OVEC Involved in Southeast Climate Convergence

OVEC member Carolyn van Zant recently attended the Southeast Climate Convergence in Louisville, KY. Heres some insights she passed along:

"Public relations firms say that we have three brains: the reptile brain, the mammal brain, and the human brain. The reptile brain understands fear and instinct. The mammal brain understands protection and security. The human brain understands effectiveness and reason. The coal peoplespeak to the reptile brain, (evoking) fear. Our message has been one of reason to the human brain. When people are afraid they dont hear reason, only fear. We must relearn how we speak to people and learn to speak to all three (parts of the) brains. We need to speak to peoples values and emotions."

"In trying to build coalitions, it is important to share our successes; celebrating wins is very empowering. Dont always talk about how bad things are."

"To win we should not spend our time and energy hammering at those who are our active opposition. To prevail we only need get the passive opposition, neutrals, and passive allies to shift.It is not productive to only talk to our allies. We must identify who it is that we are trying to engage."

"Larry Bush (Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards) and Bill McCabe talked about their struggle in Wise County, VA. The stream near Larrys house is now dead. In the past, churches used that stream to baptize people. Twenty-five percent of the county has been stripped (mined) and 40 percent of the county is permitted to be mined. Wise County has a 24 percent poverty rate. The county now has 3,500 miners compared to 17,000 at one time."

"Recently the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards was successful in getting an injunction to stop pre-mining construction. A federal judge ordered a halt to logging on the proposed mountaintop removal site."