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Obviously it begins with a book, the classic novel by the recently-deceased Harper Lee. As made clear last year with the release of her sequel volume Go Set a Watchman, she continues to hold many millions enchanted by her semi-autobiographical story of a small town lawyer who defends a black man in the 1930’s south in a trial that holds up to the lens the inner logic of racism, all witnessed through the eyes of his daughter and her best friend (a stand-in for that old southern belle Truman Capote). Though she denied it for decades, many felt that the plot was a re-imagining of the infamous Scottsboro boys trial from around the same time. I am not certain either way, particularly considering how the text eschews anything remotely akin to the Old Left notion of class solidarity against racism in exchange for some middle class Liberal ideology.
Yet despite those points, the story is still important precisely because it serves as a stark reminder of why Liberalism’s effort at desegregation without liberation, Gregory Peck instead of Malcolm X, has led us to the funerals of Trayvon and so many other successors of Tom Robinson. As an effort to update the text, the stars have included breakaway monologues narrating their own modern struggles with issues stemming from the text. Yet until we find a way to embrace liberation, it seems like no update is necessary.
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March 24, Washington, DC Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox, Megan Holleran and five others were arrested in the driveway of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) while waiting for commissioners to join them for pancakes topped with the last drops of maple syrup from the Holleran family farm in New Milford, PA. They and about two dozen other activists were protesting FERCs approval for the clear-cutting of a wide swath of maple trees at the Holleran farm.
Blocked by guards from entering the FERC building, Fox repeatedly called on the commissioners to come down for the last dregs of syrup and a conversation about fracked-gas infrastructure and climate change.
Everyone I know is fighting a pipeline or a compressor station or a power plant that is in front of FERC for approval, said Fox, wearing an apron that said Pancakes not Pipelines.
It is clear to me that FERC has to be the most destructive agency in the United States right now. They are faceless, nameless, unelected and ignore citizen input. I think of FERC as the Phantom Menace. The agencys commissioners have been rubber-stamping fracking infrastructure all over country that threatens local communities and the planet by accelerating climate change.
Climate activist Tim DeChristopher, of Pawtucket, RI, wearing a chefs cap and a Pancakes not Pipelines apron, cooked the pancakes on a solar-powered cooktop set up on the sidewalk in front of FERC. DeChristopher said FERC had
cut down life-giving maple trees to make room for a death-dealing pipeline. The agency has been able to get away with this shameful behavior by operating in the shadows. Were here today to invite FERC employees into the open, to engage in a human way with the people whose lives are impacted by FERCs decisions.
Protesters carried banners that said Stop the Methane Pipeline and Pancakes not Pipelines. Led by singer-songwriter Bethany Yarrow, who was also arrested and is the daughter of Peter Yarrow, protesters sang songs, including We Shall Not Be Moved and Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round.
While seated at a table, eating pancakes and waiting for FERC commissioners or employees to join them, several people hurt directly by the agencys permits also spoke.
Holleran, among those arrested with Fox, said FERC had given approval for the trees to be cleared before the pipeline had all the required permits. We followed all the rules. We asked them to wait before doing irreparable harm to our farm. This could happen to anyone, she said. FERC, come on down and chat with me. FERC has a chance to be accountable now.
Nancy Vann, a Westchester, NY, landowner who blocked tree-cutting on her land for the Spectra Energys Alqonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline, said,
Each tree that is cut is another step toward an uninhabitable planet. Im here for Megan and her family and for the 20 million people living within a 50-mile radius of the pipeline thats planning to go 105 feet from the Indian Point nuclear power plant and two earthquake fault lines.
Activist and psychiatrist Lise van Susteren said, We are here to tell [FERC] we will not stand by while you have this unholy alliance with industry. Psychiatrists and other health-care professionals have to report to authorities any child abuse, she said. Every child stands to suffer because of what we are doing to the climate.
We can not afford to think what is happening now doesnt affect us all, said Aria Doe, co-founder of the Action Center for Education and Community Development in Rockaways, NY, where neighborhoods were inundated by Hurricane Sandy. Much of the pollution ends up in poor communities of color, she said. Im here for my future grandchildren.
Robin Maguire from Conestoga, PA, said the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline is routed through sacred burial sites.
Also at the action was Karenna Gore of the Center for Earth Ethics.
In addition to Fox, Holleran and Yarrow, those arrested were: Gabe Shapiro from Massachusetts; Jane Kendall from New York City; Don Weightman, a BXE organizer from Philadelphia; Ron Coler, a Select Board member of Ashfield, MA, whos fighting the NED pipeline and Connecticut Expansion.
Yarrows 9-year-old daughter, Valentina Ossa, watched in tears as her mother, still singing, was handcuffed and put in a Homeland Security van.
Beyond Extreme Energy organized the action, one of many the group has led at FERC. BXE is working with groups and individuals across the United States to revoke FERCs mandate to operate an arm of the oil and gas industry. It seeks an end to FERC permits for new pipelines and other projects that allow the expansion of the fracked-gas industry. BXE has made this demand in an escalating series of protests at FERC beginning in 2014 and including disruptions at the monthly FERC meetings, described in the March 20, 2016, New York Times article Environmental Activists Take to Local Protests for Global Results.
BXE will continue its actions at FERC during the Rubber Stamp Rebellion planned from May 15 to 22.
As the New York Times wrote in the article quoted in BXE’s press release:
Greg Yost, a math teacher in North Carolina who works with the group NC PowerForward, said the activists emboldened one another.
When we pick up the ball and run with it here in North Carolina, were well aware of whats going on in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, he said. The fight were doing here, it bears on what happens elsewhere were all in this together, we feel like.
Adding pictures to this, Tom Jefferson a Pittsburgh, PA, documentarist made a wonderful video showing the nationwide resistance against the national energy summed up by FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur. Unfortunately, she is as clear as she is wrong:
I believe that we as a nation can achieve real environmental progress, including on climate change, but only if we’re willing to build the infrastructure, both gas and electric, and build the energy markets to make that possible.
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Sources within the Rhode Island public sector retirees community have come forward with a survey, taken of a demographic of former public sector employees, that is striking in conclusions for the wider public sector retiree population and future ones.
The survey of the Rhode Island Retired Teachers’ Association was sent to 603 members and 247 members responded. This cohort was from age 58 to 96 and had 36 respondents living out of state.
6 questions were asked. We have eliminated question 2 and 3 as they were poorly worded.
Question 4 asked how they keep current with local and state news (Newspaper, Radio, Television)
Two remaining questions were:
Are you in favor of more open information from the RI State Treasurer about pension investments and fees? Yes or No
All 247 responded yes
Has the loss of the yearly COLA had a negative impact on your standard of living? Yes or No
230 responded yes
Is it important the RIRTA continue to investigate the RI Public Pension Fund for possible criminal mismanagement? Yes or No
Again, all 247 responded yes
Finally we asked “In a few sentences, please tell us how the new pension law (loss of COLA) has impacted your life.” Following are some of the comments:
Believed the COLA/pension was a guarantee-thought it would be wisely invested.
A sad ending (COLA loss) to a job I loved.
Rent goes up! Healthcare goes up! Check does not.
I am chipping at my savings to keep pace with rising taxes, insurance, goods, fees etc.
I have no hope that my pension alone (no COLA) will keep me financially viable.
Mentally for sure. Am I going to have enough money till the end? How long will I be able to stay in my house? All the same concerns I heard from my Mothers’ generation.
It is like living in Limbo and the future is scary.
I cannot be a consumer anymore. The bottom line is there is no expendable income to support out local businesses, charities and nothing for political contributions.
Have discussed with my wife the advantage of moving out of RI to a state that will not tax my pension.
I made my decision to retire based on the 3% COLA…..I don’t have the funds I thought I could count on.
The comfort level we anticipated for us through our elder years has been stolen from us.
There are over 20,000 of us suffering our own recession.
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