Conversations About Race

Oh, the other type of race....

Today is the launch of “Race and America’s Future Virtual Book Club” – a six-week, online book club exploring the challenges and opportunities facing our nation.

The first week asks the question, “Are We Post Racial Yet?”

You can probably guess the answer to that, but it’s in addressing that still all-to-common myth that the learning or unlearning occurs.

The structure of the 6-week conversation is based on the book Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future, by Angela Glover Blackwell, Stewart Kwoh, and Manuel Pastor.

The folks at the Equity blog hope that the conversation will be “open, honest, and forward-looking.”  Me too.

Here are the themes of the next 5 weeks:

Oct. 6: Color Lines: Growing and Accepting Diversity
Oct. 13: Race and the Economy
Oct. 20: Urgent Challenges: Immigration, Incarceration, and Climate Change
Oct. 27: New Leadership for now and 2050
Nov. 3: Equity is the Superior Growth Model

Photo Credit: Flickr Richard Masoner

Non-violent Direct Actions Against Mountaintop Removal in D.C., 100+ Arrested

W.V. Resident and Coordinator of Appalachia Rising Katie Rooth Arrested at Today’s Day of Action in D.C.

“Hey hey, ho ho! MTR has got to go!”

So chants the people gathered in D.C. today to demand an end to mountaintop removal mining.  Today’s Day of Action is the culminating event of Appalachia Rising’s 3-day mobilization.

In the morning, marchers first stopped at the Environmental Protection Agency with the message, “Do your job!” Here is a clip from the rally. The mobilization continued to the White House, where West Virginia resident Larry Gibson, climatologist James Hansen, and others addressed the people gathered.

“We cannot enrich the experience of a few at the expense of many,” Hansen told the crowd. Hansen, Gibson, and several others were arrested.

Earlier, members of the Quakers, Rainforest Action Network, and Appalachia Rising conducted a direct action at the doors of the PNC Bank, a key mountaintop removal financer (and TARP-funds recipient, by the way) in downtown D.C.  They were removed by police and arrested, including West Virginia resident and Appalachia Rising Coordinator Katie Rooth.  All the while, Reverend Billy Talen (of Church of Life After Shopping and What Would Jesus Buy? fame) gave a Sermon on the Mountaintop, after which he also was arrested.

Appalachia Rising Mobilization at the White House (Photo Credit: RAN)

Activists made a visit to the headquarters of Army Corps of Engineers, where several Rising Tide members were taken out of the building after occupying the office.  After the crowed formed a circle around the building, two Kentucky coalfield residents were granted a meeting with officials from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Reports coming in have said over 100 people have been arrested so far.

Dr. James Hansen, Appalachian residents and retired coal miners arrested are all calling for the abolition of mountaintop mining and immediate veto of Spruce mine project.

Follow @App_Rising and hashtag #apprising and #mtr for updates.

Photo Credit: Rana_X and Rainforest Action Network

5 Reasons Why Californians Must Crush Prop 23

The showdown for a clean energy and clean air future is here and we should be jolted. In November we all have to come out in force and vote no on the Dirty Energy Proposition 23. And we must not just beat Prop 23, we must pulverize it like the dust beneath our feet.

Here are the 5 top reasons why Californians must crush Prop. 23.

Read my full Op-ed on HuffingtonPost.

Appalachia Rises This Weekend!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Appalachia Rising, a national response against mountaintop removal coal mining.

Thousands of Appalachians from impacted communities along with allies and supporters of clean energy across the nation will gather together in D.C. for a movement summit demanding the abolition of the practice and promoting a diverse and sustainable Appalachian economy.

The mobilization begins with a 2-day Voices from the Mountains conference of strategizing, workshops, and education and culminates on Monday with a Day of Action when attendees will participate in various means of non-violent actions.

According to organizer and West Virginia resident Bo Webb, “Voices from the Mountains will be the largest gathering against mountaintop removal to-date. The time has come to finally bring all these communities to the table around this issue because it is directly-impacted citizens that are going to end this destructive practice and Appalachians who are leading the way towards creating a more diverse regional economy and sustainable future for our region.”

Webb, like thousands of other Appalachians, has witnessed the destruction of the mountains, pollution of waterways, and the manipulation and violations of powerful corporations like Massey Energy.

You can also follow via Twitter at @App_Rising and hashtag #apprising.  Also find Appalachia Rising on Facebook.

For more recent coverage:

Huffington Post

Leading up to Appalachia Rising: A Native View of MTR

Image Credit: NRDC_media

Follow me: @vanlenning

Quote of the Week for Social Changemakers

Vandana Shiva at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, 2007

“[How do I do it?] Well, it’s always a mystery, because you don’t know why you get depleted or recharged. But this much I know. I do not allow myself to be overcome by hopelessness, no matter how tough the situation. I believe that if you just do your little bit without thinking of the bigness of what you stand against, if you turn to the enlargement of your own capacities, just that itself creates new potential. And I’ve learned from the Bhagavad-Gita and other teachings of our culture to detach myself from the results of what I do, because those are not in my hands. The context is not in your control, but your commitment is yours to make, and you can make the deepest commitment with a total detachment about where it will take you. You want it to lead to a better world, and you shape your actions and take full responsibility for them, but then you have detachment. And that combination of deep passion and deep detachment allows me to take on the next challenge, because I don’t cripple myself, I don’t tie myself in knots. I function like a free being. I think getting that freedom is a social duty because I think we owe it to each not to burden each other with prescription and demands. I think what we owe each other is a celebration of life and to replace fear and hopelessness with fearlessness and joy.” (From Yes Magazine Interview, Earth Democracy)

Climate Ride Kicks-off, Promoting Climate and Energy Solutions

Bicycle tune-up: Check. Registration materials: Check. Hybrid support vehicles ready: check. Variety of Clif bars: Check.  Plan for morning coffee: check!

Today over 100 riders are launching the 320-mile, 5 day Brita California Climate Ride to promote meaningful political action on climate and energy and to inspire citizens to envision a renewable energy-based economy.

The ride kicks off in Mendocino County among the redwoods, winds down along the Pacific coast and through Wine Country, and finally across the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco.

They will be joined by such notables as David Helvarg of the Blue Frontier, acclaimed photographic artist and social activist Chris Jordan, Hunter Lovins of the Natural Capitalism Solutions, Dr. Phillip Duffy of Climate Center, and Jenn Fox of ClimateWorks, from whom they will hear from each evening.

The Climate Ride also claims to be the greenest multi-day charity ride in the country, both in terms of carbon and waste. No plastic water bottles or disposable plastic waste is allowed and Climate-Riders will eat with reusable utensils and plates. The ride’s sponsor, Brita, is providing filtered water and reusable water bottles. And while it is a supported ride, they are using hybrid vehicles and purchasing full carbon offsets from Clif Bar.

Funds raised from the ride go to three non-profits, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Green America, and 1Sky. The three organizations work on clean energy, bicycle & walking infrastructure, and growing the green economy through supporting sustainable businesses and consumer choices.

Next summer there will be another Climate Ride form NYC to DC.

Visit ClimateRide and stay up to date on their ride on Twitter: @ClimateRide