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| Issue: # 31 | August 24, 2010 |
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RPA Office
317 11th St
510-412-2260
RPAActivist@gmail.com
510-595-4661 |
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To have an item listed send it to
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Chevron Tries End-Run Around the Community
 Chevron is trying to use Sacramento lobbying to bypass environmental protections for Richmond.
Negotiations are still going on between environmental groups, the city of Richmond and Chevron about protections for restarting the Chevron expansion project. But Chevron is now lobbying the state legislature to sneak through a special exemption which allows the giant oil company to do its project without having to file an Environmental Impact Report and reach agreement with the city about environmental protections.
In July 2009 a court ruled that Chevron's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its expansion project was flawed because it did not reveal its true plans for the expansion, Chevron stopped the project instead of submitting a revised EIR or negotiating with the environmental groups. Chevron then appealed and again the Courts ruled that its EIR was seriously flawed noting that Chevron told one thing to its stockholder but another to the community.
In the last few months a Democratic assemblyman has been serving as a mediator to find a way to restart the project. The city delegation for the mediation includes Mayor McLaughlin, Vice Mayor Ritterman, Council Member Viramontes, the City Manager and City Attorney (see Chevron Loses). In previous mediation attempts the environmental groups demonstrated a willingness to try other approaches to protect the community. Chevron has refused to seriously address concerns about community health. Chevron asks CEQA exemption
Apparently Chevron is trying to bypass these negotiations by asking the legislature for a special exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This act requires that projects must file and get local community approval of an Environmental Impact Report. This is the main tool which allows communities to protect their air and water and other environmental conditions. An exemption for any project should be questionable under any circumstance. But to give an exemption to a company after judges have ruled that it mislead the public with its report would be a scandal and is only possible because Chevron has such deep pockets for politicians.
A number of mainstream environmental organizations like the Planning and Conservation League have drafted letters to send to the leadership of the State legislature asking them to refuse an exemption to Chevron.
Write your legislator and ask that they too refuse to give a free pass to Chevron. Our air and water and our lives are too important to trade for Chevron campaign contributions. We don't want a further weakening of the California Environmental Quality Act. Demand that Chevron come to the negotiating table prepared to negotiate real protections of our air and water and to file a truthful and accurate Environmental Impact Report.
Mike Parker
See the LA Times blog on this. |
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Show Your Support for a Grass Roots Campaign
Available with metal stakes as lawn signs or window/fence signs
Come by the office (weekdays 2-5pm or Saturday 9am -2pm),
317 11th St. to pick some up for yourself and your neighbors.
Or call 510-412-2260 for delivery.
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Make A Difference
We don't take corporate contributions, we depend on on people like you volunteering to make democracy work.
Phone Banking With Others
 Every Wednesday 6:30pm - 9pm (starting September 1)
At a location convenient to South Richmond and Annex
Phones provided
Refreshments
Email Kay Wallis kaywallis@hotmail.com
Every Thursday 6:30pm - 9pm
At RPA office 317 11th Street
If possible, please bring your cell phone,
charger, and earphone
Refreshments
Call 510-412-2260 |
Talk to your neighbors
Door-to-Door Every Saturday 9am --2pm plus...
Our door-to-door is a slow process but it works. We reach new people and get them involved.
The office is open from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. The best time to come is between 9:30 and 10 am for coffee and nosh. The candidates are usually there at that time. 317 11th St. 510-412-2260
If you can't come in on Saturday, come in during the week to get the new literature and find out the exciting news.
Remember: To get this job done we are working every Saturday as a group. Many of us are also covering our own neighborhoods during the other days. If you have not picked up walk sheets and literature for your neighborhood call the office to make arrangements. |
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Jeff Ritterman: Understanding the World
What have we done in Iraq
There is scientific data showing unequivocally that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq has doubled the rates of poverty and illness. If the same rate of poverty were present in the US over 120 million of us would be living in slums.
U.S. Occupation of Iraq More Than Doubles Poverty, Sickness -- Leaves Country a Total Disaster
By Adil E. Shamoo, Foreign Policy in Focus, August 22, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/147928/
Ecological Red
The twin crises of economic collapse and environmental devastation are the key challenges facing Richmond. It will be impossible to meet these challenges without radically restructuring just abut everything we do. The stakes could hardly be higher....the future inhabitatability of the planet for those who come after us.
For the remainder of 2010, the earth is in ecological debt. We have already used up more resources this year and produced more waste than the earth can handle.
Its a simple calculation. When we spend more than the interest on our endowment, the principle drops. Keep doing it year after year and eventually there is no endowment or in the case of the planet, there will be no ecosystem to provide the basics of life.
Please read the article below for the data.
This is the challenge that is calling out to us. Will we continue to ignore it and deny the obvious consequences?
We've Gone Into the Ecological Red:
On 21 August our environmental resource budget ran out. Now we're living beyond the planet's means to support us
by Andrew Simms August 23, 2010, The Guardian/UK
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Obama on Corporations in Politics
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 Wed. , August 25 6 pm
S.F. Mime Troupe
Anywhere, USA: another American factory is closing its doors, and on the final day of work, one tired employee sits down on the job. "Oh no, a worker sit-in, an occupation!" thinks the hapless Boss. Actually, the tired employee's just gone into labor - no pun intended - but before anyone can stop to think twice, the work force IS occupying the factory. Will these accidental organizers make the most of their plight? Can they successfully save their jobs without being tainted by - shudder - politics? And what can they learn from Mexican telenovelas and the workers of Argentina? Stay tuned to see what is . . . possible!
POSIBILIDAD A Richmond presentation by the San Francisco MIME Troup
Wednesday, August 25
6:00 p.m. - Music
6:30 p.m. - Play begins
Richmond Civic Center (stage will be at Nevin Street end of the plaza)
Ticket Info: FREE (donation)
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Climate Education and Action
CBE Forum on Public Health and Climate Action
Saturday, August 28, 12 - 3pm
St. Marks Gym, 159 Harbour Way
 Big Oil and Creative Nonviolent Action Mass Teach-In
Sunday, August 29 1- 4pm Frank Ogawa Plaza, near 14th St & Broadway (12th St BART), Oakland
Big Oil March and Nonviolent Direct Action
Monday, August 30, 11:30am
Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero BART), SF
For more info contact
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RPA Activist Info
is for Richmond community members who want to be active in taking on the problems of the environment, racism, joblessness, housing, and crime to create a healthy Richmond. We believe that community involvement means more than voting every two years. It means regular communication with the candidates we elect, letting them know our issues and positions, supporting them as they try to take our issues forward. It means we attend meetings, use the email, phone our neighbors, or go on marches building an organized movement to create real change.
Comments and columns are welcome. Articles and columns are the views of the author, unsigned text the views of the editor, Mike Parker, and not necessarily those of the RPA. Send photos, articles, and comments to RPAactivist@gmail.com or call 510-595-4661. Longer articles of analysis and archives of past newsletters can be found on our website.
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