• The International Tar Sands Resistance Summit will be held from November 19th to 22nd, in Montana.
• The Everyone’s Downstream conference, from November 25th to 28th, in Alberta

International Tar Sands Resistance Summit: Nov. 19-22

Strategizing Globally to Win Locally: Building an international, grassroots movement to shut down the Tar Sands

The Summit will take place at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest conference center, 30 miles east of Missoula, Montana, USA. The summit is designed to be a place where individuals representing tar sands-impacted communities can come together to strategize, learn skills and network in order to grow and strengthen the international effort to effectively resist the most destructive industrial project on the planet, the Alberta tar sands. The four-day convergence will focus primarily on connecting individuals and communities affected by the Alberta Tar Sands, the XL Energy Pipeline, and the proposed mega-load shipments. This event is free and open to the public, but due to limited space we will have to cap the number of attendees. Feel free to register online, but please be sure to read the information provided on the form.

See the event web site for information about the schedule, food & housing, and other aspects of the gathering.

A ride share board is available on a separate web site.

You can contact the event organizers at TarSandsSummit [at] gmail.com

In Edmonton, Alberta, this annual conference will bring together community members, activists and others fighting the global infrastructure of the tar sands gigaproject.

This year’s themes include:

• The Tar Sands go Global: reports from Madagascar, Trinidad and more
• Environmental NGOs, secret deals, and how to build a democratic, transparent environmental movement
• Ongoing resistance to pipelines, refineries, and other tar sands infrastructure

During the gathering, activists will be taking further steps toward building a Climate Justice Co-op that can support direct actions, and a wider range of climate justice mobilizations.

See the conference web site for the schedule, and for other conference material.  Directions also are posted there, and a ride share board has been set up on another web site.

For more information, or to get involved, email the organizers at info [at] everyonesdownstream.org

In this message from Climate Justice Action:

1. Why take action from October 12th?
2. Day of Action website
3. Tell the world – action newsletter
4. Contribute to the October 12th Video
5. Pass this on!

1. Why take action from October 12th?
In 2009, indigenous peoples throughout the world called for a global mobilisation ‘in defence of mother earth’ on October 12, reclaiming the day that used to be imposed as ‘Columbus Day’. Responding to this call, and the demand for a day of action for ‘system change, not climate change’ issued by the global movements gathered in Copenhagen last year, Climate Justice Action is proposing a week of direct action for climate justice from October 12 – 16, 2010.

We invite all those who fight for social and ecological justice to organise direct actions targeting climate criminals and false solutions, or creating real alternatives. This means taking direct responsibility for making change happen, not lobbying others to act on your behalf, but through actively closing things down and opening things up. This is an open callout, we are not picking targets. But it is not a day for marches or petitions: it is time for us to reclaim our power, and take control of our lives and futures.

For more information about the Week of Action visit the CJA OCT12 Info page

2. Days of action website
It’s absolutely crucial that we tell each other about our actions! Through communicating and documenting the diverse actions that we are taking, we can show great solidarity to one another in our struggles and inspire others to start taking action. CJA have set up a website specifically for the Day of Action, where we hope to map all of the actions happening world wide. For this to work, it relies upon all of us submitting actions that are happening world wide. To see the map, visit: http://global.climate-justice-action.org/

There are three ways you can submit your action:
1. By sending an email to web@climate-justice-action.org
2. By sending a tweet with the hashtags #cja2010 and #mingaglobal
3. By filling this form – http://global.climate-justice-action.org/reports/submit/

3. Tell the world – action newsletter
Following the week of action, we are going to produce an ‘action roundup’ newsletter to send to all our friends worldwide. If you have participated in an action, please send us a paragraph explaining what you did and why! Of course, this can be anonymous, and you can link to websites or news articles about your action.
Also, remember to take photos – a picture can be worth a thousand words!
Please email your report to: info@climatejusticeaction.org

4. Contribute to the October 12th Video
We want to encourage everyone to film as much of their action as they can – so we can produce an ‘action round up’ video!  If you have any footage, or you would like to help with video, get in touch: info@climatejusticeaction.org

5. Pass this on!
We need this email to reach as many people as possible. Please send it out to your networks – especially to compañeros in different countries. We don’t want to miss a single action off our map!

— en francais–

12 Octobre 2010: Changeons le système, pas le climat ! Appel à des actions directes pour la Justice Climatique.

Dans cette newsletter…

1. Pourquoi agir la semaine du 12 Octobre?

2. Un site web dédié à cette journée d’action

3. Diffusion des informations – le bulletin d’action

4. Participer à la vidéo du 12 Octobre

5. Faites circuler ces informations!

1. Pourquoi agir la semaine du 12 Octobre?

En 2009, les peuples autochtones ont appelé à une mobilisation mondiale pour la ‘défense de la Terre Mère’ le 12 octobre afin de se réapproprier ce que l’on nommait le ‘Jour de Christophe Colomb’. En réponse, l’organisation ‘Climate Justice Action (CJA)’ appelle à une journée d’action directe pour la justice climatique la semaine du 12 Octobre 2010.

Nous invitons tous ceux qui luttent pour la justice sociale et écologique à organiser des actions directes ciblant les “criminels” responsables du changement climatique et qui proposent de fausses solutions. Nous vous invitons aussi à proposer de réelles alternatives. Cela veut dire prendre nos responsabilités et agir directement, sans compter sur d’autres qui pourraient agir en notre nom. CJA n’a pas pour vocation à décider des objectifs ou des actions spécifiques à mener, mais lance un appel à choisir vos cibles. Ce n’est pas une journée de manifestations ou de pétitions: il faut agir car le temps est venu de récupérer notre pouvoir, et de reprendre le contrôle de notre vie et nos futurs.

Pour plus d’informations sur cette journée d’action: http://www.climate-justice-action.org/mobilization/system-change-not-climate-change-taking-direct-action-for-climate-justice/

2. Un site web dédié à cette journée d’action

Il est absolument crucial que nous échangions les informations relatives à nos diverses actions! Grâce à cette communication et la documentation de nos différentes actions, nous pourrons faire preuve d’une grande solidarité dans nos luttes et inspirer d’autres personnes pour qu’ils commencent à agir. A cet effet, CJA a mis en place un site web dédié à cette journée d’action, où nous planifions de “cartographier” l’ensemble des actions qui se dérouleront à travers le monde. Pour que nous réussisions, il appartient à chacun d’entre nous de relayer ces différentes actions. Vous trouverez cette “carte” sur notre site web: http://global.climate-justice-action.org/

Il existe trois possibilités pour soumettre vos actions:

1. Envoyer un courriel à web@climate-justice-action.org

2. Envoyer un tweet avec les “hashtags” ##cja2010 et #mingaglobal

3. Remplir le formulaire disponible sur: http://global.climate-justice-action.org/reports/submit/

3. Diffusions des informations – le bulletin d’action

Après cette semaine d’actions, nous allons produire un bulletin d’information que nous allons envoyer à tous nos amis à travers le monde. Si vous avez participé à une action, merci de nous en envoyer un bref résumé! Bien sûr, cela peut être fait de manière anonyme. Vous pouvez aussi nous envoyer le lien à des sites internet qui montrent et expliquent votre action. N’oubliez pas de prendre aussi des photos – une photo est parfois plus efficace que de longues phrases! Merci de nous envoyer votre résumé et vos photos à cette adresse: info@climatejusticeaction.org

4. Participer à la vidéo du 12 Octobre

Nous voulons encourager tout le monde à filmer autant que possible leurs actions, afin que nous puissions créer une vidéo rassemblant l’ensemble de nos actions! Si vous avez des images, ou si vous voulez participer à l’élaboration de cette vidéo, merci de prendre contact avec nous: info@climatejusticeaction.org

5. Faites circuler ces informations!

Nous avons besoin de faire circuler ce mail et ces informations au plus grand nombre. Merci d’envoyer ce message à vos réseaux – surtout à nos compañeros à travers le monde. Nous voulons répertorier l’ensemble de nos actions sur notre carte!

late september introductory letter:

In 2009, indigenous peoples called for a global mobilization ‘in defence of mother earth’ on October 12, reclaiming what used to be ‘Columbus Day’. In response, Climate Justice Action is inviting activists across the world to join a week of direct action for climate justice starting October 12, 2010.

The climate crisis has reached a new level. The 2009 UNFCCC Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP15) was a complete failure, and ‘our world leaders’ are refusing to work together towards real solutions to the climate crisis.

The insanity of such inaction is becoming more and more obvious as extreme global climate catastrophes become more frequent. Right now an estimated 18.7 million Pakistanis are affected by the worst floods in Pakistan’s history. Just last month in Moscow, gas masks were worn on the streets and in homes as a result of the poisoned air caused by fires, pollution and the highest recorded temperatures in the country’s history. This is, of course, in addition to the ongoing environmental exploitation that severely threatens the livelihoods of the global south and all indigenous communities.

However, worldwide activists, organizations and many others are not just standing by. Indigenous communities experiencing climate change catastrophes and all people who care for the health and well being of the rights of Mother Earth are taking the lead towards real change.

We know the fight for climate justice is challenging, but our successes are many and we are building strength! In the last year alone we have seen a series of mobilizations that have turned off production at coal factories, occupied spaces planned for airport construction, dropped banners from sky high locations, held fierce massive public rallies, marches and demonstrations, and numerous more actions.

In an effort to reclaim the day that has traditionally been imposed as ‘Columbus Day,’ indigenous peoples around the world have called for a global mobilization ‘in defence of Mother Earth’. Climate Justice Action has taken up this call and is proposing a global day of direct action for climate justice on October 12, 2010. CJA is not picking specific targets or actions, but is rather calling for all of us to engage, plan and take direct action on this day.

If you are already prepared to take action, let us know what you’re you to by submitting it to the ATLAS OF CLIMATE RESISTANCE. If you haven’t started there’s still time. Mobilize and plan an action in your city, town or village. Don’t forget to film it and take photos and send them to CJA so we can show off our global force!

There is power in numbers and together we can achieve system change in response to climate change!

October 12th Event on Facebook

Minga Global por la Madre Tierra – 12 de Octubre de 2010 – Levantemos nuestras voces

Today, on November 30, one week before the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen open, and on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle in 1999, major demonstrations, teach-ins and civil disobedience are taking actions place in cities around the U.S

Reports are now starting to come in from:

• Chicago, Illinois: Activists target Carbon Trading @ Chicago Climate Exchange – 12 arrested
• Denver, Colorado: Citizens ‘Die-in’ at Department of Public Health and Environment in Coal Protest
• Greensville, SC: Blockade of shipment of generator to Cliffside Coal Plant, 4 arrested
• New York City, NY: Occupation of the Natural Resource Defense Council Office with James Hansen exposing their ties to industry
• San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Climate Justice Action at Bank of America; 200 Rally with at least 23 Arrested
• Whitby, Ontatio: Sit-in for Climate Justice at Finance Minister’s Office
• Washington, DC: Downtown march targets major polluters and lobbyists

Many more updates are coming in from Boston, Palm Beach, Bangor, Burlington, Seattle and other locales – you can read all the details at the Mobilization for Climate Justice (MCJ) website - www.actforclimatejustice.org.

Donations are needed for arrestees! Your support is needed:

Your Support is Needed!

Donation Amount

five $5.00 ten $10.00 fifteen $15.00 twenty $20.00 twenty-five $25.00 thirty $30.00 fifty $50.00 one hundred $100.00 two hundred fifty $250.00 five hundred! $500.00

Donate to which action group?

Any! (where most needed) Chicago New York Maine Ontario San Francisco Denver Greenville, SC

Anything you’d like to say?

Also, check out an interview interview with MCJ’s Ananda Tan and David Solnit on today’s broadcast on Democracy Now!

With the corporate media unlikely to give major coverage to such actions, we need you to spread the word! You can see the combined and growing photo gallery here and follow updates on facebook or twitter.

The Mobilization for Climate Justice is a broad and diverse coalition of organizations working for social, environmental, economic and racial justice is calling for urgent action on the global climate crisis, based on equitable, democratic and science-based solutions.

As world leaders gather in Copenhagen, the people hit hardest by this crisis and the least responsible for its cause—working class, Indigenous and people of color communities around the world—have been systematically excluded and are demanding a voice at the table.

Meanwhile, the world’s major corporations have been dominating international and domestic climate policy – as they did in the international trade policy arena. Carbon-trading and carbon offset projects have already allowed these polluters to avoid cutting emissions and expand their markets into poor countries, accelerating corporate take-over of the world’s resources at the expense of local and Indigenous communities.

“We cannot allow the world’s largest corporate polluters to continue robbing our children’s future,” stated Carla Perez of Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project, who will be marching with her daughter in a parade of children and the Raging Grannies. “US corporations have been holding real climate solutions hostage, while burdening our communities with ongoing attacks on our health and livelihoods.”

On 24 October, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. At over 5200 eventsaround the world, people gathered to call for action on the climate crisis. To make this global call to action count, it must be impossible to ignore.  Sign up for a local photo-delivery today »

Over 19,000 photos have been submitted so far! See them all on Flickr »