Chinese Progressive Association Reps GJC at August Moon Festival

As part of the Green Justice Coalition's Summer campaign to pressure utility companies and the state to meet our demands on the state's energy efficiency program, and to raise this issue in our communities, the Chinese Progressive Association (based in Boston's Chinatown) set up a table at the annual August Moon Festival August 15. Several volunteers staffed the table and answered residents' questions about the energy efficiency programs for which all utility rate-payers pay through their utility bills.

Most folks don't realize they pay an energy efficiency fee on every bill, and that this huge pot of money is supposed to be going to help everyone pay for efficiency measures like home weatherization and lightbulb and appliance replacement. The GJC believes that tenants and low-to-moderate income residents in particular are being left out of this program, and are in fact subsidizing more wealthy folks, who know about the programs and can afford the initial costs to enter the programs- which can be a barrier to those of us without hundreds or even thousands of dollars in spare cash lying around. In addition, the jobs which come as a result of this program should have strong worker health protections, and wages and benefits for workers which allow for a stable and adequate livelihood.

Says the CPA's Mark Liu: "We had a tent where people signed postcards in support of the Green Justice Campaign and people played our Wheel of Green Justice game.  Kids and parents spun a wheel to receive a question about weatherization and/or stabilizing Chinatown.  If they answered correctly (or incorrectly), they won a prize!"

Stay tuned for news of community actions from other GJC partner groups, as we head into an active Fall season of campaigning for Green Justice!