By Ted Glick
Twelve members of Beyond Extreme Energy (BXE), ages 19 to 72—from
California, Virginia, DC, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Nebraska,
Michigan and North Carolina—are in the beginning days of a planned
18-day, water-only “Fast for No New Permits” for fossil fuel
infrastructure in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC), a virtual rubber-stamp agency for the fracked gas industry.
Each weekday until Sept. 25 we will be on the sidewalk in front of
FERC from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., leafletting FERC employees—over a thousand
of them—as they arrive for or leave from work. We’re also passing out
leaflets to thousands of others who work or live in the area who walk
by.
It’s not a very aesthetic area, mostly high-rise office buildings and
condominiums. There are some colorful begonias around the FERC building
and about 15 young trees growing across the street just three blocks
north of Union Station. Also across the street is a 30-foot high stone
wall on top of which the red line trains of the DC Metro subway system
come by loudly every 10 minutes or so, interrupting any and all street
conversations.
For the 12 of us, joined by supporters and people fasting for shorter
periods of time, this will be our “home” until Sep. 25, the day after Pope Francis speaks to a joint session of Congress. For some who have slept and will be sleeping here overnight, it’s a 24-hour “home.”
The first two days have actually been pretty brutal because of the
high humidity and temperatures in the low- to mid-90’s. The heat index
where we are could well have been more than 100 degrees because of all
the concrete around us.
Every morning and late afternoon we check in with each other to see
how we are doing and to finalize plans for the day. This morning one of
the older fasters reported that he had almost fainted when he stood up
too quickly; as I’ve learned from past fasts, it’s essential during an
action like this to move deliberately and consciously, very aware of how
your body is dealing with the lack of food.
Day three of the No New Permits BXE fast opposing fossil fuel infrastructure. Photo Credit: Beyond Extreme Energy
Why are we putting ourselves through this?
One reason is the upcoming Sept. 22 – Sept. 27 visit of Pope Francis
to the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. BXE is very supportive of his
repeated calls for action on climate, environmental and social justice.
Some of us have been reading the Pope’s historic encyclical, “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home,” on the FERC sidewalk. We see our fast and a series of other activities in DC
leading up to and after the Pope’s speech before Congress on Sept. 24
as part of the process of forging a stronger and deeper climate justice
movement, one capable of meeting the urgent challenges of this do-or-die
decade.
We are fasting because the movement which we are representing has
tried every other means available to get FERC to stop being a
rubber-stamp agency for fracked gas infrastructure (pipelines,
compressor stations, storage and export terminals). Fasts and hunger
strikes are usually undertaken when the oppressors have refused to be
moved and more serious tactics must be utilized.
We are calling upon FERC to put renewables
first. It must break its alliance with the fossil fuel industry and
issue “No New Permits” for fossil fuel infrastructure until it has
prioritized wind, solar and renewable energy.
What do we hope to accomplish? We hope our message will reach FERC
employees, as well as the general public and Pope Francis. We are openly
calling for whistleblowers. We want to strengthen the movement fighting
FERC’s corrupt ways and the overall movement for climate justice and
positive social change.
BXE during this fast is also working to make connections between
issues. Struggles for justice are related. For example, we support the
Black Lives Matter movement and on one of the days of our fast we will
be doing public education in front of FERC about the importance of their
efforts.
How can you be supportive of this Fast for No New Permits?
1. Join us at our fast in Washington, DC or where you live, for
anywhere from one day to a couple of weeks. More information, including
on how to sign up can be found here.
2. Come to DC for the actions happening Sept. 22 – Sept. 25. The
big one is the morning of Sept. 24 on the national mall, between 3rd
and 7th Street and near the U.S. Capitol. There will be speakers and
music before and after the Pope’s 9:30 a.m. address to Congress; the
Pope’s speech will be broadcast to everyone on the mall and his office
has announced that he will come out to address the crowd after he speaks
inside.
On Sept. 25 at Noon in front of FERC, we will end our fast. Plans are
still developing, but we intend to make an effort to deliver five
copies of the Pope’s encyclical to the five FERC commissioners. We will
walk in a serious procession around the FERC building. We will hear from
fasters about what this 18 days without food has meant to them.
3. Participate in the “No New Permits Solidarity Fasting Quilt”
project. We are putting together a quilt with stories of local struggles
against FERC or for justice, as well as drawings and words from people
who are fasting about why they are doing so. Squares will be 12 inches
on each side, with an additional inch on each side for when they are all
put together to make a beautiful mosaic of our movement. Any color
fabric can be used. They should be sent no later than Sept. 16 to CCAN,
6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 720, Takoma Park, Maryland. 20912, Att: Quilt
project.
4. And finally, you can call FERC at 1-888-715-9918 to demand that
they stop being a rubber stamp for the fossil fuel industry, prioritize
renewables and issue no new permits for fossil fuel infrastructure until
these changes are made.
Let’s rise up now in defense of and in care of our common home!
Ted Glick is the National Campaign Coordinator of the Chesapeake
Climate Action Network. Past writings and other information can be found
at http://tedglick.com and he can be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/jtglick.
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