WV Citizen Action Group
Action Alert
June 23
2014
 Alert Archive

Below:

 Telephone Call to Action: Citizen's Climate Lobby Seeks Revenue-Neutral Carbon Fee

If you know Jim Probst you probably know that he is working hard to get Congress to MOVE us into renewable, clean energy. He started the state's first Citizens' Climate Lobby and now..

Jim is going to Washington June 23 and 24 to talk to our Members of Congress about a fee on carbon that would be returned to American households so that we can afford to transition into a new era of energy.

We need people like you to take 10 minutes on Monday, June 23, to call Senators Rockefeller and Manchin and Reps. McKinley, Capito and Rahall and let them know that you support Jim and a transition to clean energy. 

Can you help Jim by letting Washington know we are behind him?  Can you forward this to your friends?  Thank you!

You probably have the phone numbers already, but if needed:

Sen. Rockefeller (202) 224-6472

Sen. Manchin(202) 224-3954

Rep. McKinley (202) 225-4172

Rep. Capito (202) 225-2711

Rep. Rahall (202) 225-3452

Call Monday, June 23 and ask for action on climate change. It helps Jim to mention his name or "Citizens Climate Lobby" and state that you support a revenue-neutral carbon fee. This would:

* Reduce CO2 emissions by 33 percent after 10 years, 52 percent after 20 years. 

* In the first 10 years, 2.2 million jobs would be added. 

* The refunded carbon tax would add between $80 billion and $90 billion to annual gross domestic product (GDP).

* Because of reduced air pollution, by 2025, 13,000 lives would be saved annually.


Check out the Nationwide Event Facebook Page and learn more at citizensclimatelobby.org. THANK YOU for making your calls 6/23/14! Together we can save our climate for this and future generations!

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Thank Sen. Manchin and Sen. Rockefeller for Their Efforts toward Defeating Citizens United

While you’ve got them on the phone, be sure to thank Senators Manchin and Rockefeller for sponsoring S.J.Res.19, the joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections. This is a tough battle for the senators because the case of Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission

1.    Found that free speech rights are about the speech, not the speaker (in other words, it doesn’t matter who’s speaking, but that speaking is taking place.)

2.    The case reconfirmed the notion of corporate personhood.

3.    Since political speech is the most important First Amendment right, constraint of free speech must meet strict scrutiny. 

Check out this website for more information.

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 FREE Screenings of ‘Triple Divide’ Across WV

Cross-Country Tour Of Fracking Investigation To Use Zero Gasoline

Investigative News Team Booking ‘Triple Divide’ Screenings Across U.S.

 This summer, communities across the Unites States will have the opportunity to witness investigative documentary Triple Divide about fracking in the Marcellus Shale, a feature debut of journalists Joshua Pribanic and Melissa Troutman of Public Herald.

The team will tour the U.S. in a Tesla Motors Model S, a long-range, all-electric sedan, and test the company’s nationwide Supercharger system where the electric cars can be quickly recharged for free. The directors aim to cross the U.S. using zero gasoline and emitting zero greenhouse gas pollution.

“Triple Divide is about how water and energy connect us all,” said Troutman.  An investigation of  impacts from fracking in Pennsylvania, Triple Divide has been called “a bombshell" and will tour from June thru November thanks to a grant from the Investigative News Network with support from the Knight Foundation.  

According to Pribanic and Troutman, who also co-founded the investigative news nonprofit Public Herald, Triple Divide reveals how one state’s ‘world-class regulations’ fail to protect people, communities, and the environment.  

“The public isn’t seeing the full scale of impacts from fracking either because regulators are mismanaging the data or decisions are made based on politics instead of science,” says Pribanic. “The impacts we encountered in Triple Divide are systemic, but we can learn from these experiences so that the stories of those interviewed are not in vain.”

The journalists aim to bring together people on any side of the issue to discuss solutions, such as the #Fileroom project which Public Herald began to help the public track human and environmental health complaints by digitizing and mapping hard-to-get government oil and gas files.

“Pennsylvania has some of the best environmental laws in the country, but they aren't being enforced," says Troutman.  "And major problems like the 'Pressure Bulb' effect from fracking, which we cover in Triple Divide, aren't a part of state or federal regulations at all."  

Academy Award-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo co-narrates the documentary and added his voice to the project after seeing the film just weeks before its release.  Ruffalo’s nonprofit, Water Defense, also investigates water testing and protection measures, and he is a co-founder of The Solutions Project.

Public Herald also seeks solutions to increase its sustainability, which is why the team chose Tesla Motors for its transportation. “Imagine crossing the country without using a single drop of gasoline,” said Troutman.  “Tesla’s model may be a way to lessen the impact of fossil fuels on society and the climate.  We’ll share our review of the experience online, and those who attend screenings will get to check out the car in person.” 

Triple Divide’s namesake, the triple continental divide in Pennsylvania, is one of four highly unique watersheds in North America. It’s where three major rivers begin and flow to separate ends of the continent, providing drinking water for millions of people and hundreds of communities downstream.

The filmmakers will have screenings in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, California, Colorado, Montana, and Michigan with stops in between. For a detailed list of screening times and locations, visit
http://tripledividefilm.org/screenings.  For video clips see TripleDivideFilm.org.  Also follow @PublicHerald and #TripleDivide.

Showings: 

Wednesday, June 25, 5:30pm at the Fairmont State University, Caperton Center, 501 W. Main Street in Clarksburg.

Friday, June 27 at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Boulevard West in Charleston.

Sunday, June 29 at 2pm at Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling

See TRAILERSTILLS, AND REVIEWS

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 Water-Themed Play Has Four Shows Left

In response to the January 2014 chemical spill, New Brooklyn Theater announces a new site-specific production of An Enemy of the People, Henrik Ibsen's classic play about poisoned water and poisoned politics. Performances will play on a custom-built, site-specific stage in the Kanawha River overlooking the West Virginia State Capitol at the Public Access Dock (Porters Hollow in Charleston, next to the Frontier Building, 1500 MacCorkle Ave SE). 

Though written in 1882, this is a play for our time with special relevance for West Virginians as they try to chart their future in the wake of the chemical spill. An Enemy of the People tells the story of Thomas Stockmann, who discovers that the water in his town is polluted. Stockmann must find the strength to stand up to opposition from the press, civic leaders, and the local government. Along the way, he finds the crisis is more personal and complex than he had originally thought. 

Each performance will include a post-performance talkback discussion between the audience, cast, and special invited guests, including elected officials, scientists, activists, and community leaders. The production will provide a unique, arts-driven opportunity for public dialogue about the state's future. 

Tickets to all performances are free to the public but must be booked online by visiting www.newbrooklyntheater.com.

Showings:

Thur. Jun 26 7:30 pm

Fri. Jun 27 7:30 pm

Sat. Jun 28 7:30 pm

Sun. Jun 29 7:30 pm

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 AWARE Holding Art Sale and Concert to Support Environmental Organizations

Artists Working in Alliance to Restore the Environment (AWARE) is hosting an Art Sale and Music Event on Thursday, July 3 from 7-11pm at the Woman’s Club. Suggested minimum donation is $25. There will be snacks and a cash bar.

Enjoy music by Qiet, the Carpenter Ants, Colleen Anderson and George Castelle, Trish Anslet, Jeff Ellis, Paul Epstein, Mike Pushkin, and Andy Park! Art will be featured by Mark Blumenstein, Stephanie Danz, Ginger Danz, Al Peery, and more!

Doors open at 6:30pm. Advance tickets for sale at CAG.

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 Which OCOF Regional Policy Workshop Are You Attending?

Registration is now open for our upcoming Our Children Our Future regional policy workshops.  Each policy workshop will allow campaign partners the opportunity to participate in trainings on voter registration, local policy change, and policy advocacy trainings.  Local champions, consisting of community members and legislators, will participate in a panel discussing how to effectively advocate for our children and families.

Regional Workshops are on the following dates and at the listed location:

·         Northern Regional Workshop     July 22,2014                       
  Gaston Caperton Center              Clarksburg, WV

·         Eastern Regional Workshop         July 29,2014                       
  Blue Ridge Community/Technical Center      Martinsburg, WV

·         Central Regional Workshop        July 24,2014                       
St. Timothy in the Valley                  Hurricane, WV

·         Southern Regional Workshop     July 17,2014                       
WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, Alumni Center      Lewisburg, WV

Erin’s Law and many other hard hitting proposals will be discussed at these workshops.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend, share, and learn about the issues our campaign partners are working on.  Registration is below:

SOUTHERN REGIONAL REGISTRATION: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=a79xazcab&oeidk=a07e9g0w5shb8595527

Northern Regional Workshop Registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=a79xazcab&oeidk=a07e9g2os2985cb8826

CENTRAL REGIONAL REGISTRATION: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=a79xazcab&oeidk=a07e9drgh2ye3585b71

EASTERN REGIONAL REGISTRATION: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=a79xazcab&oeidk=a07e9g2sgc46b97f994

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