Rocky Kistner - OnEarth Magazine, from NRDC

The End of the Tour But the Beginning of the Fight

On Oct 12, military veterans of Operation Free boarded two large biodiesel buses in two different states to begin a historic journey crisscrossing the country to talk to citizens, political leaders and fellow veterans about the national security implications of climate change and the need for Congress to enact comprehensive new clean energy legislation.
The brilliant blue coach buses were wrapped with the names of more than 70 cities and towns in 21 states that the buses visited over a two-week period. Veterans of wars from all services participated in the tour, some jumping on board for a few days while a few others stayed on board for the entire period.
I served as communications staff aboard the "southern" bus, blogging at various points along the way for the Operation Free and the ...read full post

Comments (0) | November 6, 2009
Veterans for American Power Tour Rolls to Finish Line in Florida

After marching through more than 30 cities and towns in 12 states and the District of Columbia, the southern bus of the Veterans for American Power Tour criss-crossed the Sunshine State this weekend to convince people that America will be more secure by switching to a clean energy economy.
Our first stop was in the American Legion Hall Post 6 in Deland, FL. In a room appointed with military memorabilia and a wall-mounted M16, the vets mingled with fellow veterans of wars dating back to World War II.
Many in the room agreed with their message: we need to find other sources of clean energy here at home to keep American armed service members from having to deploy and fight in wars over oil and other energy sources. It's the best way to ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 27, 2009
With a Presidential Push Vets March Through Florida

It's not everyday that the commander in chief recognizes your actions in a major speech to the nation. But that's exactly what happened yesterday, and the ex-service members aboard the southern bus of the Veterans For American Power Tour gave out a loud rebel cheer when they heard the news (there were a few Yankee hollers as well).
"It's not everyday that the president acknowedges your accomplishments," said Army veteran Ed May, a South Carolina native now living in Tennessee. "I joined this tour because I love my country and this is the most important service I can give to it. It makes me proud to know our commander in chief feels the same way."

The vets started their tour yesterday morning when their distinctive logo-emblazoned blue bus ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 26, 2009
Veterans For American Power Get Some Soothing Southern Hospitality

With sunshine pouring down like liquid gold, veterans of Alpha bus continued their push south, making stops in Charlotte, NC, Greensboro, SC and Columbia, SC. News cameras and supporters welcomed the members of the Veterans for American Power Tour as they continued to encourage community leaders and citizens to support the development of clean energy technologies to make Americans more secure.
After boarding the bus yesterday in Greensboro, NC, the first stop was at the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Charlotte. In a secluded park shaded by tall oaks and elm trees, the veterans walked along a sloping wall of names of members of the area who gave their lives during the war.
...read full post

Comments (0) | October 26, 2009
Veterans for American Power Tour Heads to Land of Dixie

Today the Veterans for American Power tour continues it's southern swing deeper into the land of Dixie. Over the past several days, we've traveled from West Virginia to Washington DC, and then headed south all the way to Greensboro, NC, visiting Richmond, Norfolk, Raleigh, Fayetteville and over-nighting in Greensboro.
The vets continue to press their message of clean energy and oil independence to make our country more secure.
In Richmond on Tuesday, Oct 20, we were met by a reporter of the Richmond Times, who boarded the bus and had a roundtable discussion with the vets.
"It's really important that we let people know that what we learned in the military is to prepare for threats in advance," said Army vet Rafael Noboa, who served in Iraq. "With climate disruption, we know the ...read full post

Comments (1) | October 23, 2009
Bus Breaks Down But Our Spirits Stay High

A beautiful Indian summer day greeted the veterans of Alpha bus Sunday morning. We left the hotel in Roanoke early to meet a Roanoke Times reporter for an interview.
"I remember the oil embargoes of the 70s," said Ed May, an Army veteran of Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq. "Everyone said we needed to get off oil and find another source of energy. Then I went and served in the Gulf War, and after that they said the same thing. It's time to get something done now, for our nation's security sake."
Then we fired up the bus and headed north to Charlottesville, the home of Thomas Jefferson. But within minutes of leaving Roanoke, the bus blew a hose and we were forced to pull over. Ellis, our veteran pilot, guided the wounded blue bus to a nearby service station for repairs. The breakdown forced us ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 21, 2009
Veterans for American Power Tour heads to DC

After barnstorming through much of the midwsest the Veterans for American Power tour is heading to the nation's capitol today. Since the tour started in Arkansas Oct 12, we been to dozens to towns and cities in a half dozen states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and West Virgnia. The vets on the bus are from a wide range of services and tours, ranging from Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf to recent tours to Afghanistan. They all have been spreading the message that climate change is a national security threat, and that creating a new clean energy economy is the best way to keep our country safe and secure by getting off oil and creating more jobs in the US.
Army veteran Ed May plans to be with the tour the entire trip, ending up in Tampa October 25. "I'm on the trip because this is the most important mission in my life," he says. "I remember standing in the oily rain during the gulf War. I know what it's like to go to war over ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 19, 2009
Veterans for American Power Tour Motors Through Missouri and Nebraska

On Wednesday, Oct 13, the Veterans for American Power pulled out of St Louis in its brilliant Navy blue bus, wrapped with the names of 66 cities and towns in the 22 states that the bus tours will visit this month.
Our busload of veterans, nicknamed "Team Alpha," assembled in the early morning darkness for a 6 am departure from St. Louis to Jefferson City, the capital of the Show Me State. There the vets were met by a variety of media, including the CBS station KRCG-TV, the Jefferson City News Tribune and St Louis Public Radio, KWMU, and the Brownfield Farm Radio network.
With the state capital dome looming in the background, the vets lined up outside the bus on a damp and gray fall morning. Billy Froeschner, an Army vet from Missouri, told the group of reporters,"We need to bring jobs back to Missouri and we think changing to a clean energy economy is vital to our national security. We want clean American power and we want it ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 16, 2009
Getting on the Bus with Veterans for American Power

Greetings from the Veterans for American Power Tour! Over the next two weeks, I'll be travelling with a group of veterans through the Midwest and down the East Coast.
Why did these veterans, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, sign up to take a bus across America? Because they recognize that clean energy solutions are essential for America's economy, our climate and our national security.
The veterans have come together for an unprecedented 21-state journey organized by Operation Free to talk to citizens and community leaders about the looming crisis of climate change-which not only threatens our planet, but also threatens our national security. Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security groups working together to raise public awareness about the threats of climate change and our addiction to oil.
There are two buses of veterans heading out on the tour, one starting in Montana and one in the Arkansas. On my bus are five veterans from diverse ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 15, 2009