We’ll still be protesting on Monday in D.C., but it looks like the protest may be half victory party too!
Late Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter off to the Capitol Architect—the guy in charge of buildings and grounds, as well as the century-old, mainly-coal-fired power plant that Congress owns and which is located just a few blocks from the fancy dome and the National Mall. The two leaders told him to stop shoveling coal into the power plant’s boiler and finish the switch to natural gas.
Now, it just so happens that this is the same coal plant targeted for the first mass civil disobedience in the history of the American climate movement. When Wendell Berry and I sent out one of many invitations to this gathering last fall, we stressed that it was going to be a Very Serious Event; among other things, everyone was supposed to wear dress clothes. That was mostly, I think, because we wanted the home viewing audience to be reminded of something important: the crazies and loons and nutballs are not the people in the streets demanding an end to the carbon age. We’re the sane ones, the conservatives seeking to preserve a planet something like the one we were born on to. The radicals are the guys who want to double the carbon content of the atmosphere and see what happens.
But now our sobriety will be sorely tested. It didn’t take much of a push to convince Congress that the time for change had come. It’s an almost giddy feeling—sort of like what most of America felt on election night when the voters actually chose to elect the smart guy. It feels like the system is working (sort of) the way it’s supposed to.
Not, of course, that Reid’s and Pelosi’s decision accomplishes all that much by itself. This is one small power plant. We need to start shutting down the whole vast coal archipelago that provides half the nation’s electricity. That’s going to be a tough, grinding job that requires a huge movement. And it’s somehow going to have to stretch around the world, to China and India and everywhere else where coal is commonplace. (That’s why we’ve got 350.org up and running; we’re not going to solve this one city at a time).
But hey, starting Opening Day with a no-hitter is pretty darned good. Shutting down a coal-fired power plant before you even have a protest should give us some momentum to build on. Come on down Monday for the party; it’s going to be a good one.
Bill McKibben is co-founder of 350.org, and author most recently of Deep Economy.
Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) [UPDATED]
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Comments
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biodiversivist Posted 3:40 am
27 Feb 2009
With Bush in office there was the very real fear that he would call out the guard and gas everybody. With Obama, we feel a little safer. The key is for the wise elders to control the stupid young bucks so violence does not break out as happened here in Seattle during the WTO meetings and as often happens during critical mass rides.
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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rsmolker Posted 8:26 am
27 Feb 2009
Geez, Bill....Im afraid I cannot party down on behalf of a switch to natural gas, I mean we need to take advantage of any party opportunities that come along, but this is pathetic!
For all those participating in the coal action: PLEEZ make sure there is a clear message that natural gas, or "biofuels" are NOT acceptable alternatives and no cause to party! Unfortunately, if we don't make a clear statement about what we perceive as viable alternatives, we will end up mining natural gas (see ShaleShock.org) or burning up our forests (see Biofuelwatch.org) as a substitute for blowing up the mountains of southern appalachia. I would prefer something more encouraging that choosing between these varous poisons!
Rachel Smolker, Ph.D
Research Biologist
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Erik Hoffner Posted 10:49 am
27 Feb 2009
I think this is a tremendous moment. Boots on the ground, stomping up change from the halls of power.
Erik
The Orion Grassroots Network: supporting grassroots groups working for conservation, justice, & more
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Delay And Deny Posted 11:04 am
27 Feb 2009
That's because Woodcliff Lake, N.J., is home to BMW of North America LLC, the German automaker's U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary, and BMW is a leader in hydrogen technology.
http://www.examiner.com/x-3229-Newark-Autos-Examiner~y200 ...
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scatter Posted 6:42 pm
27 Feb 2009
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archigeek Posted 2:16 am
28 Feb 2009
The mellotron is your friend.
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hsr0601 Posted 3:46 am
01 Mar 2009
With the promsing digital revolution, smart grid, the controversial, unpopular clean coal, nuclea energy issues are not so sigtnificant any longer, I think.
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