CheckTheWeather

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek returned this month to bring back a little taste of that real hip-hop. You know, that music that came with a healthy dose of knowledge, substance and chill beats. On their latest album Revolutions Per Minute, the artists, also collectively known as Reflection Eternal, take a moment to focus in on the oil industry’s impact on environmental justice and human rights. Kweli mentions in a promotional interview posted on Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner that he was inspired to write the song entitled “Black Gold” after visiting Nigeria and realizing how damaging the oil industry was to the impacted communities in the country. Check out Black Gold below and click read more to watch Kweli and Hi-Tek discuss the concept behind the song.

Check out the interview below:

Whether it is healthcare reform, financial reform or environmental justice this short video Race to the Bottom is telling the story of real Americans struggling to get ahead. This video,created by Jonathan Ryan King, was submitted to the EPA Voices of Environmental Justice Video Competition  and highlights issues faced by truck drivers at the Port of Oakland.

Today on K street thousands of justice workers and organizers are taking to the streets of downtown Washington, DC to confront the Big Banks and Corporate Lobbyist directly. The protesters are calling for real financial reform and for the government to hold corporations accountable for destroying the economy and placing hard working people into financial debt.

Check out the live feed of the action courtesy of Jobs With Justice. For more information on what you can do to support worker’s rights visit jobswithjustice.org

This video has got to be one of the favorites. It’s clear it’s concise and dog gone it,  it’s really about environmental justice. Some of the finalist  in the EPA Enviromental Justice video contest were about polar bears and whales and honestly, they are cool but that is not what environmental justice is all about. Environmental Justice is about saving the endangered human!

Check out this video from a great group based out of Austin called PODER. This is a great example of one thing you can do to protect your hood. To learn more about their work visit: http://www.poder-texas.org/

This weekend, youth from around New York City and the country will gather together for the first ever New York City Youth Climate Justice Summit. The event will be held at Urban Assembly High School For Green Careers 145 West 84th Street on  April 16-17, 2010.

At the summit attendees will be able to partake in art presentations, free concerts from great NYC based artist such as Rebel Diaz and Climbing Poetree,  skills trainings and workshops on a wide range of  urban climate change issues including transportation, food, green jobs, immigration and gentrification.

This two day summit is hosted by Brooklyn based United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park (UPROSE) with support from a number of leading  social justice and environmental justice organizations. Founded in 1966 UPROSE is Brooklyn’s oldest latino-community organization. They utilize an intergenerational approach to organizing that helps community members think about their own lived in environment (what is the environmental impact of the concrete we walk on really?).  Check out this video profile from Brooklyn Independent Television on UPROSE’s hybrid bus environmental justice tours through the Sunset Park Neighborhood of Brooklyn.

UPROSE’s work has gained the attention of major environmental and political leaders including EPA administer Lisa P. Jackson. Jackson will give a video address during the summit commending the youth and offering a call to action for the future of our planet.

This is definitely the dopest event in NYC this weekend and ITS FREE!. Hurry and register The first 100 folk to register online get a free T-shirt!

For more information and to register for this FREE event visit http://uproseyouthsummit.blogspot.com/

On February 28, 2010 legendary Boston raised, Brooklyn based emcee Keith “Guru” Elams, member of the hip hop duo Gangstarr, was rushed to the hospital after suffering from cardiac arrest. For three weeks, Guru laid in a coma with his life in question. Fortunately Hiphopdx.com reported yesterday that Guru is out his coma and has been diagnosed with Anoxia, a breathing disorder that can be caused by severe asthma and carbon monoxide inhalation, which are both directly connected to air pollution. Guru’s publicist noted that Guru’s recent diagnosis with Anoxia may be related to the rapper’s history of severe asthma and lung disorders.

Guru’s respiratory issues that lead to his diagnosis is of no suprise to many in Guru’s hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. In 2007, ABC News 5 in Boston reported that Boston had the third highest level of diesel pollution in the country. Throughout Massachusetts this pollution leads to more than 450 premature deaths, 700 heart attacks and nearly 10,000 asthma attacks each year. (more…)

Crossposted from www.environmentaladvocate.wordpress.com
Written by Kirin Kennedy

Hey all,
So its been a while right since I’ve posted!!! Well lets remix my usual post!!! Today I got in the mail my U.S. Census Form!! Yes, I said it the United States Census Form!!! Now for me as a geographer, this is like crazy cool stuff, you can use Census data to make really cool maps that determine population, based off of racial identity, and addresses just to name a few!!! Why is this important, well population numbers decide how many congressional representatives we get!! Secondly, this form helps us learn about what services are needed, like bilingual services, increased schools and hospitals and so on!! When you think about it, if we get more moneys for schools, hospitals and other services we have also increased jobs in our local area indirectly!!! Now there is one other thing to really think about!! In the Environmental Justice debate there is always a question of racial intentionality, meaning did a company or entity, choose to dump in a site, because of racist ideals??? Many people/communities have loss legitimate cases because although the population is largely African-American and or severely underserved the Census numbers did not show a significant presence of that particular community. Many that they could not prove that the company meant to dumb or build harmful sources or substances in a community just because it was a community of color. See If we don’t fill out the form then we don’t COUNT or EXIST!!! In fact, we can’t really expect to complain about poor air and water quality, lack of transportation infrastructure, and other very important services that will lead to a greener economy if we do not fill out the form!!! So Lets help Define Our Decade and create a cleaner greener society by filling out the census form. I got mine in the mail today and made A video about it, so please watch and enjoy!!!!