Everyone always associates my homestate of Texas with nefarious individuals and institutions like George Bush, Exxonmobil and Halliburton. While there is an undeniable conservative element which dominates much of the states political system and culture, there are also many environmentally and socially conscious communities which work and struggle to “be the change you want to see in the world.” Oil barons, coal-burning utilities and Gov. Rick Perry (or as Molly Ivins called him “Gov. Hairdo”) are often held accountable by these folks. The TXU campaign led RAN organizers to Texas this weekend to meet and collaborate with Texas environmentalists, activists and concerned citizens

This weekend 200 activists from Texas and beyond participated in the 9th Radical Encuentro Camp. The multi-cultural multi-racial multi-generational camp set in the Texas hill country outside of Austin Texas focused on climate change and climate justice, featured women from Appalachia, New Mexico and Texas engaged in coal struggles and linked economic and environmental struggles affecting populations in the North America and the Global South. The program included workshops focused on climate change, activist skillsets and issues as diverse as prisons and Global South solidarity.

Being that the camp was something of a climate action camp, we planned a post-action camp at TXU’s legislative office across the street from the Texas capital in downtown Austin. Monday at High Noon, we put together a pagaent of “Canaries in a coalmine,” a Cough-in, a Coal-Aid stand, faux TXU lobbists paying off Gov. Hairdo and proponents for wind and solar. After having the cough-in outside the building, we decided to pay TXU’s 65 lobbists a visit. Inside we attempted to go up the elevator up to the 7th floor, but security prevented us from making it up the elevator. We did however occupy the lobby until Austin’s finest showed up. It was a pretty great post-camp action.

A highlight overall for me was working with my cohorts at RAN and my old friends in the struggle from Texas. Great work done by everyone, great fun too. Nothing better than sending a direct communication to the corporate fatcats that we won’t settle for anything less than–No New Coal.

Check out the pretty pictures here.
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