California is at a crossroads.
As Californians, we have staked a lot on building a sustainable economy supported by green jobs and clean energy. The state’s fiscal health is still in crisis, with environmental protections threatened by budget cuts and rollbacks at every level of government. We face a weakening of the state’s regulatory agencies, challenges to implementing AB 32 (the Global 
Warming Solutions Act), and the resurrection of the old, and false, jobs versus environment debate.
Politically, we are in the midst of a sea-change as redistricting is now in the hands of a commission that must draw new legislative districts based on population shifts and the Voting Rights Act by mid-August 2011. Furthermore, open primaries will no longer serve to nominate party candidates for the general election. This opens up the potential for candidates of the same party to be running against each other in the general election runoff.
Why it matters is ultimately about YOU.
Cleaner air to breathe. Safer water to drink. Wild lands and open spaces to enjoy. Working for environmental protections and environmental justice is about holding all of our elected officials from both parties accountable for their votes on climate, water and land use issues. Restoring ecosystems and promoting livable, sustainable and healthy 
communities depends on each one of us leveraging grassroots activism against the big polluters and other special interests that put their profits before our planet.
Collectively, we must make the changes necessary for reducing human impact on the environment. Each of us has an individual responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. Yet only through the channels of democracy and the political process will we be able to succeed in the large-scale changes that positive environmental public policy will bring. As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Please join CLCV Education Fund in this essential endeavor, and take action now.
