Past Action Archives – Page 14 of 14

5/13: Rally for Racial & Environmental Justice

Action Expired

Join us from 11 a.m – 1 p.m. May 13 on Halifax Mall in Raleigh to call for the state of North Carolina to take urgent action to help communities living with pollution and impacts from industrial swine and poultry production.

Most North Carolina residents, except those living in “hog country” and near poultry operations, are unaware of how much environmental damage and human pain and suffering industrial meat production inflicts on people and their environment. For too long, industrial meat operations in North Carolina and across the country have been disproportionately located in communities of color where residents are forced to endure the smell, water quality impacts and the embarrassment associated with the facilities operating near their homes. Meanwhile, State officials have turned a blind eye to the impacts on local communities while catering to the interests of multinational corporations that dictate industry practices.

This past September, Waterkeeper Alliance, North Carolina Environmental Justice Network and Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, represented by Earthjustice and the University of North Carolina Center for Civil Rights, filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Civil Rights alleging that lax regulation of hog waste disposal by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discriminates against minority communities in eastern North Carolina. And in February, the U.S. EPA determined that an investigation is warranted.

Esteemed leaders of the environmental and civil rights movements will gather in downtown Raleigh to urge the State of North Carolina to take much-needed action to set things right and call on citizens to demand clean water and healthy air for ALL communities.

Speakers include:

“Community Speak Out” – North Carolina residents affected by pollution and impacts of industrial meat operations share their stories
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President of Waterkeeper Alliance
Reverend Curtis Gatewood, Campaign Coordinator of North Carolina NAACP
Reverend Dr. Gerald Durley, Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
Rev. Dr. Anthony (Tony) Hicks, North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
Naeema Muhammad, Executive Director of North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
Devon Hall, Director, Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH)
Larry Baldwin, North Carolina CAFO Coordinator, Waterkeeper Alliance
Dr. Steve Wing, Researcher and Associate Professor of Epidemiology, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina Waterkeeper organizations are providing bus transportation to and from the rally. If you’re interested in riding with a group, CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A SEAT ON THE BUS FROM ASHEVILLE.

Ask Your Legislators to Disapprove Fracking Rules

Action Expired

Late last year, the NC Mining & Energy Commission finalized rules that are scheduled to take effect this Spring, allowing the state to issue permits for fracking in North Carolina. In other states, fracking has caused a litany of harmful impacts.

With the start of the state legislative session, our state legislators have one more opportunity to reject these rules and decide that fracking is the wrong choice for North Carolina.

Bills have been introduced in the N.C. House and Senate to disapprove the fracking rules, blocking the issuance of permits.

Please call your legislators TODAY asking them to cosponsor these disapproval bills and stand against fracking in North Carolina.

Talking points:

Fracking is not right for North Carolina. In other states where it is ongoing, fracking has polluted drinking water, released toxic air pollution, and damaged landscapes. It threatens public health, disrupts communities, and destroys neighbors’ property values and quality of life. We don’t need that here.
The fracking rules adopted by the Mining & Energy Commission last year will not protect North Carolinians from these impacts. Rep. Reives’ disapproval bill, if enacted, would block the issuance of fracking permits and thus keep this industry from coming to our state. We hope you will cosponsor the fracking disapproval bill and make clear your opposition to fracking in North Carolina.