CheckTheWeather

From installing solar panels to working on an organic garden there are many versions of a green job. However, as climate and jobs bills sit waiting for review by senators, Groups around the country are conjuring up what those jobs should look like and how communities, small businesses and individuals can truly take advantage of the Green Economy.

Here are some great resources on Green Jobs and the Emerging Green Economy

Alternatives for Community and Environment an environmental justice group based out of Roxbury, Massachusetts (remember them from the Guru article?) released Environmental Justice and the Green Economy a report in collaboration with other members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum: The report showcases case studies and categories for creating policy that supports a justice based green economy.

Check out the report below:

So once we know what the green economy should look like for our communities how do we go out and make it happen? Read more for links to  host of green jobs and green economy resources: (more…)

Can Gardening lead to community solidarity and Environmental Justice? Check this post from Diana Lopez, a youth EJ organizer with San Antonio, Texas based Southwest Workers Union. Also click on the link below to find out how you can support real change in the hood! 

The roots of gardening go way back before BP, Monsanto, Nuclear Energy and Pesticides; before our earth became contaminated by greed and pride. Gardening connects you directly with your history, your culture and develops who you are personally.

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Tonight, Wednesday June 2, 2010 and tomorrow Thursday June 3, 2010, CNN will air a very special two part series Toxic America featuring the small town of Mossville, Louisiana. For those who ChecktheWeather often you may remember us featuring this town in several previous posts mentioning the towns dramatic environmental justice and public health concerns. There are 14 industrial plants in the community. Residents and doctors say these plants contribute to an abnormal amount of adverse health affects for community members and employees of the plants.

Check out the trailer below:

Along with toxic industrial sites, Mossville is located in the gulf coast in an area prone to heavy storms and hurricanes. Yesterday marked the first day of the 2010 hurricane season. Predictions show that this year’s hurricane season could be more dangerous than last year with an estimated 5 hurricanes to hit the United States. Mossville was dramatically impacted and is still recovering from Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Toxic America will air tonight and tomorrow at 8pm eastern time on CNN.

Much like Checktheweather.net, Al Jazeera was in Bolivia for the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. While we edit all of our amazing footage check out this piece from Al Jazeera on how and why Bolivia is becoming a lead voice on climate change issues.

Fighting for Environmental Justice is getting extra real in the hood! Check out this video from Connecticut’s WVIT News of what happens when a city council member tries to get a local public housing resident to stop talking about the raw sewage in the basement of his building.

read the full article from courtesy of hip hop wired by clicking on the link below.

City Council Members Start Brawl After Barring Man From Speaking On Raw Sewage Backup In Local Housing Projects [Video] « Hip-Hop Wired.

While most eyes are focused on the oil spill off the gulf coast MSNBC’s Thegrio.com is joining CNN and of course Checktheweather.net in following the story of another environmental story in the gulf coast. This story is a case of chemical toxins, industry and public health. Watch this video to see what’s going in the gulf coast town of Mossville, Louisiana and why many are calling it Environmental Racism.

To read the full article from thegrio.com click the link below:

http://www.thegrio.com/news/is-pollution-in-small-town-la-a-case-of-environmental-racism.php

for more information on how to support the community of Mossville, Louisiana visit www.ehumanrights.org

Flupride in the drinking water. Sounds safe right? I mean it’s in the toothpaste for a reason. Unfortunately fluoride in your toothpaste is not the same as fluoride in your drinking water. Check out this video from Films of Purpose on the impact of Fluoride in tap water.

Today democratic United States senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman introduced the 987 page American Power Act. The Act is being introduced as a bill to address Climate Change however leading environmental organizations are less than impressed.

Friends of the Earth e-mailed their supporters stating the bill “would eliminate critical tools needed to stabilize climate chaos while handing out billions in giveaways to some of the worst industrial polluters in the country.”

John Kerry took to the blog grist.org in a mad dash this morning explaining why the bill is not as awesome as the people who actually like the environment might want. Kerry stated in his blog post:

“A comprehensive climate bill written purely for you and me — true believers — can’t pass the Senate no matter how hard or passionately I fight on it. No, it’s got to be an effort that makes my colleagues — and that has to include Republicans so we can get to 60 — comfortable about the jobs we’re going to create and the protection for consumers and the national security benefits — and it has to address those pieces on their terms. The good news: I think we got that balance right.”

Several groups including the Sierra Club, Environment America and the National Wildlife Federation, are hoping this bill will be a jumpstart for future action and are reserving harsh judgment of the bill. Instead the groups offered their support to Kerry and Lieberman stating, “Their unwavering leadership has been critical to the progress made thus far. It is time for America’s leaders to get serious about a comprehensive clean energy and climate policy that will reduce our oil dependence, enhance our security, revitalize our economy and protect our environment,”

So what’s in this bill anyway? Check out the section by section breakdown of the bill to see what all the hoopla is about.

(editor’s note: The initial summary that we added was not the section by section but a leaked summary of the bill provided by http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/)

To learn more and download the full act visit: http://kerry.senate.gov/americanpoweract/intro.cfm

Remember last week when we reported that DC passed the Healthy Schools Act? Well we need to make sure that the legislation actually gets funded! click on the link below to sign the petition to support government funding for healthy school lunches in DC.

Support the D.C. Healthy Schools Act.

In the aftermath of the worst Environmental Disaster in United States history, people are standing up and saying “Bump that it’s time for change”. From The Gulf Coast to Washington, DC non-profit and grass roots organizers are using their voice to speak out against the oil spill in the gulf coast and future investments in dirty and unsafe forms of energy.
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