Photo by Get the picture Kev via flickr
On September 24, folks sang, chanted, danced, and biked in the streets. These organized celebrations attended by tens of thousands were part of the Moving Planet day of action, which was “a global expression of unity, urgency and purpose to show political and business leaders they need to move from rhetoric to action.”
Photo by Marcellus Protest via flickr
This past week saw an organized anti-fracking demonstration outside of a Marcellus Shale Conference in Philadelphia last week. The New York Times published an important editorial that provided a quick and dirty summation of the “Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement” explaining scientific findings on fracking’s impact on the environment. Meanwhile, Americans attempt to figure out if it is worth ruining our water supply if it means that we slow down global climate change.
First person arrested in protest was the woman above. Photo by tarsandaction via flickr.
Over 500 demonstrators were arrested in front of the White House since August 20, in protest of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would transport Canadian tar sands oil to Gulf Coast refineries in Texas. Reportedly, 1,000 more are lining up to be arrested before the demonstration ends on September 3.
Photo by Great Valley Center via flickr
Much of the discussion about contaminated water centers around fracking in the Marcellus Shale formation. But in an article in Orion from February, Jeremy Miller called attention to the amount of water used to distribute oil and tar sands. “The Colonization of Kern County” demonstrates how water is stolen, contaminated, and redistributed among the desert folk in Kern County, California.
Photo by Donna Kohut
Three environmental activists recently published a book calling for a more militant, uncompromising movement to save the planet. In Deep Green Resistance Derrick Jensen, Aric McBay, and Lierre Keith challenge the current movement’s mainstream efforts to combat climate change deniers and dangerous government policies, and they also describe what a greener, post-industrial civilization will look like.
Photo by linh.m.do via flickr
After being sentenced to two years in prison for making a false statement and violating laws on oil and gas leasing in an act of civil disobedience in 2008, Tim DeChristopher addressed the court to explain his motivations. Hailed as a hero by the green movement and a radical climate activist by conservatives, he spoke for over thirty minutes in an effort to help the court and public “get to know him.” Over the last three years, the right painted him as a liar, an extremist, and an anarchist. But in his address, he describes his respect for the law and his distaste for injustice: “Disrespect for the rule of law begins when the government believes itself and its corporate sponsors to be above the law.” That wholesale disrespect for the law drove him to sabotage an illegal auction of public lands.
The Tea Party is known for being organized, vocal, and always in the spotlight. Most recently, numerous Tea Party and Republican leaders signed a pledge, which clarified their views on topics like gay marriage and taxes. This pledge required them to make a very public promise to remain faithful to their beliefs.
Photo by Hullivili via flickr
The world was rocked last week by revelations of the scope of Rupert Murdoch’s media monopoly and its political power that stretches the globe. While building his infamous News Corporation, Murdoch acquired various television networks (Fox Broadcasting Company), stock holdings in satellite systems (Hughes Electronics), and invaded print media (Wall Street Journal). Although the headlines focus on the most recent phone hacking scandal, there is reason for environmentalists to be concerned with the mogul’s influence on energy development.
Photo by jnewland via flickr
Governor Schweitzer of Montana declared a state of emergency on Tuesday because of a pipeline that spewed crude oil into the Yellowstone River – the longest undammed river in the nation and one of the most pristine. The pipe broke last week while the water of the Yellowstone rose, spewing up to 42,000 gallons into the waterway. As residents report oil-soaked wildlife and noxious fumes, the richest company on planet Earth says that there is minimal damage to the environment and detects no air pollution.
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DRBC Special Meeting Postponed
Thanks to the group Save The Delaware and the flood of calls from concerned citizens, the special meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission is postponed for one month. Currently, the date set for the DRBC to decide the fate of the historic, wild and scenic watershed is November 21. The hearing will take place between 10 a.m. and noon in Trenton, New Jersey.
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