So today, we decided to help the coal industry out a little bit by showing them that made-up people and creatures can have a say in politics! We dressed up as aliens, a wizard, and Little Red Riding Hood and passed out the Sierra Club’s hill add to hill staffers getting out of the subway. “Hey, help us kill green jobs!”
WHAT: Dozens of concerned citizens will peacefully block the entrance to Virginia Congressman Boucher’s office at noon on Thursday May 21st to protest his efforts to block strong climate legislation. Congressman Boucher has personally driven efforts in Congress to give away billions of dollars worth of free permits directly to coal, oil and other dirty fossil fuel companies under a cap and trade bill. Instead of free handouts, protesters support President Obama’s campaign pledge to auction 100 percent of the carbon permits and rebate most of the money to consumers.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, giving free allocations under a cap and trade program will raise the total cost of the program and hurt poor Americans the most. On Thursday, activists will be risking arrest in order to shine a spotlight on how Boucher’s handouts to the coal industry will hurt working families and diminish efforts to fight global warming.
WHERE: Congressman Rick Boucher’s office – Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2187
WHEN: Thursday, May 21st at 12 PM
WHO: Organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, an advocacy group that works to fight global warming in Virginia, Maryland, and DC
VISUALS: Activists, many of whom will be risking arrest, will carry banners and a giant check made out to the “Coal Industry”
44 Arrested for Protesting Duke’s Climate Hypocrisy
Energy Giant Talks “Green,” Then Builds More Coal Plants
Charlotte, N.C.— Police arrested 44 people for participating in a protest of Duke Energy’s plans to add massive additional coal burning to the company’s Cliffside plant. Those arrested include: Jim Warren of NC Warn; Bo Webb and Mike Roselle from Coal River Mountain in Appalachia; Larry Gibson and Mike McCoy-from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth; and several Rutherford County residents where the construction is underway. They will likely be charged with second-degree trespass.
