Declare Energy Independence This July 4th!

A July 4th Message from Robert Borosage, of the Campaign for America's Future, and Jerome Ringo, of the Apollo Alliance:

Earlier this month at Take Back America 2006, the Campaign for America's Future and the Apollo Alliance unveiled the Apollo Challenge, asking your help to challenge our nation's leaders to achieve energy independence within the decade.

The 4th of July is a celebration of our nation's independence, our spirit of hope, and our ability to realize audacious dreams. That's why we're asking you to join in signing the "Apollo Challenge" to build a national citizens' movement for clean, homegrown energy and good jobs. We've set a goal of signing up 50,000 Americans over the holiday weekend. Join us in this call for energy independence today!

We all know that our nation is facing a growing addiction to oil. And the folks who decide things in Washington aren't about to solve our oil problem. They owe too much to Big Oil.

It's become obvious that America's oil addiction hurts our security, our economy and our environment. Our troops are bogged down in two ugly wars in the Middle East. Working families are having a tougher time making ends meet because of $3 gasoline. We're running a $1 trillion deficit with the rest of the world, about one-fourth of it in oil imports alone. And as the world's biggest consumers of oil, we contribute the most to the global warming that threatens the future we'll leave our children.

Those who say we can't meet these challenges are simply wrong. If we commit ourselves, we can move to energy independence while generating new jobs and new opportunities for our country.

We must launch a concerted drive for energy independence -- a national Apollo Program to invest in clean, homegrown fuels, renewable power, and efficiency. We can slash oil imports by 50 percent and create up to 3 million good jobs in ten years. Brazil managed to replace enough oil with homegrown ethanol that it has virtually stopped importing oil. If Brazil can do it, America can too.

President Kennedy lifted our nation's sights by challenging us to send a man to the moon. Today we do not have that kind of leadership in the White House. So it will require citizen-leaders to issue the modern day Apollo Challenge, challenging our nation's leaders to create a new Apollo Program to invest in clean energy and good jobs.

This Fourth of July, join this movement by taking the Apollo Challenge now! Together, we can build a grassroots citizens' movement that will challenge our nation's leaders to create new energy, new jobs and declare a new independence for America!

Sign the "Apollo Challenge" now and join us in making this 4th of July a day of hope and "independence."

For more information on the Apollo Challenge, please also check out the Apollo Alliance's "New Energy for America" Job Report, and the Ten-Point Plan for Good Jobs and Energy Independence:

1. Promote Advanced Technology & Hybrid Cars

2. Invest In More Efficient Factories

3. Encourage High Performance Building

4. Increase Use of Energy Efficient Appliances

5. Modernize Electrical Infrastructure

6. Expand Renewable Energy Development

7. Improve Transportation Options

8. Reinvest In Smart Urban Growth

9. Plan For A Hydrogen Future

10. Preserve Regulatory Protections

New Democratic Agenda