Environmentalists, Labor Advocates Call To Bridge Gaps

Environmental and labor activists have started a campaign to link Earth Day with labor’s May Day.

A tuba player was among the 75 people who marched through downtown Madison Tuesday evening, as protesters raised more concerns about the proposed iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin and various oil pipeline projects. The event was part of the Global Climate Convergence, which is offering 18 events in the state roughly from Earth Day to May Day, which is also International Workers Day.

Organizer Dave Schwab of the Liberty Tree Foundation says labor, community and environmental activists are trying to bridge any gap between them.

“We reject, for example, the division of labor and environmentalists, because actually, environmentalists are calling for millions of new jobs in clean renewable energy, in modern transportation, in a modern energy system, in conservation,” Schwab said. “All that’s holding us back is the power of the big fossil fuel corporations.”

Many politicians, especially Republicans, say new pipelines and projects like the Penokee Hills mine would employ many people.