Showing posts with label The Front Lines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Front Lines. Show all posts

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Sunday, October 19, 2008

BBC: "Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'"

"...the reality is that at today's rate we are losing natural capital at least between $2-$5 trillion every year."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7662565.stm

Collective poem of Via Campesina Youth

From: www.viacampesina.org A Global Peasant Movement

Sunday, 19 October 2008

The countryside is our life
The earth feeds us
The rivers run in our blood
We are the youth of the Via Campesina
Today we declare the beginning of a new world
We come from the four corners of the world
To stand together in the spirit of resistance
To work together to create hope
To talk together about our struggles
To learn from each others work
To be inspired by each others songs, music and stories
To build solidarity between our movements
To unite as a strong force for social change.
From here we go forward into the four corners of the world.
We carry with us a spirit of revolution,
The conviction that another world is possible,
And the dedication to fight for our way of life.
We will fight until we win, until youth all over the world
Are able to live in the countryside, as campesinos, with peace and prosperity.
When the state tries to repress us, we will unite in solidarity and continue the struggle.
When a compañera falls, we will pick her up.
When it gets cold, we will embrace each other so that the fire of our struggle will warm our hearts.
And each day we will place our bodies, our minds and our hearts on the line and fight for life, and fight for La Via Campesina

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Rights of Nature

Taken From: http://www.stuffedandstarved.org/

Nature's Constitution
Quietly last Monday, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Assembly changed the world. Seriously. As the report below shows, they approved legislation that would transform the planet, and ecosystems, from mere things into entities with legal rights to exist and flourish. It's the sort of thing that will give jurisprudence something to work on for a good long while.
The reason I find it all particularly exciting is that it takes the idea of individual human rights, and gives them to entities systems that are hard to define either as individual or human. As to what this means in practice, and whether it's adopted in the final constitution, we'll have to see. But as to what this means in theory, it's already revolutionary. More below the fold.

An excerpt from the document:

Art. 1. Nature or Pachamama, where life is reproduced and exists, has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution. Every person, people, community or nationality, will be able to demand the recognitions of rights for nature before the public organisms. The application and interpretation of these rights will follow the related principles established in the Constitution.

Art. 2. Nature has the right to an integral restoration. This integral restoration is independent of the obligation on natural and juridical persons or the State to indemnify the people and the collectives that depend on the natural systems. In the cases of severe or permanent environmental impact, including the ones caused by the exploitation on non-renewable natural resources, the State will establish the most efficient mechanisms for the restoration, and will adopt the adequate measures to eliminate or mitigate the harmful environmental consequences.

Art. 3. The State will motivate natural and juridical persons as well as collectives to protect nature; it will promote respect towards all the elements that form an ecosystem.

Art. 4. The State will apply precaution and restriction measures in all the activities that can lead to the extinction of species, the destruction of the ecosystems or the permanent alteration of the natural cycles. The introduction of organisms and organic and inorganic material that can alter in a definitive way the national genetic patrimony is prohibited.

Art. 5. The persons, people, communities and nationalities will have the right to benefit from the environment and form natural wealth that will allow wellbeing. The environmental services cannot be appropriated; its production, provision, use and exploitation, will be regulated by the State.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

The RNC Wecoming Committee

Those who work with the RNC Welcoming Committee must agree to:

1. A rejection of
Capitalism, Imperialism, and the State;
2. Resist the
commodification of our shared and living Earth;
3. Organize on the principles of
decentralization, autonomy, sustainability, and mutual aid;
4. Work to end all relationships of domination and subjugation, including but not limited to those rooted in
patriarchy, race, class, and homophobia;
5. Oppose the
police and prison-industrial complex, and maintain solidarity with all targets of state repression;
6. Directly confront
systems of oppression, and respect the need for a diversity of tactics.

www.nornc.org

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Organizations

Permaculture/Intentional Communities
www.ic.org – Intentional Community website
www.cohousing.org – National Cohousing Association
www.egfs.org –Emma Goldman Finishing School IC
www.urbanwater.info –Great Resource for Urban Watershed work
www.bioneers.org –Bioneers
www.earthactivisttraining.org –Earth Activist Training (CA)
www.oaec.org -Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
www.pathtofreedom.org –Path to Freedom House self -eliance (CA)
www.permacultura.org –Permaculture Latin America
www.permacultureactivist.net –Permaculture Activist Magazine
www.permaculture.org –The Permaculture Institute
www.livepower.org –Live Power Community Farm, Biodynamic farm (CA)
www.culturechange.org –Culture Change, Transport Network
www.solarliving.org –The solar Living Institute
www.lostvalley.org –Lost Valley
www.aprovecho.net –Aprovecho Education center

Forestry/Agroforestry/Arboriculture
www.arborday.org –Arbor Day foundation
www.aftaweb.org –Association for Temperate Agroforestry
www.cifor.cigiar.org –Center for International forestry Research
www.metafore.org –Forest Certification Resource Center
www.earthsourcewood.com –Earth Source Forest Products
www.ecotrustforests.com –Eco-Trust Forests LLC
www.theforestguild.org –The Forest Guild
www.dovetailinc.org –Dove Tail Inc. Community Forestry
www.iatp.org –Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (see forestry center)
www.sfiprogram.org –Sustainable Forestry Initiative (cert.)
www.sierrainstitute.us –Sierra Institute Community forestry
www.safnet.org –Society of American Foresters
www.sustainablewoods.net –The Sustainable Woods Network
www.fsc.org –Forest Stewardship Council
www.pacificforest.org –Pacific Forest Trust
www.forests.org –Forest Protection Portal
www.forestethics.org –Forest Ethics advocacy
www.treeswaterpeople.org –Trees Water People
www.communityforestryinternational.org –Community Forestry International
www.fao.org/forestry/en -FAO
www.greenleafforestry.com –Green Leaf Forestry Great Program!
www.natlforest.org –The National Forest Foundation

Environmental Organizations
www.deepecology.org –Foundation for Deep Ecology
www.greenbeltmovement.org –African Reforestation Organization
www.carbonfund.org –Carbon sequestering for your life
www.treepeople.org –LA Org, reforestation, and urban water
www.sierraclub.org –DUH
www.greenpeace.org –DUH
www.earthfirst.org
www.earth-policy.org – Earth Policy Institute
www.ifcae.org –Institute for Culture and Ecology
www.ser.org –Society for Ecological Restoration
www.wiserearth.org –Wiser Earth Environmental Org data base
www.nwf.org –National Wildlife Federation
www.worldwildlife.org –World Wildlife Fund
www.RAN.org –Rainforest Action Network
www.foe.org –Friends of the Earth
www.nature.org –The Nature Conservancy
www.nrdc.org –Natural Resource Defense Council

Localism/Bioregionalism
www.ecotrust.org -Eco-Trust does amazing work with the concept of Bioregionalism
www.middleburyinstitute.org –Middlebury Institute for the study of Secession
www.cascadia-bioregion.tripod.com –Cascadia Bioregional page
www.planetdrum.org –Planet Drum Bioregional Org, (CA)
www.vermontcommons.org –Vermont Commons, secession
www.republicoflakotah.com –Lakotah Freedom!
www.ilsr.org –Institute for Local Self Reliance

Urban Planning/New Urbanism/Green City
www.smartgrowthamerica.org –Smart Growth America
www.smartgrowth.org –Smart Growth
www.communitygarden.org –American Community Gardening Association
www.postcarbon.org –AMAZING RESOURCE, Post Carbon cities, relocalize
www.sustainable.org –Sustainable Communities Network
www.cityrepair.org –City Repair in Washington
www.lincolninst.edu –Lincoln Land Institute
www.apta.org –American Public Transportation Association

Agriculture/Food/Food Sovereignty/Ethical Consumption
www.attra.org –National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
www.foodfirst.org –Institute that studies food and development related issues
www.foodroutes.org –where does our food come from?
www.localharvest.org –Find CSA’s and local farmers
www.sustainabletable.org –GREAT resource for basics of sustainability and ethical consumption
www.familyfarmdefenders.org –Family Farm Defense and Agro issues
www.organicconsumers.org –Organic Consumers Association, protecting organic standards (see also Organic Farmers and Gardeners Union)
www.viacampesina.org –La Via Campesina Food Sovereignty/Peasant Movement
www.nfu.org –The National Farmers Union
www.greenerhoices.org – Ethical Consumption, eco-labeling
www.coopamerica.org –Great Resource! Fair trade etc.
www.seedsaversexchange.org –Seed Savers and sellers
www.cityfarmer.org –Urban Agriculture!
www.foodsecurity.org –Community Food Security’s North American Food Policy Council
www.nffc.net –National Family Farm Coalition
www.slowfood.com –Slow Food International
www.acresusa.com –Acres Magazine
www.eco-farm.org –The Ecological Faming Association
www.organicvoluteers.org –Organic Volunteers, WWOOF
www.growbiointensive.org –Ecology Action, Bio-intensive farming
www.foodsovereignty.org –IPC Food Sovereignty
www.iatp.org –Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
www.agpolicy.org –Agriculture Policy
www.fb.org –The American Farm Bureau
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp -Natural Resources Conservation Service (Conservation Security Program)
www.farmland.org –American Farmland Trust

Fair Trade
www.usft.org –United Students for Fair Trade
www.citizenstrade.org –Citizen’s Trade Campaign –GREAT Resource
www.tradejustice.org –Student Trade Justice
www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org –United Students Against Sweat Shops
www.transfairusa.org –Trans-Fair
www.fairtrade.net –FLO
www.responsibleshopper.org –Responsible Shopper
www.globalexchange.org –Global Exchange
www.foodalliance.org –Food Alliance Certification
www.naturallygrown.org –Naturally Grown Food Certification
www.ifat.org –International Fair Trade Association
www.cottonfieldusa.com –Organic Cotton Products
www.nosweatapparel.com –NO SWEAT

Labor/workers Rights/Popular Movements
www.IWW.org –Industrial Workers of the World
www.ufw.org –United Farm Workers (Cesar Chavez’s group)
www.workerssolidarity.org –Workers Solidarity Network
www.mstbrazil.org –Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement
www.aimovement.org –American Indian Movement
www.appaf.org –American Palestine Public Affairs Forum
www.laborradio.org –Workers Independent News
www.USLEAP.org –Worker and Trade solidarity
www.labornet.org –Labor NET
www.aflcio.org –AFL-CIO
www.workingforamerica.org –Working For America Institute
www.solidairtycenter.org –Solidarity Center
www.georgemeany.org –National Labor College

Cooperativism/Solidarity-conservation Economy
www.usworker.coop – The US Federation of Worker Owned Coops
www.geo.coop –Grassroots Economic Organizing, solidarity Economy!
www.conservationeconomy.net –Conservation Economy (part of Eco-Trust)
www.ica.coop – International Cooperative Alliance
www.ncba.coop –National Cooperative Business Alliance
www.ncdf.coop –North Country Cooperative Development Fund
www.ncfc.org –National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
www.socialinvest.org –Social Investing
www.socialfunds.com -Social Funds Investing
www.greenworker.coop –Green Worker Cooperatives (NYC)
www.equalexchange.com –Equal Exchange F.T. Co-op
www.cooplife.coop –Cooperative Life (New England)
www.coophousing.org –National Association of Housing Cooperatives
www.nasco.coop –North American Students of Cooperation
www.uwcc.wisc.edu –University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives
www.nwcdc.coop –Northwest Cooperative Development Center

International Development/Post- Development
www.us.oneworld.net –News and resource for international development
www.sdi.gov –Sustainable Development Indicators
www.oxfam.org –Oxfam-fair trade, poverty
www.care.org –CARE
www.rainforestalliance.org –Rainforest Alliance –cert and sustainable Agro
www.journeytoforever.org –Journey to Forever, great resource
www.treeswaterpeople.org –Trees Water People
www.usaid.gov –US AID
www.undp.org –UN Development Program
www.FAO.org –Food and Agriculture Organization
www.who.int –World Health Organization
www.wvi.org –World Vision International
www.wri.org –The World Resource Institute
www.sustainableharvest.org –Sustainable Harvest International
www.ecologic.org –EcoLogic Development Fund
www.rainforestrelief.org –Rainforest relief
www.skoll.org –Skoll Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

Participatory Democracy/ Corporate Accountability
www.celdf.org – The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund- works with communities to stand up to corporate power, and establish ordinances promoting authentic democracy
www.reclaimdemocracy.org –AMAZING resource and activism
www.poclad.org –Program on corporations, law and democracy
www.duhc.org –Democracy Unlimited (Humboldt)
www.nationalinitiative.us –The National Initiative for Democracy, People Power
www.citizen.org –Public Citizen

News, Media, Publishing and Information
www.enn.com –Environmental News Network
www.riseup.org – Rise Up- web hosting, email
www.zmag.org –LEFT news, theory, conflict watches, and articles
www.akpress.org –AK Press publishing
www.microcosmpublishing.org –Out of Portland, cool stickers
www.bigpicture.tv –Videos of activists talking about THE ISSUES
www.globalissues.org – Great Resource
www.democracynow.org –Democracy Now Radio and Podcast, great news source!
www.indymedia.org –Independent Media Center National Organization
www.multinationalmonitor.org –Multinational Monitor magazine started by Ralph

Anarchism
www.catholicworker.org –The Catholic Worker Magazine and movement page
www.cpt.org –Christian Peacemaker Team
www.dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/index.html -Anarchy Archive

Non-Profit/Land Trusts
www.lta.org –Land Trust Alliance
www.tpl.org –The Trust for Public Land
www.iceclt.org –Institute for Community Economics
www.worldlandtrust.org –World Land Trusts for conservation
www.pacificforest.org –Pacific Forest Trust
www.alcnet.org –American Land Conservancy

Health and Health Care
www.commonweal.org –Common Weal Holistic health
www.healthcare-now.org –Health Care advocacy group!
www.phmovement.org –Peoples Health Care Movement

Political Economy
www.worklessparty.org –Work Less Party out of Canada, with some amazing ideas
www.ussf07.org –US and World Social Forums
www.gp.org –The Green Party of the United States
www.newamericandream.org –New American Dream
www.codepink4peace.org –Women for Peace!
www.unitedforpeace.org –United For Peace and Justice
www.highlandercenter.org –Famous center, MLK, etc.
www.ccrjustice.org –Center for Constitutional Rights
www.ACORN.org –Association of Community Organizations for reform now
www.amnestyUSA.org _Amnesty International
www.corporatewatch.org –Corporate Watch
www.gp.org –US Green Party
www.democrats.org –The Democratic Party
www.sp-usa.og –Socialist Party USA
www.hrw.org –Human Rights Watch
www.neweconomics.org –The New Economics Foundation

Anthropology
www.sfaa.net –Society for Applied anthropology
www.aaanet.org –American Anthropological Association
www.eanthorg – AAA Anthropology and the Environment
www.culturalsurvival.org –Cultural Survival

Utah Environmental Resources

ENERGY use
There are all sorts of things we can do to save energy. First of all we should know where our energy comes from. Coal? Solar? Hydro-electric? Reducing electricity consumption from a coal fired power plant can have an impact on global warming if we all act collectively. Turn off lights, unplug appliances you are not using, use energy star certified appliances, clean the back of your refrigerator regularly, find programs that support alternative energy such as wind or solar. You can also simply lower your thermostat and put on a sweater in winter or open a window in summer. When you have your own place, look into passive solar design, double and triple pained windows, and solar panels. And of course, hold your elected officials accountable, and put pressure on them to support a green economy.
Links:
http://www.utahcleanenergy.org/
WATER use
If you live in the West, chances are your water is coming from a long distance away. In Utah, we depend on giant reservoirs and catchments of water up Provo and Rock canyons for our water. This water has been diverted from natural hydrological cycles to water lawns, agricultural fields and fill bathtubs. Of course it isn’t wrong to use water, but the more conscientious we are about our use, the more the water can stay in the rivers, stream and lakes. Limit shower time, REPLACE lawns with native and drought tolerant vegetation, don’t wash drive ways sweep them. And of course, hold your elected officials accountable, and put pressure on them to support a green economy.
Links:
http://www.utahrivers.org/
http://www.slowtheflow.org/
http://www.conservewater.utah.gov/
http://www.cuwcd.com/ (Central Utah Water Conservancy District)
FOOD and General consumption
This, in my humble opinion is the most important! What we eat and what we consume are intimately connected to the ecological and social problems we face. Our cheap food is heavily subsidized by fossil fuels and drenched with fertilizers and pesticides that affect our water ways and drinking water. That inexpensive t-shirt you’re wearing was probably produced in China for a pittance, at the expense of US manufacturing jobs. On average, the food on our table comes from about 1,200 miles away! These are usually called FOOD MILES. This combined with toxic and destructive industrial food production practices are wreaking havoc on our earth and our health. Buying organic and fair trade food and products is a great step to reducing out impact, but it is even more impactful if we buy LOCAL organic food. Local food is usually grown by small farmers, who use fewer chemicals, and who have a stake in the local economy. Supporting them means they won’t have to sell their land to a sub-divider! So start small, buy more organic products at the store, DO NOT shop at Wal-Mart, patronize farmers markets and support local farmers before buying store bought organics.
Another thing we can do is reduce or stop our meat consumption. Meat production in the US is both unethical and environmentally destructive. Another thing we can do is reduce, reuse and recycle our waste. Provo and Utah generally are not the best recyclers, if you are dedicated, there are ways to recycle most things.* And of course, hold your elected officials accountable, and put pressure on them to support a green economy.
Links:
http://www.100milediet.org/
http://www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.factoryfarms.com/
http://www.sustainabletable.org/
http://www.themeatrix.com/
http://attra.ncat.org/farm_energy/food_miles.html (food Miles)
http://www.coopamerica.org/
http://www.foodfirst.org/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/
Transportation
This one is pretty obvious, when we drive we emit all kinds of bad stuff, this not only affects the climate, but also our local air quality and water ways. Utah has what are called inversions, which trap all the pollution from cars in the valley, causing serious respiratory problems for children and elderly. So, use public transport, drive less, bike and walk more, plan errands around a single trip. Or you can offset your emissions with a reputable NGO like Carbon Fund. And of course, hold your elected officials accountable, and put pressure on them to support a green economy.
Links:
http://www.carbonfund.org/
http://www.rideuta.com/
Ecological Literacy/sense of place
In reducing our impact on the planet it is also ESSENTIAL that we acquaint ourselves with the natural systems and beings that surround us. Ecological Foot Print can be measured quantitatively, but literacy is a qualitative impact that each of us has to find for ourselves. Understanding the basics of the hydrological cycle, carbon cycle, learning to identify local flora and fauna, volunteering with invasive plant removals or river clean ups, hiking, camping, hunting responsibly, etc. These are only a few ways in which we can reconnect to the land, gaining a better understanding of why all the other things are necessary in the first place. And of course, hold your elected officials accountable, and put pressure on them to support a green economy.
http://www.earthday.net/ (Ecological Foot Print Quiz)
http://www.ucweeds.org/
Political Engagement and awareness
Lastly, it is ESSENTIAL that we are engaged with the ongoing debates on the local, state, and national political stage. There are very real differences in how candidates approach the environment; research each and come up with your own conclusions about who might be the best candidate to guide us to the green economy. Stay up with news, and read books and articles about relevant issues, then write editorials, articles, emails, or letters to appropriate representatives about your concerns.
http://www.enn.com/
http://www.npr.org/
http://www.globalissue.org/

A few General Organizations:
http://www.sierraclub.org/
http://www.greenpeace.org/
http://www.wiserearth.org/

BYU and Utah Organizations
Eco-Response BYU- BYUecoresponse@gmail.com The Utah Valley Sierra Forum- http://uvsf.blogspot.com/ The June sucker recovery project- http://www.junesuckerrecovery.org/ The Utah Native Plant Society- http://www.unps.org/
Tree Utah- http://www.treeutah.org/
Slow Food Utah- http://www.slowfoodutah.org/
Utah Rivers Council- http://www.utahrivers.org/
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance- http://www.suwa.org/
Salt Lake Sierra Club-http://utah.sierraclub.org/saltlake_group.asp
Wasatch Community Gardens- http://www.wasatchgardens.org/
Post Carbon Salt Lake- http://www.relocalize.net/groups/saltlake
Nature Conservancy Utah - http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/utah/
HEAL Utah (nuclear waste Issue) – http://www.healutah.org/
Mormons for Equality and Social Justice – http://www.mesj.org/
University of Utah Office of Sustainability – http://www.sustainability.utah.edu/
On World Café – http://www.oneworldeverybodyeats.org/
Save Our Canyons – http://www.saveourcanyons.org/
Utah Environmental Congress – http://www.uec-utah.org/
Utah Vital Signs Report - www.utahpop.org/vitalsigns/
Utahans for better transportation - http://www.utahnsforbettertransportation.org/
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment - http://www.uphe.org/
Friends of the Great Salt Lake – http://www.fogsl.org/
Utah Back Country Volunteers- http://www.utahbackcountry.org/
Utah Society for Environmental Education – http://www.usee.org/
Utah Moms for Clean Air – http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org/

*Recycling in Utah
Waste Management is pretty much the only local recycler, but it’s tough to get apartments to sign up with them, there is no city mandate for recycling. So you can either take your recyclables to the city drop off @ 1625 South Industrial Parkway This the Provo city Compost station, which is open Spring/Summer/Fall Monday - Friday 8 am -6 pm, and Saturdays 8 am - 5 pm. Winter hours are Monday - Thursday 8 am - 6 pm. Its basically a big space to dump organic waste, but there is a large green waste management bin a the far end.
You can recycle-Paper, cardboard, 1 & 2 plastic, aluminum and tin cans: NO GLASS
You can also recycle paper, aluminum cans, and cardboard at BYU campus.
There is one place in Salt Lake that recycles glass, if you ever want to make the trip:
Rocky Mountain Recycling Inc (801) 975-1820 2950 W 900 S Salt Lake City, UT
Other Utah Recycling Organizations:
http://www.recycleutah.org/
http://www.utahrecycles.org/
If you would like a tour the Waste Management Recycling Facility in West Jordan call: (801) 280-8200 press zero and ask to talk with Troy Larson