Jen's Green Journal

Only 3 of us cheerleaders were able to make it to the October 27th rally -- which has at least 500 people . . .

We met several people who had bussed down from Idaho to attend, and a couple of people thought it would be fun to start a radical cheerleading squad in Boise!

These photos were taken by cameragirl84109

10-27-2007 Peace Rally and March

10-27-2007 Peace Rally and March

I don't have nearly the number of photos that I wanted to get out of this trip. Saturday was pretty sunny and hot (near a hundred degrees, an there are no shade trees at the test site), so I spent a good deal of time at the "big tent" keeping cool and listening to various conversations and taking part in a few.

On Sunday, I participated in the sunrise ceremony and then the traditional Mother's Day women-only sweat lodge. Near the end of the sweat lodge, I started to feel one of my mirgraine headaches coming on -- I get them every so often, and it usually starts as a neckache and then turns into a migraine. I get so debilitated by them that I was out for the rest of the trip. I guess the long hours driving, sleeping on the hard and rock-strewn ground and then sitting in a cramped sweatlodge took it's toll on my neck. I didn't have any opportunities after that for photos or to take part of the "crossing the line" action on Sunday afternoon.

But, I'm jumping ahead of myself . . .

This was a reunion gathering of anti-nuke activists. Corbin Harney, the Western Shoshone spiritual leader who has been at the forefront of the native anti-nuke movement, is now in his late 80s. He was recently diagnosed with cancer and has been very ill up until recently. This gathering was organized to honor Corbin and to bring together activists that have worked against the nuke "establishment" over the many years.

My husband first got involved in the anti-nuke movement back east 20 years ago -- in 1987. At some point (I think it was 1989) he came out to the Test Site. He worked with Shundahai Network (the organization envisioned and founded by Corbin Harney) for many years.

We arrived late morning Saturday at Peace Camp, across the highway from the Nevada Test Site's gate. The wind was blowing pretty steadily, making the job of setting up tents a little more difficult than usual. After we had settled we headed up to the kitchen tent for some miso soup and then the big tent, where we paid for our permits that allowed us to be on Western Shoshone land.

As mentioned above, I hung out in the "big tent" -- an army style tent -- for a good portion of the afternoon. I wrote a little, listened to conversations, checked out all the wonderful raffle prizes. I had several people that have known Reinard for years approach me to talk about my husband and how happy and excited they were for him and his "new family" (we've been married for over 3 years now, and our daughter was born 3 1/2 years ago). They talked about how much they cared about him. I came away from the trip with the feeling that he is well loved and respected amongst his fellow activists.

The photos below were taken during "dinner circle" : some portions of the food are brought out and blessed, usually by Corbin or another native elder. Then announcements are made, and people are invited to share feelings or stories. Then the food is served in a large food tent, with the elders being served first.

The second photo shows Corbin in his wheelchair. He has changed quite a bit since I last saw him, when he stayed a night at our home back in January of 2005. He had been much more robust then. He seemed to have shrunk, and it was kind of a shock to see him looking so weak.Dinner circle - peace camp

Corbin Harney

I don't know about y'all, but I've been pretty concerned about the health of the air in Salt Lake City at least since my early 20s. I remember waiting at a bus stop in the winter and noticing how brown the air was even two-blocks from my stop. I remember a taste on my mouth when I went outside -- it tasted like the photo developing chemicals that would somehow coat my tongue after a few hours in the dark room, which wasn't very well ventilated.

This past winter was one of the worst for me though. The air seemed filthier this winter than most. A friend's 5 year old had just died of cancer (probably no air related) which led me to do a little bit of reading on childhood cancers and realizing that about 80% of cancers are caused by "environmental factors" and that children are much more vulnerable than adults due to metabolism and other factors. As the parent of a 12 and 3 year old, I'm very concerned about what my kids are exposed to. Seeing my friend go through the cancer treatment and then death of her young child has convinced me that we need to do what ever we can to make sure that our kids grow up healthy and safe.

Working for clean air seems like a cause I'd like to get behind, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. There is now a group forming to address this situation, though -- Utah Moms for Clean Air. The first meeting will be held this Wednesday:

"Our first meeting is May 2nd, 6:30 to 8pm at the Anderson Foothill Library in Salt Lake City (1135 South 2100 East). We will listen to some experts, establish a draft mission statement, and brainstorm on how, by leveraging our moral standing as mothers, we can effect change to ensure our children have a healthy environment in which to grow and flourish.

One or more representatives from the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment group will give an introductory presentation on the subject of the health consequences of Utah 's chronic air pollution. Dads and children are, of course, welcome too! (A play area will be set-up for quiet kid play)."

A woman arrived very early at the place where I work for a meeting last week, because it's difficult to time things just right when you take the bus. She seemed to me to be the retired sort, with plenty of time on her hands, and she was content to read and pay her bills while she waited for the others participating in her meeting to arrive. She told me that she gave up her car over 4 years ago and takes public transportation because of the war. She said to me, solemnly and in lightly accented English, "It is so horrible, we must pray . . ." and she crossed herself.

Not all of us, especially in our car-centric society, are able to do what she does, but there are some things we might be able to manage.  A couple of friends of mine have started a new kind of peace campaign: a petroleum peace offering. They are asking those opposed to the war to commit to not driving one day per week. From their just launched website, http://www.nodriveday.org/:

"They are sacrificing our children's future as they run up unprecedented debts to pay for their wars. They are sacrificing our service men's and women's lives. They are sacrificing the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. They are sacrificing the American values that stand against torture and inhumanity. They are willing to demand all these sacrifices yet lack the moral courage to ask even the smallest sacrifice of ordinary Americans.

As ordinary American citizens we want our leaders and the world to recognize that we are willing to personally sacrifice to bring about a more stable, peaceful and just world. We are willing to sacrifice some of our own comfort and convenience in order to build a better world not only for our children, but for all the world's children.

As President Bush recognized in his state of the Union Address, our demands for oil and other energy resources are creating a threat to our national security and giving rise to serious conflicts in many regions of the world. Oil is currently a prime contributor to conflicts raging from Afghanistan to Nigeria to Nicaragua. Although it is not the sole factor involved, oil undeniably plays an important role in the rising conflict with Iran, the war on terror and our occupation of Iraq. Because of the important role petroleum plays in global conflicts, we believe that changing the way we use our petroleum burning cars is an excellent way to show our leaders and the world that we are willing to sacrifice for peace and justice.

<snip>

To demonstrate our willingness to personally sacrifice for world peace and justice, we have committed to forgo the use of our cars on Tuesdays.

On Tuesdays we will walk, we will ride bicycles, we will take mass transit, if need be we will stay at home, but we will not drive our personal cars.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 20th 2007 (the 4th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq) and continuing on every Tuesday until there is a systematic withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, we will not drive our cars.

We invite all like-minded individuals to join with us in this symbolic act."

There are options for those who can't go without cars on Tuesday, like part day or another day of the week, or even just a conscious awareness that daily activities that we take for granted over here can have devastating effects somewhere else.

*Progressives, Political Junkies, Activists, and Greenies

Sundance Film Festival 2007 Screenings and Events for Sunday, January 21: The Unforseen, Wonders Are Many, The Devil Came on Horseback, Miss Navajo, Joe Strummer, and many more below the cut

"We have about seven weeks to try and stop this next war from happening."

War with Iran -- is this the October surprise? Thanks to Dee's 'Dotes for story.

From The Nation:

"The Nation has learned that the Bush Administration and the Pentagon have issued orders for a major "strike group" of ships, including the nuclear aircraft carrier Eisenhower as well as a cruiser, destroyer, frigate, submarine escort and supply ship, to head for the Persian Gulf, just off Iran's western coast. This information follows a report in the current issue of Time magazine, both online and in print, that a group of ships capable of mining harbors has received orders to be ready to sail for the Persian Gulf by October 1." (emphasis mine)

Okay all you peace and justice advocates -- what can we do to avert a new war with only 7 weeks?

I posted the following at Climate Crisis Action Team, but I thought I'd post it here as well to cast the net a bit wider:

I know it's only July, but I've been thinking about a campaign for Christmas to educate and help reduce CO₂ emissions at the same time.This idea has been growing on me since I hosted the Carnival of the Green a couple of weeks ago and read a post by fellow green blogger Al over at City Hippy that asked what one positive thing could he do to make the biggest impact.

My idea is this: in as many places as we can, we promote "Operation Bright Christmas" (or hopefully some better name). The idea is to get people to buy compact fluorescent lightbulbs for all their adult loved-ones and friends as Christmas gifts. There would be a PDF file with a card template that lists all the benefits of using compact fluorescents. The benefits of this campaign that I can see:

1. Education. The card "spreads the word" about how much the atmosphere can be saved from pollution by switching to compact fluorescents. The card should also mention the expected monetary savings from the reduced need of electricity as well. Getting the word out in a positive way seems like a good way to get people interested in making changes. Most of us have at least some family and friends that aren't "part of the choir" and it's a gentle way to preach the gospel of global warming reduction to a new audience.
   
2. CO₂ reduction. If we can give out a thousand or more lightbulbs to replace existing incandescent ones, we are removing a huge source of potential CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere. From the Energy Star website: "If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road."

I think it would be a good idea to spread this idea far and wide -- perhaps create a logo that bloggers and environmental organizations can use on their pages to direct traffic to a basic page with the campaign whys and hows and the link to the PDF Christmas card files. We can even list supporting pages/blogs on this web page as a thank you. We can maybe even create a PDF flyer for distribution with the tear off tags at the bottom listing the web address of the campaign to post in eco-friendly businesses and public places.

Is there anyone else out there interested in this idea and wanting to contribute to the planning of this campaign? Please comment to this post.

A few days ago I set up a new blog community here on LiveJournal called Climate Crisis Action Team. This community will be as global as possible in scope, but may lean towards being a bit American-centric. I'm really interested in making this a hands on community where we share ideas, ask for advice, brainstorm campaigns and act as an educational tool.  For those on LiveJournal, you can join in on the conversation at For those not on LiveJournal, you can either join by opening a free account, or you can catch the posts by subscribing to the RSS or ATOM feeds: http://community.livejournal.com/planetcooldown/data/rss & http://community.livejournal.com/planetcooldown/data/atom.

Attended the oil-free congress rally this evening. A couple of other cheerleaders showed up and we did a few cheers. Deanna of Dee's 'Dotes has photos here and here.  thecause was also there (he organized the event) and also took pictures. He will hopefully be posting some of them on his journal. We saw Pete Ashdown driving his RV along 7th East during the rally and we waved at and cheered him.
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My friend mwalton writes about her experiences and lessons learned as an election judge in yesterday's primary election here.
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Writing a lot of posts on green and environmental issues has gotten me some emails for promoting "green" articles or products lately. One such solicitation was asking me to post about some type of new diesel fuel (not biodiesel) that was supposed to be greener. I checked out the linked website, but still had questions. I emailed back with my questions and received no response, so I never posted about it. 

Another solicitation has offered me a book to preview at no cost to me in the hopes that I would post about it. I should be receiving the book shortly and I'm willing to review it here when I do.

I got an email asking me to link to this article which talks about using the internet to further build the green movement in a bigger way than individual actions can. I thought the article was interesting and thought provoking enough that I'm fine with linking to it. 

I received a virtual press pass to preview Time Magazine's current issue which features Teddy Roosevelt on the cover. The email reads " the man whose quest for conservation and the preservation of the environment and its wildlife left a lasting legacy on the United States including the development of National Parks and monuments as we know them today..  

Special attention is paid to President Roosevelt's naturalist background, including stories about his death-defying exploration of the Amazon rain forest, his dedication to preserving natural parks across across the country, and his love for nature. " 

While it's true that Teddy Roosevelt does have some good green acts to his credit (such as curbing the  "monopolistic corporations" and the development of our national parks) he's not exactly a hero to a peace activist like me. War, after all, is horrible on the environment as is our lust for global domination. He was quoted as saying in 1897 "I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one." There followed some horrible wars during his administration. U.S. --soldiers in the Phillipines during that era were ordered to "Burn all and kill all" and 600,000 Filipinos died. 

From Time Magazine: 

"He was the first President to urge wholeheartedly that the U.S. accept its role as a global power. God knows, he accepted it. He looked at the U.S. the way we now understand the universe, as a thing that began expanding the moment it was born. (It tells you something that he never got over the habit of casting covetous glances toward Canada.) But not until just before he reached the presidency had the nation finally burst through its continental confines. In 1898 the Spanish-American War and its aftermath had placed under U.S. supervision a whole collection of territories and dependencies: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. Suddenly, to Roosevelt's utter delight, the U.S. was acting on a world stage, across two oceans. As Assistant Secretary of the Navy under McKinley--a job that should have been nearly meaningless but that he turned into a power center--he had urged on the war. As a Rough Rider, he had fought in it. As President, he would make Americans understand that their new global prominence was a long-term proposition." 
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I decided to sign up for a free MySpace account as another communication tool. Yes, I know that MySpace is owned by Rupert Murdoch the evil media king. Yes, the ads kind of suck. It's just something I'm trying out. This page on LJ will remain my main blog, but I may occasionally repost some articles on MySpace. If it doesn't work out, I'll drop it eventually. If you want to check it out or if you have MySpace and want to friend me, my page is here and my MySpace blog is here.

I wish I had thought of having a blog in 2003, when I some of these amazing experiences actually happened. There is a strange feeling about revisiting 3 years ago and to know that this insanity of war and killing has gone on so long.

Three years ago today my friend Sunshine and I got involved in helping to prepare the performance hall at George Washington University for the big CODE PINK concert/event that evening. This was my second full day in D.C. , the day after the incredible lobbying experience with several other CODE PINK supporters. Sunshine and I hung up banners, helped set up merchandise tables and helped to clean and decorate the dressing rooms for that evening's event, which included Alice Walker, Maxine Hong Kingston, Michelle Shocked, the native music trio Ulali, Rachel Bagby and many more that I can't quite remember now.

Sunshine's mom, my friend Nancy, was one of the first women to get involved in CODE PINK and had fasted and protested at the beginning of the CODE PINK vigil back in November. Nancy lived in Utah and I met her through mutal peace-loving friends. Nancy was completely swamped with co-ordinating various aspects of the CODE PINK events while we were there. Nancy's the one that found us the work of helping to prepare for the performance, which meant that we were able to attend it for free. We also had backstage access with our volunteer tags.

So much is a blur now, but my memory is that event was inspiring and wonderful. I bought Rachel Bagby's book, Ulali's cd, the 2003 Peace Calendar and my first CODE PINK t-shirt and walked back to our hotel room  a couple of blocks away, tired and happy. I didn't know it then, but I was a week or so pregnant with my 2nd daughter. I thought I was just so tired from all the fascinating and exciting new experiences I was having.

Three years ago today I was in Washington D.C. to participate in the CODE PINK events leading up to International Women's Day and the big peace march planned for that day. My good friends Rex and Rene had donated some of their frequent flyer miles so that I could go, and I was fortunate enough to share a hotel room with three other amazing women which helped to make the trip affordable, and therefore do-able. I'm very grateful for their help -- the trip was an amazing and powerful experience.

March 6th was the day that we spent lobbying at the Senate and House office buildings. I've written a bit about my experience and the CODE Pink meeting we had with Senator Hillary Clinton. I also spent a couple of hours at the CODE PINK vigil in front of the White House earlier that morning. The vigil had been on-going daily since the previous mid-November as Bush and Co. were gearing up to attack Iraq.

Code Pink vigil in front of the White House Mar. 2003 (I'm in the center).

We knew that Bush would start attacking any day, but we didn't know then just how soon that would be.

For those that think that the killing and destruction have gone 3 years too long, there's a peace rally and march you can participate in scheduled for March 18 from noon to 3.

• Gather at Pioneer Park at noon (400 South 300 West, southeast corner)

• Peace March to Washington Square

• Rally at East side of City County Building at Washington Square

Edited 3/13: The current information that I have is that the march starts at 11:00

Sundance is finally in full swing both here in Salt Lake City and in Park City. I try to see at least two screenings -- at $10 per ticket on a tight budget AND a very busy life as a mom, employee, activist and (of course) blogger, it's difficult to justify more than that.

New this year, Salt Lake has it's own Festival Cafe: At Panache, Wells Fargo Building (299 S. Main Street, second floor). The cafe is open weekends from 11 am to 10 pm and on weekdays from 4 to 10 pm. Cafe is open to credential and ticket holders.

Looking through my Sundance Film Guide I noticed a variety of films that would appeal to those of us who are interested in a lot of political and progressive topics. I thought it might be fun to profile a few of the films here.

I discovered that for me the best way to Sundance is to do the "Wait List" method, at least in Salt Lake City where the screenings aren't as full. Buying tickets ahead of time can be an exercise in frustration -- most screenings sold out, long lines. And I don't have the kind of money it would take for an all access pass (though it is my fantasy to have one, one of these years).

With the Wait List method, the guide recommends that you show up 1 hour or more before the show to get a numbered card that they give out 1 hr before. You can then wander off for 1/2 hour or so and then line back up in order. After all the ticket holders and access pass folks have been seated, they will then fill up the theatre with those in the wait list -- you don't pay unless they are going to seat you. I usually show up 1 1/2 hours before so that I have a good spot in line. The few years I've been doing this, I've been seated every time, even when I was further back in line. Last year I was doubly fortunate. One screening I attended I was near the front and some friends of mine was first in line. The filmmaker for that particular film showed up with complimentary filmmaker passes and handed them out to my friends and we all got in free. The second screening I attended I was first in line with my daughter and someone had two passes they couldn't use and handed them to us. I almost hate to relate those stories because I'm creating some competition for myself for those first spots in line . . .

I'm going to only include partial info from the film guide. You can read more at the Sundance Website. I will also include my recommended wait list time, but you should be fine for most films if you arrive 1 hour prior to the screening. Dress warmly, most wait list lines are outside. Bring a book or just be prepared to meet other film fans while in line.

Sundance Saturday in Salt Lake City (Jan. 21) Film tags ~activism, social justice, equlity, war in Iraq, immigration, social movement~

Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner {Spectrum}, Broadway Theatre (300 S. just east of State Street), 12:45 (my wait list recom. 11:00-11:15)
From the film guide: "One of our greatest living playwrights, Pulitzer and Tony Award -winner Tony Kushner (Angels in America) is a consummate artist and indomitable political activist committed to equality and social justice. A Jewish homosexual raised in the heart of the Deep South, Kushner has become a compassionate voice for outsiders in a climate of repression and censorship. Wrestling with Angels covers three years of Kushner's life, from 9/11 to the 2004 presidential election, capturing the fierce moral responsibility that pervades this passionate artist's work." - David Courier

The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends {Documentary}, Broadway Theatre (300 S. just east of State Street) 4:30 p.m. (my wait list recom. 2:45-3:00)
From the film guide: "The military has long realized that war is fought on many fronts; the battle at home -- getting the media to represent the war as a battle between clearly identifiable sides and include a transparent understanding of the mission -- is as essential to vistory as actions ont he battlefield. This, Patricia Foulkrod's resonant examination of the war in Iraq is both a timely and welcome contrast that offsets the omnipresent flag-waving portraits of heroism and glosry that have so dominated recent war reportage. Even more critically, The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends doesn't simply inquire into policies about Iraq, but also scrutinizes effects of modern warfare, especially on its combatants." - Geoffry Gilmore

La Tragedia de Macario {Spectrum}, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W. 300 S.) 3:30 (my wait list recom. 1:45-2:00)
From the film guide: "When his native town of Sabinas Hidalgo can no longer provide much more than nightly beans and tortillas, Mexican peasant worker Macario finds himself drawn uncontrollably to thoughts of crossing the border to find work and a more dignified life for his wife. When his struggles worsen, he can no longer wait, so Macario and his best friend set out on the dangerous journey north to Estados Unidos, guided by faith, determination, and a watchful holy eye." - Joseph Beyer [note: in Spanish with English Subtitles]

American Hardcore {Park City at Midnight}, Broadway Theatre (300 S. just east of State Street), 7:30 pm (my wait list recom. 5:45 - 6:00)
From the film guide: "Generally unheralded at the time, the early 80s hardcore punk rock scene gave birth to much of the pop rock music and culture that followed. There would be no Nirvana, Beastie Boys, or Red Hot Chili Peppers were it not for the hardcore pioneers such as Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. Hardcore was more than music; it was a social movement created by Reagan-era misfit kids. The  participants constituted a tribe unto themselves -- some found a voice, others escaped in the hard-edged music; some sought a better world, others were just angry and wanted to raise hell. American Hardcore traces this lost subculture from its early roots to its extinction." - Trevor Groth