Sparking a Worldwide Energy Revolution; an evening with author Kolya Abramsky

Sunday, March 6 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Downstairs at St. Stephen’s Church
1525 Newton Street NW
Washington, DC

Spend an evening with author Kolya Abramsky, as he maps out a global class struggle for energy autonomy, independence, and a better world, against the fossil fools of the capitalist energy economy.

$5 at the door. Cosponsored by Dream City Collective, AK Press, and DC Rising Tide.

As the world’s energy system faces a period of unprecedented change, a global struggle over who controls the sector—and for what purposes—is intensifying. The question of “green capitalism” is now unavoidable, for capitalist planners and anti-capitalist struggles alike. From all sides we hear that it’s time to save the planet in order to save the economy, but in reality what lies before us is the next round of global class struggle with energy at the center, as the key means of production and subsistence.

There are no easy answers in this battle for control of the world’s energy system. Sparking A Worldwide Energy Revolution is not a book of sound bites. It unpacks the seemingly innocent terms “energy sector” and “energy system” by situating the current energy crisis, peak oil, and the transition to a post-petrol future within a historical understanding of the global, social, economic, political, financial, military, and ecological relations of which energy and technology are parts. The authors probe the systemic relationships between energy production and consumption and the worldwide division of labor on which capitalism itself is based?its conflicts and hierarchies, its crisis and class struggles.

Kolya Abramsky is a former visiting fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science, Technology and Society, in Graz, Austria, where he received the Manfred-Heindler Award for Energy and Climate Change Research, and in 2006 was coordinator of the Danish-based World Wind Energy Institute, an international effort in non-commercial renewable energy education, involving different renewable energy centers from around the world.

A blurb about the book:

"Gas flaring in Nigeria, wind farms in Schleswig-Holstein, mountain top removal in Appalachia, tar sands in Alberta, geothermal energy in Iceland, the toxic cycle of uranium, the slaughter in the coal-mines of China, the transgenic soya monocultures, the 'caliph' of oil in Iraq, jatropha production in Tanzania, exploration in the Tehuantepec winds: every power under the sun is here except horse-power, and everywhere on earth—China, Europe, North America, the Mideast, Africa, India, and Latin America.
Kolya Abramsky has composed, a symphonic compendium of five sections, fourteen parts, sixty chapters by forty-six individual authors and eighteen organizational authors in nearly seven hundred pages all arranged with intelligence and point. There are no technofixes. Neither 'clean' energy nor 'green' capitalism will preserve our lands, rivers, oceans, health, and lives. Neither governments nor corporations nor 'the market' can bring us out of the nether world they themselves have created. Mother Earth calls to the grass-roots for entirely new social relations, human and less hellish. This sober and serious book heeds that call."—Peter Linebaugh, author of The Magna Carta Manifesto: Liberties and Commons for All

SHAME on EPA! DC residents speak out against EPA approval of MTR permit

DC Residents Shame Environmental Protection Agency for Approving West Virginia Mine Permit

Washington, DC
January 6, 2010

This morning concerned citizens spelled out the words “Shame EPA” at the Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters in protest of the agency’s decision to approve the Hobet 45 mining permit in Lincoln Co. West Virginia.

This permit is one of 79 permits which were deemed by the Agency to present significant environmental harm to the local watersheds thus requiring an enhanced review process. EPA claims that in the case of this permit they have found a reasonable compromise.

Unfortunately for residents of Lincoln County and surrounding waterways, this permit will still allow for 3 miles of intact streams to be mined as well as millions of cubic yards of hazardous fill to be placed in existing valley fills offsite.

Residents like Judy Bonds, Director of Coal River Mountain Watch and resident of West Virginia, express grave concern about this decision as they worry that it is a sign at the new year of things to come. "We, the affected citizens that are living with the impacts of this destructive mining practice, pray that this decision is not a preview of other destructive mining permits being approved."

She continued to express concerns that this decision would only encourage miners who have lately resorted more to fear tactics and violence. “The very sad thing about this decision it is that the coal industry will think that their thugery and their threats contributed to this decision and may encourage them to be more violent in the future. Shame, Shame EPA.”

“We certainly hope this is the last destructive permit approved that will allow the coal industry to continue to blast our homes and pollute our streams,” Judy added.

Even with the changes made to the permit unacceptable adverse impacts will be felt in the communities surrounding this mine. Mountaintop removal is a deadly practice and should be abolished immediately.



More Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46335929@N08/sets/72157623155098704/

Climate justice activists march on polluters and lobbyists in downtown Washington DC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBfv4LBYj8

Posted Nov 30th, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2009

Contacts: Lacy MacAuley, (202) 445-4692, lacy@massey-media.com

Nadine Bloch, (202) 412-7611, nbloch@igc.org

Morgan Goodwin, (413) 884-5240, morgan.goodwin@gmail.com

Climate justice activists march on polluters and lobbyists in downtown Washington DC

Feisty unpermitted march blocks traffic, marks the tenth anniversary of the WTO shutdown in Seattle, demands “Corporations out of Copenhagen” one week prior to the UN climate summit

Washington DC – Climate justice activists this morning marched through downtown Washington DC to visit climate polluters and the K Street lobbyists who represent them, joining thousands more in cities across the country for actions marking the November 30th Mobilization for Climate Justice. The march occurred just one week before the beginning of international climate negotiations in Copenhagen and marked the tenth anniversary of the historic day when activists converged in Seattle to non-violently shut down the meetings of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

[Click to view PHOTOS of today’s climate justice march in Washington DC]

“Oil companies, lobbyists, and banks are driving climate change and using their influence to prevent us from taking swift action to stop climate change. They are accelerating us off of a climate change cliff by promoting business as usual. They’ll just save themselves with their golden parachutes, leaving the rest of the world in free fall,” said organizer Lacy MacAuley, “We are calling for ‘Corporations out of Copenhagen,’ asking businesses and their lobbyists to step aside and let us create meaningful solutions to climate change, solutions that place people before profit.” Continue Reading »

video

Pepco(al) Under Fire for Sourcing Electricity from Coal

DC Rising Tide activists hold a street theater event in front of the headquarters of Pepco in Downtown Washington, DC, to demand that Pepco stop sourcing their electricity from Mountain Top Removal coal.


October 26, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Pepco(al) under Fire for Sourcing Electricity from Coal

Contact: dcrisingtide@riseup.net

Slideshow of photos: http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv309/dcrisingtide/street%20theater%2010-26-09/?albumview=slideshow

Video from the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ0yJ-n8O3w


Washington, D.C.
DC residents with the activist group DC Rising Tide today publicly presented their demands that Pepco stop sourcing electricity from coal, and particularly coal from Mountain Top Removal coal mining. The activists made their demands for renewable energy with a theatrical fight between “Pepcoal” and wind power in front of the headquarters of Pepco and its parent company Pepco Holdings.


The "Pepcoal" smokestack, Wind Power, and Mountains at Pepco's office in DC

“As a DC resident receiving my power from Pepco, I am outraged that most of that electricity comes from burning coal, especially from coal from the Mountain Top Removal coal mining destroying Appalachia,” said Erica Madrid.

The activists demonstrated the role that Pepco Holdings plays in the destruction of mountains and valleys in Appalachia by enacting a fight between coal and a coal-burning power plant and wind energy, with the mountains and the planet representing the stakes in the fight.


"Pepcoal" battles with Wind in front of Pepco's office building


Wind knocks out "Pepcoal" to save the mountains

“Pepco is supporting the destruction of Appalachian mountains, communities, and streams, as well as the destruction of the global climate by using all that coal,” said Andrew Thomaides, as he handed out fliers to Pepco staff.


DC Rising Tide activists handing out fliers to staff and passerby's

In 2008, the electricity that Pepco provided to DC residents came mainly (53%) from coal, and only 0.5% came from wind energy. A large part of the coal burned for Pepco electricity has come from Mountain Top Removal mining in Appalachia. In addition, the parent company Pepco Holdings, Inc. owns two coal- fired power plants and a number of other fossil fuel plants. Pepco Holdings renewable energy facilities represent less than 1% of the generating capacity of the facilities it owns. The company is even planning the construction of two new fossil fuel power plants.

The DC Rising Tide group’s demands include that Pepco Holdings stop sourcing electricity from Mountain Top Removal coal mining, replaces that electricity with renewable energy, and stop construction of new fossil fuel power plants. The public demand today comes several weeks after the group sent a letter with their demands to Pepco Holdings. The group received a letter in response that failed to respond to their key demands.


Banner reads "Pepco: Stop using Mountain Top Removal Coal! - DC Rising Tide"

Mountain Top Removal coal mining means blowing off most of a mountain and pushing the fill into the valleys. MTR has destroyed over 500 mountains and over 2,000 miles of streams in Appalachia. Mining and burning of coal also represents one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas pollution, which is fueling the climate change that threatens life on Earth.

DC Rising Tide, an all-volunteer collective organizing for climate justice, is making its demands of Pepco Holdings in solidarity with the communities of Appalachia that are struggling and taking action to stop the destruction of their mountains.



DC Rising Tide activists march in front of Pepco, chanting "no more coal!"



More photos here.

dcRT hosts coal film festival-- next Tuesday (10/13)

Join DC Rising Tide for the...

**STOP MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL film fest!**

Come learn about Mountain Top Removal coal mining, and how folks in Appalachia are taking action to stop it!

**When? Tuesday 13 October at 7PM
**Where? Belmont House in Adams Morgan, 1830 Belmont RD. NW, Washington DC (located between columbia rd and 18th st. nearest metro: woodley park)


Find out how you can join DC Rising Tide in fighting MTR and fighting for climate justice right here in DC!

This night of short films about coal, environmental justice, and direct action is ***FREE***

For more info e-mail dcrisingtide@riseup.net


--
What is DC Rising Tide? We are part of the Rising Tide North America (www.risingtidenorthamerica.org) collective. Rising Tide is a grassroots network of groups and individuals who take direct action to confront the roots causes of climate change and promote local, community-based solutions to the climate crisis.

Check us out at
dcrisingtide.blogspot.com

Local Activists Expose Chevron as Fossil Fool

On Fossil Fools day, local DC activists
launched a Greenwash Guerrilla action
to help Chevron be a bit more honest in its advertising...

Today, on Fossil Fools Day, local DC activists launched a Greenwash Guerrilla action to help Chevron be a bit more honest in its advertising. The group decided to re-work Chevron’s hypocritical metro and bus stop ads that appeal to the public to reduce their individual energy consumption. A clarifying phrase was added to the ads, which portray people declaring that they will “use less energy,” “unplug stuff more,” “leave the car at home more,” etc. The phrase “While Chevron pollutes” was added to the bottom of each declaration using transparencies and clear packing tape.

“Chevron execs are Fossil Fools indeed if they think they can fool the public into thinking they are doing good things for the environment,” said one activist.

Outside of insinuating that the buck stops with individual action only, these ads are also interesting suggestions from a major fossil fuels company whose environmental record boasts such egregious and largely un-acknowledged atrocities as the dumping of more than 19 billion gallons of toxic waste water into Ecuador over a period of twenty-two years, or the releasing of around 3.8 billion pounds of toxic air and water pollutants into Richmond, Virginia each year. Or what about having been found complicit by the Nigerian government in gross human rights violations related to their oil production facilities there? Or taking over a company in Burma accused of assisting the Burmese military junta in the torture, murder and rape of villagers during the construction of a pipeline? Of course, there is much, much more (chevrontoxico.com/assets/docs/chevron-fact-sheet.pdf).

Clean up your act, Chevron!

See more photos at www.flickr.com/photos/dcrisingtide/

dc rising tide disrupts coal to liquids conference

Activists expose coal-to-liquids as a false solution

DC Rising Tide disrupt and denounce coal conference

March 26, 2009

Washington, DC. – Local activists with DC Rising Tide and their allies interrupted a coal industry conference today to denounce coal-to-liquids as a corporate scam that would continue the destructive path of the fossil fuel industry.

“ We have had enough of corporations trying to keep us hooked on polluting fossil fuels. They seek to profit from climate change and the destruction of Appalachia.” said Amanda Duzak of Rising Tide.

Activists stood in the audience and loudly presented speeches to refute the statements of coal and oil executives from Chevron, World Coal Institute, World Petroleum Council and Consol Energy. The advocates of clean energy called for an end to the use of fossil fuels and for adoption of clean, renewable, community-based energy sources. Protesters deployed banners in the conference to highlight that “Coal kills” and “Coal takes lives” and we need “Renewable energy now.”

“Pound for pound coal produces more CO2 than almost any other form of energy production. If we’re serious about tackling climate change, we absolutely must stop mining and burning coal. Coal to liquids technology is a step in the wrong direction for our air, water and climate.” said Michael Weber of Rising Tide

The activists explained that even if the unproven, expensive, and dangerous carbon capture and storage techniques were in place, coal-to-liquids technology, which would convert coal to oil for transportation, would generate twice as much greenhouse gas emissions as oil. It would also lead to an increase in coal mining that destroys rivers and mountains and threatens community health.

“Its time to stop investing in false solutions. We are facing a climate crisis. It is time to stand up and fight for a sustainable future.” said Emma Cassidy of DC Rising Tide.

Rising Tide DC is a grassroots group of activists working towards climate justice by debunking false solutions and advocating a community-based, clean energy future.

activists hang banner at "world coal to liquids conference." banner reads "coal takes lives. renewable energy now"

activist escorted out after interrupting the conference

activist stands on chair in protest as part of the "people's filibuster" during the world coal to liquids conference

activists post action. all activists were asked to leave the conference, but no arrests were made.

dc rising tide- established march 2009

dc rising tide is a local group for Rising Tide North America, based in Washington DC. the local group was established in March 2009. for more info and to get involved, email dcrisingtide@riseup.net


more info on rising tide north america (RTNA)
------
(from the rising tide north america website)

What is Rising Tide?

Rising Tide is an international network born out of the conviction that corporate-friendly and state-sponsored “solutions” to climate change will not save us. As a matter of survival, we must decrease our dependence on the industries and institutions that are destroying the planet and work toward community autonomy and sustainable living.

Who is Rising Tide?

Rising Tide is a grassroots network of groups and individuals who take direct action to confront the roots causes of climate change and promote local, community-based solutions to the climate crisis. Rising Tide was formed in the Netherlands in 2000 to bring a more radical voice to the COP6 (UN Conference of the Parties) climate talks that attempted (unsuccessfully, largely due to the efforts of the US delegation) to salvage what of substance was left of the Kyoto Protocol. Employing popular education and direct action to address the root causes of climate change with a focus on climate justice, Rising Tide now spans three continents.

Rising Tide North America’s strategy is based on a no-compromise approach of stopping the extraction of more fossil fuels and preventing the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Equally important, we must phase out our current fossil fuel use and make a just transition to sustainable ways of living. What this means in terms of local organizing depends on the specific conditions unique to each town and bioregion. Rising Tide’s tactics are diverse and creative, taking a bottom-up approach to connecting the dots between oil, war, capitalism, coal, and the destabilization of the global climate.

Changes will be made by people, not institutions. For this movement to succeed, local communities need to take initiative and make this global struggle relevant to their towns and bioregions. We need to start thinking strategically about how to spark a nationwide uprising against the fossil fuel industry that not only disrupts business as usual, but inspires widespread resistance.

Practical solutions exist; it’s time we start using them and making them more widely accessible. We must dismantle the systems of oppression that permeate our culture and ourselves, and work toward real solidarity across lines of race, class, gender and sexual orientation. When we begin to build a culture of mutual aid and community autonomy, we demonstrate that we don’t need the government, and certainly not giant corporations, to survive. We just need a livable planet.

Climate Justice

As we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the people most affected by climate change are the same people who have been exploited and oppressed throughout the history of civilization – those outside the dominant race and class. On a global level, the regions expected to be hit the hardest by severe droughts, storms and rising sea levels are generally places with the least fossil fuel infrastructure – in other words, the people least responsible for creating climate chaos.

The potential for environmental racism on a scale we’ve not yet seen is downright scary; we got a taste of the future in New Orleans, where environmental refugees attempting to flee a drowning city by crossing the Crescent City bridge to the un-flooded and affluent suburb of Gretna were turned back by gunshots by the remnants of the suburb’s police force. Such an environmental future cannot be allowed to pass; it’s high time we step up our efforts to build real relationships with poor people and people of color who stand the most to lose from climate change.

RTNA aims to build strong links with those who are already being affected by climate change, and to ally ourselves with environmental justice groups fighting pollution from refineries, power plants and coal processing facilities.

PDF of RTNA pamphlet: Intro to RTNA

Also check out:

• Rising Tide UK
• Rising Tide Australia