Transcripts For KCSM Democracy Now 20140919

Thomasmuller of the Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign. Nacpil. O lidy not that 1 of the 1 are the same people that are denied ,orkers rights in this country so for labor, this is our fight. Estela vazquez joins us, 1199tive Vice President of seiu, and we will discuss also feel companies with dr. Serene jones, president of the unions deal logical seminary. All of that and more coming up. Welcome to democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Voters in scotland have opted not to form an independent country. With a record turnout of 84 , about 55 of voters chose to remain in the United Kingdom, while 45 chose independence. In the wake of the vote, british Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to give scotland more independent powers as part of a process known as devolution. The people of scotland have spoken, and it is a clear result. They have kept our country of four nations together come and like millions of other people, i am delighted. As i said during the campaign, it would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end. The u. S. Senate has voted 7822 in favor of a plan by the Obama Administration to train and equip Syrian Rebels as part of an offensive against militants known as the Islamic State. Just 10 democrats and 12 republicans voted against the plan. The measure passed the house of representatives earlier this week, but 85 democrats and 71 republicans voted against it. President obama praised congress for its rare i partisan action. As i said last week, i believe that we are strongest as a nation with the president and Congress Work together, and i want to thank leaders in congress for the speed and which they with approach this urgent issue, in keeping with the bipartisanship that is the hallmark of american foreignpolicy at its best. The measure passed by congress does not actually have any funding attached to pay for arming and training the rebels. After passing the bills thursday, the senate adjourned for six weeks until after Midterm Election in november. The vote in the senate came as Islamic State militants claimed threatened the kurdish city of kobani in Northern Syria after seizing 21 villages in 24 hours near the turkish border. On thursday the Islamic State also released a new video showing a british freelance photojournalist whose kidnapping was previously under a media blackout. John cantlie was seized with james foley in syria in 2012. He has worked for getty images and other news organizations. The United Nations has a cleared the Ebola Outbreak in west africa a threat to International Peace and security and announced plans for a new mission. Thearet chan called it greatest peacetime challenge that the United Nations and its agencies have ever faced. More than 5000 people have been infected over 2600 have died. U. N. Secretarygeneral ban kimoon says that is increasing. Establishdecided to an Emergency Health commission combining the World Health Organizations Strategic Perspective with a very strong logistics and operational capability. Sierra leone has begun a threeday nationwide lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of ebola. Residents have been told not to leave their homes from friday to sunday, as Health Workers go doortodoor to identify cases and educate people. Doctors without borders has criticized the measure saying quote forced quarantines and lockdowns are driving people underground and jeopardizing the trust between people and health providers. In guinea, eight bodies have been found after a team of ebola Health Educators and journalists went missing in a remote area. The team was attacked by rocks with rocks by residents when they arrived in the village earlier this week. A Government Spokesperson told reuters the victims were found in a latrine. The white house has unveiled 46 million in new military aid to ukraine. Obama met with ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko at who had asked the United States for weapons to help combat a prorussian insurgency. Obama declined to provide lethal aid as part of the aid package. I am pleased that during this meeting we have reaffirmed that commitment to ukraine and we are providing additional assistance both economic and Security Assistance to ukraine to make sure that not only are they able to weather the storm economically but they are also going to be able to build up an Effective Security force to defend themselves from aggression. In bahrain, human rights activist Maryam Alkhawaja has been released from prison. She was detained last month as she tried to enter the country to visit her father, activist abdulhadi alkhawaja, who is on Hunger Strike as he serves a life term. On the same day of alkhawajas release, 14 other activists were sentenced to life terms, purportedly for detonating explosives at a protest. Maryam alkhawaja still faces a charge of assaulting a police officer, which she denies. Bahrain hosts the u. S. Navys fifth fleet, which is responsible for all naval forces in the gulf. Bahrain has waged a crackdown on government critics since an uprising against the u. S. Backed monarchy. The Chinese Ecommerce Company alibaba begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange today with a market value more than twice as high as ebays. Alibaba went public thursday with one of the largest Public Offerings in history. China has fined the british pharmaceutical maker glaxosmithkline 490 million over claims it bribed doctors and hospitals to promote its products. Its the largest corporate fine in chinas history. A Top Executive for the firm in china, mark reilly, has also been sentenced to three years in prison. Home depot has announced the second largest credit card 66 millionecord, credit cards have been charged by mao well by malware from april through september. Panama has announced it plans to invite cuba to the next summit of the americas in 2015 despite heavy u. S. Opposition. Cubas exclusion became a topic issue of debate at the last summit in 2012, which ecuadorean president Rafael Correa boycotting the meeting over cubas absence. This summer is officially the hottest summer ever recorded. According to the National Ocean and atmospheric administration, Global Temperatures reached an alltime high for the juneaugust period. Last month was also the hottest august since records began in 1880. The report comes as new york city is set to host what could be the largest Climate Change protest in history. Organizers expect more than 100,000 people to convert for the peoples climate march sunday. On thursday night, the peoples climate train pulled into penn station after a crosscountry trip that began in california. We will spend the rest of the hour on the climate and this week ins march after the headlines. The consequences of extreme heat and drought are being felt in california, where Massive Wildfire has rapidly consumed forestland near sacramento. The king fire erupted overnight on wednesday, more than doubling in size to become the second largest in california this year. A man has been arrested and charged with deliberately setting the fire. New details have emerged about the Domestic Violence case against nfl player Jonathan Dwyer after his arrest wednesday. According to a Police Report of the july incident, dwyer headbutted his wife in the face after she resisted his sexual advances, fracturing her nose, then threatened to kill himself after she fled. The next day, he punched his wife in the face, threw a shoe at their 17monthold son and his team the arizona cardinals, has barred him from playing but continued to pay him. In alabama, a federal judge is facing calls for his resignation after his wife said he hurled her to the ground, pulled her hair, and kicked her. District court judge mark fuller was actually arrested more than a month ago. But amidst the scandal over Domestic Violence in the nfl, federal lawmakers have begun calling for his oust this week. In the town of bell, florida, Authorities Say a man shot and killed his 28yearold daughter and her six children, then killed himself. The alleged shooter had reportedly served time in prison for firearms violations after killing his eightyearold son with a highpowered rifle in a purported hunting accident. And 83 are was arrested for. Rotesting in new york eve tetaz was arrested outside the Hancock Field Air National Guard base with 30 other people last year as she read the First Amendment of the constitution, asserting her right to free speech. This week a judge in Dewitt Town Court dismissed the charges against her. After her victory, tetaz described her active protest. Stand outside the air read from the First Amendment of the constitution, which clearly free tohat we are what i believe are the illegal actions. Marion grady was arrested for her role in the peaceful protests outside the air base. The new york city borough of manhattan now has the greatest gap between rich and poor in the country. New census data shows the top five wealthiest households in manhattan have seen their income rise 9 and now make 88 times more than the poorest 20 . Across new york city, more than 1 in 5 people are living in poverty. The news coincides with a report from the new york Civil Liberties union, which finds new york state is illegally failing to provide Public Defense services to poor people who cant afford attorneys when accused of crimes. In some areas, public defenders are carrying nearly three times the maximum recommended caseload. A new gallup poll finds public trust in the Mainstream Media has returned to an alltime low. Just 40 of americans believe in the mass medias ability to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly. Since the poll began in 1997, trust has only dropped that low once before, in 2012. This year also saw a sharp rise in the number of americans who think the media is too far to the right. A new report describes how hundreds of highranking sheriffs and police from across the United States have trouble for counterterrorism training. Since 2002, at least 300 top officials have participated in seminars which are privately funded by the antidefamation league, American Jewish committee, and Jewish Institute for National Security affairs. Police in both israel and u. S. Cities like ferguson have also been using the same equipment, from teargas and stun grenades to longrange noise devices that send out highpitched sounds. For years israel has also conducted trainings abroad, including in chiapas, mexico, where israeli officials have trained Mexican Police and military forces on combating the zapatista uprising. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. And i am one gonzalez. Welcome to all of our viewers and listeners around the world. This sunday new york city is set to host what could be the largest Climate Change protest in history, when organizers expect more than 100,000 people to converge for a peoples climate march. Many have already arrived from around the country. On thursday night the peoples climate train pulled into penn station after a crosscountry trip that began in california, with stops in reno, denver, salt lake city, omaha, and chicago. My name is valerie love. I work for the center of biological diversity as a note tar sands organizer. We have 170 climate activists come together on a fourday crosscountry trip where we are discussing art and music all along the way, and we saw the amazing beauty of our country as well as the very real Climate Impact and learned about community struggles all along the way. Amanda, im 47 and i am from san francisco, california. I came up on the climate train as an invited guest. I have learned so much about how i can be a part of the movement of helping save the climate. This is one step in the right direction. With information that i obtained on the trip, i can further my help with fresh food and fresh water and be the best that i can be. The peoples climate march comes ahead of a United Nations summit this tuesday where leaders from than 125 countries will announce initiatives to reduce Carbon Emissions that fuel global warming. President obama got a head start thursday when he announced his administration would dedicate nearly 70 million to install solar power in homes and businesses, and improve Energy Efficiency in rural areas. One new project by the department of energy would train 50,000 veterans to become Solar Panel Installers in the next six years. As the topic of Climate Change and what to do about it take center stage in new york city, in the coming weeks, we host a roundtable discussion. Here from the philippines is lidy nacpil, a member of the Global Campaign to demand Climate Justice. She is a member of the International Board of 350. Org, and also a convener of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice. Estela vazquez is executive Vice President of seiu local 1199, which expects to mobilize several thousand members on sunday. In july, they joined with the new York State Nurses Association to announce their opposition to the keystone xl pipeline due to Public Health and climate concerns. And reverend doctor serene jones is with us president of union , Theological Seminary, which is hosting more than 200 religious and spiritual leaders from across the world for a religions for the earth conference this weekend before they all march on sunday. Welcome all of you to democracy now why dont we begin with you, reverend dr. Serene jones . Is Union Theological seminary produce of aiding in the climate march . The row question is why isnt every single religious person in the United States getting to this climate march . At union, we believe this christian faith, your faith in god and your commitment to love and the world means you need to be committed to social justice, and right now, there is no greater social justice issue on our planet than Climate Change. Earlier this year, your seminary took a bold step in divesting from the fossil feel industry. And you talk about that decision, coming to it, and the impact that has had on the ledges committee in the country . We are very happy to be the first to divest come and we get it for the understood political, economic, and social reasons, but for us the Guiding Force behind it was our faith commitment. We believe as people of faith, we are charged, we are morally accountable for care of the earth, and to not engage in divestment and to back away from Climate Change is to really, to use religious language, to be sinful. Can you talk about the other churches that have divested . Yes. We were very supported by the United Church of christ will stop the presbyterians are right now in the process of considering it, and the list is growing daily. The churches are ahead of seminaries in this regard. The World Council of churches yes, who are meeting at union this weekend to be part of this summit. They have divested. What about the other part about . Divesting from fossil fuels, but where you reinvest. Yes, that is part of what we are exploring with respect to divestment. What we have discovered in our portfolio is there are a number of fossil fuel companies who are themselves trying to shift their resources to alternative andurces like wind and sun, we are figuring out how in our portfolio to support that by shifting our resources in that direction for stop lidy nacpil, the importance of this particular march coming just climate summit. Specifically how in the philippines this has become such a major issue. Well, the philippines is one of the most Vulnerable Countries to the Climate Change. A reality in the philippines, but in the last few years, we have been visited by ofrincreasing and magnitude super typhoon. He last won the world had seen to come to know a lot about was typhoon haiyan, a strong us iphone to ever hit landfall in recorded Human History come a we are told, and he last typhoon has cost more than 2 Million People to be homeless and caused more than 2000 deaths in just a matter of a few days, so this issue is really important for us. For several of us who are here to be in solidarity with the march, and that is our foremost concern, not so much with the u. N. Climate summit, from which we are expecting very little come im sorry to say. We will talk what a in a minute, but we are also joined by clayton thomasmuller, who is an indigenous rights and environmental activist and writer, leading the campaign, one of the leaders of the idle no more campaign and is codirector of the Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign of the polaris institute. He came down from canada. Clayton thomasmuller is a member of the Mathias Colomb cree nation, in northern manitoba, canada. Living in ottawa, here for the peoples climate march. Welcome to democracy now forgive me if i mispronounce any part of that. Why come down from canada . More, alonge no with other organizations the world over, have sent representatives here to participate and join in the tens of thousands, hopefully hundreds of thousands that will be marching in the streets on sunday. I think, as mentioned by my sister from the philippines, Indigenous Peoples the world over are the most vulnerable when we think about the impacts of Climate Change whether it is forestdependent peoples, peoples,ependent and people in the arctic arc spirits and Climate Change on a compounding rate, much worse than most other people. That big oil is operating in canada, we have the controversial canadian tar sands communities have massive cancer clusters because of the bioregional contamination that is happening from big oils footprint in their lands. There is great concern about the lack of concrete Political Action from World Leaders and Indigenous Leaders have converged here in new york city to send a very clear and direct message that our movement is strong and it is converging with other movements to put pressure on president obama and of course on our own Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other World Leaders to take concrete action on Climate Change. We are going to break, and when we come back, we will find out why folks are here in new york, particularly labor activists, are also marching in this Climate Change march. It is called the peoples climate march will stop it is expected to be the largest climate march in history. This leading up to tuesday, where expectations vary on what will happen inside the u. N. For a oneday u. N. Climate summit, before the u. N. Climate summit that takes place in lima, peru in december. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Back in a minute. [music break] that is our guest, clayton , performing last night. You can see an interview at democracynow. Org. School, hundreds of people came out, not only for her talk but for a Panel Discussion about the climate and what could be done about it. There are hundreds of events taking place all over the city. Not to mention around the world this weekend as the lead up to the peoples climate march on sunday. Union Theological Seminary is hosting more than 200 the load jens from around the world. Our guest today is reverend dr. Serene jones. The nacpil and from philippines for the protest. As we were saying, clayton thomasmuller. From canada with many indigenous rights leaders, and we are joined by estela vazquez, executive Vice President of 1199 seiu. In july, they joined with the new York State Nurses Association due to Public Health and climate concerns. Goodman with Juan Gonzalez. This is democracy now i want to turn to the labor leader. The decision by some of the major unions in the city, for the first time i think to really actively participate in an environmental march of this time, what was the debate of 11i9, and you have also come out against the Keystone Pipeline as well. Theuan, thank you for invitation. There was no debate of 1199. It was natural for us to make a decision at this is where we needed to be, this is where we need to mobilize our members, this is where we need to say to the powers that be in this country and around the world that it is time to stop the madness. Our members were frontline in during super Hurricane Sandy almost two years ago. The members helped evacuate nyu hospital and other institutions. Brooklyn who live in public housing, and apartment left withoutt were electricity, so for us, it is a workers rights, not only in the workplace but in the communities where they live. It is a matter of Public Health. It is a matter of defending workers rights and the right to live in an environment that is free of contamination, and as i mentioned last time, the same people that are pressing workers are the same people that are making huge, enormous profits from burning fossil fuels. Of the 1 , and we are the 99 . They need to stand up. And the battle within some of organized labor for those unions that see projects like xl as a means of creating jobs and is spurring the economy what is your response to that . This debateis that continues. That there will be more Public Awareness and more education from the ranks of those unions. The cry will rise up to the leadership that this is not an issue about preserving jobs. We can preserve jobs and have jobs in a safe environment that increase the ability to create more employment without damaging , continuing to damage mother earth. Mean 1199,d seiu, i take a position on keystone xl . Because it is the right thing to do. Like you said why not other churches, why not everyone else . To labor unions, the lesson learn is that the fight for workers rights is not just in the workplace, for wages and safe working conditions. In the workplace there also has to be safe working conditions in the city and where we live, and part of having a Clean Environment is part of the workers movement. You are sitting right next to estela. You have come down from the struggle in canada around the keystone xl. We often refer to it but do not talk physically about where it starts also can you explain . The keystone xl pipeline is one of half a dozen megapipeline proposals that are sitting on the table to oil to the coast. This is from the alberta tar sense of element in northern alberta. The keystone xl will pipe from our bird all the way to port arthur, texas, about 800,000 , crossing they sacred black hills of how coded territory. We have a bus of dakota representatives that are coming here that have been fighting the northern segment of the keystone xl since president obama has already approved and it is already pumping crude today. The important thing for people to understand about these pipeline fights is while they are important, they provide a corridor for organizing and invigorating the u. S. Of our mental movement, the canadian of our mental movement. There are already 6 Million Barrels a day approved and canadas tar sense, but it is a stranded economic asset, so we expansiong big oils proposals and canada and having a great impact. A lot of those activists who have been fighting not just the keystone xl but the other five mega pipelines across the continent are here in new york joining in the march to send a clear message. You refer at times to the United States and canada as rogue nations when it comes to the exploitation of the tar sands. Could you expound on that . Compared to even other nations in terms of what is happening with energy policy. We have very extremist white ring government and canada led by ron mr. Harper and his conservative majority. Prime minister harper is an embarrassment to most canadians. He is not even participate in the ban kimoon climates summit. I believe he is going to another dinner. Really these pipelines, the tops tar sands are the crown jewel in the United States longterm Economic Energy strategy. A dirtyrning into Energy Economy for the next century all on the backs of Indigenous People in the front line, and frontline communities impacted by these pipelines, which the reps are, look at kalamazoo three years later after that enbridge pipeline blew up, the tar sands pipeline. Over 1 billion spent to clean up, it is still poisoned. Why are indigenous communities on the front line . Because it is their lands, their homes where they are ripping u a party for us, mining the oil out of the ground, their water is getting poisoned. The bioregional attack in the region of alberta has been devastating to the health of people who call that place home, and that is why they are coming here with a very clear message saying stop this at the source. We need the Climate Justice movement to yes stop the pipelines but help us in alberta stop the expansion of the alberta tar sands. Lidy, estela has mentioned that her unionas many members from guyana, which is a country that is facing rising sea level problems as well along its coast. Could you talk about how the movement is building in your country around the issue of standing up to the advanced countries refusal to deal with Climate Change . There is a lot of movements working on different issues but all are aware that these issues are part of our fight against Climate Change. Movements strong there come out movement against dirty energy. We have movements and different communities fighting against coal, the setting up of power plants, the mining of coal. We also have movements that are being strengthened and expanded in areas that are affected by Climate Change. We have many grassroots communities. In some of these hardest hit areas, which typhoon haiyan hit last year, and they are understanding very deeply that their situation is not just about natural calamities or disasters. It is very much caused by this Climate Change, so we are very happy to be part of this Global Movement to strengthen the movement in the fight for Climate Justice. I wanted to turn for a minute to to the remarks made on the opening day of the u. N. Climate summit in poland last year. Democracy now with their chief climate negotiator from the who really became the rockstar of this u. N. Summit. In an emotional appeal to the world to address the dimon crisis following typhoon haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever , if not the strongest. This is part of what he said. Communityernational if we cannot afford climate action, we should bill that important bridge towards peru. It might be said that it must be pointed justice that typhoon haiyan, that its diameter expands. Mr. President in doha, we ask if not us, then who . If not now, then when . If not here, then where . But here we may very well ask questions. What my country is going through as a result of this extreme limit event is madness. Madnessate crisis is was that mr. President , we can stop this madness right here. That was chief climate negotiator for the negotiator. He then announced he was fasting for the two weeks of that summit. But lidy nacpil, what has happened this year . Do you think anything has been accomplish and do you think anything will happen on tuesday as perhaps 1000 people march outside . Have been monitoring the International Climate negotiations very carefully and closely. It is our dismay to say that nothing much has changed. In fact, many signs point to the fact that days are getting worse because World Leaders are trying to point to kinds of solutions that are in fact making it worse for our people and not really getting us anywhere. Climate summit. That will take place on his of tumor 23rd, many of us are not expecting much, which is not going to demand what the government should be doing as an obligation to us as citizens, but there is evidence that points to the fact that i think despite the many beautiful words that many of them will deliver on september 23, including president obama, the reality is quite the opposite. They are expanding the fossil fuel industry. They are scaling up the production of fossil fuel, and Energy Consumption of fossil fuel is going up. Just to cite an example, in the United States, theres a lot of celebration about the victory against Coal Production and the use of coal, which i think is very important, but what people should know is that the u. S. Is increasing its exports of coal, so they are not using it here, but they are asking us to use it in other places. And because coal is supposedly a cheap source of energy, this is now becoming the trend in developing countries, to scale up the production and the use of coal, so this is something that thatally the reality should be contrasted to what will be said symptom or 23rd. Reverend dr. Serene jones, i would like to ask you about that contradiction between the inaction and the paralysis of the government leaders who keep meeting around the issue and this growing movement from the grassroots levels and all of these countries demanding immediate change. With the faith leaders, you are in the position where you are both elected to those Grassroots Movements but also have the ear of some of these leaders. Vice president gore is speaking as part of the event that you are organizing. Can you talk about the exact contradiction and how the role of faith leaders and trying to bridge and effect change . Yes was up yesterday morning at union, we had an event in which former Vice President goreur spoke to al spoke to minorities issuing the moral and heard of, and it is very clear that right now globally if we are going to turn this machine of death around, it is when to take a mass movement, and it is going to take a movement from the people. We cannot wait for the government, for the u. N. To make those decisions. When it comes to labor, when it comes to indigenous commitments and religious traditions, when it comes to international engagement, the people involved in all of those struggles do so out of deep spiritual resources that they have. Our traditions and say a lot about the love that we are called to have for our is, not the impulse to destroy it, and to begin to lift up those resonant voices that already stir in our movements and bring them together. So at union for the next several days, we are rain together 200 Indigenous International leaders to talk about this. And to work on making a strong Public Statement about what our religious traditions around the world share when it comes to addressing Climate Change and the issues of the destruction of our earth and the severe impact on marginal communities. Could you take us through the divestment debate, if it was a debate at all, at union for churches, religious groups, mosques, synagogues that might be listening right now, thinking about what can they do, whether their resources are vast or small . It was interesting at union, like estela said, we did not have any controversy around it. It was a unanimous decision. Did any corporations, funds weigh in, try to pressure you just seeing that you could cite an example . No, we did not see any of that pressure, perhaps because we were so clear excited about it. And when you approach is not as a primary economic or political issue although it is that, but it is a moral issue for the bit is hard to argue theologically that we are not doing the right thing. I want to ask estela about this whole issue of divestment because your union sits on the for many Pension Funds of these hospitals that your members are in, global presbyterian come in what you come all of these. Resbyterian, nyu, all of these in terms of the pension, it any organized labor place will stop you have a pension fund administered by the employer and by the union. We have not begin that conversation, but this reminds me of the Divestment Movement and thethe 1980s overthrow of tate and south africa. Weelieve that fairly soon will begin to have that conversation. It is the issue of how you balance the question of economics. There is a moral imperative. Now, estela, i know you have to leave at this break because you have a meeting right after the show, but i wanted to ask about your own past activism. You come from the Dominican Republic. And how it compares then with what you are doing today around the issue of climate. That is a tall question. [laughter] back in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s after the execution of the dictatorship, it was a period of social effervescence and up people. Between 1961 and 1965, we went through numerous coup detats, had the first free elections, elected a president s command had him deposed nine months later by the United States. You had to military moving into the Dominican Republic. And then we went through a period of resistance, popular insurrection, and in the marines so i came to this country august 13, 1965 and went through the cultural shock that every new immigrants goes through, not knowing english, of about a city 300,000, 350,000 people to over 8 Million People. The example of the black panthers, and my friend juan , i found the Puerto Rican Community was my 1st avenue of engagement and involvement. And we were fighting gentrification of the neighborhood were used to live, in harlem, to find a new home in 1199 and the labor movement, which gives me the opportunity not only to talk about social justice issues and political activism in the community but engage workers and raising the question of class consciousness, teaching people that we are the working class and that there is profound differences between those that own the means of production and those that work in the place. Feelingning, the whole behind how do you achieve economic, and in this case Environmental Justice when capitalism prevails . Of modern paradigm capitalism is profits at any cost. There is a question of looking at a really effort of democracy in participatory democracy peoples engagement to freely address the issue of Climate Justice. That is a tall order to achieve that under the capitalist system. Ask how many workers will be marching on sunday with you . We expect a few thousand members of 1199. Our sister union will be there. Workersnsport union, the Electrical Workers Union will be there. We expect that we will have a significant contingents of organized labor marching because workers are realizing that the issue of Climate Change, what happens to our environment is that thestract issue, environment is where we work, where we live, and where we play, so therefore it is our fight. Climate, some esoteric you know, issue of someplace. Our community, it is our city, and we all have to fight for it. Environment is not just where you go on vacation. [laughter] no, it is not. Estela vazquez, i want to thank you for with us, now in new1199 seiu here york, and we will continue our conversation with our other reverend dr. Break, serene junes at the union the logical seminary, lidy nacpil and clayton thomasmuller, stay with us. [music break] the peoples climates march psa. Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of the many marching bands for designing and sunday put the event. In fact, i believe there are 1200 marching bands that are expected to be a part of this 100,000 plus strong peoples climate march on sunday. It begins at Columbus Circle on sunday. Democracy now will be broadcasting live from 10 30 Eastern Standard Time until 1 30. Check it out at democracynow. Org. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. I am amy goodman with Juan Gonzalez was up our guest is reverend dr. Serene jones, lidy nacpil, clayton thomasmuller, environment total activist and writer. Clay, you talked about the number of energy projects. We know keystone xl. President obama has put off the decision on this year after year. People are saying, on one hand it is the peoples victory that he has not made a decision, but also the question why hasnt he made a decision . Yet you think keystone xl is not even the biggest pipeline. Explain what are the others. Well, it is important to understand that if you look at industries data, it is not there has been a debate lately about well, you want long trains from the balkans, fracking boom in north dakota blowing up in your community, ordeal want a safe pipeline . People have been debating pipelines versus bomb trains. What you mean bomb trains . The oil that is fracked is extremely explosive. People in quebec lost their lives, 50 people when one of these trains blew up. Alabama, virginia, these trains have blown up. It is a dangerous thing in america with fracked oil being y trainsted b through our communities will set the oil by rail ratio has been rising over the last couple of years. Now come on the tar sands pipeline issue, there is the northern and bridge gateway proposal, the Kinder Morgan transmountain pipeline, there is the keystone xl, there is the energy east pipeline, the second megaproject that transcanada put on the table because of the victory of Grassroots Movement Power Holding back the state department on the key xl. What is energy east . A 1. 1 million barrel per day pipeline, 4000 kilometers from alberta to atlanta, canada. New brunswick is where it ends. Includes 3000 kilometers of 40yearold natural gas pipeline that they want to repurpose to pump superheated, diluted tar sands crude. This stuff is the same stuff that ruptured at the in bridge pipeline in kalamazoo, michigan. This pipeline is about the same age of the stuff that blew up in kalamazoo, michigan following that river, so it crosses over 185 first nation territories in canada. First nations peoples are organizing along with minas abilities and urban centers. In this country, i do not think we recognize the importance of the First Nations populations in canada. Can you talk about that and the cigna skins as part of the labor force . I do not know more movement more popped on the scene about two years ago. It was the result of the political tornado that the conservative government was expressing as a result of their super law army where they got it areaally every democratic with just to super bills come in they have more coming down the pipeline, no pun intended, and idle no more came from Indigenous Women who started organizing to try to organize harpers to stop agenda. And it took off on the internet. It went wild. Within a matter of months, we achieved a day of action where we actually stopped every single train in the province of ontario. We closed down six border crossings to the United States all with just one arrest, which to mistreated the incredible might of Indigenous Social movements in canada. I think that the government of canada is very concerned about the Indigenous Social movements uniting with organized labor, uniting with the quebec student strikers movement and other social movements to a challenge the agenda of big oil in canada because big oil is pricing in canada, is running our government, and they do that to provide oil to the United States. And dr. Serene jones, the womenled nature of the environmental movement, i mean, whether we are talking idle no more in canada, it is very striking to see so many women at the head. I mean, you are the head of the Union Theological seminary full stop you came from yale. You were a professor therefore many years. Talk about apples up what is the Climate Movement . Talk about that. What is the Climate Movement . Women have long been behind the scenes making things happen, so it is not really a new thing, but to be a front and be explicit about it is, and it is very exciting. I do not want to speak universally for all women, but i think that in the heart of feminism, but also in the heart of Indigenous Womens experience is a deep and inviting cents for what it means to create life and nurture life and care for life, so when i come as a woman and a religious leader think about what is happening right now with this crisis between the capitalist drive to extract and consume and what is happening to our climate and these Grassroots Movements, which are pushing back and saying no, it is a political crisis, but it is also a spiritual crisis. These Grassroots Movements are saying no. Not only do we not accept these actions, but we dont accept the spiritual view of what life is about that lies behind them. We are not simply people who are called to consume whatever we can to try to make us happy and to extract whatever we need. No. We are people who are deeply interconnected, who are called to love and care for each other, and who are to honor the very earth that we ourselves can grow. Lidy, we were talking with naomi klein. She talked about this whole move of the Energy Industry to basically create sacrifice communities, especially in the third world, as you were talking exploitation the exportation of coal from the United States while the use of is limited. Country the countries of the global south being the real victims of the climate crisis. And the issue of climate death. It is really quite ironic just speaking about the energy that there is a lot of Energy Production going on in the south, and we absorb all of the dirty and harmful impacts of that Energy Production, yet more than 50 of our people do not have enough access to energy for their basic needs. That is one of the injustices of this whole crisis when we know from excessive consumption of energy, excessive production of goods that are not needed by people, yet more than half of the people do not have enough to , so, to have decent lives this is something that we are railing against and we are saying that this really also illustrates why we are talking about the debt that is owed to our people, not just people of the south but people everywhere that have been marginalized, have been exploited by the system, suffering from the effects of this system like im a change, and is subsidizing a lifestyle that ely thin the profits of corporations have been enjoying for a long time. This debt must be paid command we are here to say that message loud and clear. I just want to talk with clay, on sunday, the Indigenous Community will be the first blocks, though you say youth will be even in front of you. I want to mention sunday and flood wall street, now we all may have a minute, which is the direct action, being called familyfriendly on sunday and then direct action on monday on wall street. Is correct, the Indigenous Peoples block will be leadinthe climate march on sunday. There is a line of young people from impacted communities including young Indigenous People that will be marching arm in arm, you know, and leading the march, flood wall street is such an important action that i encourage everybody to go down and show their support on. We need to strike at the heart paradigm. Nomic pirat Climate Change, tar sands, all of these things, the root problem is our economic paradigm. We need tout it, engage in to take direct action against the financiers of the Global Climate crisis will suck on sunday at 7 00 in the morning, there is a major indigenous ceremony inside central park and there are water ceremonies on saturday here in new york city. That is correct. When courage people to come back to the opening ceremony. The peoples climate march starts at 9 00 a. M. , Columbus Circle. There is a water ceremony on the hudson river as well. And the website people go to find out all of this information indigenousrising. Org is the website. You can get information at idlenormore. Com. March. Org. Sclimate we will leave it there. Of course democracy now will be there on sunday. Check our website, from sunday. Org, 10 30 until 1 30 eastern time, we will be broadcasting to the world was up a very happy birthday to amy littlefield. Democracy now is produced by mike burke, renee feltz, aaron mate, nermeen shaikh, steve martinez, sam alcoff, hany today on George Hirsch lifestyle, i visit my friend and winemaker roman roth to find out firsthand what makes long island wines so special. Then some wine 101 with frencheducated wine expert Jacques Franey for tips on selecting perfect wines. Back in my home kitchen, im making family favorites steamers with white wine and crisp string beans and my dads favorite panroasted fluke with lemon capers and butter sauce, for dessert, my moms favorite strawberry mascarpone crepes. Hi. Im George Hirsch. Welcome to George Hirsch lifestyle