We're In Charge! Movement Challenges Causes of Climate Change

A wave of direct action, collaboration and community empowerment to uproot the causes of climate change is on the rise thanks to Rising Tide North America (RTNA) and other climate justice efforts. With a clear grasp of the threats to the planet's life-support systems, RTNA joins Rising Tide UK and Rising Tide Australia in a grassroots movement to dismantle fossil-fuel-based capitalism and make a rapid, just transition to a clean energy, low-consumption future.

The issue is "climate justice," says Rising Tide. They aim to reverse the intensifying of environmental racism as seen with the Katrina fiasco, African drought, Arctic melting and flooding of island villages, where those least responsible for greenhouse gases are suffering the first and worst "unnatural disasters" of climate change. Further noting the link between "dirty" energy development and indigenous land dispossession/genocide, the group views alliances with and among typically marginalized communities as key to surviving climate chaos. They've supported Native land rights in Black Mesa, Arizona, done work in Mexico and helped communities connect over parallel efforts to stop 'big energy' in its tracks.

"Changes will be made by people, not institutions," says Abi gail Singer of Asheville Rising Tide, an organizer of August's North American Climate Convergences of a wide spectrum of allied groups and individuals, spanning five days in two locations. Creative, nonviolent noncompliance empowered activists to deliver strong messages such as "Bank of America, Stop Funding Climate Change" and "No Coal, No Nukes, No Kidding.

Rising Tide North America's first collective direct action halted business at a coal-fired power plant near Carbo, VA last July; they were also instrumental in defeating a proposed new oil fired power plant in Woodfin, NC. Warning against "greenwashing" and false solutions to climate challenges such as 'clean' coal, carbon trading, biofuels and nuclear power, Rising Tide North America's four month "Climate Justice Road Show" offered education, networking and inspiration to take action toward a "'culture of mutual aid and community autonomy,' whether it's direct obstruction of the fossils fuel industry, or enacting grassroots solutions like permaculture gardens and community run bike shops." "We have a huge amount of power when we take action together," says Evan Greer, a musician active with RTNA. "It's so much greater than our power as individuals or consumers of products."

Contact:
Rising Tide North America
www.risingtidenorthamerica.org
(607) 280-2471

This story originally appeared in Positive News (U.S. Edition) at www.positivenewsus.org. For printed copies of Positive News, vist www.positivenewsus.org or call 607-351-7944.