Some thoughts to take home from this year’s eco-festivities… Started in 1970 as a national teach-in, Earth Day has become one of the green movement’s most obvious marks on mainstream society. Each year, more than 500 million people observe Earth Day; among them are hardline activists, greenwashed businesses, open-minded students, political campaigners, and SUV-driving soccer moms. The festivities draw large crowds, but has the message been watered down? The concept of Earth Day brings up two points that modern greens should take notice of, if we want our core values to... (continue reading)

After 5 days on the road, the People’s Freedom Caravan made its way into Detroit for the opening march and ceremony of the U.S. Social Forum. And the caravanistas did not arrive empty handed. The 5 days on the bus stopping from community to community, meeting our brothers and sisters in the struggle had left its mark. As we winded our way up from one U.S. border to the other, we gained a sense of freedom – freedom from silence, freedom from hopelessness, and freedom from isolation. We heard the stories of the indigenous Ponca people, who stressed that our ancestors had made... (continue reading)

This is my 4th day in Detroit, and I am so psyched for the next 4 days! I came to Detroit for two events: the Rising Tide North America (RTNA) All-Network Convergence, and the U.S. Social Forum (USSF)! While at the RTNA convergence, I had the opportunity to meet with local organizers from Detroit and hear about some of the environmental justice issues they work on in their communities. I’ve also had the honor of helping them prepare for a big rally and march they’re having on Saturday morning. The Clean Air, Good Jobs, Justice for All march will target a dirty trash incinerator... (continue reading)

Reminiscing about the first US Social Forum (USSF) gives me chills.  I traveled there as part of the Peoples Freedom Caravan (PFC) delegation from San Antonio, TX.  We planned our route to Atlanta with stops in several towns and cities where we had the privilege of meeting with other grassroots communities.  Each place we stopped, it seemed like everybody was connected by the same big struggle for justice, and that connection was a powerful, moving thing.   The journey was part chaos; the buses were picking up people, and it was loud and sometimes uncomfortable.    But connecting... (continue reading)

I was speaking recently with a college student who was saying that she didn’t think she would continue to participate in her school’s environmental club next year. I know environmental issues were important to her, so I asked why. She told me couldn’t really explain, but it felt like an ineffective use of her time. I told her I thought I knew what she meant. When I was in college at Drew University, I was part of DEAL, or, the Drew Environmental Action League. Except, we weren’t very heavy on the action part. During the four years I was in DEAL, we spent a lot of time... (continue reading)