Veterans Support Clean Energy/National Security at Stake

— On Wed, 11/11/09, Beth Pramme wrote:

From: Beth Pramme
Subject: RELEASE: Veterans, National Security Leaders Stand Up For Clean Energy In New Repower America TV Ad
To: “Beth Pramme”
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 10:15 AM

For immediate release: November 11, 2009

Press inquiries:

Beth Pramme, 480-326-8876, Beth.Pramme@climateprotect.org

Alice McKeon, 202-567-6800, press@climateprotect.org

Veterans, National Security Leaders Stand Up For Clean Energy In New Repower America TV Ad

Generals Brent Scowcroft and Wesley Clark join young veterans in call for bold action on clean energy and climate change to end America’s dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our national security

PHOENIX – As the nation prepares to celebrate Veterans Day and honor the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, the Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign today released a new television ad featuring veterans and national security leaders calling for bold action now on clean energy and climate change to strengthen America’s national security. The ad, called “Voices – Veterans,” will run on national cable starting on Veterans Day.

“Voices – Veterans” features young Iraq War veterans alongside respected military and national security leaders such as General Brent Scowcroft and General Wesley Clark making the urgent call for action now on clean energy and climate change so that we can end America’s dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our national security. General Scowcroft, U.S. National Security Advisor under Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush and a retired Lieutenant General in the U.S. Air Force, states in the ad that “climate change threatens our national security,” while Terron Sims, Jr., a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq says, “Stop sending our dollars overseas to be used against us.” General Wesley Clark, a 34-year U.S. Army veteran who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, concludes the ad stating, “We need to repower and there is no better time to do it than right now.”

“By taking control of our energy future, we can prevent future conflict overseas and keep our men and women in uniform out of harm’s way,” said Repower Arizona Communications Director Beth Pramme. “Even top-ranking retired admirals and generals have said that a first priority for our leaders should be fully integrating climate change and energy security into national security. By repowering America with clean energy, we can stop sending our hard-earned money overseas for foreign oil, invest it here to get our economy moving again, and help solve the climate crisis.”

This new TV ad is a continuation of the groundbreaking multimedia campaign launched by Repower America last week to demonstrate broad national consensus – from veterans, faith leaders, the business community, conservationists and more – for bold action on clean energy and climate. The new Repower effort, supported by an integrated online, field and advertising campaign, centers around a virtual Repower Wall, where thousands of people have already uploaded messages of strong support for action to create clean energy jobs, safeguard America’s economic and national security future, and solve the climate crisis. The Repower Wall may be accessed at www.repoweramerica.org/wall.

Veterans from Arizona have already posted to the Repower Wall, including:

John Adams, Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General: “I think it’s important for us to move to a clean energy economy. So much of our energy now comes from hostile regimes who are essentially holding us hostage. We’ve got the resources here at home to provide our own energy. We’ve got the resources here at home to protect our environment and pass it on to our children. It’s important for our leaders and our people to come together now to really make a difference and convert to a clean energy economy.”

· Watch John’s full Repower Wall post:

http://www.repoweramerica.org/wall/#/view/12141

John Young, Veteran: “Clean energy is a great first step to a brighter future.”

· Watch John’s full Repower Wall post:

http://www.repoweramerica.org/wall/#/view/8938

Alan MacFarlane, Veteran: “The human race needs clean power to survive. If you don’t know it, know it now. If you don’t believe it, believe it before it becomes too late. ”

· Watch Alan’s full Repower Wall post:

http://www.repoweramerica.org/wall/#/view/12381

John Chiazza, Veteran: “Veterans are looking for jobs, and these clean energy jobs are going to be ideal for them. These clean energy initiatives are going to bring jobs where we need them.”

· Watch John’s full Repower Wall post:

http://www.repoweramerica.org/wall/#/view/13112

Already, more than 22,000 individuals have added their faces and voices to the Repower Wall, and more than 40 leading corporations and non-governmental organizations have contributed their logos to the effort – including companies like Nike, PepsiCo, Starbucks, Staples, eBay and Exelon, as well as organizations such as the United Steel Workers, National Farmers Union, Trout Unlimited, Republicans for Environmental Protection and the American Nurses Association.

According to the Center for American Progress, transitioning to a clean energy economy will create more than 29,000 jobs here in Arizona while revitalizing our economy, strengthening our national security and breaking our dependence on foreign oil.

Script: “Voices – Veterans” (TV-:30)

Ken Nagel, U.S. Navy Veteran: Why join the fight to repower America with clean energy?

General Brent Scowcroft: Because climate change threatens our national security.

Ambassador Wendy R. Sherman: It’s crucial that America become energy independent.

Jackie Rodgers, Jr., U.S. Navy Veteran: I saw first-hand how America’s dependence on foreign oil threatens our national security.

Terron Sims, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps Veteran: Stop sending our dollars overseas to be used against us.

Jonathan Powers, U.S. Army Veteran: America must reestablish itself as a country that leads by example.

General Wesley Clark: We need to repower and there is no better time to do it than right now.

About the Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign:

The Alliance for Climate Protection launched the Repower America campaign to galvanize the American public around a bold new clean energy plan and a revitalized national energy infrastructure that will jumpstart our economy and create millions of jobs; help end our dependence on foreign oil; reward innovation and job creation, not polluters; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the threat of climate change. For more information, visit www.repoweramerica.org.

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Beth Pramme
Communications Director
Repower Arizona
Beth.Pramme@climateprotect.org
(602) 252-2044 Office
(480) 326-8876 Cell
Facebook: Repower Arizona
Twitter: RepowerArizona
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