Keystone going to vote in the House

Keystone XL likely up for vote tomorrow [1]. The health, social justice, and environmental side of the issue (though likely among the most important topics) probably won't get as far without a coherent alternative on the economic "job creation" side for those of the GOP [2]. Perhaps speaking about the risks to local economies can make a measured difference?

Recall that the communities in Kalamazoo/Marshall [3-5] and in the Gulf are still struggling (and some angry) to recover from spills in 2010 [6, 7].

What will we do?


[1] http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/05/21/2007191/may-21-news-gop-plans-keystone-approval-vote-tomorrow-house-dems-clarify-true-impact/

[2] An extrapolation based on Frank Luntz's insight.  Luntz remains a leading adviser for "messaging" strategy, in Washington, esp. to the GOP.  Phrases like "climate change" (promoted to reduce sense of alarm created by "global warming"), and "death tax" are a product of his advisory.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2010/01/gop-pollster-luntz-tells-enviros-stop-talking-climate

[3]
http://environmentreport.org/enbridge_oil_spill.php

[4] Enbridge resisting final clean-up of spill as of January 2013 http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20130128/dilbit-6B-pipeline-kalamazoo-river-enbridge-oil-spill-michigan-keystone-xl-epa

[5]   ~Kalamazoo is nation's most costly oil spill
http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2012-07-25/enbridge-s-quiet-765-million-oil-spill.html

[6] Check out the current news in Florida!
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/gulf-coast-oil-spill/

[7]  http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/three-years-after-the-bp-spill-tar-balls-and-oil-sheen-blight-gulf-coast/275139/

Closing notes from the EPA EJ Conference

More details later [this post will be expanded], brief recap from the EPA Environmental Justice conference's recap as of 27 August 2011:

The EPA conference has adjourned with discussion about the efficacy/inefficacy of human and civil rights legal entities--US, how its applicability is unclear for tribal nations, and recommendations to pursue international human rights jurisdiction as an alternative route since current US environmental health protections are insufficient.

The EPA is currently backlogged with 40 complaints

Title VI (on human/civil rights) has been deemed an outstanding potential resource, but is currently ineffective due to lack of enforcement/ enforcement capacity and conflicting systems between the US EPA and US Department of Justice.

Title VII (on civil rights to employment*) has also been deemed a potentially powerful tool--when afflicted communities contribute to becoming the leadership of major companies and organizations, it follows that closer consideration for human rights and sensitivity to environmental quality will be given (stated by Rhode Island environmental lawyer Stephen Fishbach).

Proof of direct causation for harm is a common legal misconception for those suffering health issues from environmental problems (response from the US Gulf of Mexico Enbridge/BP spill fund continue to use direct causation as a way to deny current claims.

Recap on the conference, and next step/future recommendations were also shared--neat idea from Brazillian delegate: Inform consumers about the products they use with an Environmental Justice label.

Potential locations for the next EPA EJ conference? Coal belt Appalachia, First Nations Territory(/ies), First Nation Territory in coal belt Appalachia, North Carolina. Satellite/web/television broadcasting

As an aside, pictures from Thursday's Science Cafe are coming soon too, thank you to everyone who supported the event in their presence or their works unseen!

*I'll have to look at my notes again from the rush transcript of the panel session for more details when I have freer time.

An EPA afternoon: participatory community learning and education

First, there's still time to participate in the EPA's Environmental Justice Conference here in Detroit--it's free, they take walk-ins, and your participation is meaningful!  Go here to see where it's at and what's going on tomorrow:  http://www.cleanairinfo.com/ejconference/agenda.htm

This is a mix of summary and commentary on today's events from the afternoon EPA Federal work group session.  I participated in the community organization working group, and later attended the panel for "The Detroit Story".

Interesting news came out of the ongoing EPA Environmental Conference today. This afternoon we realized that people all over the U.S. are striving to organize, but there's a lot of organizational fragmentation.

[More after the page break]