Much attention in recent years has been devoted to green energy and reducing the human carbon footprint to counter the global warming and climate change threat. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the electric power sector is the largest source of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by end-use sectors, accounting for 40.6 percent of all energy-related CO2 emissions, followed by the transportation (33.1%), and the residential and commercial sector (26.3%).

CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH??? IF SO CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE! click here!

Nov. 18 Day of Action against PNC’s Mountaintop Removal Investments

Join Rainforest Action Network and allies all over Appalachia and the country in stopping PNC’s investments in mountaintop removal.

WHAT: PNC: Stop Funding MTR; Day of Action against to end Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Sector

WHERE: Your Town USA

WHEN; Nov. 18, 2010

CONTACT: dirtymoney@ran.org or 1-800-989-RAIN

INFO: www.dirtymoney.org

Pennsylvania based bank PNC is the biggest U.S. financier of mountaintop removal coal mining.

Join us as we send a message to PNC to stop financing mountaintop removal!

Long on Talk, Short on Action

PNC calls itself “the greenest bank in the business.”  While PNC has racked up an impressive amount of recognition for its green building designs, energy efficiency efforts, and minimizing of customer waste, it has bucked a banking sector trend by continuing to finance environmentally destructive mountaintop removal mining.

Violating Human Rights

Massey Energy operates some of the worst mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia.  Massey Energy is the “poster child of mountaintop removal” and is responsible for the Upper Big Branch mine disaster which killed 29 miners. PNC Bank financed Massey Energy’s most recent bond offering, and participated in Massey’s $175 million loan agreement in 2008.

Destroying Appalachia’s Mountains

PNC has become the largest U.S. financier of coal mining companies, providing $500 million in loans and bond underwriting to the coal industry, with an estimated $80 million going directly to MTR mining operations in Appalachia.   PNC Bank underwrote over $38 million in bonds and provided additional financial backing to Alpha Natural Resources, CONSOL Energy, International Coal Group and Patriot Coal this year – 2010

Six of the country’s largest banks have begun to phase out the financing of mountaintop removal.  Four have dropped Massey Energy as a client.  But PNC has done nothing and is now the largest funder of mountaintop removal in the United States.

Instead of financing the dirtiest, most destructive coal that comes from 500 destroyed mountains and poisoned numerous Appalachian communities, PNC needs to focus on a clean energy future that prioritizes energy efficiency and clean renewable sources.

Endorsed and Organized by Rainforest Action Network

I have often wondered if  “clean” air is an actual reality. But I forgot and or never really though about whether or not other may have thought it was a reality as well. But what I do know is this past Sunday after a graduation ceremony at my local church in Germantown Philadelphia, one of the mentors of my church asked me,” so u really think I could have clean air to breath in the near future? Do you think we could pass on a clean planet to our future generations?” I looked her in the eye’s and said YES!

Now many would think well why would you say that right? Why would you pass on False hope? To be perfectly honest, I sometimes do not feel that is the case. However, I truly believe that this generation, has the capacity to make it happen! We can have cleaner air, we can stop cooking the planet, but we have to hold our elected officials accountable! We have to create the society we want! I know that the youth of America and the older citizens who support us can make it happen! In reality one must look at the recent disaster such as BP, and the Three coal plant incidents as calls to action! Or what about the obvious increases in temperatures over our past summers? We have to make the change, and this change is preventative, such as Green Job Creation, extreme decrease from fossil fuels, to even the use of seasonal eating from local growers! It is all possible! In fact if we don’t do it who will??? What will become of us all??? Many suggest very scary solutions, that will harm life and our access to natural resources! So I am saying this, let’s do what we can! Let’s read the climate legislation! Let’s pass real laws that protect people and the Planet! Let’s create Jobs and let’s, create a clean and healthy society for us all! When I think of a dream I can and do believe that we can have clean air! So if you want to join in on the movement please checkout these websites!
www.checktheweather.net
www.ejcc.org
www.eneragyactioncoalition.org

Thanks!
Kirin

Hey ya’ll,
I caught this blog off the www.Checktheweather.net site!! If you really want know what Obama should do check out Kari Fulton’s Thoughts on checktheweather.net and read the BP Press Release you’d be shocked at their arrogance!!!!
Jacked from Checktheweather.net- http://checktheweather.net/2010/05/03/the-real-deal-on-the-bp-oil-spill/

Hey all,
So I figure that this is something that’s really interesting! I have given a lot of thought about the 3 fossil fuel disasters over the past 2 weeks and what is really interesting is that these came at a time when Climate Legislation is supposed to be the top of the list of Priorities for the Senate!!! I think it is now the appointed time for the environmental movement to stand up and really fight for what is needed one safer working conditions but 2 climate legislation that does not include off shore drilling, coal or natural gas!! Especially since the companies can’t even keep their workers safe!!! Well, I hope everyone is now calling their senator’s and telling them that they need to pass a strong climate bill without “clean” coal, Drilling and natural gas!!! Let’s also keep the families of the 11 lost on the oil rig in our thoughts and prayers as it is a shame that we have to lose valuable lives in order to truly understand the need to like the dirty energy habit!

Read more at http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2010/05/04/1

So its be a while right since I’ve posted!!! Well lets remix my usual post!!! Today I got in the mail my U.S. Census Form!! Yes, I said it the United States Census Form!!! Now for me as a geographer, this is like crazy cool stuff, you can use Census data to make really cool maps that determine population, based off of racial identity, and addresses just to name a few!!! Why is this important, well population numbers decide how many congressional representatives we get!! Secondly, this form helps us learn about what services are needed, like bilingual services, increased schools and hospitals and so on!! When you think about it, if we get more moneys for schools, hospitals and other services we have also increased jobs in our local area indirectly!!! Now there is one other thing to really think about!! In the Environmental Justice debate there is always a question of racial intentionality, meaning did a company or entity, choose to dump in a site, because of racist ideals??? Many people/communities have loss legitimate cases because although the population is largely African-American and or severely underserved the Census numbers did not show a significant presence of that particular community.  Many that they could not prove that the company meant to dumb or build harmful sources or substances in a community just because it was a community of color. See If we don’t fill out the form then we don’t COUNT or EXIST!!! In fact, we can’t really expect to complain about poor air and water quality, lack of transportation infrastructure, and other very important services that will lead to a greener economy if we do not fill out the form!!! So Lets help Define Our Decade and create a cleaner greener society by filling out the census form. I got mine in the mail today and made A video about it, so please watch and enjoy!!!!

Numbers Don\’t Lie 10 Questions 10 Minutes

As a climate justice advocate, issues of coal plant placement, toxic emissions and other environmental health factors are always first on my radar. The key principles of Environmental Justice are that NO community should be subjugated to an unhealthy and toxic environment and that ALL have the right to work, eat, live, play and, worship, in a clean and toxin free space. So today as I was reading the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and stumbled across this article that talks about the RRI Cheswick Coal Plant, I was not only alarmed but also compelled to address this issue.  The Cheswick plant, located in Cheswick Pennsylvania, will be going under renovations that will install Sulfur Dioxide scrubbers on the smokestacks for the production of “Clean” Coal.  According to the article entitled “ Cheswick coal plant upgrade may raise lead emissions”, the Cheswick  plant is planning on burning a dirtier type of coal that is more efficient with the use of the scrubbers. In the article they address the issues that this plant already emitted 460 pounds of lead in 2008 and this upgrade will cause a significant increase in lead levels with the addition of the scrubbers to the smoke stack; putting the citizens of Cheswick PA, a town of 854 homes and .6 squares miles in area, at risk for lead poisoning.  Clean Coal??? I think not!!! This plant’s permits are under review by the Alleghany County health department and are up for public comment. If our citizens of Alleghany County will participate by letting the health department know that they would not like to be poisoned by the increase in lead, please make sure to call the Health Department and submit your complaints and concerns in writing to the address below. For more information on the coal plant and its effects on the local community please click on the link below.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10057/1038765-113.stm#ixzz0ggHA1Evw

* The public comment period for the proposed Cheswick power plant permit modification ends next Friday. A copy of the permit, identified in Health Department records as permit IP 0054-1004a, is available by calling 412-578-8191. Written comments can be mailed to the Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program, 301 39th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201-1891, or sent via e-mail to aqpermits@achd.net.

In addition to Mr. Jones receipt of the Image Award, Mr. Jones will also be joining Princeton and the Center for American Progress. This is return to glory for Mr. Jones, and I cannot wait to see how he will continue to fight for the underserved in his new endeavors. Please tune in on Friday February 26^th at 8pm on FOX network to watch the 41^st NAACP Awards, and the rise of one of America’s Brightest and most influential minds today.

To make a long story short VPC  did a study on black homicide rates across America using 2007 crime data. As I began to read the report I came to the realization that Pennsylvania was ranked number 1 in the nation for Black homicides rates with 485 black homicides occurred in Pennsylvania in 2007 and that was 36.36 homicides per 100,000 people. What was even more alarming was the rate of black homicide across America, with an alarming 7,387 black homicides in 2007 with a rate of 20 homicides per 100,000 with an average age of 30 years old. In addition, where 674 homicides  of the 7,387 homicides that took place nationwide were victims under the age of 18 years of age. THIS HAS TO STOP!!!! When I think of my hometown Philadelphia I began to wonder who is addressing the issues? There are groups in Philadelphia like the Philadelphia Anti- Drug and Anti Violence Network ( PAAN) who run, truancy programs, gang intervention, parenting classes in addition to many young adult and teen violence reduction programs across the city of Philadelphia. Although programs like these are doing great jobs in impacting the youth of America, they seem to be hindered or crippled by the recent economic downfall so foundation and governmental funding has lessened. If we began to increase our support for these organizations that are working across the nation, then states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada,  who ranked in the top 4 in nation to black homicide would have the ability to make an even greater impact in their communities. I say that we work to provide the necessary resources to work at the grassroots level.  In addition we can then work on the root causes in conjunction with gun violence whether it be mental health, access to healthy foods, decreases in environmental toxins that impact human behavior. We can all collectively form a education, health and law enforcement perspective, really begin to help impact the lives of young black men and women who are using gun violence as a way to address the overarching social issues within society.

To best describe my feelings on gun violence I have decided to add the video of a young activist in Chester Pennsylvania named Desire Grover of GhettoPrint.com. Ms. Grover in this video talks about her reactions to the increases in gun violence within her community of Chester which is located 25 minutes outside of Philadelphia. The video of a young women  killed in her sleep is Kathy Stewart, who was taking care of her bedridden mother and in the middle of the night was struck in the head by a stray bullet. This is what many may call a stupid and unnecessary death, all because some young cats in the City of Chester did not know how to handle their beef. ( for more information on here story please click the link below)

Story of Kath Stewart- Chester Pennsylvania- Killed in bed by a Stray Bullet

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/11/17/news/doc4b02cb24efa73501541596.txt

Please watch the video and reflect on the comments of this blog.

Phila. Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network

http://www.paannetwork.org//

The Campaign against Violence

http://theleague.com/cav