KFTC Blog | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

KFTC Blog

KFTC members are taking part in a week of climate action in California

Lisa Abbott on September 9, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Communities Taking Action, , Community Science & Public Health, , Energy Democracy, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, , Sustainable Energy, Air Quality, , Black Lung, , Climate Justice, , Empower Kentucky, , I Love Mountains Day, , Leadership Development, , Power Plants, , Racial Justice, , Water Quality

DSC_1691

Seven members and two staff of KFTC are in San Francisco right now, participating in a week of climate actions called Solidarity to Solutions (Sol2Sol for short), aimed at bringing grassroots voices and solutions to the forefront during a major global climate summit that is being hosted by California Governor Jerry Brown and attended by many corporate and state leaders. The Kentuckians are among 500 grassroots delegates organized by It Takes Roots, a collection of four important networks, including the Climate Justice Alliance, Right To The City, Grassroots Global Justice, and the Indigenous Environmental Network.

The Sol2Sol week has been planned with the following goals: "To serve and be in solidarity with the leadership of communities in the Bay Area, across the state, and around the world; to challenge, expose and stop the massive subsidies being handed to multi-national corporations that are violating and destroying our families, ecosystems, and climate; to move public funds to repair, restore and protect Mother Earth and all her peoples; to end the epidemic of disaster capitalism, and redirect stolen wealth to the service, solidarity, and support of communities who are developing place-based solutions to address the root causes of climate change, poverty, and the crisis of democracy."

On Saturday, the nine KFTC members joined with more than 30,000 others in a large and boisterous march in downtown San Francisco, organized by the People's Climate Movement. 

"I'm honored to be here," said Alexa Hatcher from Bowling Green. "Yesterday was about connecting to one another. Everyone was taking care of each other. We were marching with a single purpose and that's to build solidarity where corporations and government powers have historically worked to keep us apart. We are not fighting against each other for scarce resources anymore. We're coming together against a common enemy that has worked to keep us silent and dependent to build a better future for us all."

0 comments view comments

Legislators asked to consider safety of pipelines

KFTC staff on July 20, 2015 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, Central Kentucky, , Madison County, , Rowan County, , Rolling Bluegrass, , Shelby County, , Southern Kentucky, , Wilderness Trace, Air Quality, , Water Quality

Two legislative committee hearings in July focused on pipeline safety in Kentucky.

On July 16, KFTC member Bob Pekny joined Rep. David Floyd to talk about the Pipeline Safety Bill that was introduced in the 2015 legislative session.

“Kentucky is crisscrossed with pipelines of various sorts, most of them related to energy” Rep. Floyd told the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. “We believe an increase in precautions would be wise.”

0 comments view comments

Wilderness Trace hosts third successful Barn Bash

KFTC staff on July 10, 2015 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, Wilderness Trace, Fundraiser

Heat and threats of storms didn’t keep about 100 people from coming out to Woodwind Farm in Junction City on June 13th for the third annual Wilderness Trace KFTC Barn Bash. The weather behaved just right for people to enjoy a great afternoon of good music, delicious food, beautiful surroundings, lake swimming, and friendly silent auction bidding, all to benefit KFTC.

Members at the Barn Bash

Thanks to event sponsor, Stuart Powell Ford Lincoln Mazda, the chapter was able to highlight locally sourced foods for the second year in a row. Folks who came hungry were delighted to enjoy sausages from Sunwatch Homestead, hot dogs from St. Catharine Farm, and burgers from Rising Sons Beef. KFTC members filled out the rest of the meal with wonderful side dishes and plenty of desserts.

While folks chowed down on food, they got to hear a little bit from member, Jim Porter, about why he is proud to be a KFTC member.

0 comments view comments

Apply to attend 7-day training with Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition!

Lisa Abbott on May 15, 2015 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Community Science & Public Health, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, , Energy Democracy, , Sustainable Energy, Air Quality, , Climate Justice, , coal ash, , Fracking, , Leadership Development, , Power Plants, , Water Quality, , workshop

Are you a young person (under 30) interested in building a diverse, powerful, youth-led environmental movement in Kentucky? Or do you know folks who fit that description? If so, check out this awesome opportunity to attend an 7-day intensive leadership development camp hosted by the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition.

The training program, called Catalyst, will take place July 26-August 2 at the Life Adventure Center in Versailles, Kentucky. Participants will learn skills to launch and sustain effective campaigns for change on their campuses and in their communities. The program will maintain an emphasis on anti-oppression, inclusion, and relationship-building for the long-haul.

0 comments view comments

Eminent domain bill with broad support stalled in House

KFTC staff on March 17, 2014 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, Rolling Bluegrass, , Shelby County, Water Quality

UPDATE: NOW STALLED IN SENATE. After nearly an hour-long debate on Friday, March 21, the House approved HB 31 by a 75-16 vote (see how they voted HERE). Rep. John Tilley and Rep. David Floyd argued passionately for the bill while several legislators representing the Bluegrass Pipeline partners argued in opposition. Now the bill is stalled in the Senate, where Republican leaders won't let it move.

Legislation to clarify that landowners have the right to decline easements for private pipeline projects across their land has been stuck in the Kentucky House.

After two meetings in February, the House Judiciary Committee approved a committee substitute for House Bill 31. The vote was 11-1 on February 26, with 11 votes being the minimum needed. Nine members of the committee were either absent or abstained from voting.

0 comments view comments

Eminent domain use for hazardous liquids pipeline challenged

KFTC on December 5, 2013 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline

The claim by developers of a proposed hazardous liquids pipeline that they have the power of eminent domain was challenged today in Franklin Circuit Court.

0 comments view comments

Pipeline risks desribed to EQC

KFTC on November 27, 2013 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, Water Quality

Members of the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission got a detailed lesson about the dangers and shortcomings of the proposed

0 comments view comments

Faith communities say No to the proposed hazardous liquids pipeline

KFTC on November 7, 2013 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline, Rolling Bluegrass, , Shelby County

Members of Kentucky’s faith communities brought the support of thousands of their fellow believers during an event at the capitol on Tuesday, focused on stopping a proposed hazardous liquids pipeline.

“When people of faith around the country learned of our efforts here to care for Kentucky’s people, land, water and heritage and oppose this dangerous hazardous liquids pipeline, they responded in large numbers,” explained Rev. Cynthia Cain, a minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church.

“More than 36,000 of our sisters and brothers in Kentucky and across the nation signed a petition from Faithful America asking Governor Beshear to share our love for our land and help us protect it from this proposed and unwanted pipeline.”

Rev. David Whitlock of the Lebanon Baptist Church acknowledged that, “For too long too many of us have stepped aside and [let corporations rule]. We are simply here to say enough is enough. It’s time for a change. The stakes are high."

0 comments view comments

Pipeline Action: Tell the Corps and FERC to Protect Our Water

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on October 21, 2013 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline

A growing number of Kentuckians continue to stand up for our water, land and health by standing against the proposed Williams & Boardwalk hazardous liquids Bluegrass Pipeline.

0 comments view comments

Bluegrass Hazardous Liquids Pipeline update and action

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on October 9, 2013 in , Proposed Bluegrass Pipeline

In the face of Williams’ aggressive and misleading media campaign, members and allies have been helping Kentuckians learn more about the risks of natural gas liquids and Williams’ safety record. In the past couple of weeks, members and allies have tabled at festivals, organized community information meetings, and gone door-to-door along the proposed route to make sure that their neighbors and communities have the information and opportunities to take action. 

Amy Palumbo, a member who works in Hardin County and lives in LaRue County, organized a community information meeting in Hardin County. Amy said that she organized the meeting because she went to the Williams' Open House in Hardin County and didn’t get real answers. “I just felt like it’s important that people have their questions answered, and know what this is, so they can make informed decisions.”

0 comments view comments

Page