Rising Tide North America
Encyclopedia
Rising Tide North America is a grassroots network of groups and individuals in North America
who take action against the root
causes of climate change
and work towards a just transition to a non-carbon society. Rising Tide North America is part of an international network dedicated to building a movement for climate justice
. Rising Tide generally takes a strongly "no compromise" stance on the environment
and a vehement opposition to solutions proposed by corporation
s who they say are responsible for creating environmental problems in the first place.
In 2000, Rising Tide UK
was formed. In mid 2004, a Rising Tide group formed in Newcastle, Australia, the world's largest coal
export port. A smaller group has also started in Sydney.
Rising Tide North America was formed mainly by Earth First!
and other experienced activists in a desire to be less insular and focus more on coalition building and linking environmental issues to other causes.
Rising Tide describes itself as "a grassroots network of independent groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change. We do not have a formal membership structure - anyone who supports the political statement on our website can become a part of the network."
, the northwest Cascadia
region, Baltimore, Maryland, Boston
, San Francisco Bay Area
and Washington, DC. Rising Tide operates through decentralized, autonomous local groups and consensus decision-making
.
in Woodfin, North Carolina
.
Rising Tide North America has hosted Convergences for Climate Action since the summer of 2007, in multiple locations around the United States.
Contingents have also worked in Mexico. Brad Will
, the Indymedia journalist who was assassinated in Oaxaca
, Mexico, was a member of Rising Tide and Earth First!.
A network of protesters within the Rising Tide, named the 'Greenwash Guerillas' have attacked a number of public speakers in recent times. Thomas Friedman
and others have been notably targeted by this organization, having had cream filled pies thrown at them during their speeches.
, since they claim the protocol is severely compromised by corporations that want to profit from carbon trading
and that it won't help the environment substantially since it doesn't cover chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) or SO2-like gases.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
who take action against the root
Climate change denial
Climate change denial is a term used to describe organized attempts to downplay, deny or dismiss the scientific consensus on the extent of global warming, its significance, and its connection to human behavior, especially for commercial or ideological reasons...
causes of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and work towards a just transition to a non-carbon society. Rising Tide North America is part of an international network dedicated to building a movement for climate justice
Climate justice
Climate Justice is generally used as a term for viewing climate change as an ethical issue and considering how its causes and effects relate to concepts of justice, particularly social justice and environmental justice. For example examining issues such as equality, human rights and historical...
. Rising Tide generally takes a strongly "no compromise" stance on the environment
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
and a vehement opposition to solutions proposed by corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s who they say are responsible for creating environmental problems in the first place.
History
Rising Tide was formed by groups and individuals who came together to organize protests and events at the United Nations Climate Conference of Parties (COP6) in The Hague, in November 2000. These groups shared a unique approach to climate change based around the issues of social justice and a critique of business-led solutions, which were captured in the Rising Tide Political Statement.In 2000, Rising Tide UK
Rising Tide UK
Rising Tide UK is the United Kingdom part of the International Rising Tide Network, both of which were created in 2000 to carry out direct action against the root causes of climate change, and to work towards a fossil fuel free future...
was formed. In mid 2004, a Rising Tide group formed in Newcastle, Australia, the world's largest coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
export port. A smaller group has also started in Sydney.
Rising Tide North America was formed mainly by Earth First!
Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
and other experienced activists in a desire to be less insular and focus more on coalition building and linking environmental issues to other causes.
Rising Tide describes itself as "a grassroots network of independent groups and individuals committed to taking action and building a movement against climate change. We do not have a formal membership structure - anyone who supports the political statement on our website can become a part of the network."
Organization
Rising Tide North America has active local groups in Asheville, North CarolinaAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, the northwest Cascadia
Cascadia
Cascadia, a term that derives from the Cascade Range, may refer to:* the Pacific Northwest* Cascadia, a former plant genus now included in Saxifraga* 1700 Cascadia earthquake...
region, Baltimore, Maryland, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and Washington, DC. Rising Tide operates through decentralized, autonomous local groups and consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-making is a group decision making process that seeks the consent, not necessarily the agreement, of participants and the resolution of objections. Consensus is defined by Merriam-Webster as, first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief or sentiment. It has its...
.
Activities
Rising Tide's first direct action was closing down a coal fired power plant near Carbo, Virginia. Rising Tide would later be instrumental in defeating a proposal by Progress Energy to build an oil fired power plantFossil fuel power plant
A fossil-fuel power station is a power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum to produce electricity. Central station fossil-fuel power plants are designed on a large scale for continuous operation...
in Woodfin, North Carolina
Woodfin, North Carolina
Woodfin is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,464 in 2008. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Town of Woodfin is named in honor of Nicholas Washington Woodfin, a renowned lawyer and statesman of early North Carolina, under whom...
.
Rising Tide North America has hosted Convergences for Climate Action since the summer of 2007, in multiple locations around the United States.
Contingents have also worked in Mexico. Brad Will
Brad Will
Bradley Roland Will was an American activist, videographer and amateur journalist affiliated with Indymedia. On October 27, 2006 during a labor dispute in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, Will suffered two gunshot wounds that resulted in his death....
, the Indymedia journalist who was assassinated in Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Mexico, was a member of Rising Tide and Earth First!.
A network of protesters within the Rising Tide, named the 'Greenwash Guerillas' have attacked a number of public speakers in recent times. Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...
and others have been notably targeted by this organization, having had cream filled pies thrown at them during their speeches.
Kyoto protocol criticism
Rising Tide strongly criticizes Kyoto protocolKyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
, since they claim the protocol is severely compromised by corporations that want to profit from carbon trading
Carbon trading
Carbon trading may refer to:*Carbon emission trading*Personal carbon trading*Emissions trading...
and that it won't help the environment substantially since it doesn't cover chlorofluorocarbon
Chlorofluorocarbon
A chlorofluorocarbon is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. A common subclass are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons , which contain hydrogen, as well. They are also commonly known by the DuPont trade name Freon...
(CFC) or SO2-like gases.
See also
- Action on climate changeAction on climate changeIndividual and political action on climate change can take many forms, most of which have the ultimate goal of limiting and/or reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, toward avoiding dangerous climate change.-Political action:...
- Campaign against Climate ChangeCampaign against Climate ChangeThe Campaign against Climate Change is a UK-based pressure group that aims to raise public awareness of anthropogenic climate change through mobilizing mass demonstrations...
(UK pressure group) - Conservation ethicConservation ethicConservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
- Deep Green ResistanceDeep Green ResistanceDeep Green Resistance is a perspective emerging from the current environmental movement that views mainstream environmental activism as being largely ineffective.- Beliefs :...
- Earth First!Earth First!Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
- Environmental movementEnvironmental movementThe environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
- List of environmental organizations
- Paxus CaltaPaxus CaltaPaxus Calta, born Earl Schuyler Flansburgh, is a Czech born, American political activist, communitarian and writer. He has been involved with the anti-nuclear movement and is a member of the Twin Oaks Community.-Biography:...
- Stop Climate ChaosStop Climate ChaosStop Climate Chaos is a climate change coalition of primarily environmental and international development NGOs that was formed in September 2005. The coalition ran the big I Count campaign in 2006–07 and organised The Wave - a campaign focused on the climatic impacts of energy production which...
(UK pressure group)