We're continuing our Meme Slinger Profile Series, and I am more than delighted to present an interview with Texas-based organizer, Ethan Nuss. Ethan was the Field Director for the Energy Action Coalition and is currently an intern with t.e.j.a.s. Ethan originally moved to Texas to lend a hand with the Tar Sands Blockade, a campaign which completely escalated and continues to push the climate movement forward in solidarity and emboldenment. I've been a big fan of Ethan's humble organizing, contagious excitement, and ability to give humanity and epicness to the story of extreme energy resistance. 

Where are you from and where do you and your laptop call home?

A mid-sized town, in the middle of Kansas Houston’s East End My laptop lives in “Lil Red” - my trusty knapsack

What brought you to Texas?

Join the Tar Sands Blockade and use direct action to stop the Keystone XL pipeline

What is it about the promise of social media and storytelling that excites you? What’s your greatest hope when you approach this work? Why bother?  

My greatest hope is that we can humanize the brave folks on the frontlines of the struggle, authentically tell their stories, and inspire others to action.

What’s your greatest fear when it comes to the world of online organizing?

That people will feel that by clicking LIKE they are doing enough.

What’s a favorite recent campaign you worked on, and how did memes, social media, and/or storytelling play a powerful role?

Supporting Owe Aku’s (Bring Back the Way) campaign to Protect SacredWater from more tar sands entering Lakota Treaty Territory via the northern segment of Keystone XL. I produced a series of memes with the participants in the Moccasins on the Ground training in the Red Shirt community. These memes helped humanize frontline leaders and propelled their words to a broader audience through social media.

What are a few of your favorite meme-slinging tools and do you use any auxiliary social media tools? Any special charms you keep nearby? 

PicMonkey. Tethering internet on my iPhone in the woods or the backseat of a random car near a direct action.

What kind of projects/campaigns are you looking to support? Can you give support from afar as well as on-site?

Frontline struggles to resist extreme extraction. Yep! thats the beauty of the internet.

What are some things you get up to when you’re not busy meme-slinging?

Organizing!, gardening, riding my bike, meditating, and writing poetry.

How can folks find you via facebook, twitter, instagram, your website, etc?

Website: http://onenuss.tumblr.com/

Facebook: Ethan Nuss

Twitter: @EthanNuss

Some recent examples of Ethan Nuss’ work:  Alberta tar sands mine

The tar sands were once bountiful forest lands & indigenous hunting grounds.  

Protect SacredWater from Tar Sands - Moccasins on the Ground Direct Action Training

Owe Aku’s (Bring Back the Way) campaign to Protect SacredWater from more tar sands entering Lakota Treaty Territory via the northern segment of Keystone XL

Tar Sands Blockade - Keystone XL Tree Blockade in East Texas

Members of the Tar Sands Blockade held a 3 month long tree blockade that disrupted the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline through East Texas

http://www.tarsandsblockade.org/tree-sit-launch/

http://www.tarsandsblockade.org/4th-action/

t.e.j.a.s. - Manchester Health Survey + Stop Keystone XL

Environmental justice leaders in the refinery community of Manchester on Houston’s East End organize to end environmental racism. The Keystone XL pipeline brings more tar sands to be refined in their predominately Latino/a community.