New York City hasn’t earned a reputation as being the most environmentally-friendly. And despite a thriving farmer’s market system citywide, many wonder where to find any “green” activism like that in Portland, OR or other cities.

In the World Trade Center site, apparently. Earlier this month, Greenworks New York City launched a new initiative, “Imagine the New York Region Thriving Green and Just,” at its annual conference at the New York Academy of Sciences headquarters in the brand new skyscraper at 7 World Trade Center. Entrepreneurs of green technology mingled with local citizens and City officials, sharing their enthusiasm about solar roofs and roof gardens to grow food in our urban environment.  Attendants learned about benign underwater rotors harnessing the energy of the rivers surrounding Manhattan Island to produce electric power without carbon or other pollution, thus preventing further damage to the health of our New York City children, bedeviled by asthma from coal and oil particulates in the smoggy air. And through the room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, we could see all the way to Connecticut, New Jersey and the Long Island shore.

Such talk of change and progress felt especially ironic at 7 World Trade Center, with all the latest in friendly eco-tech, ecologically sound design. It’s the only building mounted there, as the roiling financial crisis keeps holding up construction on plans to build the “world’s tallest building” — in other words, macho energy and corporate greed combining to put us at risk once again. Let’s hope that we can have a beautiful public park and memorial, a stone’s throw from the Statue of Liberty and the expansive New York harbor, on this misbegotten site.

So it was quite exhilarating two weeks ago for many of us to join counter-recruitment organizers from all over the country at the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth conference in Chicago. Thanks to two scholarships provided by CP-NYC, we were able to bring two NYC high school students with us, Renee Laster and Gissaury Castillo, both part of the amazing girls’ leadership center, the Lower Eastside Girls’ Club. They joined the Ya-Ya team, fit right in, and took off with zeal. Both were anxious to spread the word at home, which they have already done at the LESGC summer camp program.  They can’t wait to get back to school to teach about ‘students not soldiers’ and how students can fill out “opt-out” forms so recruiters cannot get access to all their private information, including their home addresses.  I am so proud that we provided the financial aid – it made a difference, and two young women have picked up on our issues and will continue the fight.

The conference itself met all my expectations – good workshops, networking with experienced C-R activists, new materials, common interests and frustrations, and above all, a passion for changing from militarization of youth in high schools to a community of education for peace. There were 100 students – some new to the issues and many longer term activists. The communion among them was inspiring and their energy to make change dramatic. I was moved by their insights and determination to make a difference.

Barbara Harris, a 72-year-old grandmother, former teacher and lifelong New Yorker, for the past four years has spear-headed major work in New York City to end military recruitment and JROTC programs  in city high schools, known for their predatory targeting of low-income schools, false promises and lies. Read a New York Times article about her work here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Jan. 12, 2008

New Yorkers host vigil TOMORROW outside U.N.
Demand ceasefire to Gaza attacks, end to U.S. support for illegal Israel assault with U.S. weapons

Participants in the vigil will ask fellow citizens to contact elected officials and call on them to publicly demand an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, an end to the funding and supplying of Israeli weapons with American taxpayer dollars, and support for U.N. Security Council motions for a ceasefire.

They will also demand the Red Cross and other aid groups be safely allowed into Gaza. Such groups were last week forced to temporarily suspend their work due to attacks on their personnel. Israel’s assault on Gaza, entering its third week, has resulted in the killing of over 900 people, including at least 194 children and 58 women.  Israel is the single largest foreign recipient of American military aid, and the current offensive is being carried out with U.S.-funded and manufactured helicopters, tanks, rockets and, most controversially, phosphorous bombs.

“While we in the States don’t see many images of the Palestinian women and children being killed and maimed with our tax dollars, these gruesome photos are being broadcast in the rest of the world,” said Nancy Kricorian, coordinator for CODEPINK NYC. “It is our responsibility as Americans to call on our government to stop aiding and abetting this slaughter.”

Rally organizers include CODEPINK NYC, United for Peace and Justice, American Friends Service Committee, World Without War and Center of Cultures.

The Iraq War is SO over!!!! Time to celebrate!!!! We got the “news” this morning along with the rest of New York City (and Los Angeles, D.C., Chicago…) in a special edition of The New York Times today!!! Hundreds of people distributed them in New York Times black smocks in subways and on street corners to shocked passersby on their way to work. Check out this video all about it!

By noon, the news had spread like wildfire everywhere — it’s in Reuters, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Newsday, New York Post, The Washington Post’s Swamp, Forbes, and more.  We had a party on Military Island in Times Square, with party hats, candy, banners and “War is so over!” stickers. A woman from Belgium, Irene Houben, flew in when she heard the news and joined us to celebrate (when the war began, she said, she called Pres. Bush and told him “From this day, God will no longer bless America!” and she’s been protesting against it ever since.)  People were truly inspired and impressed with the paper. What an amazing day! Imagine the real thing….(Check out more photos of the action here!)

She’ll be out at a New York City high school tonight — other volunteers will be at 52 other schools — at Parent Teacher Conference night, talking with parents about how they can “opt-out” from having the school send their children’s private information to the military under a small provision of No Child Left Behind.

“You give them the information, you see them change their minds,” she said. “They know their kids are vulnerable. They say: ‘They’re calling my baby and I don’t want them to speak to my child. What should I do?’ ”

Barbara is amazing — so intelligent, strong, organized and kind. She has a heart of gold and has made this cause a top priority in her life. What do you think of recruiters in schools?