Protest Chevron AUG. 15th Richmond California

Time for some ACTION!!! This weekend groups from all over the Bay area will be convening at the Richmond BART Station to protest against Chevron and make sure they don't forget how they are polluting not only Richmond, California but places where Black, Brown and Yellow people live all over the world.Organizer and U.S. Campaign Coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives Ananda Lee Tan states, “People, not corporations, should...

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What is the True Cost of Chevron?

Now what does Chevron have to say? On buses, on television and billboards across the nation people have been bombarded with advertisement saying things like "I will reuse more" or "I will drive my car less". The advertisements are from Chevron, one of the largest producers of oil around the world. A group of local and global environmental groups including Amazon Watch, Global Exchange, Justice in Nigeria Now, Rainforest Action Network, Richmond...

What Does it Mean to Be Black in America?

Recently CNN aired the 2nd edition of Black in America hosted by Soledad O'Brien. The piece featured stories from various members of the black community. Theroot.com and blackweb20.com hosted a watch party at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC. The sites gathered together a host of young black professionals, including checktheweather.net co-founder, Kari Fulton for a panel to discuss the documentary and if they thought it translated to their...

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What is Green The Block?

Check out this Article from Checktheweather.net co-founder, Kari Fulton about the Green the Block Campaign. This article was originally posted on theroot.com click on the link to see a question and answer session on the Green the Block program with Council on Environmental Quality advisers Van Jones and Christine Glunz:Green The Block: Coming to a Hood Near You!On August 4, 2009 Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins...

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Reposted from http://environmentaladvocate.wordpress.comBy Kirin Kennedy Green Jobs, for many people, the messages that President Obama, spoke about of a clean green economy for all, seem to have slipped by at the passage of the American Clean Energy and Securities ACT. The picture shown above, is a perfect depiction of what is actually going on in under-served communities. In today's world, there is a promise of a renewed America, that gives even...

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Who Was Ken Saro Wiwa?

Environmental Activist, Ken Saro Wiwa Ken Saro-Wiwa was more than just your average activist, He led one of the most monumental non-violent direct actions against dirty oil in history. businessman, novelist and television producer Ken Saro-Wiwa gathered with the Ogoni People of the Niger Delta of Nigeria to stage Non-violent protests against Shell oil and the Nigerian Government for the human rights violations associated with the Oil Fields on Ogoni...

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You may have heard the buzz on Hiphopdx.com or Mother Nature Network but we have the exclusive story here today. Checktheweather Co-founder, Kari Fulton has joined the Hip Hop Caucus and Green For All to help launch the Green the Block Campaign (hence the slacking on the blog posts ;)) The Campaign launched last Tuesday, August 4th at the White House with a briefing and press conference featuring head of EPA Lisa Jackson, Green Jobs Czar Van Jones...

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Green For All Launches a New Sound

This Fall there is going to be an overwhelming frenzy of activism for the new Green Economy. With the Launch of the Green the Block Campaign and the work to pass a just climate bill that actually uses science to produce solutions for Climate Change. Check out this video from Green For All "A New Sound" This is a dope video that gets to the core point of the message. It's time for something NEW, Something Fresh Something Gre...

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The Reclaim to Go GREEN

Sprint and Samsung have teamed up to deliver Reclaim, a cell phone that is eco-friendly. Being only one of two phones to Go Green, in addition to the previously released Motorola Renew W233 for T-Mobile, the Samsung Reclaim is more than just the average phone. The phone is made from recycled plastic, as well as having a shipping box composed from recycled paper. Even the ink on the user manual is soy-based. With a full slide out QWERTY keyboard,...

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Who is the KING of Eco-Rap?

10 year old rapper lil peppi from Miami is going hard for the environment. On his website lilpeppi.com he claims that at ten years old he is the KING OF ECO-RAP! Check out his song "Melting Ice".But Lil Peppi is not your average kid rapper. He's been rapping since the tender age of three crafting his skills and getting his game right. He even opened up for DJ Jazzy Jeff when he was like 6 years old. Check out this video clip from Lil Peppi on a local NBC Daytime talk show from 2006Is Lil Peppi really the King of Eco-Rap? We'll leave that for the...

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Dirty Oil is Crude Worldwide and We Have Evidence!

From Nigeria to Peru to Baton Rouge Louisiana, Big Oil is polluting the planet and the people. Recently, Shell gasoline settled with the Ogoni People of Nigeria for $15.5 million. The Ogoni people accused Shell of playing a role in the execution of Tribal leaders who were running a non-violent campaign to get Shell oil mines out of their village. In South America there is an on-going campaign to protect the Amazon rainforest from oil and natural...

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Native Women Get "Bout It" and Call out Bank Exec's Wifey

Itsgettinghotinhere.org contributer, Joshua Kahn Russell reported today that two Indigenous Canadian women – Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, and Heather Milton-Lightening – scaled flagpoles in front of the main entrance of Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC’s) headquarters in Toronto, dropping a banner reading “Please Help Us Mrs. Nixon.com”. On the streets below, they were joined by dozens of Toronto RAN activists, swarming entrances to ensure every RBC employee...

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60 Second Activism Free Leonard Peltier!

Today American Native Leonard Peltier and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) will face the parole board that will decide his fate. Don't know who this guy is? Well here's what Wikipedia had to say about the man:"Leonard Peltier is an American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM) who was convicted and sentenced in 1977 to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for the murder of two Federal Bureau of Investigation...

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New Music Tuesday Female Rapper Talks 350.org and Climate Change

Today is dedicated to where the wonky world of politics meets things people actually care about. Never heard of the word "wonky" well it's a term of endearment for people who are all into the policy and science side of life. For instance, we can get real wonky talking about climate change but at the end of the day most people just want the summary and the real deal. i.e. "how much is this going to cost me" or "how will this possibly screw me over".So check out this song from Valida Prentice called the 350.org rap. 350 is an international organization...

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Navajo Nation Wins Green Job Victory!

Whohoo!Big victories happen this week for native groups in Arizona. Wahleah Johns Co-director of the Black Mesa Water Coalition sent this out yesterday:"...On July 21 2009, the 21st members of the Navajo Nation Council supported the Navajo Green Economy legislation, at 62 in favor and 1 oppose!What this legislation does, is it creates a "Navajo Green Economy Commission" who will be tasked to support local community and family based Green projects and implement Green jobs on the Navajo Nation, from weatherization programs to supporting weavers co-ops....

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The Congressional Black Caucus' Green Agenda

Yesterday The Congressional Black Caucus gathered together Black business leaders, scholars, scientist and activists for the first CBC Green Roundtable.As part of the event, CBC members Bobby Rush of Illinois (Chicago), Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Barbara Lee of California (Bay Area) and G.K. Butterfield of North CarolinaBroke down climate change and the revisions that were added to Waxman Markey that made them support the Waxman- Markey Bill.Check out a clip of Bobby Rush's breakdown of Climate ChangeCongressman Butterfield stated that the...

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Join the Mobilization for Climate Justice

The Mobilization for Climate Justice is a network of organizations and people, from both coasts, working to get a solid climate justice voice in the Copenhagen talks this December. There will be a mass action on climate change led by MCJ on November 30th. Here on the West Coast, we're starting on August 15th, with a rally&festival against the Chevron expansion in Richmond, CA.Check out their website for more information: www.actforclimatejustice.orgHere's...

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Climate Talks Get Racial: Black Chamber of Commerce President Calls Senator Racist!

Last week during the Senate Committee hearings on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act things almost came to a full out battle between California Senator Barbara Boxer and the President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Harry Alford. Alford accused Boxer of being racist for bringing up the NAACP's supposed support of the climate bill. Alford, screamed out, "I don't like it," he yelled across the witness table. "It's racial. I take offense to it. As an African American, and a veteran to this country, I take...

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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!...

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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.comAlso Check out this video promo for the event....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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Gritty City Series: Charm City, Baltimore

Charm CityBy Reginald LarkinBaltimore 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),...

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Ghetto Print's Week in Review

Michael Jackson's memorial, Sarah Palin's "political suicide" and The World G8 Summit?Desire Grover, Founder and Editor of Ghettoprint.com offers a video commentary of the politics and pop stories of the week. Enjoy and/or comme...

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BRAZILIAN ECO-HIP HOP : ESQUECIMENTO TOTAL

via nomadicwax.comResearch on eco-hip hop, brought me to this dope video from the Brazilian group Esquecimiento Total. We're all aware that Brazil's environmental justice fight is a deep history that's lasted generations - similar to the rest of Latin America, and really the Third World, at that, Brazil's fights have pitted state/corporate interests against the survival of indigenous communities and their culture & lifestyle for decades. A lot of times we see global warming injustices framed as rich country vs. poor, but we can't forget the...

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Africans to Obama: "We Want Change We Can Believe In Too!"

(photo courtesy of voanews.com)President Obama is preparing for his first trip to Africa since being elected. African advocacy and grassroots groups from all over the continent hope that Obama will use this historic trip to Ghana, Africa as an opportunity to start new and more respectful relations between the U.S. and Africa. In a previous article we quoted Emira Woods, Co-director of the Institute for Policy...

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G8 Leaders Eat Fancy Breakfast While Negotiating Hunger in Africa

How can the World live up to it's promises to Africa? Today world leaders gathered together to address that question and the state of the world during the closing sessions of the G8 summit in Italy. This year's topics ranged from the global economic crisis, food security to climate change. Chinaview.cn reported that African leadership from various countries on the continent including Ethiopia, Senegal, Egypt and the African Union met with members...

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Word on the Concrete: The Real DC Talks Climate Bills

What do you know about the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act? Right now the Senate and the World's wealthiest countries are talking about this bill and what it could mean to fighting the drastic impacts of Climate Change worldwide. Checktheweather.net took a stroll through the parts of DC you're not going to see when you watch political thrillers or come visit for a conference. Check out the latest episode of Word on the Concrete: H st. CorridorOh yeah! For those of you viewing this post on our mobile site, I'll tell you one...

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Cynthia Mckinney is Free! Yittedee!

Last Week Checktheweather.net reported that Former Congresswoman and Green Party Presidential Nominee, Cynthia Mckinney was taken hostage along with 21 others by the Israeli Navy. Yesterday, Cynthia Mckinney and the others were released and are now back in the United states.The group of humanitarian activists, including Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, were on a peace mission with advocacy organization Free Gaza to deliver much needed food...

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Can the Death of Michael Jackson Make the World Change?

Today millions of people gathered at Staples Arena in Los Angeles and in front of Televisions and live web feeds around the world to watch the memorial service for the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Along with being one of the highest grossing entertainers in the world, Jackson was a humanitarian who used his fame to support those in need. Checktheweather.net reported in our memorial post for MJ that Jackson donated to the most non-profits of any other celebrity and was an environmental advocate. Now that Jackson is gone will everyday citizens of...

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Jeremih and Kid Cudi Talk About Why They Go Green

While Posting a story on Globalgrind.com, Checktheweather.net found out about a hot and fresh new site, Greenjar.net. Green Jar's website states it is an "environmental lifestyle networking site for the urban community". They feature hot new eco-friendly clothing and stories and partner with Island Def Jam records and The Source Magazine. Check out their interviews with Jeremih (sings the summer anthem Birthday Sex), and Kid Cudi (Day n' Nite) talking about how they "Go Green".Jeremih, Kid Cudi and Greenjar.net seem to know about energy efficiency...

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New Music Tuesday: Songstress, Ihsan Makes the Urban Go Green

Songwriter, vocalist and eco-activist with New York based Urban Go Green, Ihsan Muhammad, has always known her voice was destined for greatness. At the tender age of five, Ihsan was making up her own songs and getting people to sing along. Today, she uses her powerful vocal skills and lyrical expertise to create a soundtrack for change in her world and her community. As part of our New Music Tuesdays series, Checktheweather.net sat down with Ihsan...

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Gritty City Series: Hello Brooklyn Part 3

Last week we introduced the first and second part of the Gritty City Series: Hello Brooklyn. We thought today would be a great day to give you part 3 and 4 of the chronicles of New York city transplant and educator, Jameelah Muhammad. In part's 1 and 2, Muhammad discussed environmental health issues developed since moving to New York from the 'burbs of Michigan. Read more about what Jameelah thinks this means for not only her but the rest of the...

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Survival of the Fittest...the Organic Way

When Agatha Achindu couldn't find fresh baby food she decided to take her own stand not only for her first child, but so that other children would have the opportunity to eat fresh preservative free foods. Agatha, who is 42, listened to her calling and followed her passion to make a difference by starting her own business with her husband, and Yummy Spoonfuls Organic Baby Food was born (http://www.yummyspoonfuls.com/).You can follow her story below. Be inspired!!!Embedded video from CNN Vi...

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Lunch time Music Review: Dead Prez Pulse of the People

A couple weeks ago Checktheweather.net hit you with the exclusive interview with Dead Prez to discuss their new album and the green movement. Today we want to give you our exclusive review of the infamous hip-hop duo's latest album Pulse of the People: Turn of the Radio Vol. 3. We caught up with one of the realest album reviewers, Snife the Free Radical. Snife is an Atlanta based artist, architect and blipster (black hipster) and we checked with...

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