WORC founder Pat Sweeney tells the story of four decades of grassroots organizing around western issues like responsible fossil fuel development, agriculture and food, renewable energy, and rural prosperity. Not only does he detail forty years of winning on issues, he also describes what grassroots organizing might look like over the next generation.
WORC set out to investigate what the western coal industry’s continued decline means for cleanup of the hundreds of square miles of coal mines that stretch from North Dakota to Navajo Nation. As long-time coal companies are replaced by unknown firms without track records in the region, what has happened to the companies guaranteeing mine cleanup?
Congress misses golden opportunity to bring transparency to consumers and economic justice for rural communities in NAFTA 2.0. The U.S. House voted to approve NAFTA 2.0/USMCA on December 20, 2019 and the agreement is expected to pass the U.S. Senate … Continued
Western Native Voice Stands Against Border Wall And Concentration Camps Western Native Voice (WNV) staff and members attended the 2019 Native Voice Network (NVN) meeting and protest in McAllen, Texas, July 25-27th. The NVN chose to hold this gathering in … Continued
The Trump Administration is accelerating its efforts to dismantle the few regulatory barriers that protect the public from toxic coal ash waste. Minerals in coal ash (the ash left over after burning coal) including arsenic, mercury, thallium, lead, and many other elements make coal ash one of the most dangerous pollutants in America, causing respiratory illness, neurological damage, and cancer.
Above: Without consistent monitoring and repair, natural gas infrastructure develops leaks that can pollute air with methane and toxic organic compounds, which can cause health problems and exacerbate climate change. Strong methane standards are essential to putting the health of … Continued
Above: the DeVille family stands near one of the many oil drilling rigs operating on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Their community has experienced several pipeline spills in the last few years. Lisa DeVille strongly opposes the Keystone … Continued
Fossil fuel companies champion gutting PURPA, giving them a monopoly over the electricity market. Just as the clean and renewable energy revolution is getting underway, the federal government is proposing to gut the very regulations that protect small scale renewable … Continued
Montana Rancher Irv Alderson describes how the loss of Country of Origin Labeling threatens to put American ranchers out of business. “I grew up looking through this same corral right here at guys breaking horses and stuff when I was … Continued
Northern Plains Members Demand Accountability For Weak Radioactive Oil Waste Disposal Rules Above: Oilfield workers remove discarded filter socks which get contaminated by radioactive materials and prepare them for disposal in a landfill. Photo by Bruce Farnsworth. This post first … Continued