What the Heck is the Apollo Alliance and Why Should We Care?
by Greg Field
Question: What do the United Auto Workers, Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club,
the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Jim Hightower's Rolling Thunder Tour
have in common?
Answer: All of these organizations are active members of the Apollo
Alliance.
The Apollo Alliance is a broad-based coalition of labor, environmental, and
other groups committed to an ambitious agenda aimed at transforming this
country's energy policies. It draws its name from the lunar landing mission
that ultimately launched Apollo 11 to the moon and back. It is proof, these
new Apollo Alliance advocates believe, that if we are inspired to pursue a
goal that seems beyond our reach we can succeed when we work toward a common
goal and commit public investment toward that goal.
Well, so much for the lofty rhetoric. Apollo 11 was a long time ago, and
many of us are not so sure it was worth all the resources it took. This
Apollo Alliance for the 21st Century has issued a ten-point plan for energy
independence, bringing our country together to rethink and reshape our
energy future, to create a stronger economy, a safer world and cleaner
environment. The plan calls for diversifying our energy sources, making
America less dependent on imported oil and making energy less polluting. It
will invest in new technology and expand markets for American durable goods.
And, it will increase construction of high performance energy efficient
buildings and drive new spending on transportation and public
infrastructure.
For those reasons alone, the new Apollo Alliance is worth our attention. But
there's more: this project offers us a model for building alliances and
thinking creatively to promote policies that can bring people together. The
Apollo Alliance creates alliance between environmentalists and industrial
labor when those two were often at odds — fighting over jobs vs the
environment on clean air regulations, fuel economy standards, etc. Together,
they can advocate for investment in alternative-fuel vehicles bringing much
need revitalization to the transportation industry and doing it by
developing and building cars and mass transit that are green and clean. This
is a model for ways to build alliances and strengthen a broader and stronger
progressive movement.
Peace Action Maine can think about the Apollo Alliance as we continue our
work on the Sustainable Maine Economy. If we want to transform Maine's
economy, lessen our dependence on the boom-and-bust cycles of Pentagon
contracting, and generate public investment in renewable energy industries,
then we have to forge alliances. We speak to labor by saying we want more
public support for skilled R&D and manufacturing jobs. We speak to
environmentalists by supporting public initiatives for renewable energy. We
mobilize our base by drawing the straight line from renewable energy
development to lessened dependence on both foreign oil and military
spending. No more oil wars. We protect our communities and invest in our
future with clean air and a robust economy. We build a movement that speaks
to our core values and promotes the common good.
You can find out more about the Apollo Alliance at their website:
www.apolloalliance.org. Find out about our Sustainable Maine Economy program peaceactionme@peaceactionme.org, 772-0680.
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Talk Index, Summer 2005