We are a regionally united front to stop and reverse the planned expansion of the plastic and petrochemical industries.
Our underlying strategy supports all our work, from engagement on policy to advocating for sustainable jobs, organizing, and building power within our communities.
Our member organizations are powerhouses in their own right, working within our states to effect major change.
MISSION
People > Petro
People Over Petro Coalition supports people in our communities to create a world that puts people’s health and well-being over fossil-fueled corporate profits.
POPCO Timeline
- Following the People vs Fossil Fuels conference in 2017, concerned grassroots advocates and organizations came together in Appalachia and began meeting to push back against the latest scheme by the oil and gas industry and state governments to locate the second-largest petrochemical hub in the United States in the Ohio River Valley
- 2019: The People Over Petro Coalition (POPCO), was launched.
- Throughout 2018 and 2019, people continued to show up for each other throughout various events and efforts.
- In 2018, we hosted two major action-events in the city of Pittsburgh: The Paddle Against Petro, and the original Defend the Water three-day action.
- In 2019, we joined together for an action in Morgantown, WV, an action targeting Trump and Shell in Beaver County, and a second Defend the Water two-day action.
- These two years also saw collaboration across different organizations and regions as various site-fights came up:
- The Falcon pipeline sparked immense pressure on the OH EPA and PA DEP, although despite organizing efforts the permits for this pipeline were issued.
- The PTTGC cracker plant received various permits from OH EPA, but organizing efforts have led to a continued timeline issue for the company, with investment decisions delayed due to community opposition and original permits expiring.
- Groups came together to address the Mountaineer Storage Facility, although approvals were ultimately granted for this project. (project canceled in 2023)
- In 2022 organized our work internally into three working groups to support communities
- Technical support, supporting legal, data, mapping, fundraising, and organizational development needs.
- Communications- supporting grassroots social, graphics, and print media
- People Power- supporting power building, organizing, and actions in our local communities
- 2023 Popco supports press and action dissemination following the Norfolk Southern train explosion in East Palestine Ohio. We provide press support Eyes on Shell efforts to hold Shell accountable for pollution released in Beaver, PA. We also hired our first staff member to coordinate regional efforts.
- 2024 POPCO supports Seneca Nation leader Degawëno:da’s efforts to protect the Ohi’yo River (Allegheny) for the 7th year. Celebrating the Ohi’yo’s designation as River of the Year by RiverKeeper
Coalition Guiding Principles
All Coalition members, both individuals and organizations, will defer to the values and principles of the People Over Petro Coalition. Organizations are not expected to internally adopt these principles for their own work, but they agree to defer to them when working with or representing the People Over PetroCoalition.
The following is adapted from the Theory of Change and Guiding Principles of PA Sierra Club Chapter, the Jemez Principles, and the Climate Justice Alliance’s Just Transition Principles
Our shale gas and petrochemical work will not perpetuate economic and racial inequalities; health and environmental burdens; disrespect of Indigenous land rights; or disinvestment in marginalized communities.
We proactively engage impacted communities to break down social and economic barriers that prevent all people from creating and benefitting from a diverse and just transition beyond a fossil-fuel based economy.
We recognize impacted communities as leaders in shaping the movement, value them as decision-makers and position our work in their lived experience.
We engage with impacted workers to create solutions in support of a clean and just transition in Appalachia and beyond.
We foster a culture of mentorship and engagement to support the next generation of leaders who reflect the diversity of our communities and our people to build a broader and more equitable movement in Appalachia.
We value the transformational over the transactional and strive to develop long-term partnerships that share decision-making, resources, and power, both internally and externally.
We will practice the Jemez Principles at all levels of our coalition:
- Inclusivity
- Emphasis on bottom-up organizing
- Allowing people to speak for themselves
- Working together in solidarity and mutuality
- Building just relationships among ourselves
- Commitment to self-transformation
We will embrace Climate Justice Alliance’s Just Transition framework which aims to:
- Shift economic control to communities
- Democratize wealth and the workplace to advance ecological restoration
- Drive racial justice and social equity
- Re-localize most production and consumption
- Retain and restore cultures and traditions