Rising Tide North America » Climate Convergence

Convergences For Climate Action Summer 2008

With extreme weather, droughts, species extinctions, and melting ice caps becoming more of a reality each day, it is time for us to come together to take direct action against climate change. This summer Rising Tide North America in collaboration with other organizations will host a number of regional Convergences for Climate Action to create a space of collective empowerment to resist the fossil fuel empire and fight for climate justice.

Convergence 2008
The international movement to confront climate chaos is heating up! Following to the success of this past summer’s Convergences for Climate Action in the south east, west coast as well as the Camp for Climate Action in the United Kingdom we are excited to announce that there are plans to organize more convergences next summer. Planning is in the works for the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany and Australia and here in North America we’re planning convergences on the west coast, in the south east and the north east. Do you want to help with organizing one of these convergences or plan one in your own region? Please email us at contact@risingtidenorthamerica.org or call (202) 657-6772 for more information.

Regional Convergence Planning Contacts:

Northeast:
The Northeast region is holding convergence planning meetings once a month, the next meeting will be in Worcester March 22th and 23th, email for more information:
northeast@climateconvergence.org or visit http://www.climateconfluence.org/northeast

Southeast: This years Southeast Convergence for Climate Action is being held in Virginia in the greater Richmond area. Building on the success of last years climate convergence we will once again come together to fight the coal and nuke industries and build a more sustainable and just world. Email us at: risingtide@mountainrebel.net or visit www.climateconvergence.org/southeast

West Coast: westcoast@climateconvergence.org

What is a convergence for climate action anyways???
An opportunity to bring different people and organizations together for a week to talk about tangible ways we can confront the root causes of climate change while at the same time envisioning and creating thriving healthy communities that do not rely on the burning of fossil fuels. There will be dozens of workshops, trainings and teach-ins on a plethora of topics as well as coordinated days of action.

Check out the web-page! www.climateconvergence.org

Read on for a review of last summer’s convergences….

Wrap up of West Coast Convergence for Climate Action

Posted Aug 28th, 2007

Bradwood Occupation Between August 8th-14th, 400+ people gathered for the West Coast Convergence for Climate Action. Participants took part in nearly 100 workshops, as well as lots of games and performances.

The event took place in Skamokawa, Washington in close proximity to a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Bradwood, Oregon. The Columbia River divides Oregon and Washington, and participants in the Convergence learned about attempts to sustain the local economy of the Lower Columbia River while resisting massive fossil fuel developments in the area.

On Monday, August 13th, Convergence participants were joined by dozens of local activists opposing the Bradwood LNG terminal. The group gathered on the Washington shore of the Columbia River, where hundreds of people live in close proximity to the Bradwood LNG proposal. Using fishing boats, sailboats, kayaks, and an umiak, participants in the action crossed the Columbia River and occupied the beach at PacifiCorp Blockade Bradwood where NorthernStar Natural Gas intends to construct a large LNG terminal.

On Tuesday, August 14th activists locked down in front of the PacifiCorp (aka Pacific Power) building in Portland, Oregon to demand that the company shut down the four dams it operates on the Klamath river and stop developing coal fire power plants. The protesters were joined by a rally of several dozen supporters, many of whom wore hazmat suits painted with fake blood to draw attention to the poisonous conditions on the Klamath River.

No one was arrested at either action; it was generally concluded that the companies targeted wanted to avoid drawing the additional media attention that arrests would bring.

Posted in Climate Convergence, Front Page, Rising Tide Cascadia

Southeast Convergence for Climate Action shuts down Bank of America

Posted Aug 13th, 2007

Climate Justice Now August 13, 2007

More photos available at Asheville Indymedia

***5 arrested protesting Bank of America’s investments in coal and climate change***

As a culmination of the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, activists took a bold direct action against Bank of America over concerns regarding their investment throughout the coal cycle and their promotion of climate injustice. Although there was much speculation regarding a protest action at the Progress Energy Skyland coal-fired power plant, protestors surprised the downtown office of Bank of America.

Two activists locked down inside the main lobby and other activists blockaded the entrance to the downtown branch of Bank of America. The protest included a large, lively group of concerned citizens dressed as canaries and polar bears. Activists carried signs and banners that read: “Bank of America Stop Funding Climate Change,” “Bank of America Stop Mountaintop Removal,” “No Coal, No Nukes, No Kidding” “Bank of America Climate Criminal.” Continue Reading »

Posted in Climate Convergence, Coal, Front Page, Uncategorized