Levi Strauss & Co., the California-based apparel giant that invented blue jeans over a century ago, has come out in strong opposition to Proposition 23.
Prop 23 is a ballot initiative that would suspend the state’s landmark global warming and clean energy laws. The company called it “backward thinking.” TP has the story.
In a blog post by Senior Vice President Amy Leonard, the company describes how the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) has spurred “the clean technology industry and clean energy businesses.” Backed by out-of-state oil companies and the Chamber of Commerce, Tea Party groups are trying to suspend the law, which Leonard says has given California businesses “critical tools” for “energy and climate innovation“:
Proposition 23 would eliminate critical tools recently put in place to promote energy efficiency. It would discourage energy and climate innovation by making it more expensive for businesses to invest in necessary research and development. It would turn back the clock by removing incentives intended to move us ahead.
Levi Strauss is joined by other California-based global companies in opposing Proposition 23, including Clif Bar, The North Face, the Gap, and eBay, the company once run by Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman “” who stands in opposition to AB 32.
– A Think Progress cross-post.
Here are five things you can do to win this fight:
- Visit the “No on 23″³ website, learn the facts & sign up: www.StopDirtyEnergyProp.com.
- Educate yourself on how California’s climate & energy laws have created companies & jobs: www.CABrightSpot.com.
- Tell your friends by email, on Facebook, at work, & everywhere else.
- Participate in the debate. Write letters to the editor and post comments on blogs & websites.
- Contribute (click here). The other side’s leader, right-wing California Assemblyman Dan Logue, has publicly said he expects the oil companies to spend $50 million.
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An old company in California-that has grown with time to see a future for all of us.
Thanks!
Thanks for this post and bravo to Amy Leonard and to Levi Strauss.
I saw this post yesterday but didn’t comment — because there were a couple other things to comment on and because I have to keep life going.
But we DO need to thank and congratulate, and reward, responsible and forward-thinking companies. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Indeed, one of the most powerful pathways to positive change will need to involve responsible members of the business community speaking out in favor of addressing the climate change problem, with verve. It also helps whenever those companies are “cool” and “smart” ones, as Levi Strauss certainly is.
But — please! — businesses should think very tactically and passionately on the climate change issue and on how to tip the commercial and cultural scales in responsible directions. In other words, responsible businesses should get together and make strong statements, as (increasingly large) collections of companies jointly speaking out. The voices are too few, too far between, and too fragmented. Businesses know that reach and frequency are important. They know that “reasons to believe” are important. They know that individual and group testimonials are important, when they are credible. So, for all these reasons and others, companies who are concerned about climate change should issue joint statements, and clear ones, and loudly.
Thanks again to Amy and Levi Strauss. Bravo!
Be Well,
Jeff