Highbrow Magazine - van jones https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/van-jones en ‘The First Step’ Explores Van Jones’s Efforts for Prison Reform https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/23420-first-step-explores-van-jones-s-efforts-prison-reform <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 02/17/2023 - 19:00</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1firststepfilm.jpg?itok=ER1Ieioy"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1firststepfilm.jpg?itok=ER1Ieioy" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Van Jones has been working for civil rights since the early 1990s, and over the decades, he’s been featured in the media and garnered criticism from both sides of the political aisle.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">“The First Step” documents Jones’s struggle to organize people from different backgrounds in order to pass a bipartisan bill on criminal justice, as well as exploring who Jones is in his own life.</span></span></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Jones has a background in grassroots activism and has worked towards taking major steps in prison reform for a long time. His background is truly interesting, and you slowly piece together that for all the good he’s done, he also has a tendency to get overexcited and put his foot in his mouth. Jones’s best work involves talking to people who have been affected by the flawed prison system and have personal experience in dealing with addiction. There are many compelling stories here, and seeing how people turn their pain into action is what makes this documentary gripping. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2firststepfilm.jpg" style="height:366px; width:650px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Throughout the film, you see how Jones’s willingness to speak to prominent conservative figures in order to establish common ground draws criticism from those on the left. Their stance is that involving conservatives who voted for Donald Trump only cheapens their efforts and absolves them from taking part in a regime that is against social justice. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Jones answers these criticisms by acknowledging that years of dealing with people staying within their own tight circles has resulted in little change. He sees the value in understanding the very people who would usually oppose the efforts of those he works with. It’s an interesting perspective and it’s easy to feel frustration the way Jones does when many people choose to oppose his efforts purely because of optics and stubbornness. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">“The First Step” does a good job of showing a balanced depiction of who Jones is. He isn’t perfect and made a lot of mistakes when he worked with the Obama administration. Despite working in politics for so long, he still has trouble choosing his words carefully and needlessly upsetting his supporters by getting chummy with conservatives like Jared Kushner. In many ways, he is his own worst enemy, but it does make him more interesting and relatable, because he comes off as an authentic human being trying to do good in the world.</span></span><br />  </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3firststepfilm.jpg" style="height:366px; width:650px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">I didn’t know much about the First Step Act, so watching this was a great way to learn both sides of the issue and the story of how it came to pass. Van Jones is an intriguing figure at the center of this film, and watching this film was like observing a character study, where you sympathize with the protagonist in some parts and side with the people criticizing him in others. “The First Step” is well-edited and does a great job of telling an important story in a compelling fashion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a senior writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/first-step" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">The First Step</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/first-step-act" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">First Step Act</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/prison-reform" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">prison reform</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/van-jones" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">van jones</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/politics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">politics</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/prison-system" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">prison system</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/activism" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">activism</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/grassroots" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">grassroots</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/drug-addiction" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drug addiction</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/prisoners" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">prisoners</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/law-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the law</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-videos field-type-video-embed-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"> <div class="embedded-video"> <div class="player"> <iframe class="" width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/G2Xe3ThKXs8?width%3D640%26amp%3Bheight%3D360%26amp%3Bautoplay%3D0%26amp%3Bvq%3Dlarge%26amp%3Brel%3D0%26amp%3Bcontrols%3D1%26amp%3Bautohide%3D2%26amp%3Bshowinfo%3D1%26amp%3Bmodestbranding%3D0%26amp%3Btheme%3Ddark%26amp%3Biv_load_policy%3D1%26amp%3Bwmode%3Dopaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div> </div></div></div> Sat, 18 Feb 2023 00:00:22 +0000 tara 11684 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/23420-first-step-explores-van-jones-s-efforts-prison-reform#comments Former Green Jobs Czar Compares Obama, Romney on Environmental Issues https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1542-former-green-jobs-czar-compares-obama-romney-environmental-issues <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 09/11/2012 - 16:14</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumvanjones%20%28Wiki%29.jpg?itok=KibF9STx"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumvanjones%20%28Wiki%29.jpg?itok=KibF9STx" width="400" height="383" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> From <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/09/van-jones-obama-can-be-moved-on-environment-romney-cant.php">New America Media</a>:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Editor’s Note:</strong> <em>As both Democratic and GOP conventions wrapped up, New America Media asked Van Jones to parse each candidate’s environment and energy agendas. Jones, briefly President Obama’s green jobs czar, is president and co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, an organization that advocates for economic reforms. He is the author of </em>The Green Collar Economy<em> and </em>Rebuild the Dream<em>. New America Media’s Ngoc Nguyen spoke with Jones about the role of green jobs in the recovery and what’s needed to address climate change at the national level.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>What stood out for you in Obama or Romney’s remarks on climate change, energy, or the green economy during the recent party conventions?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Van Jones:</strong> What struck me about Romney’s speech was his snarky joke about how Obama promised to stop the seas from rising. I thought that was a cheap shot. [It was] particularly disappointing to see the 2012 Republican nominee essentially poo-poo on global warming when the 2008 GOP nominee John McCain took the issue so seriously.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It’s as clear a sign as any of the complete degeneration of the Republican Party into an extreme faction-based party that’s not qualified to govern. I was happy to hear President Obama rejoinder in saying that climate change is not a joke. In a period when extreme droughts are socking red states and hurting farmers, for the Republican nominee to make a joke about climate change isn’t funny at all.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>How would you grade President Obama’s record on the environment and energy in the last four years?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Jones:</strong> [I would give Obama a] B or B-minus, he can’t get an A because he didn’t fight for the cap and trade bill…[he] didn’t try to solve climate change, but he has other things when it comes to fuel efficiency for cars and some emissions stuff through the EPA.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>What do you think are the key differences between Obama and Romney in terms of their environment and energy platforms?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Jones:</strong> Obama has tried to be consistent with his all-of-the-above approach [to energy]…[which] puts a big emphasis on renewables, and Romney has been all over the place on this issue... At least you know what you are getting with Obama. You have no idea what you are getting with Romney. (But) the environmental movement is going to have to push Obama hard the day after the election…</p> <p>  </p> <p> I think what we have learned in the last four years [is that] you have to have a president who is willing to be moved in a positive direction on the environment. That is Obama much more so than Romney, but you also have to have a movement that is willing to do the moving… that means, willing to run tough ads, being willing to criticize publicly, being willing to protest and do all the things that we would do no matter who -- a Democrat, Green Party member or Libertarian -- is in the White House during a global planetary crisis like the one we have.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumenvironment%20%28Takver%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 417px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>A recent Brookings Institution report found that clean-technology jobs accounted for a small fraction -- just 2 percent -- of employment nationwide. What does that say about the green economy?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Jones:</strong> The green economy is a part of the U.S. economy; it’s not separate from the U.S. economy…There are 2.4 million to 3.1 million green jobs, according to the government [U.S. Labor Department] and expert [Brookings Institution] studies…[that] is not a small number, especially when you realize that cap and trade was never passed into law. The green economy needed the playing field to be level so polluters are not getting subsidies and permission to pollute for free. It’s impossible for the green economy to take off under the present conditions where all the subsidies go to the polluters and polluters can dump mega tons of carbon and not pay a penny for it…That said… the potential for the greening of the U.S. economy is very big.</p> <p>  </p> <p> There are 80,000 coalmining jobs in the country total. Now, the coal industry is on TV every day bragging about how many coal jobs they are creating, but there are 80,000 people in the coalmines. There are 100,000 workers in the solar industry alone in America right now. There are 100,000 in the wind industry right now. There are more people working in wind and solar than there are coal miners in America.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>You are now focusing your efforts on economic policies to rebuild the American middle class through your organization Rebuild the Dream. Do green jobs play a role in the recovery you envision?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Jones:</strong> [The] problem is that we need about 15-20 million jobs and those can’t all be green jobs… If you have 2-3 million [green] jobs, you’ll be short about 15 million jobs… If you are going to take seriously moving the economy forward, you’re going to have to do other things…We have a 10-point program called Contract for the American Dream (<a href="http://contract.rebuildthedream.com/">http://contract.rebuildthedream.com/</a>), which calls for investing in infrastructure and education and stopping [spending] on wars. The jewel in the crown of any economic recovery for America will be the greening of the U.S. economy and clean energy jobs of the future, but the crown will be bigger than the crown jewel.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>What’s needed in terms of leadership on the national stage around climate change? Obama has adopted a pragmatic approach – one of small achievable steps. If he’s re-elected, will this be enough?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Jones:</strong> If the environmental community continues to do what it is doing, then the president will continue to do what he is doing. You see, this president reacts when there’s public protest and public pressure…just like any other president …When the Tea party was pushing austerity, then he talked a lot about austerity. When Occupy Wall Street talked about income inequality, he started talking about that. But when the main pressure was coming from big polluters, there wasn’t a lot of talk about environmental issues, and when [noted environmentalist Bill McKibben’s group] 350.org started marching and sitting in about the Keystone [XL] pipeline [which would carry tar-sands crude from Canada to refineries along the Gulf Coast], he took up that cause… So presidents respond to public opinion as much as they shape public opinion.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/09/van-jones-obama-can-be-moved-on-environment-romney-cant.php">New America Media</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: Wikipedia, Takver (Flickr, Creative Commons).</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/van-jones" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">van jones</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/environment" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">environment</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/democrats" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Democrats</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/republicans" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Republicans</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/mitt-romney" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mitt Romney</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/president-obama" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">President Obama</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/green-jobs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">green jobs</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/green-sector" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">green sector</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/clean-technology-jobs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">clean technology jobs</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/us-economy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">u.s. economy</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jobs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">jobs</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ngoc Nguyen</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wikipedia</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:14:24 +0000 tara 1537 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1542-former-green-jobs-czar-compares-obama-romney-environmental-issues#comments