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 agents who were killed during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. There is considerable debate over Peltier’s guilt and the fairness of his trial. Some supporters and organizations consider him to be a political prisoner. Amnesty International has stated that "Although he has not been adopted as a prisoner of conscience, there is concern about the fairness of the proceedings leading to his conviction and it is believed that political factors may have influenced the way the case was prosecuted."[1] Numerous lawsuits have been filed on his behalf but none have succeeded. Peltier was incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg in Pennsylvania until January, 2009, when he was moved to Canaan Federal Penitentiary in Waymart, Pennsylvania. He was sent back to Lewisburg after he was severely beaten by other inmates in Canaan...."

Back in the day, The AIM movement was seen as being just as much of a threat as the Black Panthers by the Federal Government. Much like the Black Panthers, Counter Intelligence from the FBI placed undercover agents and paid informants to break up their movement to bring justice to Native people.

Want to help make sure Peltier is free? Call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111 or (202) 456-1112 until you get through. Be persistent this man's life is at stake!

For more information visit http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info/index1.htm

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How to Create Energy Independence for the US and Africa Too!

Today most people are out of summer school and off of work ready to celebrate the Fourth of July. Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection are calling for Americans to "Declare Your Energy Independence". That means breaking the addiction to dirty forms of energy like coal and oil. All this comes at the same time that President Barack Obama prepares for his first trip to Africa as President of the United States. A group of some of the leading African Advocacy organizations, including the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Africa Action, Transafrica Forum, Global Aids Alliance, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Priority Africa Network, American Friends Service Committee and Association of Concerned Africa Scholars are calling for Obama to use this trip to Ghana to begin the formal creation of a new U.S. relationship with the continent of Africa; one that is based upon "mutual collaboration and respect between Africa and the United States.

So what would that mean in the dawning of the new Green Economy? Emira Woods, Co-director of IPS' Foreign Policy in Focus states,

"President Obama has advanced a bold vision for a global green economy, yet Africa is often not referenced in these discussions..."

The coalition of organizations is asking for your support in making sure Africa can also have energy independence. Woods goes on to say, "President Obama could bring political leverage for technology transfers and investment incentives in solar, wind, and tidal industries. Creating innovative new jobs can sustain the environment while allowing Africa to leapfrog its development in creative ways and also expanding opportunities for U.S. alternative technologies firms." The coalition hopes this trip to Africa will guide Obama and the US government in pushing for a Global Climate Fund. This fund will help support developing nations in transitioning to a green economy, remove African debt and take the foot of Dirty energy off of Africa's neck.

To read more and sign on to a letter calling for Obama to make his upcoming trip to Ghana the first step in a new and better relationship betweeen Africa and the US Click on the "Petition Du Jour" on the side bar or visit http://www.change.org/ips-dc/actions

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The Ghetto's Perspective on the ACES BIll

Check this video out! Desire Grover, Activist and Filmmaker and Founder of Ghettoprint.com based out of Chester, PA, is using her talents to tell the Hood perspective on the passage of the ACES Climate bill through the house.


The ACES Bill is now up for heavy debate by the Senate after Fourth of July recess. Visit Checktheweather.net for more REAL perspectives on the Climate Bill from REAL people. Environmental Racism is TOXIC! Let us know what you think.

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Climate Rally at Capitol Hill Tomorrow!

Tomorrow (Friday) is a big day! The House of Congress will vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act tomorrow! as we stated in the previous article there is a LOT of work that needs to be done with this bill to make it better. Let's make sure our voices are heard loud and CLEAR.

Checktheweather.net will live blog from the Rally scheduled tomorrow at 1pm. If you are in the DC Area come on out and join us.

At 1:00 PM, we'll converge at the South East corner of the Capitol grounds across from the Cannon House Office Building (1st St. and Independence Ave SE, near Capitol South Metro Stop) .

For media inquiries or more information contact Checktheweather.net founder, Kari Fulton at 202-340-0976 or Karifulton85@gmail.com!

Also Visit powershift09.org for instructions on how you can support even if you don't live in DC!

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In My Opinion: Why People of Color Need Green Too

By Reginald Larkin

One’s ethnic background has always been a hot topic of discussion, in America. Despite the arrival of more pressing issues such as global warming, one begins to wonder when the waves of racism will subside. As a community, blacks have been trying to catch up with the majority society since post slavery; moreover, minority participation in the Green movement is almost non- existent. The rate in which global warming is occurring is quite alarming. Movies such as The Day After Tomorrow are now becoming reminders of the affects of global warming. There has been a sort of “call to arms” in response to the Earth’s climate.

Many have heeded this “call to arms”, however, people of color have somehow “missed the memo.” The Green movement lacks diversity for a number of reasons. The pressures of daily struggles tend to overshadow the need to worry about the environment. Never the less, there is a need for the effects of climate change to be properly communicated to ethnic people.

Urban communities are falling prey to environmental crimes that place their livelihoods and health at risk. Environmental crimes are white-collar crimes, which target ethnic or low-income communities and place health risks such as power plants near homes. Scenes such as this one are all too familiar thus, allowing the cycle to continue. Another common scene is the suburban area that does not have a power plant in the community.

The difference between these to two scenarios is the people in the suburbs go to their council members about environmental issues and they take an active part in their community. Meanwhile, people living in urban communities have to suffer. People of color want to get involved in the green movement, however they may not know how. The need to educate all people about the effects of the changing climate is one that is quite dire.

The Green Movement has always been a white movement but this can change with the involvement of minorities. Communication is a key factor in getting people involved in the environmental movement. The information should be provocative. People should understand how they are personally affected. If someone were writing a song, it would have a target audience in mind, during the creative process. Information should meet people where they are so it can be applied to their personal lives.

Minorities have to voice their concerns about their communities, or no one else will. Yes, the Green Movement is a wonderful thing that is getting people from all lifestyles involved. There are many different types of organizations dedicated to bringing more people of color into the movement, such as the Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative (EJCC).

These organizations are trying to promote ethnic participation in the movement. There is a great need for the Latino’s, African - Americans and Asians to take part in the Green movement. If minorities fail to their voice their opinions, they will proceed to lose the rights in the process. There are many things to be concerned about, but we cannot be concerned about anything if we do not have a place to call home.

- Reginald Larkin is a fashonisto, rising eco-journalist and college student at Morgan State University in Baltimore. He is also the President and Co-founder of Green Morgan a campus group working to engage more youth of color on environmental justice. For more writings from Reginald "treehuggeRL" Larkin visit http://larkintips.blogspot.com/

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Eco-Jam of the Day and More on the Oprah Chicken Chaos

Fried Chicken - Nas

Thought this would be an appropriate song in honor of Queen O giving out free chicken from KFC. Even if you don't like KFC something about Oprah and free made you go print that coupon off yesterday. (Don't lie I got one too.)

Katie Leslie, reporter with the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, "With a name like Oprah, this chicken has to be good." That must have been the sentiment of Kentucky Fried Chicken when it decided to partner up with the Media Goddess to promote their new Grilled Chicken meals. The promotional website unthinkkfc.com states that the new grilled chicken has a "five star fall off the bone taste." Health advocates are excited about the new meals because they are another less fattening fast food option.

Folk struggling from this ongoing recession praised the coupons and the complimentary meal of two pieces of chicken, two sides and a biscuit. Unfortunately, the overwhelming demand for the free deal left many unsatisfied. Fox News in New York City's website myfoxny.com,quoted one blogger as saying, "Nice gesture since I am unemployed and a free dinner would have been nice. I could not download the coupon." Myfoxny.com also reported on a possible sit-in at the KFC on 42nd street in Manhattan. Gothamist.com blogger wrote to the station,"I went over to our nearest KFC a few minutes ago...and chaos ensued. Despite the very visible grilled chicken behind the register, the manager told everyone with coupons to leave and that the promotion was over for the day. The people there are currently holding a sit-in and refusing to leave until they get their free chicken...or the cops are called. Racial epithets were being spewed, people who actually wanted to pay for chicken were facing a potential beatdown, and the manager ran from the screaming horde. Oprah, what have ye wrought?" The Grilled Chicken meal at KFC normally sells for $3.99.

This is not the first incident of chicken related chaos. Popeyes Chicken also offered 8 pieces of chicken for $4.99. On April 23, 2009 ABC 13 in Rochester NY reported of chicken shortages at various popeyes in the area. Watch this quick clip to see what I'm talking about.

(Check for racism: How come the news piece only interviewed Black customers of Popeyes? hmm...)

Kandaka Long of Denver, Colorado wonders, "between Popeye's 8 piece deal and this KFC coupon..where in the world is all this chicken coming from recently?!?!?". Long's thoughts are similar to that of many food justice and animal rights advocacy groups like PETA. The PETA supported website Kentuckyfriedcruelty.com has been campaigning and reporting on Tyson's Chicken and KFC supplier factories where genetically mutated and abused chicken are slaughtered for consumption by KFC customers. Check this video out courtesy of Kentucky Fried Cruelty featuring Pamela Anderson.



Let us know what do you think the deal is with the chicken deal? and checktheweather.net daily for information on food justice and all the ways Generation Y-Not? are redefining Green.

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