Category: Featured News

Best of the Rising Tide website, things formally featured on the scrolling slider on the front page or on the old front page.

Shut Down the Corporations on Feb. 29

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Shut Down the Corporations on Feb. 29

Dear Friends-

Ever heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC?

They are one of the political arms for the biggest corporations in America. Corporations like ExxonMobil, Bank of America, BP, Monsanto, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart all use ALEC to buy off legislators and craft legislation that serves their profit-seeking interests.

They have spread anti-labor legislation in Wisconsin, the racist bill SB 1070 in Arizona, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and efforts to obstruct confronting the climate crisis. They are leading the right wing’s legislative charge into American politics and society.

Shut Down the Corporations on Feb. 29

Now movements for justice and the environment are hitting back.

On Feb. 29th, Rising Tide North America chapters have joined with the Occupy movement to call for a national day of action to confront ALEC and it’s member corporations. But we need you to join or organize an action in your town and area.

Join us now.

Shut Down the Corporations on Feb. 29

Thanks for all you do.

Solidarity,

Rising Tide North America

 

Rising Tide North America: 5 years and Still Going Strong

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Dear Friends-

Five years ago in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Rising Tide North America (RTNA) emerged as a radical force in the climate movements. Seeking to make the connection between climate change and social justice, RTNA has built a climate justice network throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States that includes over 60 chapters, local contacts and ally groups.

SUPPORT RISING TIDE NORTH AMERICA

send a donation check payable to:

Rising Tide North America
PO Box 1588
Hood River, OR 97031

While Big Green groups spent millions of their members dollars on failed climate legislation and international agreements in Washington and Copenhagen, Rising Tide has spent the past five years building and organizing movements to challenge the root causes of climate change committed to these core principles:

  • Solidarity with frontline communities. From the coalfields of Appalachia to tar sands ravaged Alberta to the coal-polluted neighborhoods of Chicago, we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with those most impacted by climate change and fossil fuel extraction. And will continue to do so.
  • Building a grassroots direct action climate movement. Lobbying and elections have failed us. The political system is corrupted by corporate dollars. Just in 2011, from the Dept. of Interior to the Montana state house to the streets of Salt Lake City and St. Louis to the highways and byways of red state Idaho, we’ve used people powered direct action against greedy corporations and craven politicians.
  • Calling out the false solutions to climate change. Industry shamefully tries to shift the climate debate with promises of “clean coal”and “ethical oil,” but we knew better. Bankers and investment traders try to profit from climate change by turning carbon into a commodity, but we said “NO!” These false solutions won’t solve our climate problems and they must be called out again and again.

For five years, our network has grown throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States. For five years we’ve stood with the most impacted by climate change. For five years, we’ve built a direct action movement to stop climate change and end fossil fuel extraction. For five years, we’ve challenged the root causes of climate change.

Now as we enter our sixth year, we´re supporting our grassroots network more and more.

Please support Rising Tide North America with your donation.

Thanks for all you do,
Rising Tide North America

John Stewart, UK’s “most effective environmentalist” barred from entering US

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Environmentalists from across America and Europe are surprised and outraged that John Stewart, voted the UK’s “most effective environmentalist,” was barred from entering the US. Stewart was invited to the US by a coalition of environmental organizations.


On September 29, Stewart, who does not have a criminal record and meets the requirements for the US Visa Waiver program, had his visa waiver rescinded mid-flight. He was questioned by the FBI, the Secret Service, and immigration for six hours at New York’s JFK Airport before being put back on a plane to London.

American environmental campaigners had planned a month-long speaking tour for Stewart, set to begin on October 1. Stewart had been instrumental in the campaign to stop a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport. He had chaired the diverse coalition of neighbors, environmental activists, fiscal conservatives, and local politicians which persuaded the Conservative government to scrap plans for a new runway. In 2008 the Independent on Sunday voted Stewart “the UK’s most effective environmentalist.”

Environmentalist Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, says that barring a community organizer from entering the U.S. is a dangerous statement. He continued, “We need more voices, not fewer, explaining the dangers of climate change and the rational responses we must make. And though it’s a backhanded testament to John Stewart’s effectiveness, this is sad news for all of us hoping to hear what he had to say.”

Stewart said, “What seemed to concern them was that I would be discussing, as part of my talk, the role that peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience played in the Heathrow Campaign. I wouldn’t be able to explain the campaign without doing so. In any case, it is completely legitimate to discuss the role of an activity which has featured so heavily in so many historical campaigns, from the American Civil Rights Movement, to the Suffragettes’ fight for the right of women to vote in the UK.”

Stewart has also won support from across Europe and the UK. Earlier today, Conservative member of the British Parliament Zac Goldsmith tweeted: “Heathrow campaigner, John Stewart barred from US. A heroic campaigner, and a gent. Utterly scandalous.”

U.S. organizers have spent over a year planning the month-long national lecture tour on aviation and the environment, and are shocked and embarrassed at their government’s actions. Another invited speaker, award-winning Scottish climate activist Dan Glass, was effectively blocked from participating because his visa application was delayed indefinitely due to special “administrative processing.”

“John Stewart is a mainstream environmentalist who we invited because of his ability to work with everybody, and because of his role in helping influence people like British Prime Minister David Cameron in choosing bold green solutions,” says Barnali Ghosh, a San Francisco tour organizer. “Americans needs to be hearing from more centrists who can build left-right coalitions.” Seattle organizer Debi Wagner asks why Stewart’s visa was rescinded mid-flight. “Barring environmentalists won’t make us any safer or healthier.”

New York organizer Dr. Frans Verhagen is outraged, but affirms that the tour will go ahead. “We will use videoconferencing to ensure that John Stewart and Dan Glass can still address our meetings. Our lecture tour still begins in New York tomorrow, as planned.”

The Aviation Justice Express is a coalition of airport watchdog, climate action, and sustainable transportation groups and activists. Endorsers include 350.org, US Citizens Aviation Watch, Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, Sane Aviation for Everyone, Shut This Airport Nightmare Down, All Aboard Washington, AirportWatch, So We Stand, and Left Field Films.

original article: http://aviationjustice.org/2011/09/30/john-stewart-barred-from-us/

Media contact
Anirvan Chatterjee
Aviation Justice Express
anirvan at chatterjee.net
+1 415-944-9121

Fifteen Arrested Taking Action Against Banks and Big Coal in St. Louis

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Today, hundreds marched and saw fifteen community and climate activists arrested as the Midwest Rising! Convergence took the streets of St. Louis to protest Bank of America and Peabody Coal.

The arrest action occurred in the intersection connecting Bank of America’s St. Louis offices and Peabody’s national headquarters.

Peabody is the world’s largest coal company and mines states like Wyoming and Montana for coal bound for coal plants in the U.S. and overseas markets. They are currently trying to build coal export terminals along the Washington coast for coal bound for Asia. Peabody has also recently taken a $61 million tax credit from the city of St. Louis, $2 million of that cash will be taken from St. Louis schools. Continue reading