Committee formed to screen AAPI applicants wanting to work in a Biden administration

Confident that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the November election against Donald Trump, a committee has been created to screen AAPI individuals wishing to work for the incoming Biden administration.

AAPI Progressive Action in partnership with AAPI Victory Fund formed “AAPI 46,” a screening committee to identify, vet and recommend highly qualified Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates for positions in a potential Biden administration.

“Government functions best when its leadership reflects the diversity of our great nation,” said Chris Lu, who will act as AAPI Progressive Action Board liaison to AAPI 46. “The Steering Committee will play an important role in identifying AAPIs who will fight to create a more just and inclusive society."

Despite being the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. and a population of 23 million strong, AAPIs are underrepresented in political leadership as well as at the federal level.  

The Screening Committee will conduct a nationwide search for the top 50 candidates whose names will then be submitted to the Biden Transition. Working closely with the Boards of the AAPI Victory Fund and AAPI Progressive Action, the Committee will also make a public endorsement for these senior positions by mid-September 2020.

The Screening Committee will be co-chaired by Seema Nanda, former chief executive officer, Democratic National Committee and Mike Honda, former Congressman and founder-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

Committee members include Michelle Bonoan, Managing Director, Koya Leadership Partners; Grace Choi, former White House Liaison staff, U.S. Department of State; Ankur Goel, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery; Julian Ha, Partner, Heidrick & Struggles; and Doua Thor, former Executive Director, White House Initiative on AAPIs. 

Ginger Lew, former White House executive, will serve as advisor to the Screening Committee. The Board liaisons are Luisa Blue, executive vice president, SEIU; Christopher P. Lu, former Deputy Secretary of Labor; Katie Kalvoda, founder, G3 Ventures; and Dilawar Syed, President and CEO, Lumiata. (Organizational affiliations are listed for information purposes only.)

“In January, AAPI Victory Fund was the first national AAPI organization to endorse Vice President Biden,” said Katie Kalvoda, who will act as AAPI Victory Fund Board liaison to AAPI 46. 

 “This November, the AAPI community will carry the Vice President to victory and it is critical that AAPIs are represented at the senior levels of our government once he is elected. AAPI 46 will ensure that the Biden Transition has vetted highly qualified candidates from our community to fill those positions.”

For further informatin and to submit your qualifications, link to: https://www.aapiprogressiveaction.com/aapi46.

Marches, rallies launch a year in which women hold the key to cultural shift

Luisa Blue used her powerful voice and message to excite those at the Las Vegas women's rallly.

ON OUR way to the Women's Rally in Las Vegas we asked our Lyft driver if he was registered.

"I was a precinct captain," answered Grover, our driver. "In 2016 I was registering up to 60 people a day."

Grover was a black man, about 50 years old, but he was up with current events. "We're turning this state (Nevada) blue." He proceeded to lecture us about all that was wrong with this country, from the White House occupant on down to the white supremacists. 

Donald Trump has inspired ordinary people like Grover to get off their seat, stop complaining and start organizing and doing something to turn this country around.

That was the theme heard around the country last weekend as people marked the one-year anniversary of the Women's March and also, the end of the first year of the Donald Trump administration.

SEIU national executive vice president Luisa Blue, a Filipina Americans, got the Las Vegas crowd riled up citing what the newly revitalized women's movement has in common with labor unions: If you believe in affordable housing, then you have something in common with us, she said. If you believe in a living wage, then you have something in common with us. And she went on, from education, health care, a workplace free from sexual harassment, and so on.

San Francisco Jane Kim, who presides in a largely Asian/American district in her city, spoke in Las Vegas, saying that the majority of mayoral candidates are women, and if a woman is elected mayor of San Francisco, it would become the largest U.S. city with a woman mayor.

Speaker after speaker encouraged the audience to advance to the next step in the women's movement, from marching to running for office, from signing petitions to sighing up voters, to move from the streets to the voting booth.

The Las Vegas rally closed out a weekend of marches and rallies which drew millions of people across the country, from New York to Los Angeles. Over 200,000 marched in New York City, raising their middle finger when they passed the Trump Tower. In Los Angeles where 500,000 marched, chanting, "This is what democracy looks like."

National organizers decided to hold the national event In Las Vegas because Nevada is seen as a state turning from Republican to Democrat with a Republican governors and a U.S. Senate seat seen as vulnerable this year. It is also a state that elected its country's first Latina U.S. Senator, Catherine Cortez, who won her seat in 3026 in the same election that Hillary attracted more votes than Trump.

With the momentum built up by the womens' resistance and the work of people like our Lyft driver, Las Vegas indicates that the odds are in favor that Nevada will turn blue this year.

This story is developing. Check back later for updates.

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Actress Constance Wu,  center, with Natalie Portman, right and Eva Longorio at the Los Angeles march.

In Los Angeles, actress Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat) recounted an incident when she was called "bitch."

"I want to tell you about the first time I refused a man's sexual advances," said Wu at the women's march in L.A. "He called me a bitch. He said he didn't even really want me. He said, 'don't flatter yourself, you're not that hot.' He said, 'who do you think you are?'

"You see, my rejection of him made him so uncomfortable that he had to retaliate with insults," she continued. "He had to protect his ego by demeaning me."
Wu's comeback is classic: 

"I would just like to say to the abusers who have called me a bitch, who have said, 'who do you think you are?': I am Constance Wu," she said to cheers. "And as for the 'bitch' part, if you didn't try to do bitch-ass things to us, then we wouldn't have to be bitches back to you. So stop and listen."

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., like other U.S. senators remained in Washington to work on getting a budget that is acceptable enough to end the government shutdown. However, she did issue a statement of support for her supporters in her home state:

"Whether or not you were able to participate in the march last year or this year, this is a moment in time that is demanding all of us to dig deep and take ownership of the future. Be brave and stand with us in fighting for the people. 

"We are strong when we raise our voices together and that is precisely what we did one year ago — and what we will continue to do in the difficult weeks, months, and years ahead. 

"When people of all ages, colors, religions, and backgrounds come together, unified in our collective struggle for justice, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Stay involved!"_______________________________________________________________________

AAPI environmentalists invite you to join the Peoples Climate March, April 29

The Trump Administration's position towards climate change.

DID YOU MISS the Tax Day March last weekend when tens of thousands of people marched in the nation's cities, suburbs and small towns demanding that Donald Trump make his tax returns public?

There are more marches ahead. Join them!

With Donald Trump's first 100 days occupying the White House fast approaching, the American people are not giving in to his proposed policies. 

In response to the Trump administration’s latest executive order that begins to repeal the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and environmental protections, the Peoples Climate Movement (PCM) is planned on April 29 on the 100th day since he took office.

Rhea Suh

(A few days later, International Workers' Day on May 1, demonstrations, rallies and marches  will draws hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world protesting the Trump policies that harm workers and benefit the people at the top who are already rich.)

“The Clean Power Plan is the strongest measure we’ve taken to protect future generations from the growing dangers of climate change," explained Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.  

"It would cut the climate-disrupting fossil fuel pollution from the power plants that account for 40 percent of the nation’s carbon footprint. By promoting efficiency, the plan would save our families money on their power bills. 

"It would spur job growth," says Suh. "And it would help prepare our workers for success in the global clean energy boom projected to draw more than $7 trillion in investment over the coming 25 years. 

"If (Trump is) serious about creating more good-paying middle-class jobs, why would Trump want to kill that plan?”

Scott Pruitt, Trump's Secretary of the EPA said he does not believe carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warming.

"I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there's tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact, so no, I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," he told CNBC.

In contradiction to the EPA website and most climate scientists (not weather prognosticators) and NASA, Pruitt said, "... we don't know that yet. ... We need to continue the debate and continue the review and the analysis."

RELATED:

• March for Science on Earth Day 
• Obama cites impact of climate change on island nations 
• AAPI environmentalists decry Trump's plan to dismantle climate change regs

The Peoples' Climate March is a broad-based ground-breaking coalition of hundreds of faith-based, labor unions, indigenous, civil rights and environmental justice groups based around the country working together to build bold solutions that tackle climate change, rooted in economic and racial justice.

Invalidating the Clean Power Plan will undo hard-won protections that allow the EPA to meet its legal requirements to regulate pollutants, including carbon dioxide and more.

“This action, by an administration that favors corporate profits over clean air and water, puts our country, our communities and our people at great risk. It also sends a dangerous message to the world that the United States does not care about climate change or protecting frontline communities,” said Paul Getsos, National Coordinator, PCM.

This move, along with past comments and actions illustrates the Trump administration’s continued commitment to undermining any progress in addressing environmental and economic justice. The CPP is a critical component in curbing climate change and an important step in transitioning to a clean energy economy that creates family sustaining jobs in a variety of growing industries.

To combat these continued attacks on climate action and protecting front-line communities, the PCM is gearing up for a mass mobilization to March for Climate, Jobs and Justice, on April 29. Tens of thousands of people have already signed up to converge in Washington, DC to push the Trump administration and Congress to do their jobs – protect our planet.

Some Pacific island nations will be severely affected by the rising waters caused by climate change.

Other marches are being planned throughout the country.

Contrary to the perception that AAPI are not involved in the environmental movement, Suh's prominence in the NRDC and the environmental movement belies the perception that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders don't care about the environment. More and more AAPI are stepping forward:

Kali Akuno, Cooperation Jackson Co-Founder/ Co-Director and Climate Justice
Alliance Member, said: “This is nothing short of a declaration of war against humanity and all complex life. The question is what are we going to do about it? How do we strengthen the climate justice movement in this era, under these circumstances?”

Luisa Blue, a Filipina/American and Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union, said: “Working people from coast-to-coast are already feeling the devastating health impacts of toxic air and water caused by corporate polluters who for too long have gone unchecked. By undoing the Clean Power Plan, President Trump is reverting our communities to unhealthy and unsafe living conditions to benefit corporations over our communities. We can have a vibrant economy and vibrant communities with clean air and water.”

Vien Truong, National Director, Green For All, said: “We fought long and hard to make the Clean Power Plan a reality. By cutting carbon pollution from power plants, it aims to spark innovation, drive investment and energy efficiency to create jobs and save families money. Most importantly, it has the potential to address power plant pollution in the communities most vulnerable to asthma and other health impacts,” Vien Truong, director of Green For All. “It’s clear that Trump is determined to protect the fossil fuel industry, no matter the cost. Green For All will continue to stand with frontlines families and our most vulnerable to enact policies that create jobs and cut carbon pollution to protect the health of our kids.”

###

Asian American environmentalists decry Trump executive order dismantling climate change regs

ECOWATCH GRAPHIC

YEAR 2016 was the hottest year on record, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the third year in a row heat records were broken. The inevitable war between Donald Trump and the environmental movement is also getting hotter.

Today, March 28, Trump signed another executive order - this one is just one step in trying to undo the environmental regulations instituted under the Obama administration.

"Putting America first means preparing our nation for the storms and extreme weather that are impacting us as a direct result of climate change," said Rep. Ami Bera, D-CA, a member of the House's Science, Space, and Technology Committee. "Putting America first means continuing our role as a global leader in reducing carbon emissions. 

"Our work over the last decade to reduce carbon emissions put America first -- and this irresponsible executive order throws into uncertainty how we prepare for and tackle the very real consequences of climate change" said the Indian/American medical doctor.

The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to redraft regulations related to carbon emissions at power plants, eliminates guidance calling for the consideration of climate change when making federal decisions, allows for federal coal leasing, and promotes the development of gas and oil on public lands.

Obama signed the Clean Power Plan into law in 2015, but industry opponents have kept it in litigation. It has yet to take effect, and Trump's EO is calling to revise and rewrite Obama’s landmark climate plan.

“Perhaps no single regulation threatens our miners, energy workers and companies more than this crushing attack on American industry,” said Trump.

Trump surrounded himself with coal workers when he signed his EO claiming that his action would bring back jobs. Industry experts say the number of coal-mining jobs around 70,000. There's no debating that jobs were lost in the coal-mining regions, most notably in Appalachia but that was not due to environmental regulations.

Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, told The Guardian that despite people’s belief that loosening environmental restrictions could bring back jobs, “the industry likes to point to pollution standards for the decline in jobs, but the reality is the market has markedly changed.”

The fact is, natural gas is cheaper and renewable energy - solar and wind - not only are more economically competitive but  the industry also employ 3 million people.

Trump’s anti-environment executive order:

• Dismantles Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which limited carbon pollution from power plants
• Alter limits on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry
• Halts efforts to prepare for extreme weather events
• Lifts a moratorium on the leasing of federal land for coal mining
• Removes a rule to account for the social costs of carbon
• Revokes an order calling on agencies to consider climate change in environmental impacts

NRDC

Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Asian/American environmentalists condemned the newest presidential executive order and the administration's position on climate change, which Trump has claimed is a hoax  perpetuated by China.

“Today's actions only deepen our dependence on fossil fuels and all the danger and damage they bring. And they protect a deeply-flawed system that has bilked taxpayers for decades to the tune of tens of billions of dollars,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Nevertheless, Trump trumpeted the jobs he alleges his EO will produce.

“This is an all-out assault on the protections we need to avert climate catastrophe. It’s a senseless betrayal of our national interests. And it’s a short-sighted attempt to undermine American clean energy leadership," said Suh, a Korean/American who from 2009 to 2014 served as assistant secretary of policy, management and budget for the United States Department of the Interior.

“Trump is sacrificing our future for fossil fuel profits - and leaving our kids to pay the price. This would do lasting damage to our environment and public lands, threaten our homes and health, hurt our pocketbooks and slow the clean energy progress that has already generated millions of good-paying jobs," she said. 

The Trump administration is rejecting the advice of 1000 businesses, over 75 mayors and millions of Americans who are calling for strengthened policies on climate change. Instead, the Administration wants to decide America’s environment and energy future based primarily on consultations with the fossil fuel industry—namely the American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, ConocoPhillips, and the coal company Peabody Energy.

“Working people from coast-to-coast are already feeling the devastating health impacts of toxic air and water caused by corporate polluters who for too long have gone unchecked," said Filipino/American Luisa Blue, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union. "By undoing the Clean Power Plan, President Trump is reverting our communities to unhealthy and unsafe living conditions to benefit corporations over our communities. We can have a vibrant economy and vibrant communities with clean air and water.”

“By cutting carbon pollution from power plants, it aims to spark innovation, drive investment and energy efficiency to create jobs and save families money. Most importantly, it has the potential to address power plant pollution in the communities most vulnerable to asthma and other health impacts,” said Vien Truong, director of Green For All. “It’s clear that Trump is determined to protect the fossil fuel industry, no matter the cost. Green For All will continue to stand with frontlines families and our most vulnerable to enact policies that create jobs and cut carbon pollution to protect the health of our kids.”

Besides Bera, other AAPI congressional representatives were strongly dismayed by Trump's action.

“While the President can afford to live in this alternate universe, Hawaii and other island communities are forced to grapple with the reality of climate change, said Hawaii's Sen. Mazie Hirono. "Our coral reefs are dying because of historically high ocean temperatures. By 2100, Hawaii’s sea levels will rise by more than three feet. We owe it to our keiki to listen to our climate scientists, and build upon, not erase, the progress we’ve made.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-HI, said: "Unless we make a concerted effort to reduce carbon emissions, invest in clean energy, create green jobs, and improve our air and water quality, we are moving backwards, at a time when our planet simply cannot afford for us to do so. In spite of this action today, I have no doubt that Hawaiʻi will continue to lead the nation in renewable energy production. We must continue investing in renewable energy, moving away from foreign oil and fossil fuels, and moving toward our goal of 100% clean energy by 2045."

“Today’s executive order will not bring back jobs nor will it make us more energy secure. What it will do is increase pollution, threaten public health, and risk the ruin of some our most treasured public lands," said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA. "Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time – one that we cannot wait to address – and the United States cannot afford to cede its leadership in addressing it."

“The science is clear on climate change. ... It is our moral responsibility to protect our environment for future generations and to justly transition our economy from fossil fuels to clean energy, providing sustainable jobs to our communities. This executive order is a huge step in the wrong direction," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA.