Working across Lines: Resisting Extreme Energy Extraction

Corrie Grosse's book "Working across Lines" explores how communities unite against fracking and tar sands to change our energy future by focusing on core values of justice, accountability, and integrity, identifying the roots of injustice, cultivating relationships among activists, and welcoming difference.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 12 July 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Working across Lines provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of climate justice coalitions in California and Idaho, two states with distinct fossil fuel histories, environmental contexts, and political cultures. Drawing on ethnographic evidence from 106 in-depth interviews and three years of participant observation, Corrie Grosse investigates the ways people build effective energy justice coalitions across differences in political views, race and ethnicity, age, and strategic preferences. This book argues for four practices that are critical for movement building: focusing on core values of justice, accountability, and integrity; identifying the roots of injustice; cultivating relationships among activists; and welcoming difference. In focusing on coalitions related to energy and climate justice, Grosse provides important models for bridging divides to reach common goals. These lessons are more relevant than ever.

Introduction:
Climate justice coalitions have emerged as powerful forces in the fight against fracking and tar sands, two fossil fuel extraction methods that have significant environmental and social impacts. These coalitions bring together individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to advocate for a sustainable and equitable energy future. In this essay, we will explore how communities are uniting against fracking and tar sands to change our energy future.

Comparative Analysis:
Working across Lines offers a detailed comparative analysis of climate justice coalitions in California and Idaho, two states with distinct fossil fuel histories, environmental contexts, and political cultures. The book explores the ways in which these coalitions build effective energy justice alliances across differences in political views, race and ethnicity, age, and strategic preferences.

Building Effective Energy Justice Coalitions:
Corrie Grosse's research reveals that effective energy justice coalitions are built on four key practices:

• Focusing on core values of justice, accountability, and integrity.


• Identifying the roots of injustice.


• Cultivating relationships among activists.


• Welcoming difference.

Focusing on Core Values:
Effective energy justice coalitions prioritize the pursuit of justice, accountability, and integrity in their work. They recognize that the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels have perpetuated systemic inequalities and environmental degradation, and they strive to address these issues through advocacy and policy change.

Identifying the Roots of Injustice:
Energy justice coalitions identify the root causes of injustice related to energy extraction and consumption. They understand that the impacts of fracking and tar sands are not limited to the immediate vicinity of extraction sites but extend to communities across the country and the world. By identifying these root causes, coalitions can develop more targeted and effective strategies for advocacy and policy change.

Cultivating Relationships:
Energy justice coalitions cultivate relationships among activists from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. They recognize that collaboration and solidarity are key to achieving their goals. Coalitions work to build trust and respect among activists, and they create spaces for dialogue and learning to strengthen their collective impact.

Welcoming Difference:
Energy justice coalitions welcome difference and recognize that diversity is a strength. They understand that different communities have different needs and priorities, and they strive to create inclusive and equitable energy policies that benefit all stakeholders.

Conclusion:
Communities are uniting against fracking and tar sands to change our energy future through effective energy justice coalitions. By focusing on core values of justice, accountability, and integrity, identifying the roots of injustice, cultivating relationships among activists, and welcoming difference, these coalitions are building a more sustainable and equitable energy system. The lessons learned from the comparative analysis in Working across Lines are more relevant than ever, as we continue to face the challenges of climate change and the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy sources.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520388413