PDACNM Invitation to Attend Progressive Central Livestream

Events

Dear PDA-CNM friends:

Progressive Central 2024 is here!  Join us in Chicago Aug. 18-19 or register here to connect to the livestream.

In addition to our friend and favorite progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, there’s a great line up of speakers including: Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Nina Turner, Rep. Chuy Garcia, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Sen. Vincent Fort, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Keith Ellison, Rev. Janette Wilson, Sara Nelson, Bhaskar Sunkara, Medea Benjamin, Harvey J Kaye, Stacy Davis Gates, Jim Zogby, Christian Nunes, Anthony Flaccavento, Teresa Cordova, John Nichols, Erika Swinney, Collin Rees, RL Miller, Ryan Harvey, Rose Roach, Alex Lawson, Susie Shannon, Nomi Prins, George Gascon, Erika Andiola, Norman Solomon, Phyllis Bennis, Andrea Miller, Julie Tsirkin, Judith Whitmer, Sulma Arias, Heather Booth, Donna Smith, Dr. Kristin Lyerly, Dr. Monica Maalouf, Gillian Mason, Chuck Pennacchio, and more coming!   Check out the program here.

Progressive Central 2024, hosted by Progressive Democrats of America in coordination with our partners The Nation Magazine, The Arab-American Institute, and Operation Rainbow/PUSH, is a unique opportunity for progressives to gather, discuss, and strategize on key policies and election strategies. It’s not just a convention; it’s a celebration of 20 years of relentless activism and a pivotal moment for the progressive movement.

Since 2004, during every Democratic National Convention year, PDA has brought together progressives in the DNC host city. This year, we’re focusing on the critical role the progressive movement will play in the upcoming elections and celebrating our two decades of impact. Join us to be part of this historic event and help shape the future of our democracy.

Register for the virtual livestream here and join us August 18 & 19.

Donations to help support this important event are gratefully accepted here.  All questions related to Progressive Central 2024 can be directed to:  ProgressiveCentral2024@pdamerica.org

In solidarity, Lora, Francesca, Laura and Paul for PDA-CNM

Climate and Growth

Opinion

Of all the issues that require our attention, climate warming, in my view, is the most alarming.  The book, “The Limits of Growth” published in 1972 predicted civilizational collapse occurring within the next 100 years due to climate change.  At the time of publication half-a-trillion tons of human produced carbon dioxide had already been released into the environment.  Since then the amount has tripled!  We are at the beginning of mass extinction, since  global warming is projected to continue increasing.

Yet, few in the affluent world would swear off all future growth for the sake of the climate.  A rising GDP is seen as good and essential by most politicians.  But, doesn’t that imply that more economic activity will also bring higher temperatures?  Perhaps not.

Growth and carbon emissions are not necessarily linked.  In fact, U.S. carbon emissions have dropped 17% since the 6 billion tons emitted in 2017.  The Inflation Reduction Act will spend billions over the next decade on green-energy subsidies which will double the reduction of carbon emissions.  Europe and China are also taking meaningful measures to reduce emissions. 

As the world understands the necessity of decarbonization, we can hopefully shape the kind of growth to greener, more equally distributed, and more people-benefitting outcomes. Our GDP may still grow but in a direction benefitting the people and the planet.  Great-power competition, both military and economic, can be reduced by focusing on survival and cooling a hot world.  Humanity can seize the opportunity to work together, to care for each other, to stop senseless spending on weapons, and to restore the health of our planet and its inhabitants. 

Bill Swift