senator Bernie Sanders's estimate of $16.3 trillion to implement the Green New Deal. 2
Returning to the idea of safeguarding our home, if we allocated $250 billion each year for the next 66 years, we could fund the Green New Deal, stop the economic toll of $500 billion in losses that climate change is taking on the U.S., and help preserve the planet for future generations.
According to Realtor.com, nearly half of all U.S. homes face a severe threat of climate change, with about $22 trillion in residential properties at risk of "severe or extreme damage" from flooding, strong winds, wildfires, and more. Many homeowners, however, aren't financially prepared for the toll of these events, and according to FEMA, just 4% of Americans have flood insurance. 3
Another point of consideration is the budget breakdown of the United States government, which funds numerous departments and initiatives. Nothing has been set aside for global emergencies like global warming or climate change.
Last point to consider with regards to investing in climate change mitigation is this study that was released earlier this year:
"We might still be richer in 2100 than we are today," Bilal specified. "But we would be twice as rich in 2100 if there was no climate change." 4
There is hope
The Green New Deal (GND) offers a transformative vision for America, designed to address the climate crisis while creating a fairer economy for all. The GND proposes a pathway to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while upgrading our infrastructure, improving health outcomes, and promoting job creation in a green economy.
Understanding the Green New Deal
The Green New Deal is a comprehensive resolution, initially introduced by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey, which acknowledges that climate change is an existential threat that requires immediate action. It is inspired by the New Deal programs of the 1930s, which addressed the Great Depression and revolutionized American society through job creation and infrastructure development. The GND aims to replicate that scale of impact but with a focus on modern challenges: decarbonizing the economy, improving climate resilience, and reducing economic inequality.
Central to the GND is transitioning the United States to 100% clean and renewable energy. This ambitious target is not just about replacing fossil fuels with renewables; it's about reimagining how we produce and consume energy. The GND also includes provisions for upgrading buildings to improve energy efficiency, investing in public transportation to reduce reliance on cars, promoting sustainable agriculture, and protecting biodiversity.
In addition to environmental goals, the GND focuses on social and economic equity. It recognizes that pollution and climate change often affect low-income communities, communities of color, and marginalized groups. Thus, it prioritizes the needs of these communities in green investments, infrastructure projects, and job creation, ensuring that the transition to a clean energy economy benefits everyone.
Stopping global warming requires a multifaceted approach, and the GND outlines several critical actions to achieve this:
Transition to Renewable Energy Sources
Increase Energy Efficiency
Support Sustainable Agriculture and Reforestation
Expand Public Transportation
Promote Clean Manufacturing
What We Need Americans to Do
For the Green New Deal to become a reality, it requires broad public support and active participation. Here's what each of us can do:
Raise Awareness: The GND represents a significant shift in policy, but many Americans may still be unfamiliar with it. Sharing information about the GND through social media, community groups, and conversations helps raise awareness of its benefits. Educating others about climate change and the potential for a sustainable, equitable economy can build support and reduce resistance.
Engage with Elected Officials: Political support is essential for passing the GND. Contacting local, state, and federal representatives and voicing support for green policies makes a difference. By showing elected officials that their constituents care about climate action, we can encourage more leaders to champion the GND and related environmental policies.
Support Green Businesses and Practices: Individuals can make environmentally conscious choices by supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability and invest in green technologies, from solar panels to electric vehicles. Every dollar spent on sustainable goods and services helps build a green economy.
Vote: The most impactful action individuals can take is to vote for candidates who prioritize climate action and support the Green New Deal. The urgency of the climate crisis requires leaders committed to transformative policies that address global warming.
Now is the time for action. As climate-related disasters increase in frequency and severity, the need for comprehensive policies like the Green New Deal becomes increasingly apparent. By supporting the GND, we protect the environment and invest in future generations' health, safety, and prosperity. This is not merely an environmental issue; it's a societal transformation. Let's work together to make the Green New Deal a reality.
Together we can champion Progress and Power to the People
People Power United members are committed to championing progress and power to the people. We don't just complain; we do the work to make change happen.
Friends, this is a plea for help with our People Power United efforts. With our membership growing, we're building momentum, but we need your help to reach even more people—every bit of assistance counts. Together, we can make a difference!
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People Power United Updates
Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:
We sent out updates and news briefs on Protect our Planet, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Resist Project 2025
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Additional updates can be found here.
Laurie’s Post-Election Message
After living in Florida for over 30 years, I've witnessed firsthand how easily rights, freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law can erode in a red state.
I share with many of you the feelings of deep disappointment in seeing the election of former President Trump and convicted felon to the highest office of President, the loss of the U.S. Senate, and the precarious hold on the U.S. House. This is not just a matter of politics—it's personal.
The day we stop advocating fiercely for our families, friends, co-workers, and communities is the day we surrender to authoritarianism—and that day is not today.
There will be endless analyses, explanations, and debates about what happened and why. I'll share my thoughts when the time is right, but remember this: our voice remains strong.
No one can silence us from speaking out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
No one can take away our resolve to demand accountability from our leaders to uphold the people's will.
And no one can extinguish our movement for progress and empowerment for every American to thrive.
This experience, like many others, is an opportunity to rethink how we protect and expand the principles we believe in.
We must come together, address this setback, and build a stronger, more resilient movement for the future.
Together with you, I am looking forward to turning this disappointment into a driving force for accountability, justice, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that brought us here.
- Laurie Woodward Garcia
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!
People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/418850-climate-studies-say-warming-may-cost-us-500-billion-a-year-it-will/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/climate/bernie-sanders-climate-change.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-home-prices-housing-realtor-com/
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/08/revising-the-cost-of-climate-change
We cannot be silenced and need to keep our head above water to make a change. It will take awhile but perseverance rules.