Katrina Chaves – RI Future

May 9, 2014May 9, 2014

Fracking: not in our back yard

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In case you haven’t heard: Congress is making some MAJOR decisions right now about fracking. The oil and gas industry is lobbying to pass a bill that would fast track the approval of fracked gas exports. This legislation would lead to more fracking in communities across the United States and increase gas prices for U.S. consumers.

We know why the oil and gas industry wants to export fracked gas — they stand to make quite a profit by selling to countries like China and Ukraine. This bill is making fast progress in the House — but we can stop it in the Senate. Rhode Island’s delegation will help.

“Senator Reed has real concerns about the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on the environment and public health,” said Chip Unruh, a spokesman for Reed. “He is a cosponsor of the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act (FRAC Act). This bill would require fracking to be subject to the protections of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This legislation would also require oil and gas companies to disclose the chemicals used in fracking operations.”

But, the oil & gas industry is promoting a PR campaign to convince Americans that *fracking* is THE answer to American energy independence. This lie is so widespread that I even hear b.s. PR on my beloved NPR. In fact, I’ve been listening to it for months now.

That’s right, folks. NPR. (Is nothing sacred?)

NPR is a valuable public resource, so I don’t mean to hate on it. It is an entity that remains vulnerable to such corporate arm-twisting. Nonetheless, when it runs stories about families who are sick as a result of fracking, then pushes “Think About It” ads a few minutes later, there is a blatant contradiction here. There exists an utter disregard for Truth, and lack of accountability.

Let me sidebar for a moment, and point out some key stats that emphasize why this should get you riled up:

In rural Pennsylvania counties where fracking began, sexually transmitted infection rose by 32.4%- (that’s 62% more than the increase in rural unfracked counties).
Social disorder crimes — especially substance abuse and alcohol-related crimes — increased by 17% in counties with the highest density of fracking (compared to only 13% in unfracked rural counties).
Heavy-truck crashes increased by 7.2% in counties with high fracking activity (whereas they fell in unfracked counties)
Truthfully, fracking only exists because frackers passed “The Halliburton Loophole” which allowed them to frack our land / water without telling us what chemicals they used. Without such secrecy, it is unlikely that fracking would have been allowed at all, in dozens of states. We know that even the EPA was convinced to cover up its own research that proved fracking had contaminated groundwater.

Fracking will continue to poison our water, air, and health, while increasing methane emissions in the atmosphere, unless we ACT. This means we must hold our politicians AND journalists accountable, (Yes NPR, I’m lookin’ at you!) and each do our part to speak the truth. Our quality of life depends on it; our collective future demands it of us.

So please, do yourself (and your neighbors) a favor: Tell your Senators to oppose fracked gas exports. Tell them we are paying close attention, and will no longer tolerate anything but GREEN energy independence. And if possible, get involved in the “Don’t Even Think About It” push to get the American Natural Gas Alliance off our airwaves.

January 19, 2014

Action Alert: TPP

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This week, a bill to fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was introduced in Congress- but Congress members are not allowed to have a copy of it. This secret trade deal is being negotiated with over 600 corporations- (how democratic!) And if President Obama has his way, if he is able to negotiate the terms of this agreement (without input from Congress) it could easily give corporations the power to overturn laws which threaten their profits. We would see our food safety regulations undermined, and certainly an increase in fracking (and, of course, the many ailments which accompany such activity).

Goodbye, clean water and clean air!

Hello, GMO’s and chemical leaks!

Luckily, many groups are urgently working to stop the TPP, by making Congress aware of the facts- through organizing voices of constituents like you.

January 22 is now “Derail Fast Track” lobby day – and your voice has never been more needed!

Take action with these three simple steps:

1) Download and print the cover letter and fact sheet here.

2) Look up your Representative’s local district office. If you’re not sure who your Rep is, find out here. 

3) On Wednesday, January 22 (or another day that works for you), deliver these materials to their office. (It’s best to call ahead to make sure someone is there to meet you).

November 5, 2013

Why we should ban GMO foods

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As our season of feasting approaches, it seems rather apropos for activists to intensify anti-GMO campaigns. On October 12th, Providence joined hundreds of cities worldwide to March Against Monsanto. This particular march was successful in building/inspiring subversive camraderie, and raised some crucial awareness surrounding GMO’s effects on our bodies and ecosystems. Yet, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are still struggling to actually pass GMO labeling bills. The passage of these bills is necessary for GMO-labeling laws to take effect in CT and Maine.

However, some would argue that the “movement” should go one step further, and ban GMO’s altogether. While long-term health studies have not been conducted, it is becoming common knowledge that research shows links between GMOs and digestive disorders, cancer, allergies, and infertility.

GMOs were quietly introduced into our food supply in the 90’s, and our government never required or performed ANY safety testing. Superweeds and superbugs have become resistant to GMO-related pesticides, and GMO crops have been known to contaminate non-GMO crops. It seems blatantly obvious that we have been deceived; consumers have been denied accurate information to make informed choices, and have paid a high price.

The time to get involved and make our voices heard is Now. Particularly when Monsanto spends millions on effective misinformation campaigns, like the most recent one in Washington. I-522 (a ballot initiative to mandate GMO labeling in the state) is a measure that would require “raw agricultural commodities, processed foods, and seeds and seed stocks” to be labeled as genetically engineered “when offered for retail sale.” (If the law is passed in November, it would take effect July 2015). Meanwhile, in DC, members of Congress continue debating the final version of the Farm Bill, including the controversial King Amendment.

If you’re seeking ways to get involved in Rhode Island, you can contact the Rhode Islanders Against GMO’s through their Facebook page, and if you live in Massachusetts, please visit http://marighttoknow.com & check out their talking points for calling elected officials. Some state reps are considering GMO labeling legislation, but have made it clear these bills will not go anywhere without pressure from constituents.

July 29, 2013July 29, 2013

Climate activists protest Brayton Point power plant

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Hundreds of climate activists, (including members of Keepers of the Mountains, Fossil Free RI, and 350.org), marched on the Brayton Point Coal Plant yesterday; I counted myself lucky to be among them. The action began with Saturday’s 6 hour long training, and resulted in 44 arrests on Sunday afternoon- (and more than a few sunburned faces).

Louis Alstadt, (former Vice President of ExxonMobil), recently told the world: “It will take masses of people demanding action from politicians to offset the huge amount of money that the fossil fuel industry is using to influence lawmakers.” This statement reflects our reasons for taking to the streets, demonstrating passion and perseverance, in such great numbers. The shared beliefs which brought us together were summarized by one of the rally’s first speakers: “Their vision of profit by coal or petrol is wrong.” The industry has abused Appalachian workers, leveled mountains, and impacted our environment from West Virginia to Massachusetts, and remains the largest single source of global warming pollution in the world.

“We believe that climate change is an absolutely urgent and pressing threat that will kill people,” said Craig Altemose, director of the Better Future Project. Yet he also noted that this isn’t really just “climate change” – it is, more specifically, “global warming.” We must call it what it is. He described Russia’s heat wave in 2010, which claimed the lives of 15,000, and discussed the global impact of that season. With coal comprising one-third of all CO₂ emissions, we have no choice but to end our consumption within the next 30-40 years. To ignore this fact (or to buy the myth of ‘carbon-free coal’) is what one speaker jokingly called “wicked stupid.”

Dominion Energy, the owner of Brayton Point, has invested $1 billion to make the plant more “environmentally friendly.” This is laughable when it contributes to higher rates of asthma and cancer, and tops the EPA’s list of “most toxic emissions” in Massachusetts.

And what did we face, as peaceful protestors looking to gain Gov. Deval Patrick’s attention?

One hundred law enforcement officials from the Somerset Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, and members of the Bristol County sheriff’s office. Those arrested were taken to a makeshift jail set up by the sheriff’s office at a National Guard armory in Fall River. However, our criminal (in)justice system is not enough to stop many folks who see this as an urgent life-or-death matter.

According to the FB page of 350 Massachusetts, Turner Bledsoe (79 years old) had this to say, regarding his arrest: “This is the most important thing we can do at this time. We’re on the tipping point. Emissions must go down. If we don’t do something about it, we’re in the soup.”

One protestor I spoke with said she appreciated everyone shouting “Thank you, We love you!” at the arrestees. The gratitude and beauty was indeed palpable, and I left with a renewed sense of purpose. It isn’t that we “should” do more; we must do more. When lives and ecosystems are at stake, it is an obligation- to the earth and to each other.

July 24, 2013

Learn more about GMO’s on Thursday in Providence

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On Friday, the USDA rubber-stamped the first of many new genetically engineered seeds, under the department’s new approval process. As the issue of GE seeds, myriad hazards of glyphosate, and other biotechnology concerns have gained media coverage, momentum continues to build among anti-GMO activists.

The next meeting of RI Against GMO will be held at the Rochembeau Library in Providence Thursday at 7 p.m., anyone who cannot attend in person is welcome to Skype. Hope to see you there! For more information, please join this Facebook group.

June 13, 2013

Tipping points and silver linings on GMOs

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Tipping points and silver linings. They seem perpetually around the corner, as of late.

Consumer awareness and grassroots efforts among the 99% make a powerful impact- even in the face of adversarial forces, and despite our invisibility in mainstream media.

While concerned citizens plan another protest for October 2013, Monsanto stocks have fallen (they are going back up now though). Last week, Connecticut became the first state to pass a GE labeling law. And in Oregon, when a farmer discovered GE wheat growing in his field, Food & Water Watch urged the USDA to end all field testing of GE plants. Japan and South Korea have halted U.S. wheat imports, and many are boycotting brands that have tried to block GMO-labeling ballot measures.

Monsanto has lost the fight in Europe, and will indeed lose the fight here, if momentum continues to build and activists remain committed.

Although it is important to relish our victories, the “bigger picture” is still staring us in the face. GE salmon (on the verge of approval by the FDA) could potentially breed with wild salmon- or worse, breed with brown trout, and create offspring that out-competes native species. The damage this could do to our environment is as disturbing as the effects of glyphosate, (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup). More and more people are discussing Roundup’s connection to autism and chronic disease, and bringing behemoths like Syngenta into the conversation, too.

Because while Monsanto was recently named the “most evil corporation” in the world, in a NaturalNews poll, this isn’t just about Monsanto. This is about a tipping point reflecting the impact of “civilized” lifestyles- both on ourselves, and our surroundings. Between pipelines, fracking, agribusiness gone awry, climate change, and the recent uptick in mass shootings, we have an overwhelming amount of toxicity “on our plate,” as it were.

As progressive activists, and simply as human beings, we must remember: Monsanto’s wrongdoings have not occurred in a vacuum. They are interconnected with (and representative of) a hierarchical and dysfunctional system. Eliminating only one weapon in the arsenal cannot- and will not- end the war; we must see the fight over who controls our seeds, and the battle to know what is in our food, as intertwined with other social, environmental, and political injustices.

Abbie Hoffman said it best: “Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit.”

This “perpetual process” is complex and ongoing. As Bob Plain has pointed out, Connecticut’s GMO labeling law will only take effect after four other states pass similar laws. I do hope Rhode Island will be next in demonstrating a commitment to the health of our children (and each other). But more importantly, I hope activists will not grow tired of protesting Monsanto – for we have only just begun fighting the system it represents.

June 1, 2013

Why didn’t media cover anti-Monsanto march?

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Last Saturday, 400 anti-GMO protesters marched through downtown and rallied at the State House in Rhode Island, as others demonstrated in cities around the world. One would think this warrants the attention of CNN and other mainstream media- yet where is the coverage?

Alternative, independent media is clearly more crucial than ever, as is the role of women in politics & journalism. Most of these protests were organized by women, which is encouraging, given their lack of leadership space- both on the whole and in “liberal/radical” movements like Occupy.

So: upon making their voices heard, are things looking up? Sadly, no- the silencing continues, in many ways, in many places.

This Monsanto monster just won’t quit- and it certainly doesn’t sleep. Spending nearly $6 million on lobbying to ensure the passage of the Monsanto Protection Act wasn’t enough. Now it has inserted an amendment into the 2013 Farm Bill (passed by the House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee) that would make it impossible for individual states to pass GMO-labeling laws. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican, has been dubbed the Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA). The PICA amendment would end recent efforts in states like Connecticut and Vermont to label GMO foods. Even in the highly unlikely event that GMO foods are proven to be only economically harmful, consumers nonetheless have a right to know what is in their food, and where it comes from.

Here’s Paul Hubbard’s video set to Jared Paul’s music, ICYMI:

May 16, 2013May 16, 2013

May 25 in Prov, planetwide: March Against Monsanto

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Providence will join activists from around the world in ten days for the May 25 March Against Monsanto. Monsanto is the biotech giant that is bankrupting American farmers and destroying our food supply, all for its own profit.

Demonstrations in dozens of countries will draw attention to genetically engineered seeds and foods. In Providence, we begin at 2pm at the State House, and wind through Providence Place Mall, City Hall, Kennedy Plaza, and end back at the State House with some live music, information booths, and guest speakers.

While Monsanto continues to claim GMO food is safe for consumption, research (and common sense) says otherwise. One recent study has revealed high levels of toxicity in lab-made corn. As the anti-GMO group Moms Across America to Label GMO‘s has pointed out, when food is covered in glyphosate, you certainly don’t want to eat it, or allow your children to eat it. Exposure to glyphosate can (and often does) lead to intestinal pain, vomiting, erosion of the gastrointestinal tract, excess fluid in the lungs, pneumonia, clouding of consciousness, destruction of red blood cells, abnormal electrocardiograms, kidney damage and damage to the larynx. And this is only one concern among many, regarding Monsanto’s impact on agricultural practices.

In March, Congress passed what has been called the “Monsanto Protection Act,” which protects GMO-producing companies from legal action. It seems that this has only galvanized activists across the globe, and impassioned those who are paying close attention.

You can make sure you don’t buy Monsanto products with this new app, and here’s a list of companies to avoid.

If interested, check out the Facebook event page and get involved- however you can! See you there! Or check out the local Providence Facebook page and/or the global one.

April 24, 2013

Last call for marriage equality

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576890_857828428319_450427188_n — RI Future contributor Katrina Chaves and her partner Caylene Pillsbury hope to be celebrating later today.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on marriage equality today at 4:00 p.m. Equality opponents are certainly shocked that we have come this far, and they’re flooding Senators with calls and messages. For those who stand on the side of love: Please make some calls today, contact your legislator and let your voice be heard … there are no guarantees here.

Hopefully, we will never have to do this again.

As for me? Tonight I will be busy with my oh-so-scandalous, oh-so-deviant bisexual life: Running errands after work, and giving my partner a celebratory kiss & hug when we -(fingers crossed)- hear the good news.

April 23, 2013April 23, 2013

GOP helps RI make marriage equality history

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Congrats, Lil’ Rhodey! Remaining true to the uniqueness of this state that I have found so endearing, Rhode Island made history BEFORE voting on same-sex marriage.

The Rhode Island Senate Republican caucus announced its support for a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the first legislative caucus in the nation to unanimously back marriage equality.

The President of HRC referred to this as a “game changer,” noting that issues of equality are gaining bipartisan support as time marches on.

Rhode Island has a higher percentage of LGBT adults than all but two states that have legalized same-sex marriage, according to a 2012 Gallup survey. At 4.5%, the state ranked No. 5, overall, but above the national average of 3.5%.

However, this will not only change the lives of LGBT constituents; this is bound to improve the quality of life for children of LGBT couples, and have a vast “ripple effect”

April 3, 2013

Marriage Not Only Issue For LGBTQ Community

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With the words “marriage equality” on the minds and tongues of thousands of passionate progressives, in Little Rhodey and the rest of the nation, we must remind ourselves that LGBT folks face a variety of other important issues.

Sadly, studies have shown that LGBT people are 2 to 4 times as likely to commit suicide, which speaks to the severe lack of protection, support, and resources available to my community. Bisexual and transgender individuals have been largely ignored, in both straight and gay circles, (which became increasingly obvious during the repeal of DADT), and statistics measuring their mental/physical well-being reflect this. Moreover, while federal laws protect workers from being discriminated against because of their race, religion, sex, age, national origin, and disability, they can still be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Despite the optimistic “It Gets Better” mantra/movement, it gets worse: LGBT people can be evicted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity in 29 states. Seven states still ban adoption by same-sex couples. Nearly half of all homeless youth identify as LGBT, and the most prevalent reason for their homelessness is family rejection.

In an abusive same-sex relationship? Well, good luck! According to a study by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 45% of LGBT victims were turned away when they sought assistance from a domestic violence shelter. Over half of those who filed for protection orders were denied them. This is rather disturbing, given the results of a 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey: 61% of bisexual women and 44% of lesbian women reported intimate partner violence.

With all of our focus on same-sex marriage, it is essential to avoid putting these conversations on the back burner. Speaking as a bisexual woman in a long-term relationship with another bisexual woman, I know from experience how challenging it is to remain healthy, strong, confident, and safe, in the face of homophobic attitudes, hostile work environments, and much worse. If we think that our work is done because marriage equality has been won, we are terribly mistaken.

And on that note, my friends and allies, as the season of Pride approaches, check out some wonderful events happening in the Ocean State this month:

April 3 PFLAG of Greater Providence meeting, 6:45-8:45 p.m. The Met School, 325 Public St., Providence. 751-7571.

April 5 Luna’s Ladies Night, 9 p.m. Roots Cultural Center, 276 Westminster St., Providence. Live music, DJ, special events. 21+ $6 cover. See www.lunaspvd.com.

April 7 RI Pride Triple Crown Pageant, 7-10 p.m. Providence Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance St. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information & tickets see www.prideri.com, or e-mail Info@prideri.com.

April 14 RI Prime Timers, 4:30-7p.m. Social and networking for gay and bisexual men 40+. Social, dinner and meeting. www.riprimetimers.org or call Steve at 996-3010.

April 16 Borderlands 7-9 p.m. A peer-led support group open to transgender, transsexual, gender-variant, and intersex people and to those who are questioning. Meeting location is withheld for participant privacy. See info@tginetwork.org for more info.

April 25 RI GLADHour: Happy Hour for Fans of LGBT Equal Justice 6-8:30 p.m. Ri Ra Irish Pub. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres • Hear from Janson Wu, GLAD Staff Attorney, about GLAD’s ground-breaking work for marriage equality in Rhode Island

March 28, 2013

Why Is President Obama Protecting Monsanto?

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While many of us were talking about same-sex marriage and feeling optimistic this week, President Barack Obama signed a spending bill into law on Tuesday, (HR 933), that has been rightly called the “Monsanto Protection Act.”

The Monsanto Protection Act bars federal courts from being allowed to halt the sale or planting of genetically modified (or genetically engineered) seeds, no matter what health issues prove to be a result of GMO’s in the future.

The Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735 of the bill, includes language that has many people justifiably outraged. A Republican of Missouri, Sen. Roy Blunt, worked with Monsanto on this provision, ignoring the thousands of citizens who made their anger and opposition heard. Obama, too, should be held responsible for ignoring the protestors outside the White House- the organic farmers, consumer advocates, and everyday heroes who have been tirelessly fighting for our freedoms. The precedent this has set is scary, and we must continue to pay close attention.

In America, there are a variety of ways to compose a 24 hour day and night, and there are many different ways to build a beautiful, fulfilling life. Though we are partly the products of our environment, we also have some control over our personal choices, priorities, and ecosystems.

We can choose to spend $3.00 on a chicken salad wrap at Whole Foods instead of supporting McDonald’s. We can choose, as free-thinking individuals, to pick up a book instead of numbing our minds/bodies/souls with television and video games. Despite living in a society that assaults our senses and experiences with pollution, corruption, and worse, we nonetheless maintain a certain degree of freedom to live well. However, our freedom was threatened in an rather shocking manner this week.

March 26, 2013March 27, 2013

Supreme Court Considers Marriage Equality Debate

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What a day for the LGBT community!

The Supreme Court heard challenges to California’s Proposition 8 today, and tomorrow it will hear arguments against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). (The audio and transcript , if you have time to check them out!)

Let’s hope that Chief Justice John Roberts kept his gay cousin in mind during the Prop 8 argument, as she was in attendance with her partner, in seats reserved for guests of the justices.

Four Democratic senators reversed their stance on DOMA in the past several days, but unfortunately, not everyone sees the significance of this civil rights issue and have a change of heart. There are many who refuse to even call it a “civil rights” issue. What happened at the RI State House last week played out once more near the Supreme Court today, at an anti-gay marriage rally, when African-American pastor Rev. Bill Owens said, “I marched in this same location years ago. They are trying to say they are suffering the same thing we suffered. They are not. … Not even close.”

Engaging in “Oppression Olympics” serves absolutely no one, and I am grateful to see public displays of solidarity in all communities across the country, and a million examples of Love for every hateful word spoken.

March 21, 2013March 21, 2013

Marriage Equality To Get Senate Judiciary Hearing

On Thursday the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the same-sex marriage bill. This bill will not be passed out of the Judiciary Committee without thousands of volunteers helping to build support, so folks should begin arriving on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to make their presence known throughout the day. This is a crucial moment to make history, and we need any/all volunteers who can give an hour of their time, make a simple phone call, or write a letter to their senator.

Each voice and every effort makes a world of difference, so stand up and be counted!