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In solidarity with social movements in Minneapolis, the family and friends of Keith Porter Jr., and all those murdered and disappeared by ICE and DHS The Strategy Center renews its solidarity and call for open borders and amnesty.

We too, will be on the frontlines with the rest of LA today as we all participate in one of the largest general strikes in the history of the U.S.—a well-deserved vote of no confidence in the federal government as it makes moves to open fascism that has been a bipartisan project of the U.S. for as long as the country itself has existed.

We’re deeply disappointed in the way that the city has mishandled funds, continues to pay half of the city budget to the LAPD, while the LAPD chief announces that, in defiance with an LA county ordinance, he will not enforce any measures that prevent ICE from murdering and disappearing BIPOC community members.

We continue to work with organizations in the Police Free LAUSD coalition to protect programs like BSAP, to fight for a complete defund to the LA School police, to protect LGBTQ students and to fight against ICE activities in and around LAUSD schools and our neighborhoods.

We are from the radical Afrocentric ant-imperialist traditions of caring about all of the oppressed people and the true slogan “an injury to one is an injury to all.

We call on those today whose righteous anger we share, to remember the Black students and adults and Black/African immigrants who are kidnapped every day by the LAPD, County Sheriffs, and ICE, put in holding cells for crimes the system makes up, with no bail, guilty until guilty.

We cry for the houseless of all races. We cry for our Latinx, Somali, and all oppressed sisters, brothers, and siblings. We use those tears as fuel for our rage and our resistance.

This is a long fight against fascism. We will march with everyone, bring our bodies to the larger cause. We offer our Strategy and Soul Movement Center as a safe place for those who want to change the world to gather, eat, talk, get respite, resilience, talk about strategy and tactics and closer alliances, and build the will and encouragement for us to fight on together.

The time for all hands on deck to stop the U.S. imperialist white settler state and its world genocide is not just now but has been now for the past few decades.

Students involved in our Strategy & Soul Social Justice group are fired up, members of the Strategy Centers chapter of South Central Power Up e-bike library are fired up, and friends of the Strategy and Soul Bookstore are ready for the fight.

We’ll see you out there,

In solidarity, the strategy center team.

Channing, Eric, Akunna, Barbara, Pau, Clinton, and many more members of The Strategy Center.

The post Abolish ICE Abolish DHS! From the Clinton Assault to Bush to Obama to Trump to Biden The Strategy Center renews its call for Open borders and Amnesty for all. first appeared on The Labor Community Strategy Center.

Image Description: Black and yellow text reads “ICE OUT” on a pixelated gray and black gradient background.

Organizing around transit justice is about ensuring that all people have the freedom to move—to travel safely and with dignity everywhere we need to go. All communities should have the ability to freely access their places of school and work, grocery stores, healthcare, and places of recreation and play. 

ICE as an institution is structurally in opposition to that freedom of movement. It is a state instrument of violence, of repression and fear, of incarceration and isolation. We have seen the ways that they have systematically targeted our community of transit riders, which are disproportionately people of color, disabled people, low-income people, and immigrants. 

We are humbled by the solidarity, courage and organizing muscle of all those in Minneapolis, and particularly celebrate the leadership of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 in protecting transit riders and workers from state-sactioned violence. We endorse the call for a National Strike on Friday, Jan 30th, and support the organizing at the County, State and Federal levels to defend against, to defund and abolish ICE. 

We also stand in support of the proposed Allegheny County ordinance that would prohibit County employees and resources from assisting ICE, and protecting equal access to County services without regard to immigration status (real or perceived).

We encourage our community to sign onto a petition & pressure Allegheny County Council to support this ordinance. Click the button to tell Allegheny County Council that ICE is not welcome here.

No County Collaboration with ICE

The post ICE Out: Strike Solidarity Statement appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) invites applications from qualified and experienced facilitators to support the delivery of a Training of Trainers (ToT) on Integrating Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems into African Territorial Markets, scheduled for 18th–20th February 2026 in Entebbe, Uganda.

This Training of Trainers is part of AFSA’s African Agroecological Entrepreneurship (AAE) initiative and aims to strengthen the capacity of national partners and territorial market actors to advance agroecology-driven, inclusive, and resilient territorial market systems across Africa.

AFSA is seeking facilitators with strong experience in agroecology, sustainable food systems, territorial markets, participatory training, and adult learning methodologies. Applicants may apply to facilitate one or more sessions and must clearly indicate the specific session(s) of interest by title, demonstrating relevant prior experience aligned to those sessions.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

• A signed cover letter indicating the session(s) of interest;
• A brief technical proposal (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience and proposed facilitation approach;
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• Two samples of relevant facilitation or training work (where applicable);
• A financial proposal indicating facilitation fees (USD), inclusive of all costs.

Submission Details

Applications should be submitted by email to afsa@afsafrica.org  no later than 6th February 2026 (5:00 pm EAT).

Email subject line:
Facilitator Application – Training of Trainers (ToT) on Integrating Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems into African Territorial Markets

For detailed information on the scope of work, session descriptions, and qualifications, applicants are encouraged to consult the full Terms of Reference.

Download Terms of Reference Here 

This is a guest article written by Jean McLean, Director of Engagement at the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), a global movement for green and fair economies.

Results from the Green Economy Coalition’s latest Global Green Attitudes Survey reveal a loud and consistent demand: People around the world, want more radical and transformative government action – not just on the environment, but on the economic systems driving the climate and nature breakdown.

And they don’t just want small “green tweaks” either, they want economies reshaped to serve the people and the planet, not pollution and profit.

Despite today’s shaky politics, the survey, which polled over 10,000 people across 10 countries, is clear: support for climate action is strong across countries and income levels. What’s missing now isn’t public backing, its political courage.

A tougher political context, but public support for climate action hasn’t weakened

Compared to the same survey in 2024, the political and economic context has become even more challenging. Since our first wave of research, the cost-of-living crisis has continued to bite. Trump’s re-election has emboldened right-wing populists and their pro–fossil fuel agenda, while “green hushing” has crept into government, corporate, and even civil society spaces, with sustainability quietly reframed, deprioritised, or hidden.

Yet even in this climate of economic anxiety and political retrenchment, our survey found that the public has not turned away from environmental action. Instead, people increasingly recognise that today’s economic model is failing them as well as the planet — driving inequality, locking in pollution, and leaving households exposed to rising costs and environmental risk.

And crucially, the survey shows just how deep that support runs: 84% of people globally would choose stronger environmental protection even at the cost of slowed economic growth.

People want a real change in the system, not just a tweak 

The polling reveals a powerful and consistent message: people want governments to lead a systemic economic transformation, not rely on voluntary action or individual sacrifice.

• 88% of people globally say governments should be doing more to combat climate change.
• 82% support prioritising public investment in clean energy, even when this requires significant government spending.

These are not abstract environmental preferences. They reflect a growing understanding that public investment, regulation, and economic planning are essential to building resilient, fair economies: ones that deliver decent jobs, affordable energy, and healthy environments.

And yet, only 42% of people believe their government is taking more action now than last year to protect the environment. The result is a widening credibility gap between what people know is needed and what governments are prepared to do.

Reclaiming economies means governments stepping up for the climate

Crucially, the survey shows that people do not see the green transition as something households can, or should, carry alone. The biggest barrier to more sustainable choices is not apathy or unwillingness, but lack of government support, cited by 52% of respondents globally.

This is especially pronounced in lower-income countries, where citizens are often most exposed to environmental harm while having the least influence over global economic rules. In countries such as Nigeria, Turkey, and South Africa, over 60% identify government inaction as the main obstacle.

When asked what would help, people pointed to:

• Better laws and stronger regulation
• Increased funding for environmental programmes
• Support for green jobs and environmentally responsible businesses

In other words, people are asking governments to reclaim their role in shaping the economy, rather than outsourcing responsibility to individuals and markets that reward pollution and short-term profit.

Trust in leaders is collapsing, but people still want ambitious action 

Trust in political leadership remains worryingly low. Just 39% of people globally trust political leaders to make the right decisions for a sustainable future. But this collapse in trust has not dampened ambition.

Instead, people are calling for bold reforms that challenge business-as-usual: stricter regulation of pollution, stronger accountability for corporations, and public investment to steer economies towards long-term wellbeing, even if this means economic trade-offs in the short term.

This reflects a growing public understanding that an economy designed around endless growth, extraction, and inequality is neither sustainable nor desirable. People are ready for a new direction — one that measures success by health, resilience, and shared prosperity, not just GDP.

The public has spoken, now it’s time our governments delivered

Taken together, the findings leave no room for doubt. Governments already have a clear public mandate to act on climate, on nature, and on the economy itself.

Reclaiming our economies means: 

• • putting people and the planet back at the centre of decision-making.
  • using public policy to reward care, restoration, and long-term value  and to hold polluters to account. 
  • moving beyond rhetoric, towards real investment, regulation, and reform.

People are already doing their part. They are ready for change. The question is whether political leaders are willing to listen, and to finally use the tools they have to build economies that work for everyone.

What do we want? Economies that serve people and the planet. When do we want them? Now.

DOWNLOAD THE RESEARCH

 

The post 84% of us want nature protected, even if it slows economic growth appeared first on 350.

The world can feel like it’s moving in two directions at once. One day, leaders talk about climate action and the next, we see fresh drilling pushes and new fossil deals, from the Arctic to Asia and South America. But the bigger truth is this: the ground is shifting beneath the polluter industry, because the world is leaving fossil fuels behind and already rapidly moving onto clean, renewable energy. 

That’s why January 26, the International Day of Clean Energy, is fitting a moment to celebrate progress, and to double down on a just energy transition that works for everyone. Here are eight reasons we should feel hopeful today:

1. Clean energy is winning the investment race

Clean energy isn’t “emerging” anymore, it’s already outcompeting fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency projects around $2.2 trillion in clean energy investment in 2025, compared to roughly $1.1 trillion going into oil, gas, and coal. That’s the transition happening in real time. And it’s not slowing down: clean investment has outpaced fossil investment for years, and the gap keeps widening as technology improves and costs fall.

2. More governments are organizing to phase out fossil fuels

Despite weak consensus outcomes at the annual UN talks, COP30, in Brazil this past November, the diplomatic track is shifting. During the Summit, more than 80 countries from the Global South and Global North jointly called for a roadmap to phase out coal, oil, and gas. That matters because it shows unanimous agreement isn’t a necessary condition for political momentum for climate action. Countries are increasingly treating fossil fuel phaseout as a shared destination, and building the political alignment to get there. For instance, A growing “coalition of the willing” is building real phaseout architecture. Hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands’, the world’s first conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels this year in April aims to design “legal, economic, and social pathways” for a just transition beyond coal, oil, and gas. The goal isn’t a theoretical one-size-fits-all exit, it’s a practical, achievable roadmap tied to jobs, protection, and real opportunity.

3. The clean transition is becoming common-sense economics  

Investor behavior too, is shifting in a clear direction. Not because “green” is fashionable, but because fossil-heavy assets look increasingly risky in a changing world. In a Morgan Stanley survey of 950+ major investors, most said they plan to increase sustainable investing over the next two years. The logic is straightforward: future-ready assets look safer and more profitable over time, while fossil dependence creates volatility, stranded assets, and reputational risk. 

4. The rules are tightening for fossil fuel companies

Big investors are no longer willing to bankroll fossil companies that can’t prove they have a credible plan for the transition. That shift is already visible: in December 2025, Swedish pension fund AP7 cut off investments in companies it judged incompatible with climate goals. This is how the phaseout accelerates in practice, not just through speeches, but through capital discipline. “Business as usual” is becoming a financial liability, not a safe bet.

5. Courts and legal standards are shifting toward climate accountability

The legal “reasonableness standard” is moving upward, closer to what climate science actually requires. On July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion strengthening what states owe on climate action, including on fossil fuel production and subsidies. It’s not binding, but it’s directional: the legal centre just shifted. That means more pressure, more scrutiny, and more risk for governments and corporations that keep expanding fossil fuels.

6. People are choosing solutions that improve life, not just emissions graphs

Clean energy is not only about cutting carbon. It’s about making daily life safer and more affordable: lower bills, cleaner air, and resilience in the face of energy and price shocks. When communities can generate and control power locally, through distributed solar, storage, and public renewables, they’re less exposed to global fuel price spikes and corporate profiteering. The transition becomes real when people can feel it: stability, dignity, and control over essential services like energy.

7. Even conservative energy authorities have drawn a line on new fossil supply

Campaigners and climate activists aren’t the only ones saying “stop drilling.” Even the International Energy Agency, one of the world’s most mainstream energy institutions, has made the case in its Net Zero pathway: a future where no new oil and gas fields should be approved for development beyond those already committed. That’s not radical politics. It’s basic risk management in a world that can’t afford more fossil lock-in. The safest investment now is building the clean energy system faster.

8. Clean energy could save us trillions, and it’s already getting cheaper

A fast energy transition is now the cheapest option on the table. A University of Oxford study found shifting to renewables by 2050 could save the global economy at least $12 trillion in energy system costs, even before counting avoided climate disasters. That’s because renewables are technologies, not commodities: costs fall as we scale. Over the last decade, solar fell ~90%, wind ~70%, and battery storage ~85% — while the sun and wind stay free. 

As we celebrate real progress toward a 100% renewable future, we can’t forget this: climate disaster is already here, and stopping fossil fuel expansion is the bare minimum for survival.

Clean energy is rising. But so are floods, fires, heatwaves, bill shocks, and fossil disasters. So the path forward has to do two things at once: end the harm, and build the alternative.

1) Stop the harm: no new fossil fuel expansion 

Governments and regulators must stop approving new oil, gas, and coal projects — and end fossil subsidies. When floods, fires, heatwaves, or bill shocks hit, alongside the media, we must connect the dots fast: this damage is driven by political choices that protect polluters. Courts must enforce climate and liability laws, hold governments and companies accountable for harm, and unlock compensation through litigation. Insurers must price climate risk honestly, withdraw cover from new fossil projects, and stop shielding polluters from the real costs of their damage.

2) Make polluters pay

Fossil fuel companies shouldn’t profit while communities pay the price. Governments must enforce real accountability through liability, levies, and an end to fossil impunity — so recovery and resilience are funded by those who caused the damage.

3) Deliver the Right to Energy

Governments, regulators, utilities, and cities must deliver affordable, resilient clean power people can feel. That means investing in distributed renewables, storage, and grids — plus tools like lifeline tariffs and free basic electricity where possible. 

4) Move money to the future

Investors, banks, and insurers must stop financing expansion and shift capital toward clean energy solutions that are credible, community-backed, and built to last.

5) Let’s organize to make the transition unstoppable

We make the shift away from fossil fuels real by organizing locally and forcing decision-makers to act. When a crisis hits, we show up, naming who’s responsible and demanding protection and justice. 

 

This is how we win: make fossil expansion harder, and make real alternatives easier.

DEMAND A FOSSIL FREE FUTURE NOW

 

The post 8 reasons to celebrate on this International Day of Clean Energy appeared first on 350.

image description: illustration of a red bus to the left of the image, small photo of smiling supporters to the right, text reads “Job listing Digital Organizer – Data Lead” with logos for Transit for All PA! and Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

The movement is hiring a new staff position! Check out the description below and apply if you’re a great candidate

January 2026

About Transit for All PA! and Pittsburghers for Public Transit

Transit for All PA! is fighting for more public transit that moves all Pennsylvanians. The campaign is led by Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT), which is a grassroots union of transit riders, workers, and neighbors. Together, PPT and Transit for All PA! organize for public transit that meets all needs, with no communities left behind.

PPT is a member-led grassroots union. Our members vote annually to elect fellow members to our Board of Directors, which manages our staff and finances. Members create and vote to approve our yearly campaign plans, and members work on our three volunteer-led committees to do the research, organizing, and communications projects needed to win our campaigns.

Together, we are creating transit systems that work for everybody, for our communities and our state, by organizing as poor and working-class people in a multi-racial movement for transit justice—and we need you with us in this fight.

Digital Organizer – Data Lead Position Summary

The Digital Organizer – Data Lead will build & manage our digital infrastructure, data strategy, online-to-offline organizing funnel to grow our movement and win our campaigns. The position will work in the organization’s small but mighty Digital Department, with the Digital Organizing Director and the Digital Organizer – Communications Lead. Close collaboration with the rest of the staff and our member leaders will be vital.

This is not an entry-level position; we require applicants to have a command of data management skills (such as managing databases, digital infrastructure and tools, workflows, and data hygiene) and experience with community organizing skills (such as facilitating meetings, trainings, events, and participation). It’s a big, broad job, and we work as a team to support each other and get it done.

 The Digital Organizer – Data Lead will report to the Digital Organizing Director.

Primary Job Responsibilities

1. Digital infrastructure building & management: co-create systems to maximize the efficacy of our data via digital and old-fashioned community organizing.
   • EveryAction! Grow an organizational culture committed to building a powerful EveryAction database and advocacy/communications toolset to win our campaigns. Work with EA to develop systems/segmentation to support our organizing across the state. Train staff on their appropriate roles in the database. Troubleshoot issues when they arise.
   • Manage the organization’s tech stack – Sharpen the use of our tech stack (which currently includes Everyaction, Mobilze, Getthru, Google Workspace, Zoom, Twilio, Asana and some others) and digital/analogue data by fixing bugs, building workflows, and training staff.
   • Build a culture of effective data collection + hygiene– Train staff/members on systems & practices, and lovingly hold our team accountable to our program. Make the benefits of our data practices tangible – graphs, dashboards, effective workflows, clear purpose.
     
2. Membership program growth: Cultivate a PPT Membership program that builds strong, caring, personal relationships that move people to action and sharpen our fundraising with small-dollar donors. That means we will need you to:
   • Grow membership & solidarity – build systems to increase the number of members.  Deepen new & existing members’ understanding of what it means to be part of this grassroots union.
   • Improve & maintain data/digital systems – Iterate on existing systems to track and report on membership program. Streamline program operations – recruitment, renewals, self-service, and more.
   • Increase revenue – Lead 2 large membership drives and 2 small recruitment campaigns throughout the year. Coordinate with the team on a fundraising calendar.
   • Deepen engagement and leadership development – Help members increase their involvement in our organizing & develop leaders who can take charge of making change in their communities. 
     
3. People Organizing – Yes, this position will spend lots of time on a computer, but it will also require strong real-life relational organizing to be successful:
   • Create & lead our Data Volunteer Team (name is a work in progress) – establish a volunteer team  work on data projects. 
   • Large-event planning & logistics – lend a hand with large in-person and virtual events held throughout the year

Qualities We Are Looking For

Versed in Strategic Infrastructure. You have experience building and managing digital infrastructure to strengthen organizations. Systems and tools should be clear, intuitive, and accessible for staff and volunteers to utilize.

Accountability Focused. You are a rigorous systems thinker who can create digital infrastructure to accurately assess our current engagement capacity, identify opportunities for growth, and demonstrate the efficacy of different organizing and communications strategies.

Visionary and Committed. You are an organizer at heart, working towards justice for our communities. You are caring, invested, and accountable to your fellow staff, PPT’s democratically-elected board leadership, and membership.

A Swiss Army Knife. You are resourceful and creative, willing to do what it takes to make a project succeed. You can handle a lot in a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment.

In(ter)dependent. Can work independently, self-managing your time, while maintaining close communication with remote teams. You are flexible and know that organizing doesn’t always happen between 9 am and 5 pm – and you respect your time and your team’s by taking flex time to keep everyone at a 40hr work week. You believe in people and know everyone can contribute in different ways to win a better world.

Required Qualifications

• Support Transit for All PA! + Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s mission, vision, goals, and theory of change
• Deep personal investment in the intersectional struggle for transit justice, housing justice, disability justice, racial justice and environmental justice
• Experience in multi-racial, multicultural settings
• Spreadsheet prowess and admin-level proficiency in 21st-century office tools: Google Suite, Zoom, Asana etc
• 2-3 years of managing digital systems and infrastructure for an organization like CRMs, websites, and tools for digital activism
• 1+ years experience in creating training materials and training organizational staff. 
• Access to reliable internet, phone, and remote office arrangements. 

Preferred Qualifications

• 2-3 years of community organizing experience (paid or volunteer), preferably with grassroots member-led base-building organizations or unions, moving people to volunteer, donate, attend events, or take action for social change
• 1+ years experience in PPT membership and/or the Transit for All PA! campaign, and familiarity with Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s/Transit for All PA!’s community and organizational culture. 
• Ability to write and speak a second language, preferably Spanish

Location and Travel

Our staff must be willing to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends – while also valuing rest, humanity, and taking time for our own needs and the team’s.

The Digital Organizer – Data Lead can live anywhere in Pennsylvania, but will need to be able to travel to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and other parts of PA 4-5 times a year. If the hire lives in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, some level of in-office time with local staff will be required. The hire will need to have some flexibility and give input on our “workplace norms” as we grow to operate at a statewide level. 

Salary and Benefits

This is a full non-exempt position. Salary is $65,000 a year, and includes high-quality, zero premium and zero deductible family health care, free transit pass, unmatched and matched 401k retirement contributions, and generous paid leave time. PPT is committed to an access-focused culture centered around Disability Justice principles and believes in a workplace culture with a healthy work-life balance.

How To Apply & Hiring Timeline

Please email a resume, cover letter, and writing/work samples to Dan Yablonsky, PPT/T4APA’s Digital Organizing Director, at dan@pittsburghforpublictransit.org. To ensure your email is received, please include “PPT Digital Organizer – Data Lead” as the subject line. References will be asked for candidates who advance in the process.  Candidates will only be contacted if our hiring team chooses to pursue an interview.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.

All applications received by February 20th, 2026 are guaranteed to be reviewed, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The target start date for this new hire is March 20, 2026.

Download a .pdf of the job description

The post Job Listing: Digital Organizer -Data Lead appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

Minneapolis, MN (January 21, 2026) | The Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED) stands in solidarity with Minnesota’s immigrant communities and those mobilizing to protect them, and supports this Friday’s ICE OUT Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom general strike, march and rally. Across Minnesota, we will use our collective action to pause the economy and take action to be heard on January 23.

Our communities in Minnesota are living through an ongoing escalation of violence and fear due to a surge of ICE raids and brutality that have terrorized Black, Brown, Indigenous and immigrant families across the state. 

On January 23, hundreds of local organizations, faith groups, unions and businesses are joining forces to call for ICE and other federal forces to leave Minnesota immediately. Together, we are calling for accountability for ICE’s unlawful attacks on our communities and demanding an end to funding for ICE and its racist agenda of raids and brutality. We are also calling on Minnesotan and national companies to stop doing business with ICE and assert 4th Amendment rights by refusing ICE entry into their businesses. Join us at the march and rally in downtown Minneapolis at 2:00 PM on January 23. 

Why CEED Stands in Solidarity with ICE OUT Minnesota

Environmental justice and immigrant justice are inseparable. The same systems that extract wealth from communities and devastate the land also criminalize migration and exploit immigrant workers. Immigrant communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and pollution, while also facing  disproportionate enforcement, surveillance, and displacement. As we organize for community-controlled renewable energy and local economic alternatives, we must oppose all forms of state violence against the communities building these alternatives.

There can be no democracy without justice. CEED’s vision of energy democracy depends on robust democratic institutions, constitutional protections, and the ability of communities to organize without fear. The human rights violations documented by ICE in Minnesota—including illegal detentions, warrantless stops, and the killing of Renee Nicole Good—undermine the very democratic foundations our work depends upon. When federal agents operate outside the law with impunity, it weakens all our rights to organize, speak out, and challenge systems of extraction and oppression.

A just transition requires justice for all. CEED’s work centers the leadership of frontline communities in building a regenerative economy rooted in energy democracy and community control. The ICE surge terrorizing Minnesota communities which cost Renee Nicole Good her life is a direct attack on the communities we work alongside. There can be no just transition when we live under threat of detention, family separation, and state violence.

Despite the attacks on our communities, we are seeing a powerful outpouring of solidarity through mutual aid efforts here in Minnesota. Volunteers are going door to door and distributing groceries to vulnerable neighbors, while mothers are patrolling the streets to document and deter immigration raids. Lawyers are out in the streets defending the right to protest, while neighbors are raising funds to pay for legal fees and bonds.

CEED recognizes that our staff, partners, and communities across Minnesota are directly impacted by ICE activities. We see you, we stand with you, and we commit to using our voice and resources to support this urgent call for justice, accountability, and human rights.

CEED encourages staff and partners in Minnesota to support these efforts and participate in ICE OUT Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom on January 23, in ways that feel right, and if they choose to do so. You can learn more and sign the pledge at iceoutnowmn.com

From our home in Minneapolis, the Center for Earth Energy and Democracy (CEED) works toward just transition, energy democracy, and climate justice at state, regional and national levels. We believe that front line communities must lead the transition from an extractive economy to one rooted in regeneration, cooperation, and community control.

The post CEED Stands in Solidarity with ICE OUT Minnesota on Jan. 23 appeared first on CEED.

A new report from Oxfam Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power shows billionaire wealth reached $18.3 trillion in 2025, the highest level in human history. That’s more than the GDP of China, the world’s second largest economy. In fact, since 2020, billionaire wealth has increased by 81%.

All of this happens while one in four people don’t regularly have enough to eat, and nearly half the world lives in poverty. Families face rising costs for basics like food, rent, and electricity. Public services are stretched thin. Climate disasters hit harder and more often.

But what is worrying is that this small group holding extreme wealth, isn’t just buying luxury. They are buying control. Political outcomes. And of course, more fossil fuels. Billionaire power is building a dystopian, unliveable world with many government allies helping lock it in. Here is how: 

Billionaires are buying democracy, and blocking climate action

Oxfam’s report is clear: extreme wealth doesn’t sit quietly in bank accounts. It gets turned into political control. Alongside getting richer, billionaires are tightening their grip on the institutions meant to serve the public.

The research finds that billionaires are now 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than ordinary people. That imbalance shapes real decisions, deciding what gets funded, what gets blocked, and whose voices are ignored.

And when billionaire political interests dominate, the consequences are brutal and predictable:

• climate action slows, fossil fuel expansion is protected, regulation is weakened, and public money gets funnelled into corporate profit instead of community needs.
• People demanding justice face crackdowns, shrinking civic space, and rising repression.

Oxfam points to the US Trump administration as a warning sign: a pro-billionaire government agenda that slashes taxes for the super-rich, undermines global cooperation to tax corporations, rolls back action on monopoly power, and boosts billionaire portfolios. But this isn’t confined to one country. Oligarchy is going global, and it’s undermining societies everywhere.

And it doesn’t stop at economic policy. Oxfam warns that civil liberties and political rights are being rolled back globally. 2024 marked the nineteenth successive year of decline, with a quarter of countries curtailing freedom of expression. When people protest, governments increasingly respond with violence.

Our bills are going up as their fortunes explode

In 2025, billionaire wealth surged by $2.5 trillion which is what is held by the bottom half of humanity (4.1 billion people). Oxfam estimates this money would be enough to eradicate extreme poverty 26 times over.

At the same time, people are told there’s “no money” for clean energy, resilient infrastructure, or strong public services. Communities are pushed to accept austerity and “tough choices,” while extreme wealth concentrates at record speed.

Oxfam links these choices to real harm: governments slash aid budgets, directly hitting people living in poverty and potentially contributing to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030.

The result is a world where life feels more unaffordable and more unstable, and where climate action gets treated like an optional extra, instead of a survival plan.

The climate crisis is a business model for the super rich

Billionaire lifestyles are high-emitting, and that matters. But the deeper problem runs through the economic model itself: billionaire wealth is built on extraction and climate plunder.

Many billionaires profit directly from industries tied to pollution and destruction: fossil fuels, mining, deforestation, and corporate land grabs. Their money shapes the political decisions that keep these industries protected, subsidized, and expanding.

And the fallout hits everyone else: higher bills, weaker public systems, polluted air and water, and escalating climate risks. Communities in the Global South and frontline regions pay first and worst while the people most responsible stay insulated from the damage.

They control what we read (and believe)

Billionaire power doesn’t stop at politics. It reaches into the media and the information systems we rely on every day.

The Oxfam report shows how billionaire power doesn’t stop at politics — it spreads into the media and information systems we rely on every day. Billionaires now own more than half of the world’s largest media companies, and they also control all the main social media platforms, giving a tiny group of ultra-rich people enormous influence over what information gets amplified, what gets buried, and how public debate is shaped.

Oxfam points to examples like:

• Jeff Bezos’ purchase of The Washington Post, Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter/X, and Patrick Soon-Shiong’s ownership of the Los Angeles Times.
• In France, the report highlights how far-right billionaire Vincent Bolloré took control of CNews and reshaped it into a French version of Fox News.
• And in the UK, Oxfam notes that three-quarters of newspaper circulation is controlled by just four super-rich families.

This concentration of media power matters because it doesn’t just influence what people read, it shapes what people believe is possible, normal, or worth fighting for. Oxfam warns that when billionaires dominate media and social platforms, minority voices and dissenting perspectives get pushed out, while scapegoating and disinformation spread more easily. The report points to structural exclusion too: only 27% of top editors globally are women, and just 23% belong to racialized groups, reinforcing whose stories get centered, and whose get ignored.

This also fuels polarization, making it harder to build the public pressure needed for real climate action, and easier for fossil fuel interests to keep operating in plain sight. And while we’re distracted, the fossil fuel machine keeps running.

Oxfam also shows how governments enable this captured information ecosystem. Governments allow billionaire control of platforms to deepen, and in some cases even use these platforms to track, punish, and silence critics. Oxfam points to Kenya, where authorities use X to track, punish, and even abduct and torture government critics. And after Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter/X, one study found hate speech increased by around 50%, showing how billionaire control over platforms can rapidly reshape what’s normal, visible, and tolerated online.

When billionaires control the narrative, they don’t just defend their wealth, they protect the system that keeps them on top.

The path forward: tax justice, climate justice, people power

The climate crisis demands more than good targets and speeches. It demands a shift in who holds power. Governments need to stop pandering to the ultra-rich and start delivering for people and the planet. That means:

• taxing extreme wealth to reduce its political dominance
• investing in renewable energy, clean transport, social housing, and strong public services
• protecting civic space and the right to organize and protest
• building real firewalls between wealth and politics

People are already pushing for this shift. Across countries, communities are organizing, demanding accountability, and refusing to accept a world run by billionaires and fossil fuel corporations.

Billionaire power is real. But people power is bigger. And when we move together, the future changes.

The post Billionaire Wealth Just Hit $18.3 Trillion. Why that’s bad news for the rest of us. appeared first on 350.

This is a guest article written by Jean McLean, Director of Engagement at the Green Economy Coalition (GEC), a global movement for green and fair economies.

With the cost of living spiralling out of control, affordability is now the key factor determining whether climate action gains public support or faces opposition.

Zohran Mamdani’s recent successful mayoral campaign in New York was based on concrete affordability pledges to make life more affordable to New Yorkers: rent freezes, fare free buses, city owned grocery stores, raising the minimum wage, baby baskets for newborns and no-cost childcare. The UK and Australian governments have taken note of this success and have prioritised addressing the cost of living and affordability as key to electoral success. Climate leaders need to take note. 

This success can be replicated! We know that the money exists to prioritise affordability for the general public, what we need is political will. Leaders must urgently switch to cleaner energy alternatives as they are proven to be cheaper than fossil fuels, bringing down energy costs for everyone. Taxing big polluters, the ultra-rich and using those funds towards public investment is a popular and necessary action.

For years, climate misinformation has tried to convince people that a green transition is a luxury not an inevitability. Despite the millions spent on disinformation, public opinion tells a very different story. Across countries and political contexts, people increasingly understand that clean energy is not the cause of rising costs — it is one of the most powerful solutions to them.

Our latest Global Green Attitudes polling shows a remarkably strong global public consensus: 

• 82%  per cent of respondents believe investment in clean energy should be a top government priority, even if it requires significant public spending. 
• An even larger share — 88%— agree that stronger laws are needed to support renewable energy like solar and wind.

Notably, this support has held steady despite inflation and increasing economic anxiety.  

As cost-of-living pressures deepen, people are judging energy choices on a simple test — will this lower my bills? As routine household bills become the main source of financial stress, renewable energy offers both an economic solution and a political opportunity for governments prepared to act.

Crucially, public perceptions are already shifting in clean energy’s favour. Many people already see clean energy as cost‑competitive or cheaper than fossil fuels. In the United States, a majority now believe clean energy costs the same or less than oil and gas. Globally, renewable electricity is routinely 30–50 per cent cheaper than new fossil fuel generation. 

In this context, this year’s polling data reveals an interesting dynamic between public support for environmental action and the perception of government performance: 

• People want lower bills and place responsibility for this squarely on governments. 
• The public wants transformative government action, such as public investment, fair rules, and accountability for polluters while also holding low trust in political leaders to deliver this. 
• Many are feeling  deeply frustrated  at political inaction as inflation and economic anxiety increase.

What is missing from climate action is not public backing then, but policy creativity. Clean energy can deliver affordability, good jobs, and energy security — if leaders choose to act. 

From free or discounted solar power programs to large‑scale investment in grids, storage, and clean industries, the solutions exist. Renewables already save countries trillions in avoided fuel imports and shield households from price shocks.

The choice facing leaders is stark. Continue delaying in service of fossil fuels  or unlock a future where clean energy is understood for what it truly is: clean, common‑sense, and cheap. The public is ready. The question is whether governments are willing to listen.

The post Affordability is the defining climate issue of 2026 appeared first on 350.

A climate deadline has arrived absurdly early this year. New research from Oxfam shows that by 10 January 2026, the world’s richest 1% had already used up their entire annual carbon budget. The budget is the amount of pollution they could generate over the whole year so that global heating stays below 1.5°C, the limit to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. 

The richest 0.1% blew past their limit even earlier, on 3 January. Oxfam calls this moment Pollutocrat Day. It puts a timestamp on a reality that’s impossible to ignore: a small, wealthy minority is driving the climate crisis, while everyone else pays the price.

The scale of inequality in emissions

To stay within the 1.5°C. limit, each person’s annual carbon allowance works out to about 2.1 tonnes of CO₂.

For the richest 1%, that fair share is exhausted almost immediately. Oxfam finds they emit 75.1 tonnes per person per year, or 0.206 tonnes per day, meaning it takes just 10.2 days for someone in the richest 1% to burn through an entire year’s carbon budget. In fact, this 75 tonnes of CO₂ per person each year is over 35 times the level compatible with 1.5°C.

The inequality becomes even more glaring at the very top. More data from Oxfam shows that a person in the richest 0.1% produces more carbon pollution in a single day than the poorest 50% emit in an entire year. If everyone polluted at the rate of the richest 0.1%, the global carbon budget would be used up in less than three weeks.

The consequences of this unchecked pollution are deadly. Emissions from this group in a single year are expected to cause 1.3 million heat-related deaths by the end of the century. Over time, this excess pollution is projected to cause $44 trillion in economic damage in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

To stay within 1.5°C, the richest 1% would need to cut their emissions by 97% by 2030. Meanwhile, those who have contributed least to the crisis — including communities in climate-vulnerable countries, Indigenous Peoples, and women and girls — are already facing the harshest impacts, from deadly heat to food insecurity, floods, and displacement.

This is about power and profit

Beyond their own lifestyle emissions from private jets and super-yachts, the super-rich are also bankrolling climate breakdown through their investments. Oxfam finds that the average billionaire’s portfolio is tied to companies producing 1.9 million tonnes of CO₂ every year, locking the world into fossil fuel expansion.

That economic power is reinforced by political influence. The wealthiest individuals and corporations are able to shape rules in their favour, ensuring polluting industries remain protected. At the most recent UN climate talks, COP30, in Brazil, for example, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered every national delegation except the host country, with around 1,600 lobbyists in attendance. This level of access makes it far easier to delay action and weaken climate commitments.

Extreme wealth does not just mean higher emissions, it sustains a system built around fossil fuels and profit. This moment calls for more than outrage. It raises a deeper question: whose interests are governments choosing to protect? 

Governments need to act, now

As the year unfolds and climate impacts like heatwaves and wildfires continue to intensify around the world, governments must be willing to challenge systems that reward pollution and individuals that hoard extreme wealth. 

Instead of doubling down on and expanding fossil fuels, and competing for control over oil, gas, and other critical resources, there is another, clearly better option. Oxfam points the way forward for our governments to:

• Make the richest polluters pay through higher taxes on extreme wealth and income
• Impose excess-profit taxes on fossil fuel corporations
• Ban or heavily tax carbon-intensive luxury items such as private jets and super-yachts
• Shift investment toward renewable energy and people-centred solutions

Pollutocrat Day is a warning. The climate crisis will not be solved by asking everyone to do the same while a small elite continues to pollute without limits. Real action means ending fossil fuel expansion, confronting extreme wealth, and putting people and the planet before profit.

The post Pollutocrat Day appeared first on 350.

WELCOME TO COMMUNITY REPORTS BY CCC’S RESEARCH JUSTICE INSTITUTE! WE’VE LAUNCHED THIS NEW SERIES TO PROVIDE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS AND HELP DEMYSTIFY THE WORLD OF DATA. in this edition, our summer Intern Meilin Beloney unpacks key terms and topics at the heart of research justice.  Research justice 101: Key terms and readings to know

“Research justice” can sound like a big concept, but at its core it’s about valuing the lived experiences and desires of marginalized community members as essential pieces of evidence and data. Incorporating it into your research practices means ensuring meaningful community participation in every step of the research process. Furthermore, research justice centers the desires of communities as key to understanding their circumstances, rather than relying on narratives that present communities as broken or as problems (i.e., deficit narratives). 

To gain a deeper understanding of what research justice is, the Research Justice Institute looks to the work of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) scholars and researchers. Read on to unpack four key terms, along with some suggested readings, that are integral to understanding research justice.

1.Research oppression

To understand research justice, it is important to start by unpacking what research justice is not. As pointed out by DataCenter in their 2015 report “Introduction to Research Justice,” there is a power imbalance within research practices, wherein dominant institutions control the production of knowledge, resulting in marginalized communities being unable to control or access information produced about them. Research oppression occurs when community members are viewed solely as subjects of research, rather than as active participants in the research process (DataCenter 2015). Social science research has long been used as a tool of oppression. In his book Thicker than Blood: How Racial Statistics Lie, Tufuku Zuberi points to the role that white supremacy plays in our understanding of society. White logic grants objectivity to white scholars while devaluing BIPOC experience and expertise, often framing it as too subjective or anecdotal. Community members’ lived experiences are dismissed as invalid to the research process, leading to dominant institutions controlling the data and the stories that are told about marginalized communities, without the community’s input (Zuberi 2001). When we refuse to use white supremacist logics and tools in our research practices, we envision an alternative to research oppression: research justice. Research justice places community experiences and desires at the forefront of the research process, uplifting community members as integral to every step. Research justice is a process and platform that affirms that marginalized communities are the experts in their own lives.

2.Dominant data vs community data

It is important to understand the distinction between dominant data and community data, and how each may be utilized to advance the aims of research justice. Dominant data is gathered by dominant institutions such as governments and universities, and is often gathered in service of the dominant institution. These data are typically gathered using large population-level surveys like the Census or through the collection of information an individual provides in exchange for a service (i.e., administrative data). Dominant data, which are often quantitative, can highlight trends within populations, but often perpetuates deficit narratives. Numbers and statistics do not always capture the social, political, economic, and historical contexts of the data, often leading to conclusions that lack nuance and place the blame on marginalized communities for their own marginalizations. For example, without the context of institutional racism, a statistic proving the high amount of police violence in Black neighborhoods might imply that Black neighborhoods are inherently dangerous, or that Black people themselves are violent, rather than acknowledging the many social and political factors that lead to over-policing of Black communities (Lanius 2015). 

On the other hand, a key aspect of community data is that it is contextual. At CCC, we define community data as evidence generated by communities about their everyday lives, realities, and desires. Examples of evidence can include numbers, words, art, music, maps, and stories. Community data is collected, interpreted, and used on the terms of the community. By working with communities to understand their everyday experiences, we can gain a true sense of community needs and desires.

3.Community-led research

Community control is a key tenet of research justice. Research justice uplifts and values  marginalized communities as experts of their own lived experiences and, therefore, as leading experts in how to improve their everyday realities and overall well-being. When conducting research with marginalized communities, it is important to not only include community members, but to treat them as authorities in the research process. Trust and collaboration between researchers and community members are paramount, as demonstrated through the work of anthropologist Mariana Mora. Mora worked with a Zapatista community in Chiapas, Mexico to shape her research on Zapatista politics, autonomy, and self-determination. In her article “The Production of Knowledge on the Terrain of Autonomy: Research as a Topic of Political Debate”, Mora takes readers through her research process, describing the ways in which community members helped to shape and evaluate her research at every step, from research design to reviewing drafts of her 2017 book, Kuxlejal Politics: Indigenous Autonomy, Race, and Decolonizing Research in Zapatista Communities. Mora’s experience highlights the importance of community-led research, and provides a key example of how research can be designed and conducted in collaboration with community members.

4.Damage- vs desire-centered research

In an open letter to communities, researchers, and educators, Eve Tuck, Unangax̂ scholar, calls for a moratorium on damage-centered research – research that documents pain and oppression in an attempt to leverage change for marginalized communities. Tuck argues that damage-centered research frames marginalized communities as depleted and broken, perpetuating deficit narratives and defining communities solely by their marginalization. Tuck instead proposes a desire-based framework for research, in which lived realities are acknowledged alongside hopes and visions for the future (Tuck 2009). Research justice should employ a desire-based framework in order to avoid framing marginalized communities solely by what they lack, and to acknowledge the full spectrum of inequality, oppression, wisdom, hope, and the potential for change that exists within all communities.

Check out RJI’s reading library to dig deeper into these concepts and more:

These concepts and readings provide an overview of the key components of research justice, and it is only the tip of the iceberg. To continue exploring these ideas and access a wider range of resources, we encourage you to visit our growing RJI Zotero library. 

A powerful night of community, strength & supporting racial justice

State Sen. Khanh Pham sharing meaningful remarks as our featured speaker. Watch the full speech on our YouTube!

“Building community is what gets us through these times,” shared State Senator Khanh Pham to a packed room at this year’s Summer Soirée on June 13.

“It’s being in relationship with people who share our vision and our values – that is what helps us move out of fear and into collective action.”

At the Coalition of Communities of Color, this belief is at the heart of our mission. Our theme Rooted in Resilience was an important reminder that our strength is most powerful when shared, and grows when we’re together – even in the hard times, like the one we’re facing now.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined and supported our 2025 fundraising gala. We filled the night with a festive and meaningful atmosphere, with tunes by DJ Just Jeff, and folks enjoyed bites from our diverse selection of vendors that were both culturally rich and delicious.

A special thank you to our featured speaker, State Senator Khanh Pham, and our guest speakers, Mayor of Portland Keith Wilson and Oregon Community Foundation’s (OCF) Michael McIntosh, for their powerful and inspiring remarks.

Watch State Sen. Pham’s full speech at CCC’s Summer Soirée here!

View Full Album A Successful Summer SoirÉe

We extend a heartfelt thank you to OCF for being our presenting sponsor and for their support in helping make this night a success.

Together, with the power of community, we raised over $270,000 to sustain our work of transforming systems so that every Oregonian – across race, gender, or zip code – can thrive. At a time when our values are being attacked, your support means more than ever. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who joined our CCC team at the Summer Soirée!

Because of these generous donations, we will be able to continue our efforts to provide research grounded in lived experience, solutions shaped by community voices, and policies that build a more just and resilient environment for those facing the first and worst of the climate crisis. See our work in action: watch our MADE for Health Justice video.

Didn’t have a chance to donate but want to support? Click here to make a donation today. Every donation makes a difference.

We hope you will join us next year as we celebrate our 25th anniversary! Details will be shared as they become available. Subscribe to our email list to stay in the loop.

Take a look at our event details:

Our special night took place at the OHSU Robertson Life Sciences Building. We are so grateful to OHSU for being our venue sponsor and for generously supporting our event.

A special shoutout to our host and vendors:

• Poison Waters as our Emcee and Auctioneer

• Devil’s Food Catering

• Plant Based Papi

• Annam VL

• DJ Just Jeff

And a special thank you to those who donated items for our raffle prizes and auction packages!

Thank you to our Summer Soirée sponsors!




Support CCC

**This opening is now closed. We are not accepting any further applications at this time. Thank you.

Applications due by August 27. Click here to view a full description of the job post.

JOIN OUR TEAM: The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) is excited to announce a new role within our Research Justice Institute! We’re looking to hire a dedicated and experienced Data Systems Administrator to lead the development and management of a robust, community-led, environmental justice data system. This role requires someone with technical expertise in developing data systems with a strong focus on equity.

Position Overview

As the Data Systems Administrator, you will lead the development, management, security, and accessibility of our community-led environmental justice data system. This is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to ensure that qualitative and quantitative data collected by community-based organizations is stored and made available in a way that supports equitable policy decision-making while respecting community ownership.  

We are seeking a data platform engineer and community-minded leader that understands both data systems and the ethical considerations of handling dominant institution quantitative and community-generated qualitative data, and shares our values and commitments to research and data justice. 

The Data Systems Administrator will play an integral role in advancing CCC’s Modernizing Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems (MADE) local level data ecosystem that will advance regional responses and approaches to extreme weather and climate justice needs. They will lead the development, implementation, and management of CCC’s environmental justice data systems, including selection and oversight of technical vendor(s) and building the back end of our data platform. They will also play a key support role in the Research Justice Institute’s quantitative research and data projects and reports.  

For complete details about responsibilities, qualifications and compensation, view the full job posting here.

About the Coalition of Communities of Color

Formed in 2001, the Coalition of Communities of Color is an alliance of culturally specific, community-based organizations engaged in collective action for racial justice. We work to improve outcomes for communities of color through advocacy, environmental justice, and research. Learn more about the Coalition of Communities of Color, its member organizations, and our Research Justice Institute.

TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter (max one page) and resume (max two pages) in one PDF file to HR@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org, with the subject line and file name “[Your name] — Data Systems Administrator.” 

Applications are due Wednesday, August 27.

View Full Job Post

In 2025 the Coalition of Communities of Color worked tirelessly to champion equity and opportunity for all communities of color, immigrants and low income people. From the Oregon State legislature to local government budget processes, we've faced considerable hurdles but also achieved important victories.

State Legislative Session: Facing Fiscal Headwinds

The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session was characterized by fiscal uncertainty, stemming from a state budget shortfall and concerns over potential federal cuts. This challenging environment led to substantial budget reductions, with communities of color and low-income individuals disproportionately affected. Key state agencies, including the Oregon Department of Education, Department of Early Learning and Care, and Oregon Housing and Community Services, experienced significant cuts to vital programs such as student success initiatives, childcare, and emergency rent assistance.

Despite these statewide challenges, we celebrate the passage and funding of critical initiatives like the Immigrant Justice Package, which includes Universal Representation and Farmworker Disaster Relief, and the Fair Housing for All initiative. These successes underscore the power of focused advocacy even in difficult times.

Learning Opportunity: Water Justice Legislative Recap and Celebration

How did this year’s Legislative Session impact water justice? Join Oregon Water Futures July 29th 12:00-1:00PM in a conversation with environmental justice advocates to celebrate water policy wins, get real about challenges and opportunities, and hear personal experiences about policy and advocacy work. This panel is for anyone interested in Oregon’s water justice future, frontline advocates, and community members. Our sessions are accessible to those new to policy and is a great time to connect with others!

When: Tuesday, July 29 at 12 pm

Reigster here: Bit.ly/456SdXY

Panel Includes: Verde, Crag Law Center, Oregon Just Transition Alliance, and the Joint Water Caucus.

City of Portland: Defending Essential Programs for Communities of Color

During the City of Portland budget process, CCC and its members' advocacy was crucial in defending the Civic Life Diversity and Civic Leadership program, which initially faced severe cuts exceeding $600,000. Through dedicated advocacy, CCC and culturally specific organizations successfully restored $179,000 in funds for the program. Additionally, our collective voice played a vital role in advocating for the protection of Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) and Parks funding, underscoring our unwavering commitment to equitable and well-resourced community programs

Multnomah County: Securing Vital Investments

The Coalition of Communities of Color and our dedicated members achieved significant wins during the recent Multnomah County budget process! Through strategic advocacy and successful amendments, we were able to defend crucial programs and secure vital funding for initiatives such as Voter Outreach and Education, School Based Mental Health, Homeless Employment Programs, Housing Immigration Legal Services, and Culturally-Specific Community Food Systems. We remain optimistic about continuing to engage with the county to ensure equitable investments that truly serve all communities.

Looking Ahead: Protecting Our Progress

CCC staff joined our member Unite Oregon on their 2025 Day of Action in.Salem.

Our community's commitment to equity, inclusion, and opportunity is currently at risk due to attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and potential federal funding cuts that could impact vital services provided by the City of Portland and Washington County like transportation and housing. We've seen this manifest in Washington County's struggle to uphold an Equity Resolution and sanctuary laws in conflict with federal executive orders, and there's an ongoing need to protect programs like Multnomah County Preschool for All that increase access for communities of color and low income people.

This situation demands action: we must fiercely defend DEI initiatives, advocate for the codification of sanctuary protections in local governments, and actively work to strengthen the Preschool for All program by ensuring continued funding and community involvement in its advisory processes.

Your continued participation is crucial to safeguard our progress and build a future where equity, opportunity, and safety are guaranteed for everyone. We urge you to attend public meetings, contact elected officials, share information, and engage with community organizations. Together, we can continue to make a difference. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, reach out to our Advocacy Manager Alex Riedlinger at Alex@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org.


English subtitles available

The Biodiversity Festival, held on June 1st at the Articulturae farmers’ market in Manziana (Rome), marked another significant milestone in the journey of Terrae Vivae. This initiative aims to nurture ecological communities centered on local, wholesome food, biodiversity and environmental protection, regenerative agriculture, and the well-being of both humans and animals.

The Festival also served as the occasion to launch the short film “Biodiversity is Life“, which documents a deep and participatory learning process on biodiversity, agroecology, and earth care. Though rooted in a specific territory, this process aspires—through its holistic dimension—to establish a replicable model in other regions, countries, and continents.

Across the world, a movement is underway to reclaim control over our food and distribution systems. Local economies are being overtaken by globalization, while biodiversity is systematically eroded in favor of monocultures and industrial livestock systems that scar landscapes, pollute soil and water, and produce food lacking in nutrients and contaminated with pesticides and herbicides. The impact of this system on the environment and society is both profound and destructive.

Una rete internazionale per rispondere alle sfide delle multinazionali e delle economie globalizzate

E’ proprio per rispondere alle molteplici sfide che il modello produttivo industriale globalizzato lancia ai territori di tutto il mondo, che Navdanya International ha avviato Terrae Vivae, un programma che intende coinvolgere attivamente cittadini e produttori locali nella scelta dei processi produttivi e di distribuzione. La produzione di cibo di qualità diviene, in se stessa, un atto di condivisione e di socialità. Democratizzare i sistemi alimentari è un passo essenziale per invertire il processo totalitario e distruttivo messo in atto dalle lobby industriali.
Terrae Vivae mira a condividere l’esperienza di oltre trent’anni accumulata da Navdanya in termini di difesa dei diritti della natura e di tutela e valorizzazione del patrimonio di biodiversità e di conoscenze locali contro le sfide della globalizzazione e dei monopoli delle multinazionali.

Photo cr.:Erika Santoro

Da questo punto di vista, il programma si inserisce e agisce in armonia con tutti le istanze bottom up che negli ultimi decenni si sono sviluppate organicamente sui territori di tutto il mondo. Distretti ecologici del cibo, biodistretti, eco villaggi, consigli del cibo, gruppi di acquisto solidale, mercati contadini etc. Rispondere alle sfide dell’economia globale guidata dagli interessi della finanza, significa tornare a rilanciare i processi democratici, a rigenerare le comunità, a favorire le economie circolari, ridurre gli sprechi, riciclare i rifiuti, azzerare le emissioni climalteranti, rigenerare il suolo , purificare le falde acquifere, reclamare i beni comuni, far fronte alla crisi sanitaria, assicurare il benessere animale. Sono queste alcune delle battaglie più importanti intorno alle quali il tessuto sociale e culturale si può risanare attraverso processi democratici e inclusivi.

Terrae Vivae opera dunque come una rete vivente che promuove la transizione verso l’agroecologia intrecciando ricerca, istruzione, politica e azione dal basso per co-creare comunità rigenerative. L’agroecologia non è solo un insieme di tecniche agricole ma una trasformazione sistemica ad alta intensità di conoscenza, che rimodella le pratiche agricole e le strutture di governance verso la resilienza sociale ed ecologica. E’ dunque essenziale abbracciare un approccio relazionale e co-creativo in cui ricercatori, agricoltori, politici e comunità collaborano per sviluppare, testare e perfezionare le pratiche agroecologiche in contesti del mondo reale. Collegando la conoscenza scientifica con la saggezza tradizionale e locale, si garantisce che le transizioni agroecologiche siano sensibili al luogo, culturalmente radicate e adatte al clima.

Non si tratta, però, esclusivamente di ripristinare ciò che è stato degradato, ma di creare nuovi percorsi affinché le relazioni tra comunità, culture ed ecosistemi possano prosperare insieme. Le comunità rigenerative sono infatti ecosistemi dinamici e co-creativi in ​​cui tutti gli attori, umani e non solo, partecipano attivamente alla formazione reciproca e del proprio ambiente condiviso. La rigenerazione è vista come un processo attivo e relazionale in cui le comunità non sono semplicemente sostenute ma continuamente reimmaginate e rimodellate dalla reciproca influenza di tutti i partecipanti, umani e non-umani. È un impegno per una trasformazione a lungo termine, in cui coltivare, mangiare, apprendere e acquistare cibo locale vengono intesi come atti di cura, collaborazione e interesse.

Comunità in formazione

L’istruzione è un aspetto vitale della transizione agroecologica. Attraverso l’apprendimento esperienziale, basato sul territorio e sul luogo, è possibile promuovere una connessione con gli ecosistemi locali, i sistemi alimentari e le pratiche sostenibili, garantendo che l’istruzione non sia uno sforzo astratto e meramente cognitivo ma un’esperienza relazionale coinvolgente e pratica. Interagendo attivamente con la terra, i partecipanti acquisiscono un profondo rispetto per la complessità della natura e la resilienza dei sistemi agroecologici, riconoscendo il loro ruolo personale e collettivo nella gestione ambientale.

Il programma di educazione ecologica di Terrae Vivae è dunque molto più di un semplice percorso di apprendimento prevedendo la creazione di legami tra le persone, la terra, la comunità, le fattorie e gli ecosistemi complessi che ci sostengono. La partecipazione attiva dei membri della comunità rende questo processo un’esperienza condivisa e viva. Grazie a questo approccio inclusivo, chi partecipa riscopre il proprio legame con il territorio in modo autentico e significativo attraverso il metodo del “imparare facendo” che prevede uno scambio continuo di conoscenze tra generazioni. Così, i giovani diventano custodi di un sapere ecologico prezioso e protagonisti attivi del cambiamento nelle loro comunità, attraverso un rapporto diretto e concreto con la terra.

L’educazione ecologica è allora uno strumento imprescindibile per costruire futuri sostenibili, in cui il rispetto per la complessità e la resilienza della natura si traduce in pratiche quotidiane di cura e rigenerazione. Questi percorsi promuovono non solo la conoscenza, ma anche la capacità di agire come agenti di cambiamento, riconoscendo nei giovani non semplici destinatari, ma protagonisti attivi della trasformazione sociale ed ecologica. Non si tratta solo di acquisire informazioni, ma di coltivare un rispetto profondo per la complessità della natura e per la resilienza dei sistemi agroecologici e di riconoscere alle nuove generazioni il loro ruolo fondamentale di custodi dell’ambiente.

E’ allora essenziale ispirare e dotare la prossima generazione delle competenze, delle conoscenze e dell’alfabetizzazione ecologica necessarie per sostenere comunità resilienti eque, eque ed ecologicamente consapevoli per incoraggiare una transizione verso pratiche di vita sostenibili che privilegino la resilienza ambientale, la conoscenza locale e l’esperienza globale. Attraverso pratiche rigenerative, l’educazione ai principi dell’ecologia profonda e l’azione guidata dalla comunità, è possibile costruire comunità resilienti che siano consapevoli dal punto di vista ecologico e siano in grado di intraprendere azioni significative per il pianeta.

Celebrare la biodiversità per avviare processi rigenerativi

La Festa della Biodiversità celebra il lavoro collettivo con la comunità e rappresenta la sintesi concreta del nostro approccio pedagogico e politico. Questo evento, che si svolge solitamente al termine di ogni ciclo didattico, rafforza i legami tra produttori, studenti e famiglie, mettendo al centro i giovani e costruendo una rete di relazioni sempre più forte e vitale. Laboratori, scambi di semi, dialoghi intergenerazionali, momenti di riflessione collettiva e di gioco diventano strumenti concreti per esercitare la democrazia alimentare e per costruire sistemi alimentari più equi, resilienti e sostenibili.

 

E’ quanto si racconta nel cortometraggio “Biodiversity is Life“, presentato in occasione della Festa della Biodiversità. Il cortometraggio racconta l’esperienza dell’educazione ecologica attraverso un percorso di scoperta e apprendimento sui temi della biodiversità, dell’agroecologia e della cura della terra. Un percorso che inizia in India, presso l’Università della Terra di Navdanya che, da oltre vent’anni, accoglie piccoli agricoltori e studenti da tutto il mondo per trasmettere pensieri e pratiche dell’agroecologia. E’ proprio Vandana Shiva, presidente di Navdanya, a spiegare il legame fra la tutela della biodiversità e il nostro benessere fisico e spirituale. Attraverso immagini e testimonianze, il cortometraggio documenta le attività svolte sui territori: dall’osservazione diretta degli ecosistemi alle pratiche agricole sostenibili, dai laboratori didattici alle esperienze collettive, sottolineando il ruolo attivo delle nuove generazioni come custodi di un sapere ecologico che coniuga tradizione e innovazione. “Biodiversity is Life” restituisce il senso e l’impatto di un’esperienza che ha saputo andare oltre la semplice trasmissione di conoscenze, promuovendo una cultura della responsabilità condivisa e un legame autentico con il territorio.

La Festa della Biodiversità è, finalmente, un invito permanente a unirsi al movimento di trasformazione di Terrae Vivae, a diventare protagonisti del cambiamento e a difendere il diritto di tutte e tutti a un cibo sano, locale e prodotto nel rispetto della terra e delle persone. Coltivare consapevolezza ecologica significa coltivare la capacità di agire insieme per rigenerare i nostri territori, restituendo consapevolezza, dignità e resilienza alle comunità.

 

Welcome to Community Reports by CCC’s Research Justice Institute! We’ve launched this new series to provide a closer look at our research efforts and help demystify the world of data. Click here to learn more about our team, and be sure to revisit our blog for upcoming posts. recognizing PRIDE month & Centering Community-Driven Stories and Data Ecosystems

Research Justice Institute: A BIPOC and Queer-Led Team

The Research Justice Institute (RJI) at the Coalition of Communities of Color is a BIPOC team who all identify as queer. As researchers, we hold firsthand experiences of how our bodies, knowledges, and languages are dismissed and denied existence. Communities of color and their diverse lived experiences continuously experience these forms of harm and erasure. In our research and data practices, we rectify aspects of this harm by creating the conditions for meaningful community participation throughout the research process. We value and rely on the power of lived experience evidence as essential data for decision-making. We craft desire as central to our communities' futures so that they are seen and heard as a whole. 

From these perspectives, RJI works for a future where BIPOC advocacy embraces and integrates queer community members in the pursuit of data justice. 

Sharing Data Through Storytelling for Queer and Trans Futures

A recent project with South Coast Health Equity Coalition, a BIPOC and queer-led team, revealed powerful stories of how community care networks are critical for finding gender affirming care—from being accompanied by trusted peers and family members to learning about providers through word-of-mouth. These narratives remind us that data is more than numbers. It is about people, their stories, and highlighting practices of community care. Pride Month amplifies the presence of our intersecting identities and we celebrate by posing narrative shifts for BIPOC, queer and trans futures in Oregon. Sharing these narratives provides stories and possibilities for future generations. 

Updates from our Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems (MADE) for Health Justice Convening

Our work continues to extend beyond the state and we are thrilled to share updates from our second annual MADE for Health Justice Spring Convening in San Diego, where we connected with partners nationwide to advance MADE for Health Justice. Unlike traditional data systems, the Portland MADE Data Ecosystem is by and for the community, prioritizing qualitative data that captures lived experiences. It aims to advance health equity and environmental justice in the region by building a community-led data system to ensure that the experiences of those most impacted by climate-related threats, BIPOC and other frontline communities, are central to decision-making. This summer we are finalizing privacy policies and more to bring this vision to life. 

Welcome, Meilin! Meet CCC’s Research Intern

We are thrilled to welcome Meilin Beloney who will be interning with us this summer. Meilin joins us as we ramp up various projects. They will be working closely with our team members and participating in trainings and discussions to deepen their understanding of research justice frameworks. Their internship with us will help amplify both our work and their growth as a researcher. 

Coming Soon: BIPOC Researcher Network

This August, we are launching our BIPOC Researcher Network—a space for researchers of color to collaborate, share resources, and redefine equitable data practices. Want to help shape it? A short survey will be coming soon to gather input on priorities and challenges. Stay tuned to our Research updates featuring network details and ways to get involved. 

Together, we’re transforming data justice by centering BIPOC Oregonians, including identities that intersect with queer communities into all of our work, during Pride month and every month. 

English subtitles available

The short film “Biodiversity is Life” tells the story of an ecological education journey that empowers young people as guardians of the future.

This video documents the educational project “Biodiversity is Life“, promoted by Navdanya International, which offers youth and communities a path of discovery and learning about biodiversity, agroecology, and care for the Earth.

This journey began in India, at Navdanya Earth University, which has been welcoming students from around the world for more than 20 years to pass on concepts and practices of agroecology. It is precisely Vandana Shiva, president of Navdanya, who explains the link between protecting biodiversity and our physical and spiritual well-being. That is a teaching that is echoed in Europe through Navdanya International’s educational programs.

Through powerful images and testimonies, the film shows how participants explored the connections between soil, landscape, community, and ecological justice, developing regenerative practices and a deep awareness of their role as agents of change.

Navdanya International’s educational programs aim to inspire and equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge, and ecological literacy needed to support resilient, equitable, and ecologically conscious communities. At the core of our work is a desire to create deep connections between people, land, communities, farms and the complex ecosystems that sustain us. We redesign the traditional classroom by transforming the neighborhood, the farms, and the community itself into true political and participatory learning spaces. The active participation of community members makes this process a shared and living experience, where food democracy is built day by day.

Our approach is rooted in “learning by doing,” complemented by the ongoing exchange of knowledge across generations. In this way, young people become custodians of valuable ecological wisdom and active agents of change within their communities. Through direct, hands-on engagement with the land, they cultivate a profound respect for the complexity of nature and the resilience of agroecological systems. This process empowers new generations to recognize their vital role as stewards of the environment and as conscious, engaged citizens.

We encourage a transition towards sustainable ways of living that prioritize environmental resilience, local knowledge, and global experience. Through regenerative practices, education in deep ecology principles, and community-led action, we seek to build resilient communities that are ecologically aware and capable of meaningful planetary stewardship.

This film is an invitation to join us in building a future where people, cultures, and ecosystems coexist in balance and harmony.

Also watch:

Voices of Diversity and Resilience – Video Series

For the International Day for Biological Diversity, Navdanya International hosted the second annual Biodiversity Festival—a vibrant morning dedicated to ecological education and care for the Earth, organized in collaboration with ArtiCulturae Farmers’ Market.

This year’s festival was the culmination of months of hands-on learning, during which more than 165 young people participated in immersive activities exploring biodiversity, the importance of water as a common good, agroecology, and local food systems. These projects offered meaningful opportunities to connect with the land, understand the links between soil, landscape, and community, and experience ecological justice in action through participatory practices and direct engagement with their environment.

The day began with a warm welcome and group activities designed to spark curiosity about the environment and biodiversity. This was followed by a special ceremony to recognize participants’ achievements, and an exhibition of creative works, educational materials, and posters produced throughout the year. The display gave the wider community a window into the journeys and discoveries made by the youth.

The morning wrapped up with a shared picnic featuring fresh, local products from the market, creating a joyful space for conversation and exchange among young people, families, teachers, farmers, and organizers.

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On this occasion, Navdanya International also premiered a short film which documents the transformative learning journey of the project “Biodiversity is Life”—highlighting the power of collective action for biodiversity, agroecology, and stewardship of the land.

The film captures the spirit and impact of an experience that goes far beyond classroom learning. Through powerful visuals and personal stories, it documents everything from ecosystem observation and sustainable farming practices to creative workshops and collective experiences—underscoring the vital role of young people as stewards of ecological knowledge, bridging tradition and innovation.

By placing youth at the heart of these educational pathways, we nurture a deeper awareness, stronger relationships, and a sense of belonging rooted in the local territory. Young people are not just learners, but active agents of change, helping to regenerate both ecosystems and communities.

In a time of profound ecological and social challenges, education for biodiversity is essential for imagining and building alternative futures—where people, cultures, and ecosystems thrive together in balance and reciprocity. These experiences strengthen the bonds between communities and their land, and foster a new culture of shared responsibility for the Earth.

This initiative was made possible thanks to the support of UBI Ecologia, 8×1000 Unione Buddhista Italiana, Otto per Mille Valdese, and 8×1000 Unione Induista Italiana.

#BiodiversityIsLife #WaterIsLife #AgroecologyIsLife #TerraeVivaeNavdanya #YoungGuardiansOfBiodiversity

 

Many far-right groups claim that migration drives environmental destruction, from river pollution to climate breakdown. These ‘ecobordering’ narratives greenwash racism and cover up the political and economic causes of ecocide.

As world leaders gathered at the COP26 climate summit in 2022, members of the fascist group Patriotic Alternative (PA) unveiled a banner declaring ‘Reduce immigration to reduce CO2’. The same day, the opaquely funded think tank Migration Watch UK posted an image of a forest fire hellscape emblazoned with the words, ‘Mass migration puts pressure on our precious environment’. These are just two examples of an emerging set of ‘ecobordering’ narratives which frame reducing – or eliminating – immigration as environmental protection.

Fascists declare that borders are climate action. Source: Patriotic Alternative via Telegram.

The far right sells racism as the solution to white people’s anxieties. If we want to develop up-to-date antifascist responses and avoid reproducing far-right narratives ourselves, we need to keep up with far-right storytelling. We also need to understand how mainstream discourse legitimises far-right issues. This article outlines how the British far right exploits ecological anxiety to push for harsher immigration policy. There are two main narratives: one claims that migration raises emissions and increases pressure on British nature; the other casts migrants as an invasive species threatening both British nature and the ‘indigenous’ population of white people. Both narratives are fed by the liberal mainstream.

Migration Watch UK illustrates ‘mass migration’ with climate disaster imagery. Source: Migration Watch UK via Twitter/X.

“The ravages of overpopulation”

The British far right often claims that migration threatens the environment via overpopulation. This narrative runs across the far-right spectrum. For example, the fascist Homeland Party takes a similar line to the radical right UK Independence Party (UKIP):

‘The most significant threat to the Green Belt, and the UK environment in general, especially England, is unsustainable population growth, which is predominantly fuelled by uncontrolled mass immigration’ (UKIP, 2020).

‘The environment in which we all live should be protected from the ravages of over-population, the new building projects, and pollution that goes with it’ (Homeland, 2023).

In their environmental policy, Homeland also holds migration responsible for water pollution: ‘When our sewage treatment plants cannot meet the demand of our rapidly increasing population, their only option is to release untreated sewage, causing great harm to our river ecosystems. This is unavoidable until the root cause, overpopulation driven by mass immigration, is dealt with.’

Homeland advertises ethnonationalism as ‘the REAL green solution’. Source: Homeland Party.

Although far-right groups generally apply this narrative to local environmental issues such as housebuilding, some also link migration to rising carbon emissions such PA’s banner shown in the first image. Identitarian group Local Matters and Migration Watch UK have both cited NGO Population Matters to claim that ‘our growing numbers are incompatible with our climate change commitments’. This, they reason, is because an individual’s carbon footprint will grow as they move from a poorer country to a richer country. Green Party candidate and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Rupert Read voiced similar arguments in a deleted Ecologist article, although he does not advocate for tighter border controls.

These narratives obscure the underlying causes of environmental destruction – organising production and consumption around profit rather than wellbeing – whilst shifting the blame onto those least responsible. For example, English housing stock is already more than adequate for meeting needs and comfort if distributed more equally, but it is in the interests of homeowners as well as the financial and housebuilding sectors to maintain high housing demand through artificial scarcity. Meanwhile, the claim that overpopulation causes river sewage is extremely convenient for the privatised water companies which pocketed billions whilst leaving the infrastructure to crumble. In the case of climate change, ecobordering frames resource-intensive provisioning as inevitable and erases Britain’s responsibility for climate breakdown, instead blaming people who may very well be escaping its impacts.

“Protect our native species”

A second set of ecobordering narratives assumes a unique, spiritual connection between white British people and British nature. As Homeland writes, ‘Our people have an intrinsic bond with our homeland and are its natural stewards’. PA founder Mark Collett expands this idea in The Fall of Western Man, writing that ‘The strength and steel of the Western body was forged […] in the harsh frozen lands of Northern Europe’ through a process of ‘brutal natural selection’. As a result, ‘Blood and soil are the natural callings that must be at the centre of Western man’s mindset.’

The ecological undercurrents of this ‘blood and soil’ doctrine – popularised by the Nazis – present white British people as an indigenous species adapted to thrive in their ecosystem. Unlike overpopulation narratives, this position is mostly held by the ethnonationalist far right which believes that only those of a particular race can belong to a nation. For Homeland, ‘natural law’ dictates that ‘social harmony’ can only be achieved when each ‘ethnic group’ can ‘assert our unique cultural identity in our respective territories.’ Like the ethno-differentialists of the French New Right, Homeland claims to be ‘the true champion of diversity’, using strong borders to conserve a plurality of peoples and cultures.

According to this framework, fascists cast migrants as an ‘invasive species’ preventing the ‘native species’ from living peacefully – or even living at all. In the article ‘Ecocide’, PA writes:

‘By means of their NGOs, they have ferried invasive species across the Mediterranean […] Actions that have culminated in national governments spending billions to cement over bucolic landscapes in their rush to build accommodation for the “New Europeans” and tarmac over ancient woodlands to provide them with roads to aid their rapid access to social security offices, mosques and community centres where they can congregate and displace the indigenous species.’

Here, ‘they’ refers to Jewish billionaires George and Alex Soros, key characters in far-right conspiracy theories such as the ‘Great Replacement’. Replacement is a central mobilising issue amongst British fascists, with PA performing annual ‘White Lives Matter’ banner drops on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

PA refracts this conspiracy through a blood and soil lens. As a result, the perceived destruction of British nature by migrants becomes inseparable from the eradication of white British people altogether. In one flyer PA alludes to this existential threat with a photo of the red squirrel, a symbolic British animal that has faced harsh competition from non-native grey squirrels. Meanwhile, Homeland illustrates the threat of ‘being subsumed into a homogenised global mass’ with footage of deforestation, underscoring the deep association between white extinction and environmental destruction.

Homeland illustrates the threat of race mixing. Source: Homeland Party.

Ecobordering and the mainstream

Across Europe, far-right groups are exploiting ecological crisis to push for further border violence. In Britain, they justify this by arguing that (a) migration will increase pressure on resources such as land and water, as well as raising emissions; and (b) migrants are an invasive species simultaneously threatening nature and the ‘indigenous’ population of white people. However, overpopulation narratives in particular may be more strategic than heartfelt. For example, PA urges politicians to ‘reduce immigration to reduce CO2’ whilst also warning of the ‘Climate Con’. Meanwhile, Migration Watch UK is part of a network of right-wing think tanks located in Tufton Street, including Britain’s foremost climate misinformation organisation, the Global Warming Policy Foundation.

Although these ideas are most common on the far right, they are closer to the mainstream than people may realise. For example, blaming migrants for placing unsustainable pressure on nature reproduces neo-Malthusian overpopulation narratives. These have enjoyed centuries of popularity and continue to be upheld by policymakers, NGOs, and TV presenters. Indeed, the president of Migration Watch UK is a former British ambassador, now sitting in the House of Lords. Mark Collett’s theory of climate-induced racial difference is purely colonial-era scientific racism. Meanwhile, Conservative politicians and newspaper columnists repeatedly describe migrants using the invasive species imagery of a ‘swarm’, an ‘invasion’, or ‘cockroaches’. But more fundamentally, in many ways the far right is only making explicit what is already implicit in government policy: that certain racialised groups present a threat that must be met with violence. By placing ecology downstream of borders the far right is mirroring the state’s own priorities.

On one level, then, ecobordering narratives can be countered by drawing attention to the large inequalities in environmental impacts driven by economic inequality, as well as the endless expansion of production and consumption required by capitalism. However, without challenging borders themselves, this approach can at best maintain border violence at business-as-usual levels. As ecobordering discourse gears up to legitimise this increasingly repressive bordering regime, it falls to antifascist and other liberatory movements to address the root causes of racist violence and ecological crisis.

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Lise Benoist, Miranda Iossifidis, Heather Luna, and Rohan Montgomery for their generous feedback.

 

Cable Collective is an antifascist research collective monitoring how ecological crisis is used to justify oppressive politics in the UK.

The post “Sink the boats – Save the world”: Ecobordering narratives on the British far right appeared first on Undisciplined Environments.

The central claim of the Heritage Foundation’s special report that, because of New York’s ban on fracking, counties in the Marcellus region “lost out on around $11,000 per resident or $27,000 per household” is simply wrong. Why? Because . . . 

 

Very little of the money invested in or earned by fracking ever lands in local economies, leaving them as poor or nearly as poor as they were before fracking.

The report claims that growth in gross domestic product (GDP) is the most accurate indicator of economic prosperity. But the report doesn’t explain that little of the GDP growth that results from fracking lands in local economies. In fact, the bulk of the income generated by fracking goes instead to investors, bankers, service providers, and shareholders from outside the region. That’s why, as fracking increased from 1% of GDP in the Pennsylvania counties featured in the report to over 30%, the share of GDP that landed as income for residents plummeted from just over 100% of GDP to less than 70%, effectively wiping out any net increase.

This result is illustrated in the following chart in which you can see how, in 2002, before the fracking boom, the Mining sector (the blue line), which consists primarily of natural gas, contributed just over 1% of GDP in the relevant Pennsylvania counties [1]. At the same time, incomes in the region were actually greater than total GDP at nearly 103% [2]. But, as fracking grew, the share of GDP that landed as income for local residents plummeted to less than 68%.

Economists call this phenomenon “the resource curse” and the curse’s result is that nearly all of the incremental income generated by fracking gets exported to people in other places. That’s why residents in New York would have received almost none of the $27,000 per household the report says they “lost out on”.

 

The issue isn’t whether one side of the state line did slightly better or worse than the other, It’s how badly both sides are doing and how little difference fracking makes.

The report dismisses jobs as a measure of prosperity. That should be jarring to policymakers and the public, which has become accustomed to hearing job creation cited as the principal benefit of all economic development efforts. But the report’s dismissal of jobs as a measure of prosperity makes sense when it is revealed that communities on both sides of the state line were suffering from job loss before the fracking boom and the trend has only worsened since. With declines in jobs of 10% and 13% respectively, both the Pennsylvania and New York Counties are on long-term downward trajectories, which was only briefly interrupted between 2008 and 2012.

To put these losses in context, it’s helpful to consider that, during the period 2002 – 2023, the number of jobs in the US economy grew from 128 million to more than 153 million, an increase of nearly 20%. Jobs in Pennsylvania grew by 8%, which means that Pennsylvania’s natural gas counties, far from being contributors to job growth, actually dragged it down.

It’s also not clear that natural gas will help going forward. The number of natural gas jobs has fallen by 40% in the last five years. And statewide, Pennsylvania’s fracking industry provides fewer than 20,000 jobs out of more than 5 million in Pennsylvania’s economy.

 

The report purports to be an apples-to-apples comparison. It’s not.

Any differences found in the Heritage Foundation report between New York’s Marcellus counties and Pennsylvania’s northeast Marcellus counties are as likely to be explained by pre-existing differences in their economies as they are by the natural gas industry.

While the regions on either side of the state line are of similar size geographically, the New York counties are more than two and a half times as heavily populated as the Pennsylvania counties. They include cities, such as Binghamton and Elmira. Also the supposedly more prosperous Pennsylvania counties are depopulating faster than the New York Counties.

As a consequence, even if New York were to allow fracking, the industry’s already negligible economic impact would be diluted further in the much larger economies of the New York counties.  

As pointed out above, the small differences in economic outcomes between the two regions are far less important than the fact that both regions are suffering mightily. And, although natural gas has grown from 1% of the Pennsylvania counties’ economy to 30%, it has done little or nothing to change their economic trajectory. There is no reason to imagine that the results of embracing fracking in New York would be different.

 

Look out for the upcoming “Frackalachia Update.”

The Ohio River Valley Institute’s upcoming “Frackalachia Update” will explore in greater detail the economic impacts of natural gas development for all 30 major gas-producing counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The update will show that the job and population losses described in this report for Pennsylvania’s northeastern gas-producing counties are typical of the impact natural gas production has in the northeast United States. And, looking ahead, it will discuss the possible implications for the industry, the region, and the region’s economic development strategies of growing demand for energy.

[1] As defined by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Mining sector includes “Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction.”

[2] The total income of an area can exceed total GDP as a result of government transfer payments, such as Social Security and AFDC benefits which add to the income generated by economic output.

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