SEAC supporting No War No Warming’s protest in Washington D.C.
Image from Flickr by Thomas Hawk
The Student Environmental Action Coalition will be supporting No War No Warming‘s protest against war and global warming on March 19th. There will be action and protests all week long culminating on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
‘Militarism and the Environment‘ is just one of SEAC‘s current initiatives and recognises the link between the destruction of the environment and war.
What is No War No Warming?
No War No Warming is a colaboration of over 50 organisations, most of which are committed to creating a just and sustainable world like SEAC. They will be joining other groups on protest day in Washington to demand for an end to the war.
The environmental activist community believes the U.S. has an ‘addiction’ to fossil fuels. Their website claims that, “the profits of the oil companies are at an all-time high while hundreds of thousands die in Iraq and gas prices keep going up.”
Through nonviolent means, No War No Warming wants to send out a clear message to institutions that they feel are making profit from a war for oil. To keep up-to-date with the schedule visit www.nowarnowarming.org
Environmental News Online goes live!
ENO, the environmental news website I am writing for has now gone public.
Please take a look http://environmentalnewsonline.com/index.php
Surfrider Foundation’s fight for ocean access in the USA
The Surfrider Foundation is fighting against a proposed development permit for the Takanassee Beach Club property in Long Branch, New Jersey. The Foundation has launched a petition to try to persuade the NJ DEP to refuse the permit.
If the plans go ahead, public access to the ocean will be restricted by 19 luxury residences with path ways to the beach and 5 public parking spaces. The property previously operated as a private beach club allowing thousands to enjoy the ocean and Lake Takanassee.
John Weber, Surfrider Foundation’s Northeast Regional Manager said: “In short, coastal development is out of control here in New Jersey. We should be pulling away from the coast in the face of sea level rise, not building more condos etc.”
Reasons to fight
The property has historic importance and the Surfrider Foundation would like particular buildings to be saved and turned into some type of museum dedicated to the lifesaving services that once used them.
The development would mean a significant reduction in the number of people able to access the beach.
This site is in between the ocean and a coastal lake and has experienced flooding several times in recent years and the property has been ruled as an erosion hazard area.
The recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors would be reduced and their history lost.
The lake is on the City’s Roster of Open Space Inventory. The development will prevent people accessing the lake to fish in the current way and adversely impact public open space.
The problem
Despite this list of reasons to save the Takanassee Beach Club, Weber remains concerned over the prospect of losing the fight: “…our state Department of Environmental Protection is just too close with developers and their attourneys, so getting these coastal building permits is easier.”
But the fight continues whilst the project is on hold pending environmental review.
The Surfrider Foundation’s Mission Statement
“The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.”
For more information on the The Surfrider Foundation’s fight to Save Takanassee Beach visit http://www.savetakbeach.com/ . There is also a short documentary on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8dNH8UOPH8
10 things you need to know about environmental communities outside of the UK
1. California has it’s own Ecological Farming Association known more widely as Eco-Farm. This group is fighting for small-scale sustainable agriculture.
2. An organisation called the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is running a program that will improve the sustainability of small farms in Africa.
3. The Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) website explains a great deal about sustainability in all forms.
4. There is a Washington-based group on FaceBook called Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) made-up of a network of organisations and individuals whose aim is to uproot environmental injustices through action and education.
5. The Otesha Project has announced the routes for the 2008 Otesha Cycling and Performing Tours – a mobile and sustainable community.
6. Non-profit organisations, Global Exchange and Co-op America colaborate to hold Green Festivals aimed at forging a just, sustainable, inclusive economy
7. The Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Fair in Colorado educates people about sustainable living practices, renewable energy, organic agriculture and much more.
8. “Ionia [ a small village on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska] is a guide and model for fundamental and sustainable change in our approach to mental health, well-being, agriculture, family, community, and environmental awareness.”
9. YondersFarm in Georgia is a “non-profit, non-denominational, intentional community in rural Georgia” who invite people to discover how to live in a green sustainable way.
10. Global Green USA “works with governments, industry, and individuals to create a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. Global Green USA is addressing three great challenges facing humanity: climate change, weapons of mass destruction, and the need for clean water.”
About Me
My name is Natalie Chillington and I am a second year Media and Communications student at Birmingham City University. This blog will focus on the existence of environmental communities outside of the UK.
Environmental Communities 