Powershift

I want to share with you a quote I heard at a panel during Powershift.

"The system is broken" The woman who was facilitating spoke.
"Broken for us, or broken for them? It's not so broken for them"
This was the response of a meek young coal miner from appalachia.

Sometimes it is impossible to pinpoint what it is we mean by them. Them the Koch Brothers, them the fossil fuel companies, them the wasteful american consumers. While these definitions of them can be hard to pinpoint at times, I want to focus on a different form of 'them'. Them the coal miners forced into poverty wages, them the Chicago father trying to make a living at McDonalds, them the humans on this planet struggling to live in shifting ecologies and economies.

I had the privilege of sitting in on a panel to hear the voices of some of 'them' at Powershift this year. It was a panel on capitalism and climate injustice. The panel was composed of five guests: Nick Mullens, a 4th generation coal miner, TR McKenzie a deep advocate for native american rights, Dina Dewalt a college advocate, Aaron Foster, and father from chicago working two minimum wage jobs to support his family, and Ron Collins, from Los Angeles, who worked tirelessly to increase bus service in his city.

The panel was asked how capitalism plays a role in climate. Nick Mullens, A pleasantly meek young man from Appalachia chimed in. He spoke of his options graduating high school. He knew what he would have to do long before that point of graduation though. He would be a coal miner. He would be a coal miner like his dad-- his grandfather, and his father before him. Nick never had much of a choice of what job he would get in his town, because there was only one job: coal mining. It was here that he worked for low wages, it was here he endured the risk of 'black lung' associated with mining, and it was here he had to fight for the coal company to exist--because it was the only job he had. Then he said something that stuck with me throughout Powershift. "We have a system that perpetuates a necessity to live".

This quote stayed in my head as we marched across one of Pittsburgh's famous bridges in protest of dirty energy. As we started our way across the bridge I lowered my head as we passed another group of protesters. Coal workers protesting for 'clean coal'. The coal company had the audacity to barge in a monstrous ship of unburned coal. The pile of coal on that ship had to have been 50 feet wide, by 6 feet high. It was as if they were taunting us; a cared for hostage on board. "We could burn this" it felt like they were saying. Atop this coal mound was the audacious banner "Welcome to Coal Country".

But as I looked across at that coal, and to the coal workers protesting across the river from us, I did not feel anger. Instead I thought of this dichotomy between us and them. An older woman spoke on stage and apologized for what her generation had done to us, but she added a caveat "It wasn't me. I didn't do this, but I apologize for what my generation has done". But this was only a half-truth. A convenient but false attempt to be completely dichotomous. But the truth is that she wasn't completely innocent. In some ways, the coal miners across the street were more honest with themselves than she was. We all were guilty of using the coal these miners were working to protect. And we all will until we can secure a transition from fossil fuels to renewable. But we also all want and need a safe earth to live on. The coal miners across the street weren't being completely honest with themselves either that their future was safe in the hands of the coal industry. If anything, the river between us was the most truthful voice in the two protests. The coal miners were advocating for the reality that we are dependent on coal, and we were advocating for a future of renewables. But the present situation exists somewhere in the space between us both. By acknowledging truths that are uncomfortable, we can meet somewhere in the middle.

At Powershift, there was a deep sense of community. Of working together. Of building a better world. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air to see so many people working towards a new future. It is this sense of community I left with from Powershift. This sense of encapsulating community power. At that place, in that moment, it did not matter your religion, age, race, sex, gender, or lack thereof. All that mattered was that you wanted to be there, fighting. At Powershift, there was no us and them, and I hope I can take that encapsulating power into the Madison community. So that we can all be one, fighting--not against each other, but for a livable planet.

Teresa's Power Shift Takeaways

Power Shift 2013 was an exciting event to be at with so many youth activists, organizers, and mobilizers!  The energy was powerful, as were the stories I heard.  Panelist from age 7 to 60+ described their personal experiences with the natural gas, oil, and coal industries.  It was heartbreaking to hear of the costs they pay on a daily basis, of the corrupt exploitation of people and their livelihoods, of the deep degradation of their landscapes, of the polluted air they breathe and water they bathe in (so toxic they cannot drink it), and of these industries’ abilities to pit friend against friend and family against family.  But it was also inspiring to hear these folks tell their stories, shed their tears, wipe them away with a courageous breath, and declare that will NEVER stop fighting for their people and their home.

I noticed the younger crowd drawn to the digital media and storytelling hub in which they got creative with digital media and made their own PSAs.  The liveliest session I went to was a creative “Climate Science 101” put on by the Alliance for Climate Education.  This presentation began and ended with some hip-hop and spoken word about the environmental and social justice and the changing climate.  The presentation itself blended video, animation, and a skillfully timed and entertaining oral delivery of basic climate science, its current and projected impacts and consequences, and examples of personal and collective solutions offered.

I picked up some new tools from the power-mapping and facilitation sessions and particularly appreciated the Movement Strategy Center’s (MSC) strategic movement building insights.  The MSC representative, Liz Butler, had us map our vision against false solutions and consider what is politically feasible.  She reminded us that service, resistance, reform, governance, and creation are all important aspects to any movement, but that at certain times more energy is required in one area over another.  She encouraged individuals to work where they are best, where they feel energized: “You cannot put 100% into a strategy if it does not feed your soul.”  Finally, we discussed 5 common challenges/roadblocks for an organization (or an individual) and what pivots can turn the organization towards the opposite strength.

It was exciting to meet with other students from across the country working on divestment campaigns and felt the movement growing as local, regional, and national networks and coalitions were being formed.

What impacted me most at Power Shift overall was the incorporation of different art forms to tell the stories of social and environmental movements and injustices.  Visual art, storytelling, and music were prominent all four days (and nights) of this conference and I felt that this was a vital part of the success of the event.  Art, in various forms, elicits emotion and can call people to act from a place deeper than the cognitive understanding that we all must do something…its call makes you not just think, but FEEL, that “I must do something”.

Power Shift Takeaways (Brian)

Friday, October 18

Dave, Paul and Peter from 350 Madison saw us off at the James Madison Park parking lot. Teresa drove her Subaru all the way to Pittsburgh!

Soon after we registered, keynote Josh Fox (Gasland) played the “Star Spangled Banner” on his banjo. Did you know our national anthem gained popularity as a bar song? Yeah, so Fox says obviously this country is something that we just make up as we go along. I think he’s right – hence our trip to Power Shift.

We ate dinner at the famed Primanti Brothers. Teresa’s and Erik’s sandwiches  came with fries – inside the ‘wich! Keari ordered “vegetable” soup. My Smallman Street Fries (minus the chili – they were out) were worth the excessive calories.

Saturday October 19th

We ordered breakfast at Bagel Factory. We were so satisfied that we returned for breakfast on Sunday and again on Monday.

The first two sessions were talks on environmental justice. Latasha Mayes (New Voices Pittsburgh) talked about intersectionality and how the way we treat womens bodies resembles the way treat environment. Siwatu from Detroit reminded us that viewing environmental justice through the lens of Public Health is a win. The key takeaway from this session: people's stories and experiences are their expertise.

The second environmental justice session reminded me that we should stay connected with frontline communites. Aurora lives on the Bad River Reservation in Wisconsin. The Penokee Hills taconite mine is 10 miles south of the reservation; the waters run north. Despite the peril that natives face, good-humored Aurora tells us that she’s warned supporters of the mine: I face a choice between "fight or flight ... and I have nowhere else to go." Let’s fight with Aurora and the people of Bad River Reservation!

Hannah Jones and the Swarthmore divestment campaigners have led by example; they fight in solidarity with a frontline community affected by mountain top removal and invite those folks to speak at Swarthmore. This chat’s moderator, who works for Green for All, reminds us that the green economy is going to be enjoyed by those who have access; this comment provoked me to think deeply about my privilege and the obligation that I have to push for social change that is truly just.

The speaker from Brooklyn reminded me to understand where people are coming from, unpoliticize my language when necessary, and come from a place of love.

The first breakout session that I went to was about divestment. Never before had so many students working on a divestment been in the same room. We broke up into groups. Groups talked about getting a campaign started, reinvestment, escalation, etc. The group that I participated in talked about getting around burocracy. We were shown an example of power mapping. Choose an individual target (i.e. Foundation chair) and a secondary target (i.e. someone with influence over the primary target). After the “ask,” we will probably get a “no”; then we start the excalation phase and continue to put pressure on the targets. After this small group, the same divestment group got together in a circle outside the room and had the first ever national network meeting. The national group’s leaders are putting together working groups to keep us connected with each other and with frontline groups. Teresa and I met Victoria from UC-Berkeley, who recruited by tabling and doing class raps. The key to her recruitment successes was having one-on-one conversations.

Campus Media. Lessons learned:

UNC-Chapel Hill worked to win the support of their newspaper’s editorial board. A Sierra Club representative talked about three tools: earned media, paid media, and organizing / visibility. Start by framing the debate. Pick the right words; tailor the message to whoever you are talking to. Also be sure to understand your opponents’ framing. The Sierra rep explained message boxes: 1. define a problem; 2. articulate a solution; 3. describe the benefits; 4. make a call to action around your message. Repetition is key. The “rule of 7” says people need to hear your message repeated seven times before they internalize it. On camera and radio, use ABC: A- Acknowledge the question; B- Bridge from the question to your message; C-Communicate your message (stay on topic!). George Washington University had a lot of fun. They held a wind farm photo petition, a mock oil spill (wearing hazmat suits and using inflatable animals and chocolate syrup for props), and a fashion show.

The campus media audience asked some great questions. A good tip: get a community member with more sway to write an op-ed. A group in Knoxville did face painting at a farmers market, accomplishing both community awareness and fundraising. WPI repeated their message prior to an event by writing “Divest WPI” everywhere around campus. Also, put together a press packet to show your audience (i.e. your primary target) the media attention you’ve been attracting.

Recruitment. Lessons learned:

350 Fossil free organizers led this workshop. For a recruitment drive, they suggest: 1 goal 2 tactics 3 work backward from your goal on a timeIine.  An example of the “rule of halves”: you have 800 phone numbers, you call 400, 200 say yes, and 100 show up at the event. I exchanged business cards with Andrea (Stanford) and Ben (Michigan State). The Stanford crew takes applications and then storms dorm rooms early in the morning to take a student out to breakfast; it’s a sort of initiation, which purportedly works for retention. Ben suggests asking another group if you can show up at their meeting to announce your event. All say making phone calls is key. Get phone numbers from people!

By the end of the first day of information overload, I was exhausted.

350 UW ate at My Big Fat Greek Gyro.

Sunday, October 20

Fueled by another bagel breakfast, we made a detour to take a group photo by the giant duck on the Allegheny River. With so many Steelers fans on their way to the Sunday game against Baltimore, I had to refrain from reminding Pittsburghers that the Packers spanked the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

350 Midwest organizer, Jarrett, bought us campus coordinators lunch at Primanti Brothers. Kristine (UW-Eau-Claire) and Brittney (Loyola) had each traveled to China recently. Christine's boyfriend is on a “watch list,” and Brittney could not see through Beijing’s smog. Somebody recommended The Price of Sand, a documentary about frac sand mining in Wisconsin.Good fellowship and good food – it doesn’t get any better than that.

Okay, just one last breakout – meeting with other Wisconsin groups!

We’re going to be setting up a Facebook page to keep Wisconsin campuses connected. I was also excited to hear that Northland College and UW-Milwaukee are visiting the Penokee Hills mine site in the first week of November. I may try to organize a carpool from UW-Madison so that we can join those folks.

That evening, all the big names spoke, and we enjoyed the music of Yuna. As we were leaving, Bill McKibben stopped to take a picture with us!

Dinner at Las Velas was excellent.

Monday, October 21

Bagel Factory for breakfast again. Teresa and I ordered the french toast. Delicious. That morning, a group did a sit-in at PNC bank; streets were blocked-off by polite officers; coal workers gathered on the other side of the bridge, in rebuttal. We stayed long enough to enjoy the pep rally prior to the march. (Teresa had a long drive ahead of her.) The speakers and performers at this pre-march rally were excellent, but I have to say that the most intriguing part of it all was that I was the first person to use the Porta Potty.

Our last stop before home: Panda Express. Worth it.

That’s my Power Shift story. I’m super grateful for the donations we received. Support from Mark Johnson, Don Waller, and 350 Madison made this trip affordable. Thank you!