Gritty City Series: Hello Brooklyn!

Hello Brooklyn - Jay-Z

Gritty City Series-
"The New York Chronicles" Part 1
By Jameelah Muhammad

Yes, I live in a gritty city and I have to say that the experience thus far has been, well...interesting. Not that I expected New York to be pristine and the streets clear of trash and/or debris, however I did underestimate how gritty in fact the city was. A Michigan native, I can attest that my home state has its own set of issues when it comes to pollution, recycling, and general sustainability, but I must say that I have experienced and seen quite a different situation since moving to New York. I've been living in the city for almost a year now and my health and exposure to grittiness is drastically different from when I was living in Michigan. I will never forget after spending my first few weeks here and blowing my nose, only to find gray and black particulates all over my tissue.

Initially I was disturbed, maybe even shocked by this quite obvious evidence of air pollution and inhalation of toxic chemicals to which I was partaking. After a while I stopped seeing these smears on my tissues when I would blow my nose and wondered to myself could it be that my body has adapted to this negative attack on it's lungs, or maybe there is an accumulation of G-d knows what piling up in my lungs that I'm just not as aware of as I was before because the level of my coughing and sneezing has decreased....

"This is Part 1 in a series we will be running all day featuring the Opinion of New York City Educator Jameelah Muhammad. Check back at lunch time for part 2 and a new song to go with it."

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Breaking News: Cynthia Mckinney Taken Hostage by Israeli Government

It's Getting Real in these STREETS MAN! Former Congresswoman and Green Party Presidential Nominee, Cynthia Mckinney was taken hostage by the Isreali Navy. Mckinney was apprehended with 21 other leading activists working with Free Gaza a United States based pro-Palestinian humanitarian group. The group's boat, Spirit of Humanity, was taken hostage for ignoring an Israeli blockade that stops ships from entering the area near the Gaza Strip. The video below is from one of McKinney's trips with Free Gaza this past December when the Free Gaza relief boat was rammed by the Isreali Navy. Check out what she was saying even back then.



As many know, the Gaza Strip is going through major land rights issues and millions of Palestinians have been killed and displaced as a result of conflict with Israel over the land, which both groups consider holy land. Our prayers are with all parties involved and wish a safe return to Mckinney and the other activist on the Spirit of Humanity. You can follow this story at freegaza.org

Read more here:http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40707020090630

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Don't Let The US Tar Canada's Reputation too.

This just in from our friends up north in Canada. The United States is getting involved in a huge venture to destroy Canada and First Nation People of Turtle Island (North America) The Tar Sands, aka oil sands are extra heavy oil that creates a very dirty form of petroleaum made from sand and clay. The United States is partnering with Alberta, Canada to extract the oil and use it for energy usage in the United States. However there is something we can do today to stop them from building more pipelines of toxic sludge.

Another major pipeline from Alberta Canada to the United States is up for a vote by the US State Department. Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton has the power to stop this project. Click here for the Rainforest Action Network's petition page to stop this pipeline from destroying ancient forest, indigenous land, people and species.

For a breakdown of what the Tar Sands are all about check out this article on how tribes in Minnesota are connecting with Canadian tribes to stop the growth of Tar Sands pipelines through native lands http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_12712281?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Plus watch this video courtesy of ecosanity.org . This dude at the end of the video starts WILDING out over the BS the Premier of Alberta is saying.


Tribes in the United States and Canada are calling for action to fight against Tar Sands. What the heck are tar sands you ask?
http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_12712281?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Shouts out to Kandi Mossett of Indigenous Environmental Network for sending this story our way.

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New Music Tuesday: Download the Truth Vol.1

Last week's New Music Tuesday featured Dead Prez's New Album, Pulse of the People. Check the video out below to see what they had to say about Checktheweather.net



This week Checktheweather.net is dropping even more music for the green and giving all of our readers a free download of our latest mixtape The Truth Vol. 1. This project is in conjunction with the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative and hosted by the Bay Area's own DJLN! Find out more on DJLN and the Bay area hip-hop scene at http://cell2021.blogspot.com/

Follow this link for the exclusive download

The Truth Files

The mixtape features hits from Pharrell, Nas, Marvin Gaye, Lauren Hill and Many more all in honor of our environment and building ourselves to build better communities. Oh and I swear it's not as corny as that last sentence ;).

Follow this link for the exclusive download

The Truth Files

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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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Reflections on Redefining ACES to buld a real green economy

Cross-posted from "It's Getting Hot In Here"

While many of my friend in the movement have been in DC and trying to mobilize for, against, or to strengthen the ACES bill, I've been organizing in Minnesota as part of the Twin Cities Summer of Solutions program - you can read more posts on the programs around the country on solutionaries.net. In my work, I'm continually challenged by the persistent disconnect between the real implications of what we're trying to achieve through bills like ACES, how most people understand it, and the results we get. This morning I wrote a blog post in major metro-wide paper - the Star Tribune - attempting to redefine what ACES means and how we should respond. I'm including it here because I think we really need to get better at saying what we're about and why it is important.

As you read, feel free to check out the posts I'm responding to, remember its written for a Minnesota audience, and please share your thoughts on strategies to end the communications gridlock.

Here is the full article from the Star Tribune

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Do Rasta's Care about the Climate Bill?

This weekend was quite a busy one in the District of Columbia. On one end of the city, Congress voted on the ACES Bill and on the other side, thousands of Caribbeans danced in the street at the Caribbean Day Festivities. Such opposite scenes for a weekend but so much going on to see and say.

Here are some shots and video from some of the events:

Friday: The Environmental World went into cardiac arrest as congress passed the American Clean Energy and Security Bill (aka ACES). Youth rallied at capital hill calling for a stronger Climate Bill.

Checktheweather.net caught up with the two of very few folk of color out there and asked them why they were out rallying to strengthen the climate bill here's what they had to say.

The next day Checktheweather went out to the infamous Georgia Ave and danced with the people at this year's caribbean day parade.

Along with floats and beautifully costumed dancers, vendors on the street sold everything from flags and Michael Jackson T-shirts to fresh coconut and sugar cane. the Rasta's were out in full effect to show cultural pride. While selling the fresh fruit vendors yelling out all the health benefits of eating a natural, vegetarian lifestyle.

This weekend highlighted two very different sides of DC. The policy world and the world of the real Chocolate City. Both sides care about our planet yet in very different ways. The question Checktheweather.net wants to know is how much does each group know about the other. Do politicians and staffers listen to reggae hits? Do Rastas care about The ACES Bill? Stayed tuned to checktheweather.net to find out the answer to that question and more.

While we're waiting let us know what do you think?

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