THE TRUE COST OF COAL is finished, printed, and ready for you to enjoy!
It’s true! After 2 ½ years of discussions, feedback, eraser marks, sketches and rough drafts, THE TRUE COST OF COAL is DONE! And we can’t wait to share it with you!
It is hard to describe the mix of emotions we ‘lil bees are feeling after this final push. Somewhere b etween exuberance and exhaustion, all of it steeped in immeasurable gratitude to all the folks who have helped make this graphic possible. To all the powerful people and places in Appalachia who shared their stories and their struggles with us, to all the folks who have hosted shows and offered up their floors or couches, to everyone who has kicked down money to keep us going, to friends and family who have emotionally supported us through this rollercoaster of a project, and to everyone else who has touched or inspired this graphic in some way- thank you. No doubt, YOU all are what made this project possible!
Rather than us trying to describe this excitement and gratitude in words, please check it out for yourselves!
Experience the full poster and read the narrative at the TRUE COST OF COAL page on our website, and find behind-the-scenes studio shots in our Sketchbook and on our Coal campaign blog!
Now Swarming to a town near you!
Now that the drawing is completed, the real work begins of cross-pollinating the country with posters, educational materials, picture lectures and drumming up support for mountain defenders!
YOU can be part of this effort by hosting the bees this fall as part of our NATION WIDE RELEASE TOUR! We’ll be returning the graphic to the people of Appalachia who shared their stories with us, AND getting it into the hands of folks far and wide who haven’t even heard of mo untaintop removal yet.
Now Booking for FALL TOUR 2010!
That’s right, no matter where you are in the country, we have a group of eager bees bursting with energy and stories ready to come your way!
On the road with giant portable murals, we offer a variety of high energy, interactive, graphics-based workshops and presentations that can be understood by anyone- not just experts, academics, or talking heads! Using bio-regionally accurate cartoons of animals and insects as metaphors for human communities, we tackle complex issues like globalization, climate change, and resource extraction, as well as the small-scale changes and actions we can take to build a better world in the shell of the old!
Over the years, we have spoken to tens of thousands of folks, and given countless presentations in locations of all kinds. The Beehive's innovative, arts-based education strategy can benefit your community, school, or organization by provoking discussion, raising hard questions, and offering a hopeful story in an era of too much bad news. We can work with you to craft a Beehive presentation that meets your group's needs. Please see below for details about different options for booking the Bees, and know that we can be flexible and adapt to your venue!
If you are interested in collaborating, or if you know someone else who might be, please visit our TOUR PAGE for complete workshop descriptions and information about hosting us at your school or venue.
Cross-Pollinating the Grassroots at
The United States Social Forum!
 With the poster literally right off the presses, we swarmed Detroit this June to release the TRUE COST OF COAL at the Allied Media Conference and US Social Forum. What an unforgettable experience! Over 18,000 people from all over the world converged on the city, representing struggles and resistance movements of every sort. This was truly a historical moment of cross-pollination!
It was a humbling yet affirming moment to present our latest project to the world amidst so many movers and shakers of the movement. With a fresh 32’ banner for storytelling, an elaborate interactive display, and 13 bees buzzing round the clock, we distributed OVER 1,500  posters in four days! All these seeds have now been spread far and wide, ready to germinate and sprout into stories of their own!
At the USSF, the bees also joined forces with Appalachia Rising!, a forthcoming coalfield citizens-lead mass-mobilization on Washington DC to end mountaintop removal and all strip mining! For more information and to join the effort visit: http://appalachiarising.org Save the Date! September 25-27, 2010, Washington, DC.
August Workparty and 5th Annual Blackfly Ball!
Would you like to learn more about the Beehive? Do you want to share your skills and learn about ours?
Join the swarm of our annual August work party!
We’ll be spending several weeks working and playing hard, learning new skills, and enjoying a beautiful, blueberry-filled August together in Downeast Maine!
If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill out the WANNABEE WEBFORM and check the box saying that you are interested in our WORK PARTY! We’ll send you travel details, a rough schedule of events, and information on what to pack and what to expect!
And don’t forget! Everyone is invited to the BLACKFLY BALL on August 21st! It’s our annual gala dress-up dance party for all! This event is free and open to folks of all ages!
Let us know if you would like to stay overnight- you're welcome to join the the tent city outside the Hive House, and advance notice helps us ensure tent space is available for all who require it!
Need help getting to Maine? Do you have space in your car for a traveler?
Click here to visit this year's RIDEBOARD!
Hope to see you there!
JOIN US on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!
The Beehive has jumped on the social networking wagon! We are now on facebook and Twitter. Would you like to know what cities we are visiting in real time? Perhaps you want to know where we will be next so you can tell your penpals to check us out? Sign up for updates about our exciting adventures and ways to interact with us!
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