[imc-st.louis] Katrina Critical Mass, 8/25!

[Ben West]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: katrina at risingtidenorthamerica.org
Date: Jul 29, 2006 9:02 PM
Subject: [windsormass] Katrina Critical Mass!

 Hi there! I'm a critical mass rider who is working with other cyclists
and the climate change action group Rising Tide to organize a
continent-wide Katrina anniversary critical mass ride for the last
Friday in August (the 25th). This was the day Hurricane Katrina reached
hurricane strength.


The idea is to remind people of the still ongoing crisis in the Gulf
States of the US and the potential for further catastrophic events from
fossil fuel inspired climate change.


Anyhow below is some basic information about the event - check it out....


Thanks!

~brian


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We're looking for contacts with critical mass groups who want to collaborate
on this, which would basically mean committing to organizing a ride marking
the day and hopefully:

1. Organizing a sign making making party for the ride ("More Cars = More
Climate Change = More Katrinas", "Critical Mass for Climate Justice",
"Katrina was Environmental Racism", etc.).

2. Advertising the event to make it a big critical mass (we're developing
designs for flyers, handbills, etc.)

3. Collecting funds at the Critical Mass ride to send to activist and relief
groups in New Orleans.

4. Print out education stuff to hand out to people on the street witnessing
the Mass (we've got some of this in the works too.)

5. Spreading the word to Critical Mass riders in other cities.


PLEASE Let me know if you might be interested!


Below is more information....feel totally encouraged to forward this on to
anyone and everyone you know that might be interested. You can write me back
for more info. There will be a lot more info at
www.risingtidenorthamerica.org really soon as well!


-------------------------

Last Friday in August: Critical Mass for Climate Justice on Hurricane
Katrina Anniversary!


August 25th marks the 1-year anniversary of Katrina reaching hurricane
strength. In the days that followed the storm would strengthen rapidly over
an unnaturally warm Gulf of Mexico, ultimately striking the coast and
leaving thousands dead and homeless, victims of an uncaring government,
centuries of racism, and an ever more chaotic global climate.


This year, let's take to the streets with a reminder that the tragedy in the
Gulf continues and a demand that it never be repeated.


Get ready for a Critical Mass for Climate Justice on August 25th in your
town!


Why Critical Mass? Car Culture, Oil, and Environmental Injustice

Critical Mass is a celebration of bike culture, a meaningful alternative to
car culture and greenhouse gas generating fossil fuels.


Looking closely, you can see a slick, oily residue connecting the dots of
injustice from Colombia to Baghdad to the Gulf Coast.


Along Louisiana's coast, once stunning wetlands are overrun by oil canals
and drills. Residents of Louisiana's "Cancer Alley", a corridor of oil
refineries and petrochemical plants, suffer the highest cancer rates in the
United States. During Hurricane Katrina, black gold flowed from these plants
into urban areas, bathing backyards in a petrochemical gumbo.


For the oil industry, demand nothing less than global Climate Justice: the
dismantling of decades of racist exploitation, violence and murder, toxic
pollution, and denial of oil's role in climate chaos!


Climate Injustice: Katrina is just the beginning

As the climate chaos continues to escalate, the killer storms will become
ever more frequent, sea levels will keep rising, and climate evacuees will
go from thousands of millions. And the enduring racism in our society
promises those suffering from these ecological disasters will continue to be
the poor and people of color.


Climate change will affect all of us, but it will --and has-- affected some
more than others. Combating this social and ecological devastation is the
movement for Climate Justice.


Join Us on August 25th!

Rising Tide North America (www.risingtidenorthamerica.org), a network of
radical climate campaigners (including relief workers from Louisiana to New
England) is working with Critical Mass groups around the country on August
25th to draw attention to the movement for climate justice and the important
relationship between climate change, catastrophic storms, and environmental
racism.


On Monday, August 25th, join Critical Mass riders around the continent and
Rising Tide in exposing the oil industry for its role in decades of abuse in
the Gulf of Mexico and around the world and illustrate that a world without
oil and racist exploitation is possible.


Contact Rising Tide (Katrina at RisingTideNorthAmerica.org) and let us know
where your ride is going to happen so we can help spread the word about
rides around the continent. Spread the word to friends and help us organize
this action!


On Rising Tide's website you can find out if there is a ride planned in your
area. We've also got flyers, ideas for bike signs, and useful stuff.


Remember: climate change was only a catalyst for the Katrina disaster.
Please support and organize other Katrina anniversary events and challenge
racism in all of its forms in the Gulf and your own community! Check out
Rising Tide's website for more information about Katrina survivor solidarity
events, and let us know about other Katrina anniversary and solidarity
events in your town. We also encourage everyone participating to take up a
collection for ongoing relief and advocacy efforts in the Gulf - check out
www.risingtidenorthamerica.org for more details.


Rising Tide North America - working to support and encourage people and
grassroots groups in taking action against the causes of climate change.

www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

Katrina at RisingTideNorthAmerica.org


Critical Mass - a worldwide movement of bicyclers reclaiming the streets.
www.critical-mass.org (unofficial website)
__._,_.___



-- 
Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net