The climate crisis has global implications that know no borders. Unfortunately, many communities’ livelihoods are tied to industries that are exacerbating this global problem. Many of the world’s population are unprepared to deal with climate change, and the poorest stand to be hit the hardest and have the fewest resources to deal with it. The dire consequences posed by climate change have compelled us to take non-violent direct action for a healthier future. We are working with some of these communities to create long-term, healthy and sustainable economies so they may liberate themselves from these destructive industries. And at the same time we are acting to stop the destruction inflicted by these industries.
Climate Ground Zero’s mission is to expose and build opposition to globally significant and historic fossil fuel developments such as coal, oil/tar sands, gas and coal-bed methane. Our goal is to organize citizens nationally and internationally for renewable and efficient energy policies, instead of policies that favor fossil fuel industries and accepts their undue influence on public policy.
CGZero’s initial campaign work was to fight international efforts to transmit dirty fossil-fuel electricity from Alberta’s current and proposed coal-fired power plants for export to and consumption in the U.S. We argue this is a private profit scheme by private coal and industry interests, with Alberta’s government giving little consideration to the overall public good, multiple devastating upstream and down stream environmental impacts, and marginalized public input.
Information came to light in June 2006, that exposed that the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EU) was spying on conference calls with Alberta and Montana farmers, landowners and environmental advocates, and implemented an infiltrator scheme against citizens legally organizing to oppose the private industry export scheme. This story has had much press coverage since mid-June.
In June 2007, CGZero also held an “Alberta Needs Change – Not Climate Change” Action Camp. The week-long training covered non-violent protest tactics, grassroots organizing and media/public pressure campaigning skills with activists opposing coal, oil/tar sands, coal-bed methane and gas developments in Alberta. This Action Camp garnered front page and lead story news in Alberta and Canada on TV, print and radio media. Two participants of our camp were interviewed for a feature piece about our Action Camp on CanadaAM on June 4, 2006.
Contributions to CGZero support current grassroots organizing, legal, policy reform and media outreach efforts on this Alberta private, corporate exportation scheme, as well as similar efforts in other areas. A 2008 CGZero Action Camp focused on issues and recruited climate activists in Alberta, Montana and Wyoming to begin opposition to coal developments in Montana and Wyoming.
