OCCUPY EARTH DAY: RICHMOND COMMUNITY WILL RECLAIM EARTH DAY WITH MARCH AND RALLY TO EXPOSE CHEVRON
What Chevron’s Glossy Ads Don’t Tell: The truth behind a bad neighbor and its impact on our environment
To honor Earth Day means far more than individual conservation efforts. Industries that pollute our air, earth, and water must be exposed and held accountable. This demonstration will focus on Chevron who shamelessly seeks millions in tax refunds from the City of Richmond and Contra Costa County. Chevron distorts the truth by sending glossy mailers to local residents in order raise its public profile. Chevron emits pollution that exacerbates global warming and can cause acute and chronic health problems. The grassroots local community is reclaiming Earth Day for the health and justice of the 99%!
What: This is a non-violent community march and rally featuring speakers from Richmond and the Bay Area. The visuals will be art that reflects the community concerns and there will be live music by local Bay Area artists.
When: Friday April 20, 2012 at 5:00pm
Where: The march will begin at the Richmond BART Station, 1700 Nevin Way, and end with a rally at the Richmond Civic Center Plaza, Nevin Way and 26th Street.
Who: This demonstration is endorsed by Occupy Richmond, Occupy Oakland, Occupy Berkeley, Occupy Cal, Occupy Concord, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Bay Area 350, Center for Biological Diversity, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), Contra Costa County Central Committee of the Peace & Freedom Party, Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organizations (CCISCO), Global Community Monitor, Greenaction, Green Party of Alameda County, Laotian Organizing Project, Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), the Sierra Club, West County Toxics Coalition, and Youth Together.
So you've got poor people who couldn't otherwise afford housing-- or afford as much housing, in other areas. These people freely CHOOSE to live there, KNOWING the ugliness, the smells and the (small) risk of worse health outcomes. Meanwhile, the refiners are injecting MILLIONS of dollars of high-paying jobs and other spending, AND are providing a valuable and strategic resource to the rest of us. They are strictly regulated and have massive BUILT IN incentives to not pollute too much or create any *material* health problems. The status quo regime has cleaned our air and water a ton over the past few decades, to the point where we need to LOWER the definition of "Spare the Air Day" (in terms of pollution) just so we ensure having some days for activists to complain about. I don't really see anything to protest. What am I missing?
For example: Unions don't have to mean socialism. But their ideology usually is and people can't distinguish between their interests and that of everyone else. The occupy movement is largely composed of anti-capitalism SENTIMENT, but they have little to no intellectual content. People therefore attach their own sentiments and ideas to it. Free Speech and Non violent protests are fine. This does not mean what they say is right or good or sensible. Often it is not. The problem with environmental rhetoric is that it goes to the extreme and I have never seen it without anti-capitalist sentiment or marxist assumptions about capitalism. I don't call these people actual Marxists but they don't care to examine their own assumptions. This is what makes them fanatical. Capitalism is nothing more than the application of liberty to individuals and society. It is a myth that "Capitalists" don't care about the environment. Neither do they worship it however. They simply want to make the best use of resources to meet the needs of man. Capitalism has given us all an infinitely better life than anyone had before Capitalism changed the world. Today, people are quick to adopt ideas that will take us back to the pre-capitalist era. A basic knowledge of history should be the antidote, but fanaticism does not learn.
Mega corporations fail and the taxpayer has to bail them out because they are too big, and that is for everybody's good? That is a hard sell for liberals and conservatives! Where is the accountability for being reckless with other people's money when a conservative like Paulson tells Bush and Congress that a taxpayer bailout is "our" only option? And today, what is different? They are bigger than before. A very narrow set of interests is being represented in Washington and it is not the voters' interests. If capitalism is to succeed here, the government has to represent the little guy, and keep these mega corporations from rigging the game.
Your entire rationale or logic is built on your own freaking hypothesis that there is an anti-capitalist sentiment in everything the non-conservatives do. You are scared like hell and then react accordingly. Relax and take a deep breath. You are confused like hell that not being a conservative like you is being a socialist/Marxist. It is not.
Your entire rationale or logic is built on your own freaking hypothesis that there is an anti-capitalist sentiment in everything the non-conservatives do. You are scared like hell and then react accordingly. Relax and take a deep breath. You are confused like hell that not being a conservative like you is being a socialist/Marxist. It is not. My gut feeling is that you and me both are not marxists. Both of us are love our country. We differ in how much compassion we should have to the fellow human being, that is all.
The auto company bailouts were a BHO special that was more of a jobs program / UAW bailout than an investment that was intended to be fully repaid. Ultimately, the true cost of the bailouts is modest when compared against stimulus spending, etc, which (supposedly) directly benefits the 99%.
The bailout was put together by conservatives who abhorred the idea, but were desperate to avoid an economic catastrophe. Republicans and Democrats voted for it. They were scared pale. It saved the manufacturing base in the rust belt, so that we can still build a few things, and it prevented unemployment rates not seen in this country since the Great Depression. The "stimulous" worked to the extent that it averted catastrophe. MY point is that "too big to fail" was a fundamental component of the collapse, and we are essentially in the same position today. And MY point is, "too big to fail" is a bad thing if you like stable markets and believe that people should be accountable for their fiduciary failures. Do you disagree? Do you disagree? Braaak!
Chevron (with revenues of $74 million PER DAY) demanded a property tax refund from Contra Costa County of over $100 million and an ongoing property tax rate break. It pays only $26.91 per square foot for its prime SF bay view, 2900 acre waterfront property while other Richmond industries and businesses pay $37 - $196. Chevron lawyers argued it should be assessed only $14.25. Chevron did not succeed, but will undoubtedly appeal. Its TV ads and glossy flyers purport its contribution to the community. A recent Chevron TV ad features a student from Richmond’s Helms Middle School, but, according to Chevron representatives, only 6.9% of the employees at its Richmond facility are from the local community. Chevron is the largest industrial greenhouse gas polluter in the state according to the California Air Resources Board. There is continued 'flaring' (releasing toxins -- Google 'Chevron Richmond refinery flaring continues') Chevron is currently seeking to self-monitor air quality in Richmond and is expected to pursue a project that could enable the refinery to begin processing dirtier grades of crude oil -- yet it can't keep its current equipment operating safely! ..that's why I (a fully employed tax-paying Richmond homeowner) am supporting the protest and educational event this Friday.
Are they breaking the law? Are they doing more bad than good (as viewed by the median rational citizen)? These are the only topics that matter. Any info on these points?
Maybe Richmond should protest itself.
How would it make you feel if people protested at your front door... would it make you want to continue to give ? I think not... Chevron isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination.... however... keep it up, and Richmond will end up just like Rodeo.... when Union Oil sold out... Rodeo found out what it was like not to get so much FREE AID... Richmond may be next... don't think Chevron will never sell.... It just hasn't come to pass yet. Yep... slap the hand that provides for ya... and the hand will eventually withdraw completely.. Don't be short sighted... HOW did this ever get attention on Patch... It sounds like an attack on a single company.
Like I said. Yep, This will HELP bring better relationships. I can see it now. With actions like this, I would hope the largest donor reconsider where they leave their donations in the future, and that NOT be in the ungrateful city of Richmond.