CODA Builds Democracy in Alaska
Published December 9, 2007
Some people are lured into citizen democracy
activism for altruistic reasons. Russ Maddox was compelled by years of personal experience.
In 2001, his home in Seward, Alaska was contaminated by massive burning of hazardous materials at an adjacent junkyard, leaving lead-laden ash inches deep on his property. Precipitation soon washed ash into the soil, rendering Russ’ well water unfit for consumption within weeks.
He was just beginning a still-unresolved ordeal in which he’s experienced first-hand how many of our current legal and regulatory
structures fail to protect the rights of citizens.
Despite state and federal agency reports confirming contamination and official orders
to the responsible parties to clean up residual hazards, years went by without corrective action. Maddox even won a civil
suit against the responsible parties, yet he still awaits the civil and punitive awards necessary to clean up his property due to opposition’s appeals.
Russ’ experience led him to co-found the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance
(RBCA) in 2003 to address local contamination
and other environmental threats proactively. He remains on RBCA’s board of directors, serves on those of a number of state non-profits and is Alaska’s national Sierra Club delegate.
While leading RBCA, Russ began working with Rob Rance, a municipal economic development advisor for Seward. Rob had served in the U.S. Army, the Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps/VISTA programs, then worked overseas in international finance. He spent a decade living in China and Latin America before returning to the U.S.
Soon after attending a Democracy School workshop in 2006, Rob and Russ created the social movement group, Communities for Democracy in Alaska (CODA). They aimed to protect communities
and their environment by educating and inspiring ordinary citizens to engage in public processes.
CODA recently became the Alaska chapter of ReclaimDemocracy.org, both to reap the benefits of associating with a national
network and because they share our passion for building a nationwide movement.
Rob’s economic background and Russ’ experience with the agencies and toxins first were combined to build a broad base of opposition to a planned coal-fired power plant in the middle of their town and ultimately
stopped the plan. "We are enlightening
the populace to the fact that a healthy economy and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive," says Rob.
Current efforts to promote democracy in their hometown include: working with their local municipality to develop community
councils and an area-wide ombudsperson
to help residents outside of the city limits, but largely controlled by city policies,
to gain a meaningful voice. They also are establishing a position for an environmental
compliance officer to help control industrial pollution.
CODA has organized presentations and discussions throughout the state about the need to strip corporations of illegitimate political power and abolish “corporate personhood.” After receiving enthusiastic responses, they are planning many more for 2008.
Alaskans have suffered from a multitude
of harms wrought by corporations subject to minimal control. Recent headlines
reminded us that nearly two decades after the Exxon Corporation wreaked havoc
on the environment and the livelihoods of thousands of Alaskans, it has yet to pay any of the damages awarded through the civil justice system.
We’re excited to have such capable and eager people as Russ and Rob (you can feel their energy flowing through the phone in conversation) teaming with us in such a ripe environment for citizen organizing.
Count on hearing much more about their efforts in the coming year!
To learn more about the work of CODA, visit DemocracyAK.org or see our “Local Groups” link to access the pages of all our chapters, as well as allied groups working at local or state levels.
