Midwest Rising: Convergence 2011

Today, hundreds marched and saw fifteen community and climate activists arrested as the Midwest Rising! Convergence took the streets of St. Louis to protest Bank of America and Peabody Coal.

The arrest action occurred in the intersection connecting Bank of America’s St. Louis offices and Peabody’s national headquarters.

Peabody is the world’s largest coal company and mines states like Wyoming and Montana for coal bound for coal plants in the U.S. and overseas markets. They are currently trying to build coal export terminals along the Washington coast for coal bound for Asia. Peabody has also recently taken a $61 million tax credit from the city of St. Louis, $2 million of that cash will be taken from St. Louis schools. Continue reading →

When: 12 Noon, Monday, August 15

Where: March begins at the “Peabody” Opera House at 1400 Market St. and ends at Peabody Energy and Bank of America at 8th and Market St. What: Over 100 activists from St. Louis and the country to march on Peabody Energy and Bank of America with banners that say “Community Power, Not Coal Power” and “People’s Needs, Not Corporate Greed”

(St Louis, MO) — “Corporations need to respect both people and the earth,” says Chelsea Ritter-Soronen, a St. Louis resident. “No one should lose their home, their livelihood or, at worst, die from bad business practices, but that happens all the time. That’s why we’re demanding that Peabody Energy, the world’s largest coal producer, and Bank of America, one of its financial partners, be better corporate citizens,” says Ritter-Soronen. “Simply put: greed kills, and we won’t stand by and let that happen.” Continue reading →

Oooh baby.

People are starting to arrive in St Louis from different cities, so here’s a guide of what to do when you get here if you arrive early (before Thursday evening).

If you want to help out, come to the World Community Center (WCC) at 438 N. Skinker Ave. Chill, meet other people, get your hands dirty with all sorts of Convergence prep.

Directions to WCC  from Metro
>> From Skinker Station, walk North Delmar.
>> From Delmar, walk West and turn left onto Skinker.

CAMPERS  who arrive today should find a host (we’ll help you). The campsite’s not open until Thursday night.

Bank of America is bad for St. Louis.

-Bank of America is sitting on billions of dollars that should be reinvested in our community so that we can rebuild our cities and neighborhoods.

- Where do they get their money? From us! Bank of America charges some of the highest fees around and profits off of predatory loans.

- Bank of America paid $0 in federal taxes last year and continues to receive subsidies and tax breaks that are causing budget deficits and cuts in vital services.

As part of a national movement, millions have already taken action and moved their money out of Big Banks.  According to MoveYourMoneyProject.org,  $5 billion has already been pulled out of Big Banks.

On Friday, August 12th at 4 PM join other community members to send BOA a message.

CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNTS & INVEST LOCALLY

Bank of America in Downtown St. Louis at 8th and Market.

If you are closing your account come early and see reverse side for more information. Account holders should join others closing accounts inside the lobby between 3:00 and 4:15 PM. Everyone else who is concerned about the way Bank of America is affecting our city and economy, please join our rally outside!  Please read below to learn about which banks to move your money to and please call us so that we know you will be joining us and we can keep you informed about any changes!

Part of building a successful movement is about getting the good word out! It’s about reaching out to people you normally wouldn’t and just having a nice chit-chat. Even people you might not see eye to eye with.

As you can see here, Peabody Energy has been nice enough to put up fliers for the Convergence for us. Let’s all follow Peabody’s magnificent example in letting people far and wide know about what we’re fighting for and what we seek to create.

7880 minutes left until the Midwest Rising Convergence!

The list of environmental workshops and other environmental bits and pieces is now up!

http://convergence2011.org/schedule/enviroment-session/

Saturday, August 13th

Panel Talk (2:00 pm – 2:30 pm)
Transition from discussions on anti-oppression and economics by highlighting their connection to environmental topics. Lay out the framework of the sets of small group workshops which are meant to inform and prepare for planning around direct action and organizing.

Small Group Talks Round 1: informational workshops (2:30 pm – 3:30 pm)

Resource Extraction
Don Fitz (Gateway Green Alliance)
Resource extraction and it’s relation to economic systems based on growth and profit. As water usage is a major factor in all extraction, it’s (over)use, abuse, and scarcity and how that effects communities will be discussed.

Urban Agriculture
John Finch (Earthdance Farm)
Re-imagining the city and urban space as a place for food production and food production as political statement/action. Why we should repurpose our yards, green spaces, and empty lots to grow food now; how anyone can do it; and a quick look at how it’s being done in St. Louis and other places.

Exposing False Solutions: Agrofuels, REDD, and Agribusiness
Ashley Trull (Ciclovida)
Promoted as a solution to climate change, large-scale industrially-grown crops processed for agrofuels are, in fact, a major contributor to deforestation, degredation, and displacement. Other false solutions such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degredation) are being promoted in the global south by the US government and big corporations interested in maintaining the status quo. In this workshop we will discuss this reality, as well as what local, grassroots solutions look like.

Energy, Community, and Jobs
Chris Singer (Climate Action)
Thinking about energy production in terms of creating self-sufficient communities. What that means for the scope of “communities.” What are sustainable systems and how can they be created or financed? What this means for international trade and how this ties in with what a “green” job and a “green” economy really means.

Toxics and Point Source Pollution
Patricia Schuba (Labadie Environmental Organization)
Landfills, toxic emissions, effluent discharge are all contributing to a toxic soup that contaminates our drinking water, soils and air. Coal waste handling is a primary contributor of environmental carcinogens and disease causing chemicals. What are the effects on health and the economy? What can we do to change policy to minimize point source pollution? Join in a discussion from the front lines on how bad the problem really is and how we can create solutions that prioritize the health and well being of our communities.

www.leomo.info

Movement Building – Uniting Economic & Environmental Justice Struggles
Howard Erhman (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization)
How to involve communities that are most affected in order to build an environmental movement. Discussion of the challenges in movement building in general, and the specific challenges facing an environmental movement.

Environmental Issues 101
Johanna de Graffenreid (Rising Tide)
An introductory session for those who want a broad overview of climate change & the main resource extraction methods here in the U.S. We will be discussing how climate change, mountain-top removal, the tar sands, and natural gas fracking are linked to every day experiences & their community impacts. Facilitators will use a variety of media to create an accessible workshop for different learning styles- including a presentation of the Beehive Collective “True Cost of Coal” graphic. A focus on how these issues affect local communities will be presented in an environmental justice context.

NOTE: the Environmental Issues 101 workshop will run until 5 pm

Introduction to Deep Green Resistance
Steve Mann (Kansas City Deep Green Resistance)
How do we effectively deprive the rich of their ability to steal from the poor and the powerful of their ability to destroy the planet? If you care about life on this planet, and if you believe this culture won’t voluntarily cease to destroy it, how does that belief affect your methods of resistance?

Those who profit from the death of the planet won’t stop voluntarily. If we really accept the seriousness of our situation, what would that mean for our strategy & tactics? Deep Green Resistance has an answer, a plan of action for anyone determined to fight for this planet – and win.

http://deepgreenresistance.org/dew

Tar Sands Discussion
Angie Viands (Rainforest Action Network)
Explanation of the tar sands project and the environmental problems involved. Discussion of ongoing and upcoming struggles related to tar sands activity.

Natural Gas & Fracking Discussion
David Orr (Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology)
Discussion on the state of natural gas extraction in the US, how this effects communities, and the process of hydraulic fracturing (AKA fracking).

Small Group Talks Round 2: planning for direct action and organizing (3:30 pm – 5:00 pm)

This time is to allow for as much flexibility and time in planning around either specific campaigns (Peabody, Monsanto, etc.) or with regard to specific regions (Appalachia, Saint Louis, etc.). Anyone wishing to facilitate a section is welcome to do so! Some of the planned breakout sections include:

Peabody Energy and Arch Coal
Monsanto
Saint Louis regional
Appalachia
Utility companies and power generation
Bank of America

Friday, AUG 12th.  // MUSIC + MINGLE  // ft performance by Blue

Doors open at 9pm. Live music at 9:30.

1401 Rowan Ave (at Ridge Ave)

BYOB + Donations suggested at the door | Rides available from Convergence

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Saturday, AUG 13th // 7p // Concurrent Films

Stoney Ridge

Unnatural Selection

Quien Dijo Miedo

Coal Country

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Saturday, AUG 13th // 9p // Open Mic + Music

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Saturday, AUG 13th // 11p sharp // Full-moon Bike Ride with the FBC

Stay tuned for updates… (we’re trying to find more bikes)

Below are the current list of organizations that have officially sponsored our event:

Missourians Organizing Reform and Empowerment

Rising Tide

Climate Action STL

St. Louis Instead of War Coalition

Organization for Black Struggle

 Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

Coal Country

Mountain Justice/ United Mountain Defense

Greening Detroit

SEIU

North County Neighbors

The Rainforest Action Network: Chicago Chapter

Pick up America

Would your organization like to help us, too? Please call 314-862-2249 or contact us!

The Convergence schedule is now up under Workshops and Trainings! Please note that it is still subject to change at this time. We will let you know whenever the schedule is updated.

Hello friends,

The list of workshops is now posted under Workshops & Trainings! Go check it out and let us know what you think!