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The Canary Coalition

a grassroots clean air movement

We all have the right to breathe clean air!

 

The Canary now tweets!

 

 

Copyright © 2000, 2001 The Canary Coalition, All Rights Reserved

LIGHTS OUT!

Every Sunday night 9-9:15, in solidarity

to oppose new coal and nuclear plant construction

Donate online

Hundreds of business members listed alphabetically by state, city...

For a donation of $50 or more  you'll receive this 2 gigabyte metal key-shaped flash drive pre-loaded with a library of information, videos and power point presentations.

Unlock your power as a 21st century activist! 

A Special Fundraiser for the Canary Coalition

 

Gaia the Mother cradles earth while bringing a message of peace.

 

Local mosaic artist, Linda Pannullo, has teamed up with the Canary Coalition  to support our efforts toward cleaner air in the Great Smokies. By purchasing this beautiful tote bag, you will be “paying it forward’ and contributing to a Special Fund Raiser for the Canary Coalition.  For a limited time, now through the end of April,  $4 from each tote bag purchase will be donated to the Canary Coalition.   Each bag is a great value at $20 including tax.  For Shipping & Handling, add $2.25 for 1 bag; $3.30 for 2-3 bags; $5.30 for 4-5 bags.


Make check payable to:  “Disegno di Pezzi”

Address:       61 Lookout Dr., Asheville, NC  28804

Please include your contact information: name, address, telephone and email. For more information,
call Linda Pannullo at (828) 337-6749 or email:
disegnodipezzi@charter.net

visit Disegno di Pezzi on Facebook

NEWS  and ACTION 


Bank of America Meets the 99% Spring


Bank of America's Environmentally Destructive Investments Draw Protesters to Shareholders Meeting in Charlotte

 


May Day Demonstrations Rock the Nation

as 99% Spring Begins
...including in western North Carolina


On May 1, 2012 there were demonstrations throughout the United States of America, in large cities and in small towns, to confront economic, social and environmental injustice.  This was the beginning of the 99% Spring.

This
video-report was produced by the Canary Coalition as a part of its REAL NEWS project in an effort to cover important events and stories ignored or under-reported by the corporate news media. It follows a demonstration that took place in the small, conservative, rural community of Sylva, North Carolina, in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains.


Move to Amend Moves Forward in North Carolina  (download petition)
Corporations are not people.  Money is not speech.

The Canary Coalition along with OccupyWNC and the local Move to Amend affiliate have been approaching all local government officials in Jackson, Swain and Macon Counties, in western North Carolina, to sign-off on resolutions urging the state legislature to petition Congress to pass a federal constitutional amendment that rescinds corporate personhood and declares that spending of unlimited corporate money on political campaigns is not the equivalent to freedom of speech. 

So far the towns of Franklin and Highlands have passed the resolution.  It is still pending in Sylva, Dillsboro, Bryson City, and the county commissions of Jackson, Macon and Swain. Similar resolutions have passed in other parts of the state including Asheville, Carboro, Orange County, and Chapel Hill.  The Democratic Parties of Jackson County and Granville County have also passed similar resolutions. It has been offered to local Republican Parties as well, but so far none have passed it.

Two states have already petitioned Congress for this amendment, New Mexico and Hawaii.  It has been introduced in the Wisconsin state legislature. Last Thursday the Vermont state Senate passed a resolution and it now moves on to the state House.  This movement is mushrooming FAST.


We now have a petition to circulate that is being used to increase public demand and pressure on local government entities and organizations to join in the groundswell.
Please
download this petition, get signatures among your friends and neighbors and send it back to:

The Canary Coalition
PO Box 653
Sylva, NC 28779


Dr. Helen Caldicott Speaks in Asheville

A Canary Coalition REAL NEWS video report.

Dr. Caldicott talks about the Fukushima accident, its medical, environmental, political and moral consequences.


The 99%  Spring: Training the Trainers

On March 24-25, 2012, the process began of more than 60 grassroots organizations, nationwide, coordinating efforts to train 100,000 people in the discipline of non-violent direct action to address issues of economic, social and environmental injustice. 

 

The Canary Coalition's REAL NEWS project has produced this video-documentary report on the 99% Spring Training effort.

 

 


 

Fukushima: 1 year and counting

 

 


 

North Carolina Statewide Occupy General Assembly  Meets in Raleigh

Constitutional amendment banning corporate personhood

voted as a top priority

 

 

 


Movement to Amend Shakes the Nation

On January 20 there were more than 140 demonstrations at federal courthouses throughout the nation calling for a new constitutional amendment to rescind "corporate personhood" and reverse the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision that equates money with free speech.

 

There were two demonstrations in western North Carolina, in Bryson City and in Asheville. The Canary Coalition was there to record and produce this video report.

 


700 seat Lipinsky Hall Packed for Bill McKibben in Asheville

A Canary Coalition REAL NEWS Report: McKibben's Inspiring Talk, in its entirety


Not With Our Money!

Action at Bank of America 

National Headquarters in Charlotte, NC

 

On November 15, there was a dramatic demonstration in Charlotte at the national headquarters of Bank of America, the largest bankroller of new coal plants and mountaintop removal mining projects. It was organized by Rainforest Action Network, with support from Coal River Mountain Watch, the Canary Coalition, Appalachian Voices, Greenpeace, Occupy Charlotte and others.  

As part of its project to cover important environmental news stories that are either being ignored or under-reported by the corporate news media,  The Canary Coalition  produced a video-documentary report on this event
.

 


 

Every Breath Sings Mountains

On the evening of September 23, 2011, there was a historic gathering and program of famous authors, poets, artists and musicians at the old Jackson County, NC courthouse (now renovated and part of the new library complex). They were there to celebrate the publishing of a new book on the Great Smoky Mountains landscape and heritage by Voices from the American Land.  Participants included Thomas Rain Crowe, Charles Frazier, Wayne Caldwell, John Lane, George Ellison, Keith Flynn, Barbara Duncan, George Frizzell, Robert Johnson, Brent Martin, William Shelton and more.  Music was provided by Ian Moore Song and Dance Bluegrass Ensemble.  The House was packed.  And the Canary Coalition was there, documenting the entire event for posterity.  Here it is in its entirety, in this six part YouTube presentation:

 

Part 2:
Music, speakers George Frizzell and William Shelton
Part 3
Thomas Rain Crowe reads from new book
Barbara Duncan speaks and sings
Brent Martin speaks

Part 4:
Robert Johnson speaks
Panel Discussion begins with Keith Flynn, George Ellison, John Lane, Wayne Caldwell, Charles Frazier
Part 5:
Panel Discussion continues
Part 6:
Panel Discussion is completed
Music by Ian Moore & Co.
Credits


 

The Canary Coalition has been selected by the FCC to receive a full-power, non-profit FM radio license in western North Carolina
But, Western Carolina University challenges the ruling....
MORE

 

Read story in the SmokyMountain News


Keystone XL Pipeline Demonstration

Video Report by the Canary Coalition




 

What do labor and environmental activists have in common?

A lot.  And we need to work together to achieve mutually progressive goals.
by Avram Friedman


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  At the urging of Kendall Hale, a Canary Coalition board member, I attended a labor rally in Asheville on Sunday, July 17 and felt completely at home with the spirit of solidarity and community that ran as a continuous thread of urgency through the words of each speaker, the nodding and sometimes verbal agreement of those listening and the general air of involvement that permeated the air at Pack Square....more

 


 


Breaking the Cycle of Destruction

and the meltdown of the grassroots environmental community in North Carolina

 

Commentary by Avram Friedman, Executive Director of the Canary Coalition

 

Melting Clocks by Salvador Dali

  Frustration abounds in all the offices, meeting rooms, FaceBook pages, blogs and forums of environmental and social change organizations throughout North Carolina as we witness the backward motion of the new majorities in both state legislative Houses and many local government bodies...more

 

   

Watch this 3-part video presentation on the potential of 

utility rate restructuring for dramatically reducing global

energy consumption (approx. 7 minutes each):

 

 

 

 

   

 

READ THIS REPORT

 

 

2012 Fundraising Drive

The Canary Coalition is a grassroots effort funded 100% by voluntary contributions from its members, the people who believe in our work. We accept no contributions from polluting industrial interests, grant foundations funded by polluting industries or any other source that might create a conflict of interest and compromise our standards of public health or environmental activism.  There is no minimum membership fee.  The size of your donation is entirely at your discretion.

Donate online

or please send checks or money orders to:

 

The Canary Coalition

PO  Box 653

Sylva, NC 28779

  

 

"Clean Coal" Debate: Duke Energy vs. Canary Coalition


On March 28, Duke Energy's Tom Williams debated Avram Friedman, the Executive Director of the Canary Coalition, on the role of "Clean Coal" in meeting future energy demand while addressing the climate change crisis and other health and environmental impacts. The event was sponsored by the Four Seasons Sierra Committee of Hendersonville, NC. The one-hour debate is now posted on the internet via YouTube in seven segments. Below, is the first segment and links to the other six.




2nd segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd4UcY9fcXQ


3rd segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUI4bcCmCCw


4th segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNuqUn-eOus


5th segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXVGuB5Augw


6th segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuX0OP74Hv4


7th segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IWQ7if1WQs


Dear Governor Perdue:

STOP

CLIFFSIDE!

NO MORE COAL!

Point sheet on Cliffside HAPS permit from Southern Environmental Law Center

Write or call North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue and tell her to:

- Fire Division of Air Quality Chief Administrator Keith Overcash and replace him with someone who will fight for clean air rather than for polluting industries.


- Direct the DAQ to pull the Cliffside construction permit for violation of federal standards on Hazardous Air Pollutants and Carbon Dioxide emissions.


- Direct the Utilities Commission to implement inverted, tiered rate restructuring to reduce statewide energy consumption.

Honorable Governor Beverly Perdue
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301


1-800-662-7952 valid in North Carolina only
(919)733-4240, or (919)733-5811.
Fax: (919)715-3175 or (919)733-2120

 

governor.office@lists.nc.gov

REPORT:

Duke Energy's REAL "Green" Power

Initiative in North Carolina:

 

$744,000 in political

campaign contributions

 

Related News Stories:

Press conference to release report, Feb. 5, 11:30 A.M.(audio file)

Raleigh News & Observer article

Charlotte Observer article

Asheville Citizen-Times article

McClatchy News Service article

Charlotte Business Journal article

MSMoney.com article

Triangle Busness Journal article

 

Ratepayers Mobilize 

to Stop Cliffside

Weekly boycott action

is growing

Western North Carolina Alliance joins the Boycott

latest press release

 

Every Sunday at 9pm, turn off all lights

and place an LED candle in a window, 

for fifteen minutes in solidarity with:

 

Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities,

Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy, Asheville Bioneers,

Asheville Rising Tide, Canary Coalition,

Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Common Cause NC

Global Warming Task Force of Henderson County,

Moms Against Mercury, Mountain Voices Alliance,

NC Interfaith Power & Light (a program of the NC Council of Churches)

NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network (NC WARN) 

Nuclear Information and Resource Service, 

The Peace and Environmental Justice Team of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, 

Physicians for Social Responsibility,  Rainforest Action Network, 

Southern Energy Network, Wenoca Sierra Group 

and Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA)

 

MODEL COUNTY WIND ORDINANCE

A Trip to Buffalo Mountain

On November 30, 2007, the Canary Coalition conducted its latest field trip to the TVA Pilot Wind Project at Buffalo Mountain, Tennessee for legislators, local government officials and community leaders.

Download, sign and circulate this petition  

to Stop Cliffside

 

Download and print NO MORE COAL! return address-size labels 

and paste them on your utility bill every month

(requires Avery 8167 mailing labels or you can print on regular paper, cut and use scotch tape )

North Carolina's 2007 Senate Bill 3

A big step backwards

What needs to be done to reverse it's provisions

by Avram Friedman

Membership Drive

Clean air is a civil rights issue and the Canary Coalition is building a movement.

 

Join now by sending your contact information to info@canarycoalition.org

 

Donations may be sent to:

Canary Coalition

PO Box 653

Sylva, NC 28779

 

Volunteers Needed for upcoming events email us

 

 Join the online discussion group

 

 

Jean Larson, William Letman, and Avram Friedman met with NC Representative Bruce Goforth and other legislators on March 28 during their lobbying excursion to Raleigh

NAACP and Canary Coalition members team up to lobby for civil rights issues

The People's Agenda:

14 Points

Creating a New Political Atmosphere in North Carolina and Beyond

 By Avram Friedman, Executive Director of the Canary Coalition

Letter Writing Campaign

When paying your next power bill, enclose a letter promoting efficiency, conservation and renewables, while opposing new coal and nuclear plants.

sample letter

Do you believe nuclear energy is the answer to global warming and air pollution? 

Read this scientific analysis of greenhouse gases 

created during the nuclear fuel cycle

 A Statewide Public Transportation Proposal for North Carolina

North Carolinians Taking a Hard Look at Wind Energy

 

Pictures and Report

Canary Coalition Calls for Reform of the NC Division of Air Quality

Action Alert

call/write legislators in support of DAQ reform campaign

DAQ reform point sheet and contact info

other legislative air quality agenda items:

Volunteer Opportunities With the Canary Coalition

The Canary Coalition General Position Paper

the mission statement and positions on important air quality issues

NC GreenPower

How green is it?

The Canary Coalition endorses the residential program, but gives thumbs down to the industrial program.

Read Why

Air Pollution's

Effects on Athletes

by Abby Hylton

 

Download NC Wind Power Petition

Download Fact Sheets

Ultrarunner Will Harlan Completes Smokies Run for Clean Air

The Story Behind the Great Smokies End to End Run of 2003

Where I ran and What I ran for

by Will Harlan

 

The Canary Coalition is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in western North Carolina.

All donations are tax deductable.

Join us today by sending your contact information to info@canarycoalition.org

 

The Canary Coalition

 

Office location:

1286 West Main Street

Sylva, NC 28779

 

Mailing Address:

Canary Coalition
P.O. Box 653
Sylva, NC 28779


Toll Free phone: (866) 4-CANARY
Phone: (828) 631-3447


email :

info@canarycoalition.org

 

 


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May, 2012