Shadia Fayne Wood, Project Survival Media, 2013 Welcome!

Learn about the Sunflower Alliance Enjoy dinner and meet the Sunflower Alliance members from our working committees. Have some fun. Tonight’s Agenda

A partnership of individuals and organizations who have come together to: fight for environmental justice community health and safety local community and indigenous people’s rights transition from corporate fossil fuel to community owned renewable energy About the Sunflower Alliance (1)

Our struggle is for: saving the Earth from a climate catastrophe an end to the ruinous fossil fuel economy a just and sustainable labor-oriented economy that meets people’s real needs restoring the Earth’s natural climate About the Sunflower Alliance (2)

350 Bay Area Richmond Progressive Alliance Asian Pacific Environmental Network Communities For a Better Environment Natural Resources Defense Council Idle No More Forest Ethics Bay Area Chapter of the Sierra Club Project town fence-line community groups and concerned individuals An Alliance of Many Groups

Sunflowers leach toxins from the soil. The sunflower was the symbol of our march to Chevron Richmond on August 3, ,000 sunflowers were distributed to marchers. Hundreds of sunflowers were planted in the grounds outside the refinery that day. Why a Sunflower?

Formed in Spring 2013 Local Bay Area climate justice and direct action activists Building opposition to KXL pipeline and addressing broader climate issues Best way forward: Keep it local. Opposing expansion of fossil fuel industries that use the dirtiest crude oils from tar sands and fracking Our History

We united with community groups to commemorate the 2012 Chevron Refinery Toxic Fire and Explosion Last August, we helped bring out 3,000 people to march from Richmond BART to the refinery. We took a leading role in organizing the direct action at Chevron where 209 of us were arrested. Our History, Cont’d Chevron March

Spotlight fossil fuel infrastructure in Bay Area: Richmond, Benicia, Martinez, Pittsburg, Hercules, Crockett These communities are toxic hot spots for cancer, asthma and other environmental illnesses. They will be first to feel the impact of massive rail transport, expanded refining, and huge propane storage. More of Our History Local Hot Spots

Pittsburg WesPac: Proposed crude oil storage facility and rail hub Rodeo, Hercules, Crockett Conoco-Phillips: Proposed propane storage Benicia Valero: Proposed crude by rail project Richmond Chevron: “Modernization” project Current Campaigns

Fighting WesPac’s plan for a massive dirty crude marine and rail transport and storage hub More information about organizing in Pittsburg: Pittsburg Defense Council Pittsburg Ethics Council sburg.living WesPac Pittsburg Campaign

On Jan 11, 2014 the Sunflower Alliance joined with Pittsburg residents for an historic 300 strong protest march from the proposed WesPac site to City Hall. Pittsburg March

We are working with residents of Hercules, Rodeo and Crockett to fight the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors over a propane recovery and storage project at Phillips 66 in Rodeo. Massive propane storage tanks will require nearly a three mile blast zone in the case of a serious explosion, similar to a small atom bomb. More information: Phillips 66 Campaign

Working with Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, to stop Valero’s Crude by Rail project designed to bring Bakken and Tar Sands crude slate to the Bay Area. Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community (707) Valero Benicia Campaign

Working with Communities for a Better Environment, APEN, Richmond Progressive Alliance, the REJC and many others, challenging Chevron’s “Modernization” project to ensure emissions reductions and community and worker safety. CBE - Richmond Andrés Soto (510) Richmond Progressive Alliance Chevron Richmond Campaign

We will develop long-term campaigns for a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and calling for an end to all dirty crude expansions. Long Term Campaigns

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) ◦ Regional emissions rule ◦ Crude by rail and refinery permits Benicia, Pittsburg Richmond and Contra Costa County local governments ◦ Industrial Safety Ordinance ◦ Refinery project use permits State Legislature and Regulatory Agencies ◦ State-wide adoption of “Safety Case” regime ◦ Fracking moratorium ◦ Oil severance tax Federal Government ◦ Stopping Bakken and tar sands crude by rail ◦ National fracking ban Campaign Pressure Points

Idle No More is organizing a monthly series of Healing Marches from April through July, connecting oil project communities of the Bay Area Refinery Corridor. Healing Marches

Working with 350 Bay Area and other groups on the Earth Day march and rally in San Francisco, April 19, Earth Day San Francisco, Native News Network Earth Day SF Action Parade & Rally

Located in the East Bay focusing on: local refinery projects the massive expansion of fracking throughout California green alternatives Dirty Energy/Clean Solutions Bay Area Climate Conf. May 9 th – 11 th, 2014

Bringing together Northern and Southern California activists to network and develop action strategies. Dirty Energy/Clean Solutions Bay Area Climate Conference May 9 th – 11 th, 2014 Dirty Energy/Clean Solutions Bay Area Climate Conf. Joining North and South

Climate Justice Alliance national gathering Highlighting community resilience and community based transitions to a sustainable and green economy Working with our Richmond allies to commemorate, once again, the Chevron toxic fire and explosion Our Power Campaign Conference, Richmond August 6 th – 9 th, 2014

Take home our contact information for our committees and upcoming events. Consider joining one of our committees and/or working on one of our events. United we stand! What YOU can do

Upcoming Events Actions Media coverage on climate issue Resources for activists Volunteer Opportunities Sunflower-Alliance.org Our New Website

People at the event wearing Sunflowers on their name tags want to talk to you about different projects they are working on. Dinner tables are designated for specific committees/events where you can find out more about their activities. Meet other Sunflowers