Southeast Convergence for Climate Action ~ Aug 8 - 14

The Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, near Asheville, North Carolina, will bring together activists across the region who are fighting mountaintop removal mining and coal and nuclear power plants.

Mountaintop removal coal mining is currently devastating the ecologically diverse southern Appalachian Mountains. The coal companies have literally flattened hundreds of square miles of mountains, destroyed thousands of miles of our life giving streams, and terrorized countless communities in the process. Meanwhile southern utility companies are planning a blitzkrieg of new dirty coal plants, despite our regions already dismal air quality. To add insult to injury these same utility companies are using climate change as a justification for building a new fleet of dangerous nuclear reactors.

With extreme weather, massive species extinctions, and melting ice caps becoming a more urgent and dire reality each day, it is high time for us to come together to take direct action against the root causes of climate change. This summer, environmental and social justice groups throughout the Southeast will come together for the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, a gathering to learn and take collective action against climate Change.

The convergence will consist of a week of information and skill-based workshops, strategy sessions, and direct action aimed at building a no-compromise climate justice movement. With some of the Big Green environmental groups selling out to the nuclear and "clean" coal industries, and large, corporate-led climate initiatives designed to preempt any meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions being pushed in DC, grassroots groups need to join forces with affected communities to fight the fossil fuel empire and create truly sustainable, community-based solutions outside of the capitalist system.

The Convergence for Climate Action will be a space to gain necessary skills for fighting climate change in your region; to network with a broad range of environmental and social justice activists; to engage in intensive strategy sessions aimed at mapping out effective approaches to fighting climate change on a regional level; to confront oppression in our organizing; and to take action.

The Convergence for Climate action aims to promote a just, rapid transition away from fossil fuels; promote environmental justice by supporting communities that are fighting dirty energy developments in their backyards; encourage direct action as a means for challenging dirty energy and empowering the movement to stop climate change, and to increase networking and strategizing amongst the diverse social justice and environmental movements fighting climate change and the energy industry.

Workshops will include Direct Action 101, Climbing Trainings, Strategic Action Planning, Anti-oppression, Sustainable living skills, Debunking False Solutions, Blockades, Media, and much more. The convergence will culminate in a coordinated day of direct action against fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

Please join us for this exciting week of learning, networking, fun, and action. Due to requests of our hosts we ask that you please pre-register for the convergence. We'll see you in August.

www.climateconvergence.org
risingtide@mountainrebel.net
828-675-1792

Join GNB & Rock The Reactors March 28th at Cortland Manor

On March 28th, from 3:00pm to 6:30pm, at Colonial Terrace, 119 Oregon Road, the same Cortland Manor where John Hall was sworn in as Rockland County's new Congressman a few weeks ago, Entergy is co-hosting the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce's 2007 Business Expo.

The website states:
"Hosted by WHUD’s Mike Bennett, it is shaping up to be fabulous day. There will be door prizes, raffles and entertainment throughout the day. Since last year’s Expo was so popular this year there will be “complimentary valet parking” and from 5:00pm – 6:30pm complimentary Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. This is an event you want to see for yourself!"

There will be a preliminary networking event on March 14th from 6pm to 8pm. Both Kathleen McMullin and James F.X. Steets of Entergy sit on the board of directors of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce. James F.X. Steets is also its Vice Chairman.

Kathleen McMullin

Entergy

kmcmull@entergy.com

(914) 271-7132

James F.X. Steets

440 Hamilton Avenue

White Plains, NY 10601

Green Nuclear Butterfly supports Congressman John Hall, who as a member of Musicians United for Safe Energy, co-wrote the anthem "Power", in his effort to open a renewable energy center on the land now occupied by Entergy. John J. Curran, Peekskill's official city historian, president of the Peekskill Museum, told GNB that a coalition of Native Americans tribes want to buy back the land on which Indian Point sits!

Entergy has NOT been a good neighbor. Their Indian Point facility is contaminating surrounding waters, animal and plant life with radioactive isotopes. Cancer rates around Indian Point are documented much higher than normal. Yet, Senator Hillary Clinton, who sits on the board of directors at Cornell University's Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors, still has not officially associated the rise in breast cancer rates with the nuclear industry's reign of radioactive terror.

We urge you to contact the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, write to them, call them... explain to them that Entergy is no longer welcome in this community. That the people of Rockland County have spoken by electing John Hall as their Congressman. That the people of Peekskill want Entergy out of its chamber of commerce, as well as out of the Paramount Center.

Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce
One South Division Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
914-737-3600 Fax 914-737-0541

Green Nuclear Butterfly will be handing out literature about the real dangers of Indian Point and the risk of aging nuclear reactors at the 2007 Business Expo, as well as educating the community about alternative sources of investment, business opportunities and capital available to the region which GNB and Rock The Reactors are developing with executives from HSBC's sustainable investment division.

The best and easiest way to close down Indian Point, is to quietly, gently, kindly escort Entergy outside the Peekskill city limits, bid them fairwell, and a good day.