Clearwater

Yesterday, we wrote about how Chevron is damaging communities in Nigeria but sadly, they are not the only region affected by Chevron's oil pollution.

30,000 Ecuadoreans have been challenging Chevron for almost two decades. They want Chevron to take responsiblity for the oil pollution in the Amazon. This pollution has caused a water emergency in local Ecuadorean communities. The lack of clean water has created a health crisis causing a number of ailments including miscarriages, cancer, and birth defects.

They have suffered because of Chevron's destructive acts but they continue to fight for justice and for themselves. Clearwater is a community led project that supplies the Ecuadorean Amazon with safe drinking water. This project is a necessity as they continue to fight Chevron in hopes that one day they will be held accountable for the contamination they have caused.

Please support Clearwater by sharing about the project.

Watch this video to learn more:

The True Cost of Chevron

Chevron has been causing destruction to everything they touch. For instance their operations have caused harm to the people in Nigeria by destroying their livelihoods in the local Niger Delta. For the past decade they have been responsible for countless abuses in Nigeria.

Read more about Chevron's destructive practices in Nigeria and around the world here.

350.org has launched a new campaign to stop oil subsidies that give tax breaks to companies like Chevron. Our tax dollars are contributing to destruction in places like Nigeria and it looks like the American public wants no part of this. Over 100,000 people have signed a new bill to put an end these handouts.

Here in California, 350.org has put together two events to put pressure on Chevron.

Please join environmental leaders from Nigeria, Angola, Brazil, and Ecuador at a teach-in in Berkeley and a protest at a Chevron shareholder meeting. Details below:

WHAT: Teach-In On The True Cost of Chevron
WHEN: May 29, 2012
WHERE: David Brower Center, Berkeley
More info & RSVP on Facebook.

WHAT: 99% Spring Protest Outside Chevron’s Shareholder Meeting
WHEN: May 30, 2012
WHERE: Chevron HQ, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA
More info & RSVP on Facebook.

Lakotas Arrested For Blocking Tar Sands Trucks

Lakota Activists were arrested in Kyle, North Dakota for disorderly conduct for forming a blockade to stop tar sands mining equipment from passing through their land.

Debra White Plume, one of the activists talked about these mining trucks:

"They each carried a 'treater vessel' which is used to separate gas and oil and other elements. Each weighs 229,155 pounds, and is valued at $1,259,593, according to the papers we got from the truck drivers."
"They said their office in Canada made the route with the State of South Dakota to cross the Pine Ridge rez in order to avoid paying the state of South Dakota $50,000 per truck."  

Read more about it here

Watch Video of the action:

Oppose Keystone XL: Email your Senator

If built, Keystone XL will transport up to 35 million gallons of oil everyday through a 1,700 mile pipeline in Canada’s tar sands. The oil would travel to refineries in Texas and exported globally. This pipeline would only increase our fossil fuel dependence and speed up climate change while destroying and polluting the land and water.

Not only is it a dirty energy source, building this pipeline threatens freshwater supplies for millions and the habitats and lives of at least 20 endangered species would be in peril.

Right now in the Senate, an amendment to a transportation bill would allow for this pipeline to be built. This tar sands pipeline must be opposed to halt the construction of Keystone XL. Please contact your Senators now to ask them to oppose this amendment. Immediate action is required as a vote is expected soon.

Please take action by March 31, 2012.

Take action here.

Here is the content of the sample letter provided by The Center for Biological Diversity:

Subject: Please Oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline

Dear Senator,

I am writing to ask you to oppose the amendment to the transportation bill that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline.  

The proposed pipeline would cross U.S. wetlands, rivers, agricultural and drinking-water resources and wildlife habitat. An earlier Keystone pipeline has already leaked 14 times since 2010, and the Keystone XL pipeline is certain to spill as well. The risks of approving the Keystone XL pipeline are simply too great. Indeed, many landowners are resisting eminent domain because they don't want their land polluted by spills.

Canada's tar-sands development is one of the most destructive and dangerous activities on Earth. First, extracting oil from Canada's tar sands destroys boreal forest and wetlands where migratory birds breed; second, burning that oil creates massive, additional global warming pollution that will help commit us to devastating climate damage.

If this weren't bad enough, the Keystone XL pipeline will allow for export of dirty tar-sands oil to the global market: The American public will bear all of the pipeline's risks to line the pockets of multinational oil companies. 

I urge you to reject the amendment to the transportation bill that approves this controversial and harmful pipeline.

We Love What These Folks Are Doing!

Party Corps' mission is to connect good people to good causes through music.

There is significant need among grassroots nonprofit organizations for capacity building and support services that Party Corps provide. 

Party Corps aims to build lasting community support and attract new members for our beneficiaries.  All proceeds from events go directly to the featured local cause. 

In the past, Party Corps has operated as an informal social network, throwing all volunteer-run events to raise money and support for Bay Area organizations.  We have seen how music can motivate and galvanize a community of active citizens.  Now, Party Corps is transitioning to a formal structure so we can produce better events and support more good causes.

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