Rally and Concert at Point

The rally for Clean Energy Jobs at Point State Park last night drew about 500 people for music and motivation. The event sponsored by the United Steel Workers Union, The Alliance for Climate Protection's Repower America Campaign, and the Blue Green Alliance featured a few local bands and national acts including Joan Jett and Kathy Mattea between speakers like the head of the Sierra Club, the President of the AFL-CIO and Blue Green Alliance executive director David Foster. Foster says the nation needs policies that move people from the unemployment line to the assemble line. He says, “We can create millions of jobs building the clean energy economy -- whether it's manufacturing the parts for windmills, building hybrid car batteries or weatherizing homes to make them more efficient. By transitioning to a clean energy economy, we can revitalize America's manufacturing sector and boost our economy for the long run -- by creating jobs here at home." AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka praised Pittsburgh for its transformation and notes that is why President Obama chose Pittsburgh for the G20 summit. However he says, “it was the hard work of Pittsburghers that made the transition possible, not globalization.” Trumka says by putting together the power and interests of labor and environmentalists the combined movement can create the economy of the future.