Day of 1000 Cancuns

Southwest Workers Union took to City Hall on December 7th as part of a international day of action for climate justice. As the U.S. administration meets in Cancun to negotiate our climate’s future, grassroots peoples across the world call for local solutions to reduce our addiction to fossil fuels and dirty energy. As SWU demanded the U.S. stop its dirty tricks to avoid committing to real reductions in carbon dioxide, they also targetted the Mayor, City Council and CPS Energy to start taking real action with real community leadership and participation to increase energy efficiency, promote renewable power and support homegrown solutions, like the Roots of Change Community Garden. The youth delivered a letter to the Mayor and City Council calling on them commit to the following:

• Formalization of the vision of Mission Verde, complete with concrete resolutions and laws;
• Establishment of community participation in CPS through a Green Jobs Leadership Council;
• Freezing CPS rate hikes until CPS becomes more transparent and redirects its efforts toward progressive energy programs;
• Providing vouchers--not rebates--for low-income residents to purchase energy efficient appliances.
  

Sandra Garcia of the Youth Leadership Organization, explains, “Community-based groups and networks are leading a global climate justice movement in confronting the root causes of climate change at home, while defining community priorities and self-determination pathways for a new energy economy. In San Antonio, this looks like green jobs cleaning up and weatherizing homes, while increasing the funds for social services and community gardens to increase local food self-sufficiency.”

See coverage in the San Antonio Current