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What an amazing culmination to a great trip! Eva and I woke at the crack of dawn and drove
from Virginia Beach
to Tillery, NC to meet with Gary Grant of the Concerned Citizens of Tillery and
the NC Environmental Justice Network.
We
took some time to talk to Gary
about our issues and then listened to incredible story after story about his
great work and all of the amazing people of Tillery. He told us about the fight for racial,
economic and environmental justice in Hanover
County, NC.
My favorite tale was the fight to elect the first
African-American chair of the county commission. The initial proposal to split the term
between two candidates was finally approved after a six month battle. All the awareness raised and all that they did
to make it happen was truly awe-inspiring.
After a great meeting we went over to Gary’s sister’s café, the Resettlement Café
and I ate the best veggie plate I have ever had in my life. We swapped stories with Evangeline and played
with her grandson Sky as we chowed on corn bread, cabbage, field peas, yams and
lima beans. True yummy goodness, next
time I am within 25 miles of that place I will definitely drop in.
We then headed for home for Eva to prepare for the US Social
Forum and for me to follow-up with all of the great people we met on tour. On the trip we logged over 1000 miles, met
with several amazing groups, and saw some of the prettiest places in the South
bordered by some of the most egregious clearcuts I have ever seen brought to you
by International Paper.
In addition we spent two days conducting interviews at fast
food restaurants talking to Southerners about fast food packaging that comes
from these amazing places. Packaging
used by Yum! Brand Foods and produced by IP.
You can check them out on our website.
It was so good to get out from behind my desk for a little
while and see the special places that we are trying to protect firsthand and
meet with the amazing people and community groups that make this focal area
such a joy and wonder to work for!
For the forests,
Scot Q
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