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WASHINGTON, DC - The 2nd National Latino Congreso voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that calls for a moratorium on all new coal fired power plants, as well as an immediate phase out of existing coal plants and coal production. The Congreso is an annual meeting of the national leadership of the Latino community, convening over 3,000 participants representing more than 2,000 organizations, local committees, and elected officials from over 20 states.
“With this resolution, the Latino community is challenging all climate policy makers, including the Administration, Congress and business, to be honest and recognize that there is no way out of climate change if we continue to approve new coal-fired power plants, and allow existing plants to kill Americans and destroy our environment,” said Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers.
Latino Congreso Resolution 7.03, authored by EDN, petitions the federal government to impose a moratorium on coal development and on the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The resolution recognizes coal as the largest, dirtiest source of electricity, air pollution and climate-changing greenhouse gases in the United States. There are 600 coal plants in the U.S. today, and more than 150 new coal fired power plants are in development. Nearly 24,000 people die each year from diseases related to coal fired plants.
"Latinos are all too familiar with the human health problems and environmental degradation associated with coal-fired energy plants,” said William C. Velasquez Institute President Antonio Gonzales, noting that “Coal is linked to our nation’s unacceptable rates of asthma, lung cancer and other major diseases. A moratorium on new coal-fired plants is critically needed.”
The resolution also call for major federal investment in renewable energy sources, demanding that that the government play a substantial role in providing economic and social safety nets for those communities and segments of the U.S. population that will be adversely affected by the transition from coal to renewable and clean fuels.
About Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, public policy, and consumer activism. Current grassroots programs include the Climate Change Solutions Campaign, Campaign for Communities, and the National Civic Education Project. Earth Day Network works with more than 25,000 K-12 teachers in the U.S. alone. Earth Day Television, http://www.earthdaytv.net/, greatly expands EDN’s reach to a global network of more than 17,000 partner organizations in 174 countries. More than one billion people participate in Earth Day civic activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
The 39th Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2008.
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