It\’s Getting Hot In Here

This guest post comes from Jay Mallin, who made the following video while marching on Blair Mountain and interviewing a variety of officials about Blair Mountain’s unique history.

Last Saturday I sat for awhile on a roadside guard rail with a young coal miner in Blair, West Virginia. We watched a rally of people who’d come deep into coal country to try to save Blair Mountain. The miner had wandered over with some neighbors who staged a small counter-protest; they’d left, but he stayed on to catch some of the rally.

“I can see it both ways,” he said once his neighbors had gone. On one hand he understood the value of a job in the coal industry. When he’d switched from being an X-ray tech in a local hospital to a roof-bolter – one of the most dangerous mining jobs – in a nearby underground mine, his salary had doubled, from $45,000 to $90,000. And cousins who’d moved away to find work in other states returned to the area when new coal jobs became available.

At the same time, he admitted, “I don’t really want to see it torn down,” and he gestured up at Blair Mountain, above us to our left. More than one person has called it “the most important site in America that you’ve never heard of,” the place where perhaps 10,000 union coal miners came under machine-gun fire and even aerial bombardment in 1921 as they fought against a mercenery army hired to preserve a feudal system run by coal companies. The miner pointed to the ridgeline above us to our right. Beyond that line of trees, he said, “there’s nothing there,” just a rocky waste left by mountaintop removal.

Just as the miner struggled with that balance, the rally in front of us had its own uneasy tensions. I’d originally been attracted to filming the event because Blair Mountain brought together labor, environmentalists, and historic preservationists. But their alliance was sometimes a tenuous one. Some environmentalists boycotted the event because it focused too much on saving one mountain. Some unions didn’t want to be associated with the march because it could be seen as anti-coal – and coal is jobs, irreplaceable jobs in that part of Appalachia. And the historic preservationists would admit they don’t like any kind of surface mining, but they know from experience they have to work intelligently with property owners if they want to get anything done.

Despite those conflicts, hundreds of people marched over five days, and more than a thousand took a hot, steep hike up the mountain at the end of the rally, in a plea to save Blair Mountain, a piece of American history and Appalachian beauty that no one really wanted to see destroyed.

The rules of the game have just changed. Less than ten days ago, the Republican Party rode a massive wave into Washington. For the next two years, gone are the days of heart-wrenching testimony from young citizens impacted by climate change and gone are the days of AutoTuned lawmakers discussing the economic benefits brought about by clean energy legislation. We’re operating under new circumstances.

Going forward into the 112^th Congress, the smart money is on inaction, delay, and discord. The punditocracy and inside-the-Beltway flacks are bracing themselves for government shutdowns, a fight over health care repeal, and investigations into the Obama Administration. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this movement, it’s that committed youth clean energy and climate activists don’t give up easily, and I can’t imagine us starting to quit any time soon. Since the rules and expectations have changed, it’s time for us to change too.

Congressional Republicans have already started claiming that the American people have given them a widespread mandate to cut government spending, reduce the deficit, and jumpstart the American economy. In general, these are folks who have an abysmal record on climate and can’t wait to twiddle their thumbs while the world burns. But, since they’re now in charge of “the people’s branch,” youth climate advocates would do well to listen to what our opposition is asking for and see if we can find some common ground.

As the New York Times reports, “Reducing red ink — the $1.3 trillion deficit — will be a major test of Congress’ split-party makeup following elections that partly focused on runaway government spending.” Sounds like it might be time for some unsexy messaging – let’s talk about the deficit, baby. The National Debt was on tip of everyone’s tongues this election season – from Rand Paul to President Obama, American politicians seem to be seeking a way to cut our mounting deficit.  One unexpected way to do this? Put a price on carbon. Continue reading ‘Cut the Carbon, Cut the Deficit: Where Do Climate Advocates Go in the 112th Congress?’

Before I even start writing, I just want everyone to know that they should SIGN the Oceana petition to “Stop the Drill” as a call to President Obama and Congress to end the drilling of new offshore oil wells.  Oceana wants to get 500,000 signatures so please sign it and then go get 5 or 10 friends to sign it too.  I don’t think I need to recap the horrors of Gulf drilling or the oil spill, but if you need a refresher, check out StopTheDrill.org for more info about the petition, offshore drilling, and the oil spill response. And now, to my own meandering thoughts:

As I look over the pages of It’s Getting Hot In Here from the past few weeks and months, I’m reminded of a few truths:

1) The Senate is a place where legislation goes to die. Or at least, where it goes to hibernate until the four months following an election. We all know it and we’ve all been saying it, but it bears repeating — something in the Capitol is broken and it’s going to take a while to fix it. Here’s one idea:  Grist’s David Roberts on Busting the Filibuster (http://is.gd/egawA)

2) There are still ways to make sweeping changes from the White House without congressional approval. While it’s tough for advocates and activists to target administration officials or federal agencies, the fact remains that we can completely alter our negotiation strategies at COP, change large swaths of agricultural policy, or even END offshore drilling without having to navigate the tricky tricky Senate. Let’s not forget President Obama’s words from years past, “I don’t pretend to have all the answers to the challenges we face, and I look forward to periodic conversations with all of you in the months and years to come. I trust that you will continue to let me and other Democrats know when you believe we are screwing up. And I, in turn, will always try and show you the respect and candor one owes his friends and allies” (http://is.gd/egbTG)

3) People Power can still force our leaders to take action. Whether it’s experienced organizers confronting banks to stop funding MTR or it’s young policy advocates storming The Hill in Washington, we are still making a difference.

Oceana, the world’s leading ocean conservation organization, is hoping to harness some of that people power in a campaign to get 500,000 Americans to demand that President Obama and Congress stop offshore drilling. Partnering with a long list of celebrity spokespeople like January Jones,  Zach Braff, Nicolas Cage, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Harper,  James Cameron, and a gajillion more, Oceana is doing a pretty phenomenal job getting the word out about the moral, environmental and economic imperative that is stopping offshore drilling.

I won’t bore you all with the details of the marine life that is being decimated by the Deepwater Horizon explosion or the thousands of jobs that are put in jeopardy every time there is a spill (and they do happen a lot, there have been 30+ in the US since 2003). You can check out all that information at StopTheDrill.org. I just want to urge all readers of this blog not to get bogged down in the thoughts of what is possible or impossible – my patience has surely been tested this summer and I’ve been teetering on the line between faith in the system and despair. That’s why I’m encouraging you all to sign the Oceana petition. I have faith in their ability to bring about change and their creativity as messengers to help get the job done in Washington. Again, StopTheDrill.org. Thanks!

Meet Galen von Wodtke, the 11-year-old candidate for Governor of Vermont. A sixth grader at Guilford Central School in Guilford, VT,  Galen is undeniably the best clean-energy candidate out there. A resident of Vermont for precisely 11 and 3/4 years, he is more than qualified to run the state. And he cares about young people’s issues, like climate change and clean energy. It’s our future, after all.

Unfortunately, it’s currently illegal for 11-year-olds to run for Governor of Vermont, but the Race to Replace Vermont Yankee campaign, a student-run campaign aimed at turning out the youth vote for the 2010 Governor’s election, isn’t letting that stop them. Whoever is elected governor this November will have the power to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, VT and establish the plans to replace it with 100% clean electricity from within the state. That’s why young people across the state need to get energized about this election. Young people are overwhelmingly clean energy voters, but our track record at getting out to the polls and making the candidates hear our voices is underwhelming to say the least.

 That’s why we’re runnning a candidate like Galen – to show young people that it is our future at stake in this election, and we can have a governor who represents our voices and opinions. If we’re loud enough and bold enough, every candidate for Governor — Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Progressive – will feel the pressure from the youth clean energy movement and stand up for the clean energy future that we need so badly.

Galen is ready to go. He knows that climate change puts his future and the future of Vermont at stake. He wants to be able to ski Vermont’s peaks and eat Vermont maple sugar when he grows up. He wants to bring thousands of clean energy jobs to Vermont – jobs that will keep young people in the state and help revitalize Vermont’s economy. And he wants to do it all before he reaches puberty. 

But he can’t do it alone. Young people across the state (and country) need to be sure they get out and vote this year for clean energy candidates. If you’re in Vermont, check out www.racetoreplace.org to get involved and pledge to vote. And if you need to register, go to www.rockthevote.com and make sure your voice is heard.

On April 30th, 2010, 50 or so students from across Vermont came together with clean energy advocates from across the state to urge the candidates for governor of Vermont to ensure that the aging, leaking Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is shut down on time in 2012 and replaced with 100% clean electricity. Our first big action in the Race to Replace Vermont Yankee was a massive bike mobilization that brought passionate advocates from Montpelier, the state capital, to Burlington, the biggest city in the state. Check out our video:

Vermont’s abundant clean energy resources, from numerous micro-hydro sites to bountiful wind going untapped, make Vermont Yankee an unnecessary resource for the state. In order to renew Vermont’s economy, spur job creation in a state where young people are leaving in droves, and ensure Vermont’s status as a clean energy leader in the country, advocates are rallying round the 2010 governor’s election as an opportunity to point Vermont’s energy future in a new direction. Most importantly, we’re having a lot of fun while doing it!

All summer long, a crew of organizers from across Vermont will be working to push the candidates towards a bold clean energy plan, mobilize young clean energy voters to get out and vote, and raise the salience of clean energy in the election as a whole. While we’ve got an unlimited amount of people power, we do have a little bit of a shortage of dollar power, so it would be awesome if we could have the support of the youth climate movement to help guarantee Vermont is put on a path towards a clean energy future. Thanks!

As you might’ve heard, the Vermont State Senate voted earlier last month to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant as scheduled in 2012. When Vermont Yankee (VY) closes down, there will be a substantial gap in the state’s energy portfolio. So far, it’s unclear what will fill this gap.

A coalition of young Vermonters see the closing of Vermont Yankee as an opportunity for Vermont to develop clean energy options that will bring green jobs to Vermont and make Vermont a leader in clean energy. That’s why we’re asking all six Vermont gubernatorial candidates to join us in a pledge to bring 100% clean energy to Vermont by 2020. Talk about “Defining our Decade”! Continue reading ‘Vermont Students Challenge Gov. Candidates in “Race to Replace Vermont Yankee”’

Are you a smart young person looking to help create a more sustainable future around the world? Do you want to rub shoulders with some of the most influential policymakers in sustainable development? Do you have ideas about how to improve the UN?

Agents of Change (AoC) is now accepting applications to join the SustainUS youth delegation to the Eighteenth Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18), which will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City from May 3 – 14, 2010. CSD-18 is a review session and addresses the topics of transport, chemicals, waste management, and mining. In addition, CSD-18 will follow-up on the 2006 Johannesburg Summit call to develop a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.

Selected delegates will have the opportunity to work with government officials, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth from around the world to review progress on issues related to sustainable development. In the past, AoC delegates have presented case studies and policy statements on behalf of youth; participated in forums with fellow representatives of civil society; and met with government delegates, international organizations, and the US State Department.

How to apply: Please respond to the questions in the Application and email your application in the form of a single Word document to agents@sustainus.org. Applications must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Incomplete applications, or those not compiled into a single document, will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of their selection by early March and will be required to confirm their involvement shortly after notification. Please be sure to include all five sections of the application. If you have any questions, please contact AoC Coordinator Julia Wong at agents[at]sustainus.org

I thought it would be worthwhile to post the whole press release that the White House put out today about President Obama’s trip to Copenhagen. I’m sure folks have a whole variety of opinions on the President’s visit and his announcement of emissions cuts “in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020,” so let’s see a discussion going in the comments section.

President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks

Announces U.S. Emission Target for Copenhagen

The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord.   The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year.  Based on the President’s work on climate change over the past 10 months – in the Major Economies Forum, the G20, bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations – and based on progress made in recent, constructive discussions with China and India’s Leaders, the President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen.  The President’s decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future.

The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation.  In light of the President’s goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030.  This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress and demonstrates a significant contribution to a problem that the U.S. has neglected for too long.  With less than two weeks to go until the beginning of the Copenhagen conference, it is essential that the countries of the world, led by the major economies, do what it takes to produce a strong, operational agreement that will both launch us on a concerted effort to combat climate change and serve as a stepping stone to a legally binding treaty.  The President is working closely with Congress to pass energy and climate legislation as soon as possible. Continue reading ‘Obama to Go to Copenhagen, Announces 17% Target’

Cross-posted from the 1Sky Blog: www.1sky.org/blog

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held their first hearings on the Kerry-Boxer climate bill this morning and it was a doozy! The Senate is proud of its reputation of being the world’s most deliberative deliberative body and this morning’s hearings were no exception to the rule. Two of the most important provisions in the Kerry-Boxer bill — the 2020 pollution reduction targets and the EPA’s ability to regulate dirty coal — were called into question numerous times. Luckily, climate advocates have a bunch of champs on the EPW committee who stood up for what they believed in and wouldn’t be bullied by the obstructionist tactics or oppositional name-calling of clean energy opponents. Here’s a Top 5 list of the most strong, hard-hitting, and all-around awesome moments from this morning’s hearing:

1) Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): I very very strongly believe that it is time that these power plants are held accountable! They have dodged around the law for too long, and their corporate lobbyists have won against our children’s lungs, and I for one am fed up with it! So I for one will stand firm on the Clean Air Act, and I hope many of my colleagues will support me on that.”

This post is part of Blog Action Day, 9,993 blogs and counting, all writing about climate change on the same day and together calling the US to take serious action on climate. Sign their petition here.

In 1986, the Swedish rock band Europe penned a song that would go down as one of the greatest in karaoke history, “The Final Countdown.” In truth, “The Final Countdown” has inspired thousands – nay, millions – to become amateur hair-metal superstars, belting out that most famous of lyrics, “It’s the final countdown/Duh nuh nuuuuuh nuh/ duh nuh nuh nuh nuh/ duh nuh nuuuuuh nuh/ duh nuh nuh nuh nuh.” It has become a timeless anthem that brings basketball crowds to their feet and brings back memories of hairspray and frayed leather vests to many a former groupie.

To me, however, “The Final Countdown” has a more serious connotation. It represents a soundtrack to the next two or three months, as world leaders, climate advocates, and global citizens prepare for a “final countdown” of their own. Clean energy legislation is moving through the US Senate, with more details emerging daily. The international climate negotiations are steadily plodding forward in anticipation of what some have called “the most important negotiations in the history of the world.” For me, the rest of 2009 is a final countdown of a different sort, dare I say, a “Climate Countdown”? And how does any good countdown start? Well, at “10″ of course!

10 weeks until Copenhagen high level meetings. That’s right – only ten weeks remain before the world’s most powerful men and women gather in the Danish capital to structure a binding global treaty aimed at solving climate change. That means, ten weeks to tell your senator that you want to see strong domestic climate legislation that will enable American negotiators to craft a real deal in Copenhagen. That means, ten weeks to tell President Obama to get in the game and ramp up the pressure on Senators to push for the emissions reductions that science is calling for and the financing that a global treaty needs to succeed. Ten weeks.

9 Regional PowerShifts. That means there are nine opportunities left for you to bond with youth climate leaders in your region and hold your Senators accountable as they take up clean energy legislation. From Michigan to Virginia, North Carolina to Oregon, these are nine conferences to reinforce a central tenet of the youth climate movement: “There is only one thing that can cut through the influence of these special interests and politics as usual; YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE US!!!” Continue reading ‘It’s the Climate Countdown, duh nuh nuh nuh…’