Chatham County Shows Up!
Hello Fossil Fuel Foes! I have a list of hopeful updates and upcoming events this week!
First off: a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our HRA members and allies who showed up to last night’s first meeting to discuss the proposed Enbridge pipeline in Chatham County. We’re still learning about this project and specific details, and last night was an incredible evening of community connection, information gathering, landowner support, and mobilizing for next steps.
THERE WERE OVER 100 FOLKS IN ATTENDANCE! Thank you for showing up for our shared futures!
North Carolinians know that our energy future will not center on an increased reliance on fossil fuel projects like fracked methane gas. With the notice of a potential proposed Enbridge fracked-gas pipeline, which may cross the Haw River, Chatham landowners and residents must ensure that they know their rights.
Thank you to Shiloh Daum, eminent domain attorney, and our allies at 7 Directions of Service who helped Emily and me educate and connect with Chatham folks last night.
We will need every concerned community member to stand with your neighbors and voice your opposition to this proposed project and the health and safety risks that could come with it. Email me (aidan@hawriver.org) to stay up to date on info and actions on what you can do to support directly impacted landowners and the Haw River.
NORTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION NETWORK CONFERENCE:
Emily, Kim, Hannah, Kaitlyn, and I attended the two-day North Carolina Conservation Network conference last week. We gathered with other environmental justice advocates to share successes, strategize on our collective goals and communications, and network with both old and new colleagues. We had the honor of hearing from Ms. Dollie Burwell, Dr. Ryan Emanuel, and other incredible North Carolinians who are dedicated to advancing holistically safe, healthy, and just communities.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Organizers advocating for Communities Over Pipelines (from left to right): Aidan Loretz (HRA & 7 Directions of Service), Erika Hernandez (Clean Water for NC), Crystal Norford (Clean Water for NC), and Juhi Modi (Appalachian Voices).
Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE "What can I do?": May 20 in Greensboro
Feeling overwhelmed by the attacks on our environment? Wondering how to respond? Let's talk about answers to the question, "What can I do?"
Join local environmental activists Aidan Loretz and Margaret Rowlett on Wednesday, May 20, at 7:00 pm at Peace UCC, 2714 W Market St, Greensboro. Please complete this form to register your attendance.
We will:
discuss what we can do in the face of the climate crisis,
delve into examples of environmentalists applying the lessons of nonviolent direct action to counter the threats to safe and healthy communities,
share local examples of efforts for a just and resilient community, and
explore how to harness the power of strategic nonviolence to create a better world
Aidan Loretz (she/they) is a Community Organizer for Haw River Assembly and the Pipelines Campaign Manager for 7 Directions of Service. A 2024 graduate from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, with a BA in Sociology and a concentration in Communication Studies, she specializes in Environmental Justice and Opposing Fossil Fuels. Aidan is an advocate for resilient, just, and intersectional communities and has developed a Climate Resiliency Curriculum that she will be sharing lessons from at this workshop.
Margaret Rowlett (she/her) is a clean energy advocate and a part of the leadership team of Guilford Clean Power Now. In recent years, she has studied how to engage in effective environmental activism. Margaret has led training workshops on nonviolent direct action (NVDA) for several Triad groups and will be sharing NVDA lessons at this workshop.
SAVE THE DATE Data Centers Discussion: June 9 in Greensboro
Join our coalition as we discuss how we can understand, prevent and fight AI data centers in our watershed. Dr. Rania Masri from our coalition partner, NCEJN (NC Environmental Justice Network), will be speaking. Discussion will be held at College Park Baptist Church at 6:00PM.
I greatly admire the strength and resilience of our community in the face of all these pressures. Thank you for being a part of the fight up to now.
We are facing immensely challenging times as a country. Together, in our corner of the world, we will fight to protect our Haw River and our Haw River community by standing in solidarity efforts for justice for the water and justice for the people. As always, this is Aidan wishing community care, light, and love.
Take care of yourselves and each other,
~ Aidan Loretz (she/her, they/them)