Dear Friends-

We’re about the movement, not the moment!  And we’re coming for the worst polluters and earth destroyers. We’re building a movement to counter Corporate America’s hold on our environment, our climate and our democracy.

Grassroots direct action in the climate movement is on the rise. This fight is not going to be won with some carefully choreographed photo ops or large numbers of “click-tivists” liking a post on Facebook or emailing Obama. It’s going to be won by you and us getting involved in our communities and figuring out who to best resist, rebel, build and create.

Rising Tide North America is a network of over 50 local contacts, chapters and ally groups all over Canada, Mexico and the United States that have worked to stop climate change at the point of destruction. And we want you to join with us! See your regional contact map HERE and…

This Summer, we’ve been fighting  the worst polluters and earth-destroyers on the planet. You’ve already heard about actions this summer in West Virginia, Montana and Utah. But more and more is happening:

• Rising Tide joined with community and labor activists at the Midwest Rising Convergence to form an action faction that sat in on the doorsteps of Peabody Energy (world’s biggest coal company), and Bank of America (biggest financier of coal, largest forecloser of homes in the country.) – more at convergence2011.org
• Right now scores over “trouble-makers” are sitting in at the White House to send the purveyors of politics as usual the message that the massive Keystone XL Pipeline needs to be stopped before it gets started- over 380 arrests at the time of this message – more at tarsandsaction.org
• Meanwhile… megaload shipments of Tar Sands equipment are being disrupted and blocked by Wild Idaho Rising Tide and others who are bravely placing their bodies in the way – check out Northern Rockies RT for more info

Much of the world is in open revolt against authoritarian regimes, privatization schemes and the corporations. Now, we need to sow a garden where a thousand flowers of resistance can bloom in confrontation and resistance to policies and infrastructure that exacerbate climate change.

Echoing the words of Edward Abbey:

Get involved and help fight the root causes of climate change.

In Solidarity,
Rising Tide North America

The Climate Pledge of Resistance has been in transition over the past few months. In order to concretize the accountability behind messages, and to be clear about the facilitation of message submissions the CPR coordinating groups are formally authorizing Rising Tide North America as the current administrative organization.

Originating organizations and individuals that were instrumental in the creation of the Pledge continue to endorse BeyondTalk.net, but will no longer have a direct administrative role.  Their contributions to the CPR via contributions to the cause, of course, continue!*

We, as RTNA, are making a concerted effort to expand the pledge and to sync it with our existing database of contacts who are interested in, and endorse, direct actions to confront the grave scenarios related to climate change.

Please keep posted, and get in touch with comments, questions, or contributions.

(founding members include the Yes Men, Rainforest Action Network, PR for People and the Planet, RTNA, the Ruckus Society, Climate Ground Zero, Alliance of Community Trainers, Center for the Working Poor, Mobilization for Climate Justice/MCJ West)

September 27 – Appalachia Rising, a mass convergence on Washington D.C. calling for an end to Mountain Top Removal (MTR) culminated with a march of roughly 2,000 people and arrests of over 115 people. There were actions at the White House, PNC Bank, Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters. These actions come at a time when MTR has been thrust into the national spotlight by Appalachian communities facing poisoned drinking water, increased cancer, and destruction of some of America’s most pristine mountains.

Here are some of the highlights:

Media Hits:

CNN: Protesters arrested outside the White House

The Hill: More than 100 arrested at coal mining protest in front of the White House

Washington Post: About 100 arrested in mountaintop mining protest

NPR: About 100 Arrested in Mountaintop Mining Protest

It’s Getting Hot in Here: Appalachia Rising up in DC

Huffington Post: Mass Arrests in DC: We Shall No Longer Be Crucified Upon the Cross of Coal

Photos/Video:

Rally and March – Friends of the Earth

Sit-in at PNC Bank – Rainforest Action Network

Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Occupation – DC Rising Tide

Appalachia Rising Flickr Pool

(Protesters sit down at 6:30).

At a recent climate camp in North America, activists began collecting signatures for a tar sands pledge of resistance.  We invite you to sign on to commit to action against a fossil fuel pipeline and pumping project (”Trailbreaker”) that may bring tar sands bitumen through infrastructure across several American states and Canadian provinces.  If we cannot overturn these industry plans, tar sands bitumen will be sent through Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec, Vermont, and Maine — before tankers bring this sludge to the Gulf Coast of Texas!

These and other tar sands operations amount to the single-most destructive and unsustainable project on earth.  (See this brief H2oil segment for an excellent introduction.)

Just north of Vermont, over 200 people recently joined the resistance as they passed through the Quebec Climate Action Camp in Dunham. The camp was erected to strengthen growing resistance toward the construction of a pumping station, which would be part of the Enbridge Trailbreaker project, cutting across the community. At the end of the climate camp, activists and community members launched the next step in the campaign against dirty oil’s eastward expansion: a Pledge of Resistance. Activists in the region around the climate camp will continue creating a broad network of community members and supporters to educate about the dangers of the Trailbreaker project, and take action to stop it.

—

The Quebec Climate Camp Pledge of Resistance

Enbridge and the Portland Montreal Pipeline’s proposed pumping station threatens the health, water, environment and lands of the people of Dunham and the region.

The pumping station, part of Enbridge’s Trailbreaker pipeline project, is intended to carry dirty oil from the most environmentally destructive enterprise in human history, the Alberta tar sands.

The companies and government-backers behind this proposed pumping station are ignoring community wishes and concerns, including demands for an independent environmental assessment.

The community has never consented to the project. All along the trail of the pipeline, opposition is growing.

Between August 7 and 23, 2010, community members joined forces with supporters from across Quebec, Canada, and North America to hold a Climate Action Camp. to strengthen the campaign against the Trailbreaker. We gathered to educate, create new ties, and mobilize a diverse movement to stop oil companies from polluting our communities and contributing to climate catastrophe.

Because of the grave threat the Trailbreaker project poses to the climate, the community and all others in its path, we pledge to engage in non-violent direct action to stop the pumping station should they ever attempt to follow through with its construction without community consent.

Sign now!

—

While this trail breaking pledge is local, the context and needed responses are global, with connections to your home.  There are many points of intervention against tar sands infrastructure, but we also must form a united front!

As you may recall, a lively protest took place on the streets of Chicago’s financial district last November 30, on the 10th anniversary of the “Battle of Seattle” and a week ahead of the big UN climate summit in Copenhagen.  Several groups from across the city had come together to demand just, equitable, and effective solutions to the climate crisis, starting with the shut-down of the Crawford and Fisk coal plants in Chicago’s Little Village and Pilsen neighborhoods.  The November 30th (N30) event also targeted “false solutions” to climate change like carbon trading, nukes and agrofuels, and was part of a national day of action for climate justice.

Now, the city has decided to charge these folks $8,340, with a deadline of mid-August to pay the fines.

Please help us raise the funds we need by donating what you can!

Following visits to several local “climate criminals,” including JP Morgan Chase (one of the leading funders of mountain top removal coal mining), Midwest Generation (the owner of Chicago’s two coal-fired power plants), and the Board of Trade (which trades in palm oil, one of the leading drivers of rainforest destruction), the N30 march arrived at the main target, the Chicago Climate Exchange.

The Chicago Climate Exchange is the first and largest carbon trading institution in North America.  Carbon Trading is a system of trading in carbon that intensifies social injustice, does not reduce emissions in a meaningful way, results in more pollution and more displacement for communities on the ground, and acts as a dangerous distraction from the real climate solutions we urgently need.  (It does succeed in making a bunch of money for big polluters and their cohorts.)  Unfortunately, participation in this fraudulent market has become the primary way that governments, corporations, and mainstream environmental groups have attempted to “solve” the climate crisis.

To draw attention to carbon trading as a false solution, 12 people locked their arms together in lockboxes, formed a large circle, and took over the intersection of Adams and LaSalle, outside the offices of the Chicago Climate Exchange, for several hours, encircling a banner that read, “Chicago Climate Exchange – the Air is Not for Sale!”  (Check out photos and video from the action at http://howgreenischicago.org.)

Now, the city has decided to charge these folks $8,340, with a deadline of mid-August to pay the fines.  We need your support!!  Please consider donating whatever you can to support the N30 defendants.  Throw a benefit party, pass a hat, sell some cupcakes — it all adds up!

You can donate online below,  or send a check payable to LVEJO with “N30 Legal Defense” in the memo line to:

LVEJO – Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

2856 S. Millard Ave.

Chicago, IL 60623

Thank you!  All donations are much appreciated!!!

Love,

The Climate Exchange 12

Please help us raise the funds we need by donating what you can!

Boulder Activists Unfurl Banner and Erect Wind Turbines on Top of Giant Coal Pile

Boulder, CO – At approximately 12:45 today, four activists climbed onto the massive coal pile in front of the Valmont Power Plant.  An enormous banner was deployed down the front of the coal pile reading “RENEWABLES NOW” and two large mock wind turbines were erected on top of the coal pile.  The activists reclaimed the coal pile to display their message for approximately 1.5 hours, before they were taken into custody.

Meanwhile a rally took place on outside of the Valmont Power Plant.  Bill McKibben, a leading climate change activist and founder of 350.org, who happened to be in Boulder for a speaking event, came out to the rally and expressed his support for those on the coal pile.
“Our leaders have been listening to the coal industry instead of the science and now people need to take the lead and that is what they are doing.  The action today is great and what is so great about it is that the same thing is happening all around the world. Everywhere people are showing the same kind of courage,” said Mr. McKibben.

The protest, which occurred less than one week after the 40thAnniversary of Earth Day, comes as Boulder is considering whether to renew a 20 year franchise agreement with Xcel.  Recently, the Boulder City Council and City Manager suggested that Boulder should delay signing a new franchise agreement to allow more time to negotiate with Xcel about implementing a stronger renewable energy plan.
Approximately 90% of Boulder’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels, with only 10% coming from renewable sources.  Many local environmentalists and community leaders are calling for electricity generated from renewable sources to increase by 10% each year, reaching 30% renewable by 2012 and 100% renewable by 2020.

“Boulder is ready to move forward with 100% renewable electricity. If Xcel is not willing to partner with the city to make this happen, then Boulder officials and citizens needs to take our energy future into our own hands,” said Tom Weis, a Boulder resident that communicated from atop the coal pile.
While the recent ‘Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act’ will require that Xcel modify three Front Range coal plants by 2017, Xcel is simultaneously planning to open the Comanche 3 coal-fired power plant in Pueblo, which will be the largest coal plant in the state.

Beyond that, three Front Range coal plants are likely to be replaced by natural gas, instead of renewable energy sources.  In fact, the legislation may allow Xcel to sign 20 year contracts on natural gas, effectively locking Coloradans to the high cost and environmentally destructive fuel, at a time when renewable energy technology is rapidly advancing.

“There couldn’t be a more important place for these kinds of protests. Boulder has provided more information about the deteriorating climate than any other town and yet there is a mountain of coal behind me. It is pathetic,” said Mr. McKibben.

At the same time, Mr. McKibben believes that Boulder is the right place to change directions:
“There is no better place for 100% renewable electricity. Boulder’s combination of wind, sun and brain power makes it uniquely suited for just that kind of progress.”

Photos available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49717025@N06/

Initial media reports:
Video and Article: http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14968436#axzz0mLAxuWwK
Article: http://cbs4denver.com/wireapbusinessco/5.arrested.at.2.1660009.html

A coalition of environmental activists led by GatewaySucks.org is calling on climate change activists to join the convergence at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

When the 2010 Winter Olympics start a couple of weeks from now in Vancouver, BC the athletes and spectators will be joined by organizations with some of the worst records on climate change.

General Motors is a national partner for the games, and one of the leading corporate opponents of effective action on climate change. Only two years ago, a vice-chairman of GM called global warming a “total crock of shit.” GM is supplying a large fleet of vehicles for the games, almost all of which are gas-guzzling SUVs.

Petro-Canada, another National Olympic Partner, is the retail arm of the largest extractor of Oil Sands bitumen. The Oil Sands are Canada’s biggest ghg emissions point source.

RBC (the Royal Bank of Canada) in addition to being a prominent Olympic sponsor is the largest commercial bank funder of the Oil Sands,. TransCanada pipelines, whose pipelines connect to the Oil Sands, is also an official supplier.

The government of British Columbia is the main funder and promoter of the games. They kicked off a massive plan to add over 1,000 km of new highway lanes (an increase of over 2,000,000 annual tonnes of CO2e emissions ) with the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion for the Olympics. These plans include the controversial Gateway Program. It continues to heavily subsidize the oil and gas industry which resulted in it being the only Canadian province to see ghg emissions from industrial sources increase in 2008.

The Federal government of Canada which consistently earned “Fossil Awards” at the most recent international climate talks also is a major funder for the Olympics.

These corporations and governments want to fool the world with their claim that these are the “Greenest Games Ever” despite the links to climate change deniers, highway expansion and the Oil Sands.

If you would like to endorse this call-out and the welcoming committee event please contact info@gatewaysucks.org.

MORE INFORMATION:

Convergence Info: http://olympicresistance.net/

Welcoming Committee: http://2010welcoming.wordpress.com/

Green Olympic Watch: http://2010greenwatch.org/

GatewaySucks.org: http://www.gatewaysucks.org/

2010 Climate Crime Scene: http://2010climatecrime.org

]]> http://www.beyondtalk.net/2010/02/climate-change-activists-join-the-vancouver-convergence/feed/ 1 http://www.beyondtalk.net/2010/01/nine-day-tree-sit-ends-sitters-vow-not-over-until-blasting-stops/ http://www.beyondtalk.net/2010/01/nine-day-tree-sit-ends-sitters-vow-not-over-until-blasting-stops/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:46:54 +0000 deadlyvine http://www.beyondtalk.net/?p=347 Friday, January 29th, 2010

UPDATE – legal support needed! click here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 304-854-7372, news@climategroundzero.org
Note: For more info, see : www.climategroundzero.org, www.mountainjustice.org

PETTUS, WVa—After blocking Massey Energy’s operations on the Bee Tree Permit for nine days, Amber Nitchman, 19, and Eric Blevins, 28 descended from their respective trees. They had occupied the two oak trees—originally accompanied by a third tree sitter, David Aaron Smith, 23—to protest mountaintop removal and the blasting of Coal River Mountain. Upon descent, they were immediately arrested by West Virginia State Troopers. The sitters’ decision to leave the trees was made in light of the recent drop in temperature.

After a week of Massey security harassing the sitters with deafening sirens and air horns, a call-in pressure campaign was launched by Climate Ground Zero, Mountain Justice and other anti-mountaintop removal groups. The receipt of hundreds of calls from around the country led to an emergency meeting with Climate Ground Zero volunteers, the Raleigh County prosecutor and Governor Manchin. The meeting resulted in the moratorium and a call for an investigation of the abuse.

The tree sit represents Climate Ground Zero’s most sustained intervention in mountaintop removal mining operations since its campaign of nonviolent direct action began last February. Volunteers know that the fight is far from over and expect work to commence on the Bee Tree site immediately. However, they see this tree sit as a victory. “It halted blasting for nine days. I think they’ve wildly succeeded with their goals,” said Climate Ground Zero volunteer Mike Bowersox. In a final communication from her perch, Nitchman captured the group’s resolve. “Its not over until the blasting is stopped,” she said.

photos and more available at www.climategroundzero.net

There are major differences between the industrialised nations, the large developing nations of India and China, and the poorest and most vulnerable countries as typified by Tuvalu which proposed to fortify the Kyoto agreement, and Bolivia. Summary of Negotiations by Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne (video)

In Copenhagen 100,000 people marched, however after 3pm police charged into the march and made arbitrary mass arrests estimated to be about 1,000. Further protests are occurring the next week inside the conference center and on the streets, check Denmark Indymedia for details and reports.

Many thousands of people attended a global weekend of vigils organised by 350.org and other protests with Walk Against Warming In Australia attracting 90,000 people, with 40,000 attending a Melbourne rally. (Video)

Aggregation and Video: icop15 aggregation | cop15live video
Radio: Climate Radio | Radio Mundo | Radio Indymedia – Urban War in Copenhagen?, 9 hour detention for Japanese man for nothing
Background on Tuvalu: Climate Adaption Issues | Speech at Melbourne Climate Rally

In Copenhagen Saturday 12th began with the NOAH Flood for Climate Justice Demonstration which started at 10am and marched, danced and waved to Højbro Plads [photo report]. The 12dec Demo started at Christiansborg Slotsplads / Parliament Square [google route map], including a CJA group, and it was soon clear that it was massive, with estimates quickly reaching 100,000 protesters. This was also part of a Global Day of Action on climate change. People were also meeting at Hojbro Plads in the same area for another action in the city.

Police Make Indiscriminate Mass Arrests

At around 3.15pm the police charged into the march near to where the CJA System Change not Climate Change group had joined the march, as well as people from the Ntac called demonstration. They cut off hundreds of people including many who were marching as part of Libertarian Socialist bloc [Pics 1 > 2 > 3 | report | video]. By 5pm several hundred had been handcuffed and made to sit on the floor, where they remain in the cold for hours. The police’s press office reports that those arrested today are between 700-900 people, later revised to close to one thousand. – See AerialTwitpic. See CJA Press Release, of these only three were eventually charged with anything.

Following the enormous mass arrests of climate protesters, accounts are emerging of the poor conditions within the specially set up detention facilities, with people handcuffed for up to eight hours following their lengthy detention upon the streets. Despite this obvious repression climate campaigners remain determined to push the message that we need System Change not climate change.

[the below is from Indymedia Denmark: http://indymedia.dk/ ]

Saturday 12th began with the NOAH Flood for Climate Justice Demonstration which started at 10am and marched, danced and waved to Højbro Plads [photo report]. The 12dec Demo started at Christiansborg Slotsplads / Parliament Square [google route map], including a CJA group, and it was soon clear that it was massive, with estimates quickly reaching 100,000 protestors. This was also part of a Global Day of Action on climate change. People were also meeting at Hojbro Plads in the same area for another action in the city.

Police Make Indiscriminate Mass Arrests

At around 3.15pm the police charged into the march near to where the CJA System Change not Climate Change group had joined the march, as well as people from the Ntac called demonstration. They cut off hundreds of people including many who were marching as part of Libertarian Socialist bloc [Pics 1> 2 | report | video]. By 5pm several hundred had been handcuffed and made to sit on the floor, where they remain in the cold for hours. The police’s press office reports that those arrested today are between 700-900 people – See AerialTwitpic.