The Baltimore Sun
By Mike Tidwell
I’m walking from Camp David to the White House starting Friday — 100 miles in the July heat. I’m doing this to honor the 19 firefighters who died fighting a wildfire near Prescott, Ariz., on June 30. These men died particularly horrifying deaths doing particularly heroic deeds. I’m also walking to honor the 50 men and women who died during the oil tanker train explosion this month in Lac-Megantic, Canada.
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Three Generations, One Message: Why We're Walking for Our Grandchildren
This is one in a series of posts sharing the stories of grandparents, parents and young people who are joining the Walk for Our Grandchildren, July 19th-27th.
This week-long, 100-mile walk will bring an intergenerational message of hope from Camp David to the White House to demand that President Obama reject the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline and confront the growing crisis of climate change. You can join us for a day on the trail, or join walkers and thousands of others for a culminating rally at the White House on July 27th. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Three generations of the Siler family, based in North Carolina, will join the multi-day trek to the White House: Mahan Siler, a 78-year-old grandfather and retired Baptist minister, his son Mark Siler, and his granddaughter Leigh, who at age 11 will be one of the youngest walkers. All three generations will speak together from the stage of the White House rally on July 27th. In these statements, Mahan and Mark explain why.
By Mahan Siler
Two conversions put my feet on this coming Walk for Grandchildren. Two wake up calls compel this minute witness of body, mind and spirit.
One, I see it now. The planet of my life time (and the life time of my parents, grandparents and ancestors for centuries back) will not be the planet of my grandchildren and their children. The consequences of carbon pollution have reached a point of no return. The planet they are inheriting is not the planet I inherited.
I look in the eyes of my six grandchildren, saying, “I have been a part of the problem, in part ignorance, in part denial. I can’t change the compromised planet you are inheriting, but I will pledge to join the movement to minimize the damage and work for sustainable living among all human and non-beings.” My walking — along with son, Mark, and granddaughter, Leigh — is my vow to do just that, to join, not just watch, this liberation movement.
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Toward Our Own Tipping Point: Why I'm Walking for Our Grandchildren
This is one in a series of posts sharing the stories of grandparents, parents and young people who are joining the Walk for Our Grandchildren, July 19th-27th.
This week-long, 100-mile walk will bring an intergenerational message of hope from Camp David to the White House to demand that President Obama reject the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline and confront the growing crisis of climate change. You can join us for a day on the trail, or join walkers and thousands of others for a culminating rally at the White House on July 27th. Click here to learn more and sign up.
By Elisabeth Hoffman, Clarksville, Maryland
My parents married in November 1945, just months after the end of World War II. My father had worked in the Navy developing radar; my mother used coupons to buy rationed food and fabric, gasoline and tires. At the war’s end, after their work and sacrifice, they decided it was safe to get married. As much as was possible, they could count on a future for themselves and their children.
My children were born in 1984 and 1994. I can’t know what their future holds, but my actions now — while we still have time to avert the worst climate changes — will shape their world.
This is our time to do whatever we can to ensure a future for our children, our grandchildren and generations to come. Even if that requires a WWII-like effort.
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Building A Hand: Why I'm Walking for Our Grandchildren
This is one in a series of posts sharing the stories of grandparents, parents and young people who are joining the Walk for Our Grandchildren, July 19th-27th.
This week-long, 100-mile walk will bring an intergenerational message of hope from Camp David to the White House to demand that President Obama reject the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline and confront the growing crisis of climate change. You can join us for a day on the trail, or join walkers and thousands of others for a culminating rally at the White House on July 27th. Click here to learn more and sign up.
By Greg Yost
I admit it’s a bit odd. Climate change is daunting—rising temperatures, extreme weather, powerful political and economic forces which work against finding solutions—and I’m proposing to do something about this by taking a walk? It wouldn’t surprise me to have someone point and laugh, but there’s more going on with this Walk For Our Grandchildren than meets the eye.
I used to be isolated. I’d sit in front of a computer screen and read scientists’ predictions about the consequences of carbon pollution and I’d feel so low, not just because the predictions were depressing, but also because it seemed no one was paying attention. It was difficult to talk about, to be that guy who brought it up to friends and family, at work or at church. Good, otherwise emotionally healthy people have filters in place to screen the stuff that is depressing or scary, and especially if they feel like there’s nothing they can do about it, anyway. For a long time, climate change was simply getting caught in the filters.
But that’s been changing. At some point in the last few years I feel like the tiny little trickle of awareness I had about the enormity of the climate challenge became one tributary to a gathering river of people. These folks aren’t just worrying or wringing their hands, either. Like any good river, they’re moving. We’re taking action. I’ve even learned how to do it myself and it’s actually not so hard. You just empty your hands, setting aside a few parts of your life for a moment to ready yourself for work that needs doing. Then you think about what you love and want to protect, you roll up your sleeves, and you wade in.
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VP Biden: Virginians say no KXL
How do you get the attention of one of the most powerful decision makers in the world?
Many would say there is only one route: through his wallet. Though this past Saturday, I saw another way: through the people. After countless hours petitioning and phonebanking, the big day had finally come. We set up in front of the coliseum and waited for our activists to arrive. Over the course of fifteen minutes around seventy people showed up. We outfitted them with magic marker signs and homemade miniature wind turbines and began the slow march around the convention center.
Virginia legislators seek to repeal hybrid tax
By Patricia Sullivan
Two Northern Virginia state legislators will introduce bills to repeal Virginia’s new tax on hybrid and electric vehicles on the first day of the next legislative session, they announced Monday, when the tax took effect.
“It’s illogical, unfair, not well thought out and hastily passed,” state Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) said Monday at the Alexandria office of the Department of Motor Vehicles. “The way to improve our environment is not to tax vehicle owners who are doing the right thing.”
Fighting Water Pollution in Curtis Bay
On Wednesday we were out in Curtis Bay, Maryland, home to the CSX Coal Facility. CSX is a coal export facility whose huge coal piles are visible when you’re standing on a hill in the neighborhood.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been out there. Four other CCAN fellows and I have been out in Curtis Bay multiple times the past few weeks: knocking on doors and talking to local residents about the effects coal pollution has on their day-to-day lives. We’ve heard stories from coal dust coating peoples’ homes and pools, to worries about fishing in local waters, to concerns about kids playing outside.
These issues became critically important leading up to today, because CSX is up for a new water pollution permit – one that needs to be a lot stronger. For example, the current permit doesn’t limit levels of heavy metals that can be dumped right into the harbor.
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Obama’s climate plan an important step, MD activists say
By Daniel Leaderman
Maryland environmental activists are praising President Barack Obama’s new plan to mitigate the impact of climate change, calling it good news for the Chesapeake Bay region.
Obama’s plan, announced Tuesday, calls for limiting carbon pollution from power plants — for which there are currently no federal standards in place — doubling renewable energy generation by 2020, and setting a variety of new standards for fuel efficiency in vehicles and energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
June 2013 D.C. and National
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June 2013 | Issue #65 FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
When CCAN was founded in 2002, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 373 parts per million. Now, despite a growing clean-energy movement worldwide, scientists reported last month that the carbon level had reached a whole new stage of danger: 400 parts per million. There hasn’t been this much heat-trapping CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere in at least 3 million years. The result has been a marked increase in extreme and destructive weather. Listen to my NPR radio commentary concerning DC’s decision to spend $1 billion to put more power lines underground due to bigger storms. Imagine a world where we trap heat in the atmosphere equal to the energy of 400,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding every day. That’s what we are doing right now. So despite the best efforts of CCAN and groups like us worldwide, we have much more work to do to fight dirty energy and promote clean power. In DC, here are two ways you can help right now… Camp David to DC: See you on the trail to stop Keystone XL? DC needs wind and solar power not black liquor! Tell Governor O’Malley: Keep your promise to get the facts on fracking! Want the full update on how Maryland state agencies are carrying out the Governor’s order? Check out Megan’s blog post. Dirty coal’s new scheme to keep afloat and keep polluting We’re fighting back by challenging the export companies as they apply for pollution permits needed to expand their operations. We have our first opportunity to take action in Baltimore: Submit a public comment urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to strengthen water pollution controls at the CSX coal export piers on Baltimore’s Harbor. Dominion’s new solar program — Is it for you? Chasing Ice Coming to Virginia Greet VP Biden with a big “No Keystone XL!” message Success! Climate wake-up call reaches Dominion shareholders Ready…set…register for Power Shift 2013!
Meet Maryland community activist Ann Marie Nau Ann is a resident of Myersville, a small community in Maryland fighting a huge natural gas compressor station that Dominion Transmission wants to build in the heart of their town. Fights like these are happening more and more across our region, as fracking increases the need for gas infrastructure like pipelines and compressor stations. Learn how Ann is pushing back with her neighbors and CCAN… Your age: 46 Where you live: Myersville, MD Your profession: Self-employed (transcriber) and stay-at-home Mom Why are you a CCAN volunteer? I became aware of CCAN while researching organizations to help with our local fight against Dominion Transmission’s proposal to build a16,000 natural gas compressor station within the town limits of our rural community and have been inspired by CCAN’s mission, hard work and the dedication of their wonderful staff. What has inspired you most working with CCAN? CCAN staff and volunteers are tireless! I have seen them in Western Maryland fighting fracking, in Annapolis working on various environmental and energy bills, in Frederick fighting the incinerator and compressor stations, in Baltimore hosting conferences, and throughout the state working on climate issues. They have marched on D.C. and are active in Virginia. Being a member of Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community and seeing first hand how hard it can be to build coalitions, I have always been impressed with CCAN’s willingness to work with other environmental groups. What are the impacts of climate change and/or the fossil fuel industry that hit closest to home for you? As unconventional drilling expands, the infrastructure needed to support it also increases. My beautiful rural community nestled in the scenic Middletown Valley is being bull dozed by big business and the federal government via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place a huge natural gas compressor station in our town and within one mile of our elementary school. Despite the Town Council denying zoning approval, Dominion has been granted approval to proceed by FERC. If fracking proceeds in Western Maryland and if Dominion is granted the authority to export natural gas via the Cove Point facility, I am afraid Maryland will be faced with the same infrastructure development seen in Pennsylvania, which has turned much of the rural landscape into industrialized areas, polluting the land, water and air. What do you hope to see happen to address climate change in the next year? On a local level, I am very concerned about the proposed Frederick incinerator and the prospect of fracking in Western Maryland as well as the proposed Cove Point Export Project. What do you like to do when you’re not working on climate change? I enjoy bird watching, or nature watching in general. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades (and master of none) so whatever project I currently have going, whether it be cupcake decorating for a party, sewing curtains, or working in my (mostly) native flower garden. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews! Who would you high five? I would most like to high five those people on the front lines who are negatively impacted by the coal and gas industry and who continue to fight, who continue to “speak truth to power,” and who refuse to be intimidated. It is their struggles that motivate me and remind me that I can no longer be silent. |
–DC– Tell the EPA: Protect Our Water from Power Plant Pollution Walk for Our Grandchildren Walk for Our Grandchildren: White House rally –VIRGINIA– Loudoun: Wake up to climate change Rally to tell VP Biden: No KXL! –MARYLAND– Water Pollution Permit Citizen Comment Delivery An Explosion of Fracking and the TPP Triple Divide Screening
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June 2013 Virginia
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June 2013 | Issue #65 FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
When CCAN was founded in 2002, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 373 parts per million. Now, despite a growing clean-energy movement worldwide, scientists reported last month that the carbon level had reached a whole new stage of danger: 400 parts per million. There hasn’t been this much heat-trapping CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere in at least 3 million years. The result has been a marked increase in extreme and destructive weather. Listen to my NPR radio commentary concerning DC’s decision to spend $1 billion to put more power lines underground due to bigger storms. Imagine a world where we trap heat in the atmosphere equal to the energy of 400,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding every day. That’s what we are doing right now. So despite the best efforts of CCAN and groups like us worldwide, we have much more work to do to fight dirty energy and promote clean power… Dominion’s new solar program — Is it for you? Chasing Ice Coming to Virginia Greet VP Biden with a big “No Keystone XL!” message Success! Climate wake-up call reaches Dominion shareholders Camp David to DC: See you on the trail to stop Keystone XL? DC needs wind and solar power not black liquor! Ready…set…register for Power Shift 2013! Tell Governor O’Malley: Keep your promise to get the facts on fracking! Want the full update on how Maryland state agencies are carrying out the Governor’s order? Check out Megan’s blog post. Dirty coal’s new scheme to keep afloat and keep polluting We’re fighting back by challenging the export companies as they apply for pollution permits needed to expand their operations. We have our first opportunity to take action in Baltimore: Submit a public comment urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to strengthen water pollution controls at the CSX coal export piers on Baltimore’s Harbor.
Meet Maryland community activist Ann Marie Nau Ann is a resident of Myersville, a small community in Maryland fighting a huge natural gas compressor sta Your age: 46 Where you live: Myersville, MD Your profession: Self-employed (transcriber) and stay-at-home Mom Why are you a CCAN volunteer? I became aware of CCAN while researching organizations to help with our local fight against Dominion Transmission’s proposal to build a16,000 natural gas compressor station within the town limits of our rural community and have been inspired by CCAN’s mission, hard work and the dedication of their wonderful staff. What has inspired you most working with CCAN? CCAN staff and volunteers are tireless! I have seen them in Western Maryland fighting fracking, in Annapolis working on various environmental and energy bills, in Frederick fighting the incinerator and compressor stations, in Baltimore hosting conferences, and throughout the state working on climate issues. They have marched on D.C. and are active in Virginia. Being a member of Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community and seeing first hand how hard it can be to build coalitions, I have always been impressed with CCAN’s willingness to work with other environmental groups. What are the impacts of climate change and/or the fossil fuel industry that hit closest to home for you? As unconventional drilling expands, the infrastructure needed to support it also increases. My beautiful rural community nestled in the scenic Middletown Valley is being bull dozed by big business and the federal government via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place a huge natural gas compressor station in our town and within one mile of our elementary school. Despite the Town Council denying zoning approval, Dominion has been granted approval to proceed by FERC. If fracking proceeds in Western Maryland and if Dominion is granted the authority to export natural gas via the Cove Point facility, I am afraid Maryland will be faced with the same infrastructure development seen in Pennsylvania, which has turned much of the rural landscape into industrialized areas, polluting the land, water and air. What do you hope to see happen to address climate change in the next year? On a local level, I am very concerned about the proposed Frederick incinerator and the prospect of fracking in Western Maryland as well as the proposed Cove Point Export Project. What do you like to do when you’re not working on climate change? I enjoy bird watching, or nature watching in general. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades (and master of none) so whatever project I currently have going, whether it be cupcake decorating for a party, sewing curtains, or working in my (mostly) native flower garden. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews! Who would you high five? I would most like to high five those people on the front lines who are negatively impacted by the coal and gas industry and who continue to fight, who continue to “speak truth to power,” and who refuse to be intimidated. It is their struggles that motivate me and remind me that I can no longer be silent. |
–VIRGINIA– Loudoun: Wake up to climate change Rally to tell VP Biden: No KXL! –DC– Tell the EPA: Protect Our Water from Power Plant Pollution Walk for Our Grandchildren Walk for Our Grandchildren: White House rally –MARYLAND– Water Pollution Permit Citizen Comment Delivery An Explosion of Fracking and the TPP Triple Divide Screening
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