Occupy Forum Presents — Chevron Not Chagrined — What’s Next

Last year at this time, OccupyForum presented “Turning Point or Tipping Point? The Crimes of Chevron and the Campaigns to Stop Them.” A year later, Chevron continues to be the brutal, poisoning, lying, exploiting, oppressing, militarizing, greenwashing climate criminal it has always been. In its wake it leaves cancer, corrupted democracy, environmental disaster. Groups all over the world have fought Chevron, and must continue to do so as the list of Chevron’s Environmental Justice casualties covers the entire globe.

While our work of cajoling, regaling, guilt-tripping, regulating, threatening, suing, fining, etc. has definitely had its impact, Chevron is still not properly chagrined. Ideally, Chevron should transition into the sustainable energy business or close. The writing is on the wall anyway, and the sooner the better. Especially for the communities directly in their path, and for the entire planet‘s survival.

But a movement is building that will bring all this to a head; a movement incited by our growing understanding of ensuing climate chaos: the movement to override and circumvent our existing fossil fuel energy supply, and embrace and implement one of our own. Let’s plan together: If we could craft any energy system we wanted, what do we propose? As the Arctic melts away, the time is NOW.

Our panelists will include:

• Stephanie Hervey from Richmond CA will speak about what it‘s like having Chevron as a neighbor, and knowing your family is being poisoned: What does it take to organize people to feel empowered, and gain the knowledge necessary to take on this criminal? How does a community begin to create “system change”?

• Victor Menotti from the International Forum on Globalizationre: the Koch Bros and their huge effort to deny climate science and promote fossil fuel dependency by buying government and media,

• Ophir Bruck from 350.org will speak about massive divestment from the fossil fuel industry as a way to move beyond their toxic methods and influence,

• Grant Wilson from Earth Law Center will explain Rights of Nature and community rights ordinances as legal alternatives,

• Eric Brooks from CleanPowerSF will speak as an organizer disseminating clean power and about the fight against PG&E which is attempting to stop community choice aggregates from taking hold,

• Sven Eberlein from Ecocity Builders re: sustainable cities and bicycles, specifically; how we look at progress and development in an upside down way, and how the simpler life is not only healthier but a lot more fun and fulfilling.

The panel will show how business as usual with Chevron is a losing battle (although one that still must be fought for the communities who have to live near them — worldwide), and that alternatives exist — from instituting new laws to embracing and implementing clean power and clean living.
A clean energy revolution is already underway and, as the world comes to grips with the need to change, it will inevitably spread. We can choose to join or remain stuck in the past.

“To pretend that civilization can exist without destroying its own landbase and the landbases and cultures of others is to be entirely ignorant of history, biology,thermodynamics, morality, and self-preservation.”

― Derrick Jensen, Endgame, Vol. 1: The Problem of Civilization

Time will be allotted for a Q&A, group discussion and announcements.

Donations to OccupyForum appreciated; no one turned away.