sacrifice zones

The downward slide of the major (Class 1) American freight railroads in recent years shows how capitalist ownership of the railway system is dangerous and inefficient — and fails to make use of the potential of the railways as a solution to the global warming crisis.

Downward slide has been accelerated over the past decade due to the adoption of “Precision Scheduled Railroading” (PSR). This has no precise definition but the aim is to reduce costs. As in “lean production” management theory, any expense not directly needed for profit is regarded as “waste.” PSR is a cost-cutting strategy that puts short-term profits for stockholders as the controlling priority. To maximize the rate of return, the railroads cut corners on maintenance, constantly work to reduce the number of railroad employees, and actively discourage shipments that are less profitable for them to haul. To keep Wall Street investors happy, they work to maximize short term profit. To enrich stockholders, the rail companies have poured billions of dollars into stock buybacks rather than invest in system improvements.

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Convergence of Struggles

Submitted by x332349 on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 00:00

By Lorenzo Feltrin - Berliner Gazette, October 16, 2023

Lorenzo Feltrin · Convergence of Struggles from Berliner Gazette on Vimeo.

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Environmental Justice Equity Principles for Green Hydrogen in California

Submitted by x332349 on Fri, 10/13/2023 - 00:00

By various - California Environmental Justice Alliance, October 13, 2023

We represent heavily polluted communities throughout the State of California. Our communities border oil refineries, gas-fired power plants, industrial farming operations, fossil fuel extraction facilities, waste processing centers, ports, transportation corridors and other polluting operations. These cumulative sources of pollution cause a wide range of adverse health outcomes in working class communities of color. Our communities share a common fence with facilities and operations that emit toxins, foul smells, and noise and cause nuisance impacting people’s quality of life at all hours of the day and night.

The State of California intends to expand the use of hydrogen as a fuel, and to this end, we offer these guiding principles, which are essential to respect and protect our communities.

The following principles represent our collective values and positions to support communities as hydrogen energy is utilized across the state.

These principles were developed in 10 workshops and learning sessions for environmental justice partners across California between March and September of 2023. The learning sessions examined the current science, including risks, benefits, and unknowns, and shed light on each stage of the hydrogen cycle, including production, delivery, storage, and use. The workshops allowed our organizations to discuss different perspectives, build consensus, and reflect on how hydrogen may impact our communities.

We adamantly oppose all non-green hydrogen proposals and projects. We insist that new projects protect communities first and do not perpetuate the injustices that polluting infrastructures impose on fence-line communities today. Each stage of the hydrogen life cycle—production, delivery, storage, and end use—can present unique risks and harms to environmental justice communities and to all Californians.

Discussions about building new green hydrogen infrastructure must involve the community, and its members should be meaningfully engaged. Siting green hydrogen infrastructure should also take into account the cumulative impacts of environmental justice communities and the risks associated with hydrogen.

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The Big Strike in Pennsylvania That No One is Talking About

Submitted by x332349 on Fri, 09/29/2023 - 00:00

By Chris Townsend, Union Jake, and Adam Keller - Valley Labor Report, September 29, 2023

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Transportation Webinar: Where is This Train Going? Freight Rail in the Public Interest

Submitted by x332349 on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 00:00

By Nick Wurst, Ashley McCollum, Yvette Arellano, Paul Lindsay, Helen Yost, Thomas Hanna, Magda Orlander, and Bakari Height - Labor Network for Sustainability, September 20, 2023

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From East Palestine, Silicon Valley & Hunters Point, Toxins, Workers & Whistleblowers

Submitted by x332349 on Sat, 09/02/2023 - 00:00

By Matt Weaver, Ashley M. Gjøvik, Stella Miranda, Dr. Ray Tomkins, Steve Zeltser, et. al. - Labor Video Project, August 2, 2023

Tags:

transportation infrastructure

Norfolk Southern (NS)

Railroad Workers United (RWU)

railroad workers

whistleblowers

videos

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sacrifice zones

Lithium and Environmental Justice in Imperial Valley Webinar

How Workers and Communities are Fighting to Make Ford be Fair to Tennessee

Has anything changed one year after the derailment in East Palestine?

DOE’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs: Climate Solution, or Climate Disaster?

Socialize the Railways!

Convergence of Struggles

Environmental Justice Equity Principles for Green Hydrogen in California

The Big Strike in Pennsylvania That No One is Talking About

Transportation Webinar: Where is This Train Going? Freight Rail in the Public Interest

From East Palestine, Silicon Valley & Hunters Point, Toxins, Workers & Whistleblowers

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