Resist International "Coaltrans Americas" Coal Convention Jan.31-Feb.1 in Miami : Miami IMC

* FOR OUTREACH, PLEASE PRINT, POST AND DISTRIBUTE ATTACHED FLYER at http://miami.media.indypgh.org/uploads/2007/01/resistcoaltrans2007.pdf

Hey friends,

Do you live in or near Miami, or do you know people here? If you were aware that international coal-industry corporations are about to invade Miami, would you help take action & spread the word to protect human rights and the environment?

It's true: There is a mega conference of coal barons responsible for land theft, "mountain-top removal" strip mining, and overall land destruction happening in Miami on January 31st and February 1st.

Mountain Justice Summer (MJS) is a network I am part of fighting strip mining in the mountains of southern Appalachia. But have no doubt, strip mining and destruction of people's lands and watersheds is happening world wide now. Indigenous people are fighting to stop strip mining for coal at Black Mesa arizona, in the 4 Corners area of New Mexico, in the Everglades of Florida, in Venezuela, China, Canada--worldwide. Greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of coal is one one of the main causes of global warming, which we now know is a rapidly worsening phenomenon that will have catastrophic impacts unless we act NOW to create a sustainable culture (and stop "King Coal")!

This is a meeting in Miami of all the coal companies ripping apart watersheds, polluting the atmosphere, and stealing people's land all across the Americas (see below).

So -- when the international coal executives meet in Miami at the end of this month, will you be silent? Or will you dare to stand up and demonstrate against this destruction? Will you show solidarity with people around the world who are fighting for our lives against coal?

We need to have some sign of resistance against strip mining to these coal industry representatives. If you need to call in sick from work, or cut school, on Wednesday the 31st or Thursday the 1st in order to join us protesting Coaltrans -- just do it!!! Be one of those people holding signs and giving out info, or taking direct action. The seriousness and importance of this cannot be over stated. We need some sort of substantial presence at this convention if just to show solidarity with our comrades in South America. The information collection potential of just having people ATTEND the conference is amazing.

If you can help out with organizational solidarity or material support, please let us know. We need help with mass outreach and our media blitz, and more bodies taking non-violent direct action! I am one Mountain Justice Summer activist, organizing on the ground now in Miami to build this mobilization. Will you join me???

Please have people contact me at GreenSurge007@gmail.com or 856-535-5053 if they can help.

for the earth!
ethan green, mjs
http://mountainjusticesummer.org

BELOW IS BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

Ashquay--Greetings. Thanks for sending me the E mail note on the Dine'/Navajo Desert Rock Coal Plant situation. I've been aware of this monster since it first became known to traditional Dine. As you might remember, I lived in Dinetah (Big Mtn/Black Mesa) in the early 1980s, assisting the formation of the In Defense of Sacred Lands Proj.

Yat Kitischee's Wolf Mtn Radio has been reporting on the rape of the land & peoples for many years of what's now called SW USA. I am preparing a radio series on the current Desert Rock case.

Recently, a major energy utility here in the southeast, FP&L, based in Florida, announced their proposal to build 2 Coal Power Plants near Lake Okochobee Fl. This is the home area of 2 Seminole Indian Communities (Reservations), as well as ranch/farmland,and watershed of Paheyogee (Everglades). I live approx 50 miles SW of the region, but have spent much "time" in that area. So, Yat Kitischee Native Ctr Will Be Fighting this Monster, along with hopefully a coalition of native & community folk & 'environmentalists'. Last week a number of us met to talk & join forces. I was able to rip through FPL's representative remarks about the plants "will not harm the environment". I also spoke against her on a regional Public Radio Talk Show on this proposal.

I've heard alot of fine comments about our Mtn Justice Interview Series, which has re-aired across the world again. Please keep in contact. As always, any Advice/Comments you have, I'm always interested to hear. Hope sometime you might visit us here in what's now called SW Florida. Take care. Your Friend; Oannes--Yat Kitischee Native Ctr

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Two Peninsulas

The Guajira peninsula is arid peninsula jutting out of northern South America into the Caribbean Sea directly south of the Florida peninsula. In the Guajira live the most numerous indigenous nation encompassed by Colombia & Venezuela, the Wayúu, as well as many campesino & Afro-Colombian communities. The upper Guajira also happens to be the location of the Cerrejon, the world's largest coal strip mine.

In Florida as coal power plants are sprouting up to further destroy Indigenous Seminole lands and our local environment, the coal mining in the Guajira is leading to intense violence towards the land and its inhabitants. Health problems are developing in communities adjacent to the mining and violence is being used to undermine peoples rights to their land.

Approaching this April is the 3rd Yanama, an International Encuentro dedicated to Women & Territory hosted by the Organización Wayúu Munsurat. The encuentro will be marking the three years that 200 Wayúu families of Bahia Portete were displaced by the 2004 Massacre. These families and the
Organización Wayúu Munsurat are still struggling for the safe right of return and the termination of coal mining activiites in their territory.

For more info about Organización Wayúu Munsurat & Coal in the Guajira check:
-Brides Across Borders: http://www.bridgesacrossborders.org/
-North Shore Colombia Solidarity Committee:
http://home.comcast.net/~nscolombia/
-Etnias de Colombia: http://www.etniasdecolombia.org
-Photo Gallery from 2nd Yanama: http://carolinapeace.org/gallery/LaGuajira

Florida Wayuu Solidarity Contacts:
Bridges Across Borders: office@bridgesacrossborders.org
Beehive Design Collective: aquamono@riseup.net
South Florida Jobs with Justice: carolina@sfjwj.org
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jk wrote:

while looking through a "coal age" magazine, I came upon this interesting flashy advertisement. "7TH ANNUAL COALTRANS AMERICAS" was the title - advertising a north + south american coal conference in miami, FL. wrote down the facts, got to a computer, went to their website ( http://www.coaltrans.com).

apparently "Coaltrans" holds huge world-wide coal conferences every year - this year being in rome - and smaller ones by country are pockmarked around the rest of the world. Coaltrans Americas, Coaltrans India (Mumbai
March 12 - 13, 2007), Inaugural Freight Derivatives Asia (Beijing March 20 - 21, 2007), Coaltrans China (Beijing April 16 - 17, 2007), International Coal Supply Contracts and Transport Logistics (Berkshire April 23 - 27, 2007), Coaltrans Asia (Bali June 3 - 6, 2007), along with Coaltrans World Coal Conference (Rome October 21 - 24, 2007).

my questions are:

1) why have I not heard of this sooner?
2) what can you, I, or "we" do?
3) so, who wants to drive to Miami?

check out what they have to say for themselves - as far as the itenerary for the american conference goes:

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7th Coaltrans Americas

Event Summary

The International Networking Event for the North & South American Coal Markets

Coaltrans Americas 2007 highlights:

• Gather expert insights from a high-profile faculty of 40+ domestic and international speakers
• Network with key end-users and suppliers from the USA, Colombia, Venezuela, Canada and beyond
• Take the pulse of the coal industry of the Americas: Production and consumption trends, environmental and technological drivers, infrastructure challenges and the need for capital investment

PLUS: Do not miss the Coaltrans Americas Golf Classic on Tuesday, January 30th 2007. See the "Field Trips and Tours" page for more information.

Event Description

The 7th Coaltrans Americas will once again gather in Miami the major players driving the continued growth of the North and South American coal industry.

Riding the strength of its economy, America is energy-hungry, with electricity demand projected to grow by almost 50% over the next quarter-century. At the forefront of the battle to satisfy demand, coal continues to offer safe, plentiful and affordable supply. Currently providing roughly half of electricity needs, some estimate this share
could grow to 57% by 2030.

This means much opportunity for the suppliers of coal to American utilities and industry but the path to answering this growing demand will not be without hurdles.

Drawing on the expertise of an unparalleled panel of domestic and international speakers, Coaltrans Americas 2007 will provide a comprehensive examination of the key developments at the very heart of this momentous challenge, with invaluable insights on key questions, such as:

Domestic production
• Can Central Appalachia remain competitive despite productivity challenges?
• Are structural issues impeding capital reinvestment in mining capacity? What catalyst will unlock the coffers?

Environmental footprint and mitigation
• What impact will upcoming emissions regulation have on utility decisions? And not least – can coal survive in a carbon-constrained economy?
• Will technology ensure the future of coal burn in the US?

Seaborne trade
• Can Colombian producers achieve their ambitious target of exporting 80Mt/y by 2008 – or will infrastructure crack under the strain?
• Can the Venezuelan coal industry flourish again despite current challenges?
• What can distant suppliers like Russia and Indonesia bring to the Atlantic basin trade?

Transport logistics
• Will port capacity develop as fast as the runaway demand for imported coal?
• Will the interests of the rail sector and coal industry align? Are the right incentives in place?
• Will privately-owned import infrastructure grow as a trend for producers and end-users?

Coaltrans Americas 2007: Insightful analyses, stimulating debates, and prime networking opportunities.

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I believe there must be a radical voice against coal mining and capitalism at this. the rich coal owners refer to local uprising and organizing in appalachia as "challenges" and indigenous resistance in venezuela as nothing more than a barrier to profit. They ask how coal can continue to put money in their pockets regardless of the fact that coal mining is raping the earth.

http://mountainjusticesummer.org
http://risingtidenorthamerica.org
http://beehivecollective.org