GREEN, Volume 30 Issue 11

Welcome to the June issue of GREEN. As our latest newsletter goes live, our world is in turmoil from two diseases. One, COVID-19, is new and causing a global pandemic. The other has been with us far too long: Systemic racism, which has most recently manifested itself in white vigilantes taking the life of a jogging black man, a woman in Central Park weaponizing her whiteness against a black bird-watcher, and police violence taking the lives of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and the resulting protests and rage in the streets. 

Please support two of our membership organizations who work on issues of racial equity and environmental justice: the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and WV Citizen Action Group. For people of color, the American ideal of “liberty and justice for all” is just that: an ideal, not a reality. May we finally confront the brutal truth of our history, may white people understand that we are still living that history, and may we hasten the end of white supremacy culture.  

In peace and justice,

Vivian Stockman, Executive Director, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and WVEC board member

Linda Frame, WVEC President

Click an article title or thumbnail image to read the full article (text below is only an excerpt).

Your Vote is Your Voice
WV Citizens for Clean Elections
With the primary election just around the corner, we wanted to remind you of some important resources to help you vote safely and exercise your right to vote effectively.
Tagged: Clean elections, Democracy

People Over Petro
Sarah Carballo
When combating a major threat like a massive petrochemical build-up in the Ohio River Valley, there is strength in numbers. One way to build that strength is by working in a coalition—which is why OVEC joined the People Over Petro Coalition (POPCO).
Tagged: Oil and gas, Pollution

Cheat Fest From Home – The First Virtual Cheat River Festival was a Surprising Success!
Friends of the Cheat
The Cheat River Festival, Friends of the Cheat’s annual kick-off to summer, was started by paddlers and river stewards to raise money to restore the Cheat River’s waters polluted from a century of coal mining. It’s now a celebration of two and a half decades of successful clean up efforts, essentially a family reunion, and importantly, a fundraiser supporting continued stewardship. 
Tagged: Pollution, Water

Federal Threat to Net Metering & States’ Rights
Solar United Neighbors
A secretive group of special interests are trying to strip away solar rights. If they succeed, families and businesses won't be fairly credited for the valuable solar energy they produce.  
Tagged: Renewable energy

Climate Lunch and Learn Series
WV Rivers Coalition
West Virginians are seeing the effects of the changing climate and researchers across the state are studying what it means for West Virginia. WV Rivers is highlighting these scientists and their research through our virtual Climate and Water Lunch & Learn Series. During the live webinars, you’ll learn first-hand from the researchers on the front line of the climate crisis.
Tagged: Climate change, Water

Outreach Coordinator & Interim Lobbyist Position Description
WVEC
The West Virginia Environmental Council (WVEC) seeks a part-time outreach coordinator and interim lobbyist.