The April membership meeting of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) endorsed the Earth Quaker Action Team's (EQAT) "Walk for Green Jobs and Justice". The walk is part of EQAT's larger campaign, "Power Local Green Jobs," which demands that PECO -- PA's largest utility company -- invest in locally generated solar power that benefits low-income communities and communities of color.

The Green Party platform is closely aligned with the mission of this campaign, as it highlights several of the Greens stated values. Chris Robinson, the GPOP membership secretary, points out that the Green Party platform says, "Greens support science-based policies to curb climate change. We have an ambitious plan to make drastic changes quickly to avert global catastrophe. We will expend maximum effort to preserve a planet friendly to life as we know it by curtailing greenhouse gas emissions and actively removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere."

GREEN PARTY OF PHILADELPHIA
www.gpop.org

News Release
For release: Sunday, May 7, 2017

For more information please contact
Margaret Neary, 215-868-7290, or
Chris Robinson, 215-843-4256, [email protected].

In addition, Robinson highlights the Green Party platform's call to "create an inclusive program to train workers for the new, clean-energy economy. Focusing on both the environment and social justice, prioritize the creation of green jobs in communities of color and low-income communities."

"The Walk for Green Jobs and Justice" begins on Monday, May 8, at Morris Chapel Baptist Church, 2701 North 12th Street in North Philadelphia. Over the course of two weeks, walkers will traverse the five counties included within PECO's service area: Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia.

The final mile of the walk will begin at Philadelphia's City Hall on Monday, May 22, at noon and will end outside of PECO headquarters. Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, will participate in the final mile, along with other groups including POWER,a broad multi-faith network of more than 60 congregations, and 350 Phiadelphia.

EQAT's "Power Local Green Jobs" campaign demands that PECO:

1. Dramatically increase the purchase of local rooftop solar power so that 20% of PECO's electricity comes from roofs in its service area by 2050;

2. Spur solar installation on suitable roofs in high unemployment areas, starting in North Philadelphia, to economically benefit those communities; and

3. Prioritize installation by local workers, especially from high unemployment areas.

The Green Party is an independent political party founded on the four pillars of nonviolence, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and social justice. For information about the next Green Party meeting, please call 215-843-4256 or email [email protected]. Visit the Green Party of Philadelphia's website at www.gpop.org.

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