September 24, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
September 7, 2017
by Carla Truax and Eric Kirkendall
Graphic adapted from an AFL-CIO poster.
Are you an organizer in the goods movement industry or do you work as a port or warehouse worker, or as a truck driver? Are you concerned about freight transportation and warehouse worker health and safety?
The Moving Forward Network shares your concerns and invites you to join us at our international conference on October 13-14 in Carson, California, and participate in the Worker and Labor track, which will focus on the impacts of freight transport, goods movement systems, and related air pollution on workers and the workforce, and how labor unions, organizations, and coalitions are connecting to build power.
May 21, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
The Brawley, California community organization Comite Civico Del Valle has tremendous accomplishments under its belt, including installation of a very robust set of fixed air pollution monitors throughout the region, and establishment of the IVAN environmental reporting system, used by residents in the Imperial Valley and communities across the state.
Working with long-time partner Loma Linda University Medical Center. Comite Civil and other partners are now expanding their services. They are training high school students to be citizen scientists, and encouraging residents to install Purple Air monitors to measure air quality in real-time outside of their homes to ensure the air they breathe is safe before engaging in outdoor physical activities. This will be especially valuable to children and others with asthma. To learn more, check out the resources below and the article that follows.
In California’s Imperial Valley, Residents Aren’t Waiting for Government to Track Pollution, Yes! Magazine
AIResiliency on Twitter
I.V.A.N., Identifying Violations Affecting Communities, IVAN Online
Read More›
May 9, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
EJScreen is a very powerful tool that puts capabilities previously available only to mapping experts in the hands of environmental justice groups and others.
If you or your organization have used EJScreen, please let EPA know how they can improve it by filling out the EJScreen User Survey. Just follow the instructions below.
To learn more about this great tool, check out the links at the end of this blog post.
Read More›
May 2, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
The Moving Forward Network is composed of over 40 member organizations, and virtually every organization participated in the People’s Climate Marches in Washington, DC, or at a sister march in another city. Check out a few examples:
Chicago IL
Great looking group of @NRDC supporters ready for the #Chicago #climatemarch pic.twitter.com/Ywj8wMenlT
— Guyadeen (@Guyadeen) April 29, 2017
Concord NH
I'm at the People's Climate March in Concord NH with my family. #climatemarch @NRDC pic.twitter.com/6CkttkDv5Q
— Franz Matzner – NRDC (@FranzMatzner) April 29, 2017
Kansas City, MO
Long Beach CA
Los Angeles CA
This photo was provided by Comite Civico del Valle, one of many MFN members who marched in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles to call attention to an urgent regional issue – the expansion of the Tesoro Oil Refinery.
New York City NY
Ironbound presente! @The_MFN @CJAOurPower @FundforNJ @kresgenviro pic.twitter.com/v2QltAESIU
— ICC (@IronboundCC) April 29, 2017
Marching with NRDC Executive Director Peter Lehner and NRDC colleagues and members
Oakland CA
In the San Francisco Bay Area, several thousand people converged on the shores of Oakland’s Lake Merritt for a rally that included indigenous leaders and local environmental justice groups. There, 70-year-old Margaret Gordon, an organizer with a group called No Coal in Oakland, summed up the crowd’s concerns with a fiery one-minute speech from the stage. “Keep the fossil fuels in the ground. Clean up our air, water, and soil,” she said. (Source http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/indigenous-communities-lead-massive-peoples-climate-march-dc)
Portland OR
Neighbors for Clean Air marched in Portland!
The Portland Peoples Climate March was a great event with frontline communities voices front and center.
San Diego CA
Washington, DC
NRDC Marching to defend the Paris Agreement
Thank you indigenous & frontline communities for leading the way! #climatemarch #peoplesclimate pic.twitter.com/9sRyQ4XJ3T
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) April 29, 2017
Follow along with Clean Water today at the @Peoples_Climate march in DC! #climatemarch #climatechangeiswaterchange pic.twitter.com/ltqByk3E8h
— CleanWaterAction NJ (@CleanWaterNJ) April 29, 2017
This is #WhyIMarched at the #Climatemarch today-Why did you march and what will you do back home? @HipHopCaucus #ClimateJustice pic.twitter.com/WyBkrCwAZQ
— Mustafa Santiago Ali (@EJinAction) April 30, 2017
Marching with masses and demanding that we #ActOnClimate before it's too late…@Peoples_Climate pic.twitter.com/MqOXcnMlgr
— Clean Air Council (@cleanaircouncil) April 29, 2017
April 20, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Photo: East Bay Express.
Zero emissions Class 8 heavy-duty Class 8 18-wheelers are a reality today. The innovative Kansas City company Orange EV is the first and only company to make all-electric big rigs commercially available. Their electric terminal trucks are operating throughout the country.
However, over-the-road electric Class 8 trucks are another story – to date only prototype and demonstration zero emissions Class 8 trucks capable of operating on public highways have been produced.
But, the marketplace is changing rapidly, and other companies, some established and some new, are jumping into the fray. As a result, within a few years we may see a strong shift from dirty diesel to zero-emissions trucking on public highways. A few examples, followed by references for more information:
As we reported late last year in Nikola announces “The end of diesel engines”… electric Class 8 heavy-duty trucks using power generated by hydrogen fuel cells will be truly zero-emissions if the hydrogen is generated by solar energy. Nikola Motors has an ambitious and innovative plan to do that on the national level by 2020, with solar-powered refueling stations on major truck routes throughout the country. Their solution has a number of other innovative features, and they have produced a very impressive demonstration vehicle.
By the end of 2016, Nikola reported that they had received over 7,000 preorders worth over $2 billion.
“Say goodbye to the days of dirty diesel…”
Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola Motor Company
Mercedes-Benz is also moving into this market, and has promised to deliver prototypes of its all-electric mid-range (124 miles) Urban eTruck this year, and produce it commercially in 2020.
Last week, two more firms joined the zero emissions trucking race – Tesla announced that they have an electric semi under production, and Toyota developed a prototype hydrogen-electric drayage truck for use at the Port of Los Angeles.
For the latest news, check out the articles below.
Rail Management Services Orders 9 More Orange EV T-Series All-Electric Yard Trucks, CleanTechnica
Big Rigs to Pickups — Toyota Could Develop Full Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Line, Trucks.com
Mercedes’ electric Urban eTruck will hit the road this year, Road Show
Toyota Rolls Out Hydrogen Semi Ahead Of Tesla’s Electric Truck, Forbes
Morgan Stanley likes the idea of a Tesla semi-truck, Business Insider
April 13, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
One of the founders of the Moving Forward Network and most accomplished EJ activists in the U.S., Margaret Gordon, is going to speak on Thursday, April 20 in Oakland about the pollution caused by freight transportation in communities of color, and share lessons learned on how to improve community health. Her presentation and talks by three other outstanding speakers makes this a “must-attend” event. Sign up today!
Received by email:
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ANNOUNCED! Youth, Public Health, Enviro Justice Speakers @
|
 Aaron Lehmer-ChangDirector California Trade Justice Coalition A Citizens Trade Campaign affiliate |
 Will WiltschkoLead Organizer California Trade Justice Coalition A Citizens Trade Campaign affiliate |
More About California Trade Justice News & Alerts
California Trade Justice News is a quarterly publication of the California Trade Justice Coalition (CTJC), a project of Earth Island Institute, and proud affiliate of the Citizens Trade Campaign. The CTJC is a new coalition of labor, environmental, family farm, public health, immigrant rights, human rights, pro-democracy, and socially conscious business leaders — all committed to building a strong California economy that works for all.
PUBLISHER: Aaron Lehmer-Chang, ED
CONTRIBUTORS: Will Wiltschko, Lead Organizer, Jake Soiffer, Social Media & Communications Intern
Like us on Facebook! | Follow us on Twitter! | Support our efforts today!
CONTACT INFO:
California Trade Justice Coalition
436 14th Street, Suite 1216
Oakland, CA 94612
Web: www.catradejustice.org
January 20, 2017
by Eric Kirkendall
Just as electric vehicles can be quicker off the starting line than fossil fuel vehicles, the technology for zero and low emissions passenger vehicles is advancing faster than most thought possible. A report just released by the California Air Resources Board finds that the California greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards currently in place for model years 2022-2025 are readily feasible at or below the costs estimated back in 2012 – when the standards were adopted with support from many automakers. Continuing on the path to meeting the 2025 standards will deliver significant clean-air and public health benefits for Californians and cost-savings for consumers.
The 667-page Midterm Review of Advanced Clean Cars Program report released this week confirms that the previously adopted package of GHG standards, technology-forcing zero-emission vehicle standards, and the most health-protective particulate matter standards in the world are appropriate. The report indicates that existing programs in California will add at least 1 million zero-emission vehicles on its roads and highways by 2025.
“The recent Detroit auto show shined a spotlight on the fact that we are fully engaged in a global transformation towards autonomous vehicles, with hybrid cars an industry norm and electric models appearing across models and platforms,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. “Our standards need to recognize and keep pace with that market reality to keep California and the nation fully competitive in the global automobile marketplace. The conclusion is inescapable: California’s vehicle future is electric.”
Read More›
December 30, 2016
by Carla Truax and Eric Kirkendall
On December 21, the University of Southern California held a webinar “Training resources to build community capacity on goods movement and health,” which highlighted the resources available in the Moving Forward Network library and how they can be used. A recording of the webinar can be found here.
Speakers Carla Truax of the University of Southern California, Eric Kirkendall of the Diesel Health Project, and Ms. Margaret Gordon of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project talked about workshops and presentation resources that organizations can use to train new members and students. They discussed their experiences developing the materials for varied audiences, and noted that the “guides and 101” documents are great for beginners, use an engaging education style, and often are available in both English and Spanish.
The Moving Forward Network Library features hundreds of useful documents, including the Air Pollution 101 training course, the Curriculum Guide for Freight Transport Justice, the Goods Movement 101 three-part course, the Speakers Kit on Goods Movement, policy briefs, reference collections and infographics on health studies, and national Environmental Justice and Global Trade Impact reports.
Topics covered in the webinar included how to locate occupational health resources, warehouse worker studies, and other useful resources, such as information on refineries, hazardous materials, and schools. Participants commented on the importance of “Reducing Air Emissions Associated With Goods Movement: Working Towards Environmental Justice” by the EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also available in the MFN Library. There was also discussion about continuing the online meetings and hosting a calendar of events on the MFN Web site.
To learn more, view the recording of the webinar and check out the resources available in the MFN Library.
Moving Forward Network partners – please share your public materials in the library by emailing them to library@movingforwardnetwork.com.
Thanks to the Moving Forward Network partners and webinar host USC Environmental Health Community Engagement Team for this excellent session!
December 24, 2016
by Eric Kirkendall
The EJ poster image above is courtesy of Donnelly/Colt Progressive Resources.
Since the election of Donald Trump, environmental justice leaders across the country have been strategizing about how to continue to fight for justice in the face of expected big shifts in Federal government priorities. One theme that has been consistent – they will not stand down.
Angelo Logan, campaign director, Moving Forward Network, as quoted by Keith Rushing, Lead Advocacy Press Secretary, Earthjustice