Deceleration

This October in San Antonio there are a range of events honoring Indigenous Peoples Day. Antonio Diaz has been organizing for Indigenous rights and recognition in San Antonio, Texas, for a quarter of a century. On the cusp of his 25th march in the city, Deceleration spoke with Diaz about the roots of his own Indigenous awareness and movement away from Dia de la Raza rhetoric in the late ’90s to what became a tenacious drive for an Indigenous Peoples Day declaration in San Antonio. With that declaration secured in 2015, Diaz says his aim is now to move the state’s leadership, which remains mired in violent, racist policies toward Native people as exemplified in Project Lone Star on the border, toward similar action. Full Interview: https://deceleration.news/2023/10/06/antonio-diaz-and-the-roots-of-the-indigenous-dignity-day-march-in-san-antonio/

Albert's old friend Mark Moutos shares some stories about his late best friend and thoughts on nearly not surviving this summer's extreme heat. When Albert was on the street, these two were practically inseparable. Albert passed away on August 12 at the age of 56. Mark, who says he experienced two cases of heat stroke of his own, believes if this summer had been a little less brutal that Albert would still be alive today. Of course, if the agencies had moved to resolve Albert's complaint about a home care provider he probably wouldn't have been on the street in the first place living in 110+ daily temps and (as Mark says here) never once complaining about his pain.

[UPDATE: Podcast w/ Rose Jones here. Better audio: https://deceleration.news/2023/09/22/extreme-heat-hidden-impacts-rose-jones/] ... Where to start? We are still trying to understand why Albert died. This week an employee of the Bexar Medical Examiner's Office told me they always consider the impact of heat on people—and have noticed the impact of extreme heat on unhoused folks this summer. But a few hours ago I got a message from a Bexar County Public Information Officer who said unequivocally that the ME DOES NOT CONSIDER HYPERTHERMIA (overheating) when considering causes of death on autopsies. Who is right? Stay tuned. But if the intention is to keep selling San Antonio as a safe place to move and live, it may be that we are getting the results we pay for here. Anyway, I just uploaded an important talk by a medical anthropologist who says we are doing everything wrong when it comes to understanding the impact of heat on our bodies (and it impacts, she stressed, every organ in the body!). Some of y'all who geek out on public health and want to know why folks are dying and that we aren't supposed to know why may want to check this out. "Heat + Health: A Prescription for Change" A talk by Rose Jones, Medical Anthropologist, Research & Strategic Lead in Urban Green Health, Texas Trees Foundation Venue: Climate Science: The Good, The Bad, The Wicked, San Marcos, Texas This talk embraces the conference theme – the good, the bad, and the wicked–to cast the spotlight on extreme heat, public health, and social justice. Extreme heat is a public health crisis, and the medical community is vastly unprepared to meet its challenges. Surveillance is inadequate, screening protocols are not standardized, education and training for providers is virtually non-existent, public health messaging is generic and stereotypical, and resources are staggeringly meager. Moreover, extreme heat is an equity issue, disproportionately impacting poor communities and marginalized groups.

🔥 PART TWO: Climate Science: Exploring the Good, the Bad, and the Wicked 😈

COMING THIS AFTERNOON AT TEXAS STATE CLIMATE CONFERENCE: AFTERNOON I SESSION Thinking Twice, Potential Unintended Consequences, and How We Approach Climate Resilience Climate change has been recognized as a super wicked problem because there is no true central authority overseeing adaptation efforts. Some seeking “a solution” are also causing the problem, and some policies might even make things worse. This session will provide a prismatic view of conversations required to inform resource use policy and prevent unintended consequences of under-informed policy. AFTERNOON II SESSION: Beyond Greenwashing—Shifting Conversations Towards Authentic Climate Interventions Can we work toward having an authentic dialogue on climate change? How can we shift conversations to focus on genuine management strategies for climate adaptation and resilience, rather than superficial “greenwashed” approaches? What is happening inspirationally, in Texas, relevant to Texas, now? Streaming by Deceleration.news. Donate to our project here: https://deceleration.news/donate/

Climate Science: The Good, The Bad, and the Wicked

Texas State University assembled a Texas think tank for climate intervention, centering around exploring the lesser-known aspects of the complex climate problems facing Texas and the unique challenges and opportunities the state faces in the fight against climate change. Organizers intend to provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange to foster the interdisciplinary approach needed to tackle the multi-faceted nature of the Texas climate crisis. Attendees include practitioners, academics, policy makers, businesses, and non-profit leaders from across the state. Livestream courtesy of Deceleration.News.

Vigil to remember Albert Garcia, a displaced neighbor who lost both feet unhoused during Winter Storm Uri. Deceleration worked with Yanawana Herbolarios and the office of District 5 Councilmember Terri Castillo and others for a year to get him off the street. The system failed again when Albert was forced back into the street during the heat of our extreme summer of 2023. He died at a camp site that we measured at 114F degrees. We remember him and all who we have lost to the climate, housing, and opioid crises. More here: https://deceleration.news/2023/08/17/albert-garcia-deceleration/A

Who are the Tree & Bird Defenders of Brackenridge?

Who are the Tree and Bird Defenders of Brackenridge Park? They've been smeared as disinformation agents for linking a campaign to forcefully dislocate a thriving rookery of migratory birds the Breckenridge bond project that would claim more than 105 trees ostensibly to restore and repair historic structures in the park. After saving the trees they pivoted to resist ongoing efforts to drive migratory birds away from Brackendrige's headwaters and uncovered evidence of forced displacement inside the SA Zoo. Also: Updates on CPS Energy plodding pathway beyond coal power, Carrizo-Comecrudo lands listed by international World Monuments site, weekend events, and more. Guests: DeeDee Belmares, Alesia Garlock, Daniel Armstrong

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez on Brackenridge Tree Chop Delay

San Antonio’s City Manager backed off the Brackenridge Park “chop.” What’s next for a city project that would claim >105 trees? What about the bird harassment and plans to abolish the park’s rookery? Live (barely at 35 degrees) with City Council District 2 and guests.

“We have 2,000 years … and are we going to cut down 2,000 years over a wall that’s only a few hundred years?” Values in conflict over San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department plan to remove ~105 trees for historic restoration, new construction, river wall repair, viewsheds, bird eviction. #biodiversity

"So this is a bird eviction." @SAParksandRec and @COSAGOV deny that this is about birds. But it is. It is so tied to a planned mass bird eviction that we must demand they be disentangled and negotiated as a community. Brian Gordon #biodiversitycrisis #climatecrisis #tourism #sanantonio

Killing Brackenridge trees represents 'cosmological harm'

“If we don’t protect this river, and the trees alongside of it, we’re doing ourselves cosmological harm. The trees are here to tell us what’s going on in the skies when you can’t see it.” -- Gary Perez, perhaps best known for his research into the White Shaman rock art. Most trees on both sides of this river in this video are slated for destruction as ~104 targeted by Parks Dept. Jalen McKee-Rodriguez for City Council District 2 has slowed the process and called for a public meeting Feb 10, 2022. Stay tuned for details. As of now, the tree removal is set to be heard by Historic Design and Review Committee next week.