Where there’s smoke, there’s devastation

Where there’s smoke, there’s devastation

NOTE: This is the second part of a three-part blog on the Line 3 pipeline. Part 1 decodes Line 3 language. In early January, when construction started on Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline, the temperature in northern Minnesota near Bemidji, MN was brisk and cloud cover made the sky overcast and grey. Or so residents thought.… Read more »

Treaty People Gathering
Treaty People Gathering

Last month, at the invitation of Minnesota Indigenous leaders, my wife and I attended the Treaty People Gathering (TPG) on the White Earth Reservation. We spent three days learning, singing, praying, practicing, and then protesting against Line 3. It was a remarkable experience. The first full day at the TPG was busy. First, we learned… Read more »

Next Nourish episodes
Next Nourish episodes

Nourish by MN350 is a podcast by the MN350 Food Systems Team. It features visionary leaders who are creating the regenerative, inclusive, local food economy we need to meet the challenge of climate change. The two newest episodes are “A Return to Vibrancy” and “An Irreplaceable Treasure.” In “A Return to Vibrancy,” writer, producer, host,… Read more »

Where is Governor Walz’s commitment to Minnesota’s environment?
Where is Governor Walz’s commitment to Minnesota’s environment?

Through his inaction on climate issues, Gov. Tim Walz has consistently ignored what’s best for Minnesota’s future. The recent Climate Report Card, released by a coalition of 18 leading climate, environmental, community, and Indigenous organizations in Minnesota, grades the governor on nine areas in which he can move our state forward — even without action… Read more »

The Native American fight against broken pipelines and broken promises
The Native American fight against broken pipelines and broken promises

All oil pipelines break. It’s simply a matter of when, how often, and how catastrophically. The safety record of Enbridge, the energy infrastructure company behind the new Line 3 pipeline (extending from Hardisty, Alberta, through Minnesota, to Superior, Wis.) is a story of broken pipelines and broken promises. Among the most affected by these broken… Read more »

The People’s Hearing on Xcel’s fossil gas plant
The People’s Hearing on Xcel’s fossil gas plant

Last week MN350, St. Paul 350, the Sierra Club, Fresh Energy and other partners hosted a “People’s Hearing” to discuss Xcel Energy’s proposal to build a fossil gas plant near Becker, MN. The plant would cost Minnesotans more than $1 billion and would emit more than 3 million metric tons of carbon annually. Sierra Club… Read more »

Decoding Line 3 language
Decoding Line 3 language

NOTE: This is the first part of a three-part blog on the Line 3 pipeline. While calling their movement “grassroots,” supporters of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline have been spending a lot of money getting their message out – via television ads, digital ads, and a never-ending letters to the editor campaign extolling the economic… Read more »

New Nourish episode
New Nourish episode

On the latest episode of Nourish by MN350, volunteer host and architect of the Headwaters Community Food & Water Bill (HF1332/SF1580), Marita Bujold, welcomes two members of the Red Lake Nation, Robert Blake and David Manuel. Robert is the founder and director of Solar Bear and Native Sun Community Power. David Manuel co-directs the tribe’s food sovereignty initiative. Together with their community… Read more »

New episodes of our Nourish podcast
New episodes of our Nourish podcast

Nourish by MN350 is a podcast by the MN350 Food Systems Team. It features visionary leaders who are creating the regenerative, inclusive, local food economy we need to meet the challenge of climate change. The latest two episodes are Place-Based Food and Conductors of the Symphony. In MN350’s latest podcast episode, “Conductors of the Symphony,” Food… Read more »

Minnesota’s green reputation belied by influence of fossil fuel industry
Minnesota’s green reputation belied by influence of fossil fuel industry

This commentary was published initially by the Minnesota Reformer on May 13, 2021. Minnesota is the anchor state in what political pundits often refer to as the “blue wall,” a collection of 18 states that Democrats have mostly dominated in presidential elections since 1992. In the past 11 presidential elections, Minnesota has chosen the Democratic… Read more »