The Australian Greens have put high-speed rail (HSR) back on the national agenda. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has called on the Rudd government to fund a study identifying the best route for connecting Australia’s two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, with HSR.
This is great news, even if it makes me a bit wistful. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Green Party in the US had senators, as well as real power and influence. Sigh.
HSR linking those two major cities could be the start of a nationwide network, and provide a real alternative to flying.
Not only that, they plan to make the HSR zero emissions too.
I’m working on it, Bob! Seriously, click on my name. I’m working for Hugh Giordano who I think has a decent chance of winning a state legislative seat for the Greens here in PA (you’ve got to start somewhere, and if elected he’ll be the highest ranking Green in the country). He’s a union organizer and really knows how to run a campaign.
And I’m hopeful that candidates like Lynne Williams in Maine (went from running for governor to state senator) and Rich Whitney in Illinois can kind of give the Greens a rebirth this year and over the next few years. Maybe I’m a bit naive, but I’m hopeful.