Data Centers, Dirty Gas and the Fight for Our Watershed
Hello Fossil Fuel Foes! We're talking Data Centers and Fracked-Gas Pipelines this week! But first, a reminder: Get Outside! Feel the Air on your face! Feel the Soil on your toes! Feel the Water on your skin (where it's safe to do so)!
In scary, overwhelming times, we must remember to ground ourselves in our more-than-human community. Take a break from the onslaught of information when you need to. We can not be good stewards of our planet without taking good care of ourselves.
People Over Profit! No Data Centers!
Local municipalities across North Carolina pass moratoriums against data center development, and environmental organizations work at the General Assembly level to protect our state. Here at HRA, we are focused on keeping our watershed safe and informed about the real risk these projects bring to communities and the greater narratives these projects connect to.
Please visit the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network for resources on Understanding Data Centers and Their Environmental Impact.
To learn more, come out to an incredible event in Greensboro on Tuesday, June 9th! Come listen to Dr. Rania Masri, the Director of Organizing and Policy, with NC Environmental Justice Network. She will be speaking on the dangers of large data centers and what we can do to stop them from harming our communities.
Here's the link to a map of all currently existing and proposed datacenters in the state. You can filter it on the left side to show both proposed and existing centers. Be on the lookout for a Haw Watershed-specific map coming soon! https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1gYhpGa1X9Kojdu6u2YVnlWZBWZ1mHLU&ll=35.6794021326046%2C-80.3083051&z=7
Fight the Enbridge Pipeline in Chatham County!
We need all Haw River Assembly members who live in or around Chatham County to get in on the fight against a new proposed fracked-gas pipeline!
We have several volunteer roles that need to be filled! If you see a role that fits your skills and interests, or have an idea on another way you can get involved, please email me ( aidan@hawriver.org). There are many different roles for people to do; these are just a few important roles. And it takes different strengths for each role! Not one person can do all of these things. And of course, HRA and other organizers will be supporting every step of the way.
Folks just need to express interest; there's no expectation for folks to know exactly how to do all these things - we will plan a Core Team meeting to go over all questions and details.
Petition Captains - Pick times, places, and dates for getting paper petitions over the next 2-3 months. Ensure lead petitioners have supplies (paper petitions, clipboards, pens, stickers, etc.) and that they get mailed, or taken a picture of, or handed to the databasing captain within a week.
Grassroots Meeting Coordinators - Reaches out to individual City Council, County Commissioners, state elected officials and other advisory board members to request meetings on the topic. Bring in other volunteers, create an agenda and follow up.
Outreach Captains - Help with community mapping. Reach out to the groups listed in community mapping spreadsheet to ask to make presentations and help find volunteers to make those presentations. Print flyers and strategically find places to flyer. Support door-knocking campaigns.
Media Coordinator - Supports getting letters to the editor placed and other news interviews. Reaches out, offers to help review, edit, or write letters and coach others on how to get them published.
Facilitators - Facilitates the regular meetings of the core team. Set time, date, agenda, and location. If virtual, help set up a meeting link, and send out reminders + notes / action items.
There will be another community meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss updates and next steps. We are finalizing a location to meet. In the meantime, folks are meeting with local Chatham County, Siler City, and Pittsboro Elected Officials and Planning Boards to make their opposition known! See the Resource Drive below for project-specific information, talking points, and tips & tricks for developing a public comment.
Follow the Facebook Group to stay up to date and in conversation with the Chatham community!
Fight Enbridge Pipeline Resource Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LReU3OZBjmxNEbgpFihJ6jhKG5jDwN-3?usp=drive_link'
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)
