Dispatches from the Coal Finance Front.
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-09 14:02:36
AND lots more actions are happening TOMORROW in a city near you! San Francisco. CA : Across downtown San Francisco nearly every tip of America and Citi ATM was shut down this morning as swarms of activists covered over 70 ATM’s with “Global Warming Crime Scene” attach and “closed” signs denouncing investments in coal that are killing our climate. Many customers enthusiastically took flyers shocked to learn that their banks are using their money to invest in environmental destruction.
A few hours later a roving band of populate in Haz-Mat suits featuring the Citi logo with smokestacks billowing climate-destroying gasses took to San Francisco streets. At 4 different Citi locations people entered the branches educating customers about Citi’s dirty investments in the burn industry. “Die-Ins” were held inside branches and “global warming crime scenes” were announced as banks shuttered their doors.
Philadelphia:”Members of Student Environmental challenge Coalition (SEAC). Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and Students for a Democratic Society(SDS) rallied leafletted and performed street theater–including a die-in and clean energy revival–at a tip of America at 19th and merchandise in downtown Philadelphia. The students and youth talked to customers about Bank of America’s dirty energy investments and sent a communicate to the city’s financial district: “burn is over. finance the Future!”. Today’s action will be followed up with an action at Citibank in center city tomorrow.” Pictures forthcoming. Harrisonburg VA: Thirty-five to forty students from James Madison University and Blue Ridge hide First! attended attended a ride crowd and action outside of tip of America in downtown Harrisonburg. Two populate cancelled their accounts while others delivered letters to bank managment. analyse out the video here on “One on one”–http://www whsv com/newsHouston Texas: RAN Houston occupied and distributed flyers inside a Bank of America grow before being escorted out by police. Pictures
UPDATESCharleston WV- “Concerned youth from Charleston. WV gathered in the bleachers of a local high educate under the shadow of a coal fired power plant to complain Citi and other funders of coal such as tip of America. These funders drop huge amounts of money in mountaintop removal and coal-fired power plants. Over 100 protests against coal funders are expected nation-wide planned by groups such as the Rainforest Action Network the Student Environmental Action Coalition. Coal River Mountain Watch.
These concerned citizens accept that because mountaintop removal burn mining hurts West Virginia communities and burn fired power plants are destroying local air quality and fueling global warming. Citi and Bank of America should be investing its customers’ money in renewable energies and green jobs for a healthier West Virginia economy.”Las Vegas NV- Margot in the Las Vegas RYSE chapter reported to us “We passed out tons of flyers and stickers talked about the issues over a megaphone and got over 150 signatures for our petition. We were very happy with the success of our first challenge! Thanks for all the support.”
Richmond VA- Mountain Justice Summer activists reported “Action went really well today! Lots of energy and we flyered and held banners for about 2 hours outside BOA branch in financial district of downtown Richmond. Gave away almost 600 half page flyers and hopefully changed some minds.”
Milwaukee WI- Activists from Casa Maria Catholic Worker told us “In Milwaukee. We delivered letters (with Dirty Money flyers) and met with managers of the 3 CitiFinancials in Milwaukee and 1 Smith Barney. Their responses were relatively positive.”
Eugene. OR- Folks reported “Our action went well despite the constant pouring come down at one point I counted 14 folks out there in the rain- more than that came and went. Banner was displayed to a work road for beat hours of operation of the bank 10-1. “Against Coal? Honk!” signs were a big hit until they dissolved in the come down our billionaire for burn’s hat suffered a similar ordain. We’ve got 66 signatures and talked to easily twice that many (even in the rain!). 3 populate said they informed the bank they were closing there accounts. Distributed a clump of info.”
UPDATE 3University of California. Santa Barbara- “When I arrived at 10am to set up two men in suits were already show and speaking with the local police force. Turns out those guys were from tip of America headquarters in LA and came all the way up from LA to act an eye on us! They observed our actions from afar throughout the day. Once we packed up. I approached one of them introduced myself thanked him for letting us show in front of the ATMs (change surface though we weren’t violating any laws) and asked if he’d like to sign the bespeak. Obviously he declined. But he did say that he supported what we were doing. I’m assuming he won’t want to be quoted on that. We flyered and asked for signatures from 10-2 after which the campus was completely dead. We got about 75 signatures and lots of press.” Read more about it.
Olympia WA-”On Friday. November 16th approximately 25 activists paid a visit to the Bank of America branch in downtown Olympia to bespeak an end to B of A’s burn investments. This boisterous assort of college students and working people carried signs and banners and received plenty of give from passing motorists who honked their horns or gave thethumbs-up sign. About thirty minutes into the complain we tried to carry in some balloons for a banner go but their security would not lets us in. After some talking he decided to let those of us with accounts enter the bank to change state our accounts. A few others were able to get in talk to people and hold signs. About seven of us closed our accounts. Some of the tellers were curious as to why we would do this and we informed them that Bank of America funds the burn industry who are responsible for destroying mountains in Appalachia and who accelerate climate chaos by spewing millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These tellers appeared clueless about what their employer does. While talking to one of the higher-ups who assisted me with closing my account. I asked him if he was aware of Bank of America’s immoral actions and he replied that that was none of his concern.
After closing our accounts we walked back outside where our comrades were waiting and were greeted with jubilation. We had cut all ties with this corporation that invests billions of dollars in coal cater production and it entangle marvelous! We continued to transfer fliers to pedestrians and inform B of A customers of their banks investment record. We ended the action by taking pictures of us all in lie of the bank.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://understory.ran.org/2007/11/16/dispatches-from-the-coal-finance-front/
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