Grassroots Environmental Justice Internships

Posted by on May 19, 2006

** Please forward to interested parties & lists **

GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INTERNSHIPS
SUMMER/FALL 2006

~~ HELP COMMUNITIES FIGHT DIRTY ENERGY FACILITIES ~~

NO DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASSING REQUIRED

LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA

COMPENSATION: free food and housing at our activist house in Philadelphia plus a $250/month stipend.

TIME FRAME: We have two positions open for this summer. We hope to turn these into longer-term (and better paid) positions around September 2006. A successful summer internship could likely transition into one of these longer-term positions.

ORGANIZATION: Energy Justice Network… see: <a href="http://www.EnergyJustice.net">http://www.EnergyJustice.net</a>

BACKGROUND: Energy Justice is a Philadelphia-based non-profit that helps communities defend themselves from proposed dirty energy and waste facilities.

Currently, communities in the United States are threatened by:
* 140 new coal power plants
* 190 new ethanol biorefineries (most of which would be coal-fired)
* 40 new liquefied natural gas import terminals
* 2 new oil refineries
* 11 new coal-to-oil refineries
* 16 new nuclear reactors
* numerous waste incineration schemes for trash, tires and "biomass" wastes

While big environmental groups focus mostly on policy issues, the grassroots environmental movement is left to fight off these polluting industries with minimal support. In recent decades, grassroots groups — fighting one community at a time — have managed to block 60-90% of the proposed nuclear reactors, trash incinerators and natural gas power plants.

We’re working to develop and strengthen networks to fight these current waves of dirty energy development and we need YOUR help!

If you have activist experience, good computer and communication skills, strong work habits, and good research, writing or investigative journalism skills, please send us a resume!

The two positions we’re seeking are as follows:

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Help locate proposals for dirty energy facilities, research the details of these proposals for our database, document the impacts of dirty energy technologies, and keep our website updated.

GRASSROOTS OUTREACH ASSISTANT: Track down contacts in community groups that are fighting proposals for dirty energy facilities, recruit them into networks around each type of facility, manage email lists and facilitate conference calls. This position also involves networking students with community groups to build joint campus-community campaigns.

For more information about the housing/living/work situation, see: <a href="http://www.actionpa.org/interns/">http://www.actionpa.org/interns/</a>

Please email a resume that includes your activist and leadership experience, details on your computer skills and an indication of your research and writing skills. Please also include references. Email it to Mike Ewall at summer2006@energyjustice.net. Call 215-743-4884 with any questions.