Summer Concerts Go Green!

This summer some of the hottest artist from John Legend to the Fray to Snoop Dogg are going green. GreenJar.net is catching up on all the action. Check out this video from Green Jar's KidGREEN at the REVERB Concert with the Fray!

Read More

Event today! Grind 4 da Green Eco-Music Festival!

In the Bay Area? Check out Grind For The Green's Eco-Music Festival TODAY From 10-2pm At San Francisco State's Downtown Campus 835 Market St.

The event will feature a solar powered concert and M1 of Dead Prez will be the Keynote speaker. Oh yeah and did I mention the event is FREE!

For more information visit: Grindforthegreen.com

Also Check out this video promo for the event.

Read More

What's Gentrification got to do with the Green Movement

All over the country from Harlem, New York to the Eastside of Denver, Colorado, urban communities are changing. New condos and starbucks are popping up, public schools are shutting down and people of color and/or low-income are being priced out of the neighborhood. Some call the process urban revitalization, others call it gentrification.

Could the Green Movement be one of the main culprits in creating mass displacement of low-income communities to the suburbs? Check out what Checktheweather.net's Kari Fulton has to say in her interview with Bigthink.com

Read More

BAY AREA CALL TO ACTION FOR HEALTH & JOBS - TODAY @ 12PM

Come out today if you're in the Bay Area as Richmond community members will be speaking out for health AND jobs in the midst of their long-time fight against the Chevron Refinery.

Just earlier this month, the Bay Area environmental justice community won a huge victory against the infamous Chevron refinery in Richmond. One of the oldest and largest refineries in the US, the communities of Richmond, CA have been battling expansion plans and dirty chemical spills at the plant for YEARS. Groups like Communities for a Better Environment, the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and West County Toxics Coalition were involved with Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Barbara Zuniga ordering a halt on expansion plans pending Chevron update and re-submit their Environmental Impact Report - which community groups and lawmakers found to be deceptively false. Today, there's a CALL TO ACTION challenging Chevron’s attempt to drive a wedge in a community needing BOTH improved health and employment.

WHO: Residents and community activists working for environmental justice in Richmond, CA

WHAT: Real stories of health impacts and the struggle for justice by families and residents of the most polluted city in the Bay Area.

WHERE: North Richmond Center for Health (click for map) - 1501 Third Street/Chesley Ave., Richmond, CA.

WHEN: Noon. Tuesday, July 14

Hear Communities for a Better Environment's Jessica Tovar speak at a Chevron rally in March 2008:


Read a factsheet about Chevron's dirt in the US here.

Read More

Why are Republicans Siding with Climate Scientist James Hansen on the Waxman-Markey Bill?

In a wild turn of events, republican congresspeople are siding with Climate Scientist James Hansen and environmental justice groups like WEACT for Environmental Justice that the Waxman-Markey bill isn't the right bill for fighting Climate Change. Unfortunately they may be agreeing for the wrong reasons.

James Hansen is a noted scientist and in 1998 he was the first to testify in front of Senate on the impacts of global warming. Hansen heads up the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He has come out publicly against the bill stating it will give away too much to big coal and dirty oil without making the necessary regulations to stop climate change.

Republicans are against the bill because they fear the regulations will drive these big industries away from America and into more developing countries without the same regulations. New York Times reporter Christa Marshall, reported that Hansen's words were used by republican congressional representatives as a reason for voting "no" on the bill. Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma may call Hansen to testify to the senate against this bill. This is kinda crazy because Inhofe is a senator who once came out and said "global warming is a hoax."

Although the republicans are using the science as a way to vote no on the bill, many believe they are just using people like Hansen to get no climate bill passed at all. Some democratic leaders and mainstream environmental groups are trying to downplay opponents of the bill like Hansen and hope that they can portray enough unified support over the bill to get it past into legislation. Although the bill is not perfect, it is the first real shot at any sort of regulations to halt climate change. Many supporters of the bill like policy group, 1sky fear that if we do not pass this bill this year then we may lose our window of opportunity for another 4 to 8 years. The next three years will be heavily focused on senate and then presidential elections and politicians are said to be less bold in their legislative votes during election years. Groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace have come out against the bill, stating that it is too weak to make a difference and may end up creating more harm than good for low-income workers and people of color.

This debate is getting deeper and deeper but if you don't know what the heck is going on and want the quick update watch this video courtesy of the climate crisis coalition featuring Scientists and Environmental Justice Leaders on why a Carbon Tax is the way, not a cap and trade system like the one the Waxman Markey bill would create.

Read More

Lonely Are The Brave's Davey Talks ACES Bill

We caught up with Indie-group Lonely are the Brave for our new music Tuesday section. We asked Bassist and Vocalist, Davey what he thought about the Waxman-Markey bill and his vision for a real sustainable energy revolution.

Here's what he had to say:



Can't watch the video here's our favorite quote "it's a step in the right direction but what we have right now is a culture that isn't ready for change and isn't ready for the sustainable revolution that we really need...." It get's deep so I suggest you get to a computer where you can catch this or check it out on our youtube channel ChecktheweatherTV http://www.youtube.com/user/reachmskari

Read More

New Music Tuesday: Lonely Are The Brave

Continuing on our quest to find the dopest eco-friendly music we caught up with Lonely are the Brave. LATB coins themselves the "synergetic beast child of hip-hop and punk." The group's Facebook page states,

"LATB stands as a call for the sharing of strength in a time of despair."

LATB's sound is a mixture of raucous punk rock and hip-hop inspired percussion infused with a sound similar to new orleans flavored zydeco due to saxophonist Sam Goering. This unique showcase of rhythm with gritty lyrics makes you understand why everyone should go to a good rock concert every once and a while.Check out this video clip of them performing "Noise on Nightmare Street" a song written by lead vocalist, Henry Mills and dedicated to those who lost their lives during Hurricane Katrina... (also big thanks for the Checktheweather shout out!)

Can't make the next show? Lonely are the Brave will be releasing their first LP "Combat Rap" on August 14th

.

We'll check back with them before then but to find out about the album read their blog @ combatrap.blogspot.com

To hear more tracks, see video and find out their next show dates check out LATB's Myspace page at Myspace.com/latbdc.

Read More

Eco-Jam of the Day: Nina Simone's Baltimore

Did you used to love catching all the grit and crime drama on HBO's the Wire? In our introduction to Checktheweather.net's Gritty City Series, we mentioned we would highlight the top ten cities with the highest homicide and crime rates. Baltimore is number THREE on the list provided by the City Crime Rankings Report. The Wire showcased the complexities of Gritty City politics from the hood to the city council building. Neo Natal Penguin offers this musical journey through the Wire's last two seasons. The video features the classic 1978 hit, and Checktheweather.net's Eco-jam of the day Baltimore by Nina Simone.



More on the song:
Baltimore was originally written by Randy Newman in 1977 and was featured on his album "Little Criminals". Newman practiced the art of storytelling throughout the album; weaving tales of quirky, yet often times cynical characters. Legendary rock group, The Eagles also played a role in creating the original track, adding background vocals and instrumentals.

Take a listen to Randy Newman's version:

Baltimore - Randy Newman

For more in-depth reporting on Baltimore City and Environmental justice issues read the article below by Reginald Larkin and check out this article "The Reek Goes On" from Van Smith of the Baltimore City Paper.

Read More

Gritty City Series: Charm City, Baltimore

Charm City

By Reginald Larkin

Baltimore city is famous for its luxurious harbor and rich history however, in recent years Baltimore’s efforts to become industrialized has disenfranchised three communities in the city. The transportation system in Baltimore has placed four bus yards throughout the city, three of which are in close proximity to transit dependent communities. These four bus yards are located at Kirk avenue bus yard (Midway Community), Transit Access (Cherry Hill), Highway to Nowhere (West Baltimore), and Public Pedestrian Safety (Lexington Market). While Residents could not be reached for commentary, reports published by Baltimore Region Environmental Justice and Transportation project (BREJTP), “state that residents have expressed desire for a better living environment and a more responsive government. “

The residents have complained that noise population and the Carbon emissions have disrupted their lives. The Bus yards are responsible for noise exceeding the Baltimore City noise ordinance. The City of Baltimore has a Noise ordinance that states any sounds over 55 decibels can warrant legal action in residential areas. While some may ask well how does that pertain to bus yards? The answer is that the zoning of the bus yards is in such proximity that they too must comply with the laws. Homes in the Midway community that are 1/4^th of mile from the bus yards decline in property value thus in turn, leading one to believe that the bus yards are integrated into the communities which they serve.

The Health issues are rapid in the communities inhabited by the bus yards. Residents complain that they do not what to enjoy their yards because of fumes in the air, to keep the noise they have to shut their windows. The quality of life has deteriorated forcing many people’s homes to become unlivable. The city of Baltimore has responsibility to the citizens living in these conditions.

Baltimore City has the opportunity to distribute these bus yards equally or even neutralize the use of coal for cleaner forms of energy. However, little is being done are the part of the local government to aid residents. Placing these bus yards in areas in area’s such as Cherry Hill were they have seen over 67,000 crimes , according to the federal government. The city of Baltimore is placing bus yards in underdeveloped communities where many of the residents are living in low income housing. The bus yards are causing many to suffer from long-term respiratory problems and other health issues.

Read More