EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - November 21, 2019

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Nov 21, 2019, 4:51:22 AM11/21/19
to OSC - Earth Action Campaign
Occupy Sonoma County

EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS  

Welcome to the people who have joined recently.  This is a simple weekly newsletter.  Your participation is encouraged.  Please share information and actions about climate change, climate justice, GMOs, toxic chemicals, and Earth-related topics.
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BREAKTHROUGH!
There Are Now Nine Countries Asking For An EU Aviation Carbon Tax

Sweden's central bank dumps Australian bonds over high emissions

Climate change: EU bank to stop fossil fuel lending
"One of the world's biggest public lenders has said it will stop financing fossil fuel projects from the end of 2021 as part of an effort to combat climate change. Germany was one of the countries which had resisted."

Fracking is finished in the UK – thanks to the power of public protest

Ozone Depleting Gas Declines After Rising For Years


LOCAL REPORTS
The Clock is Ticking at Point Molate
"Should Richmond really build a waterfront community along the historic cul-de-sac directly adjacent to Chevron’s refinery?"

GREEN NEW DEAL
UK Labour’s Green New Deal is among most radical in world – but can it be done by 2030?

Labour persuaded to soften pledge of net zero emissions by 2030
"Unions say firm commitment, rather than significant progress, could threaten jobs."
"To get close to net zero by 2030 will require a huge transformation of the economy and energy supply systems – although its advocates say it would also boost the economy by hundreds of billions of pounds a year."

GMOs, GLYPHOSATE & TOXINS

FOSSIL FUELS
Oil And Gas Giants Spend Millions Lobbying To Block Climate Change Policies [Infographic]

'We knew': Ex oil boss says climate change 'with us forevermore'
"The company knew for years how it was a significant threat to the world... Tillerson didn't deny Exxon's role in creating the problem... There may be plenty of blame to share, given that Exxon was providing products demanded by society... "So there's this natural tension" between that desire for growth and fixing climate change, "and that's really the challenge that policymakers and legislators are confronted with," he said... When he was CEO, Tillerson said the company had sought to promote the idea of a carbon tax to help ease society off fossil fuels... "If you look at what it has accomplished over its existence, it never has accomplished what it was intended to do. It hasn't reduced any emissions. We looked at what are other alternative mechanisms to influence people's choices. And we felt a carbon tax was the most simplistic. It is transparent. You can't game a carbon tax."

PIPELINES
States Are More Worried About Pipeline Protesters Than Spills
"The U.S. averages one crude oil spill every other day."

PLASTIC & POLLUTION

WAKE UP CALL
Ex-fire chiefs accuse government of unofficial gag on climate change

Italian council is flooded immediately after rejecting measures on climate change
"Veneto regional council, which is located on Venice's Grand Canal, was flooded for the first time in its history on Tuesday night -- just after it rejected measures to combat climate change. The historic Italian city has been brought to its knees this week by the worst flooding there in more than 50 years."


Higher Temperatures Linked to Increase in Suicides
"One theory for why this might happen is that, as the body attempts to cool itself during higher temperatures, the way blood flows to the brain is changed. If you or anyone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255."

7.5 Billion and Counting: How Many Humans Can the Earth Support?
Not a recent article but still pertinent.  World population is currently 7.7 Billion!

THINK TANK & STRATEGY
Activists hold climate conference deep in the Amazon rainforest
"In the past few days, European climate strikers and Extinction Rebellion youth activists have travelled by motor canoe deep into a region known as Terra do Meio to share ideas with indigenous leaders, forest dwellers, environmental activists and Brazil’s leading climate scientists, anthropologists and archaeologists... The event, which has been dubbed the Forest COP and takes place a few weeks before the official COP 25 climate conference in Madrid. “The Amazon is the centre of the world. Greta [Thunberg] says we should listen to the scientists. But what scientists need to do is listen to the wise people of the forest.”

There Are Now Nine Countries Asking For An EU Aviation Carbon Tax

How to Solve the Big Problems That Small Family Farms Are Facing
"Under relentless and steadily increasing financial pressures, talented young farmers are giving farming their all for five to 10 years, then quitting. Experienced farmers, including organic farmers, are admitting defeat, selling what they can and finding "real" jobs. The prices farmers receive for crops do not cover all the costs of keeping farms viable, not to mention the extra costs of ecological or regenerative farming systems. The farm crisis is not over."

These U.N. Climate Scientists Think They Can Halt Global Warming for $300 Billion. Here's How
"$300 billion. That’s the money needed to stop the rise in greenhouse gases and buy up to 20 years of time to fix global warming, according to United Nations climate scientists... The sum is not to fund green technologies or finance a moonshot solution to emissions, but to use simple, age-old practices to lock millions of tons of carbon back into an overlooked and over-exploited resource: the soil... “The myth was that in order to increase your productivity and your food sovereignty and security you needed to slash or burn the forest. We documented that it’s not true.”

The myth of green growth
"Our generation has to choose: we can be green or we can have growth, but we can’t have both together."

Meet the MythBuster for climate change
"There are a handful of assumptions and myths preventing us from reversing climate change. Some of them are innocent mistakes, like this fixation on a carbon tax, while some are the result of deliberate propaganda, like the lie that climate scientists are all part of a stunningly vast conspiracy... People who are younger than me don’t realize that renewable advocates were saying we’d beaten fossil fuels 25 years ago."

Why climate action needs to target the border industrial complex
"A growing body of evidence points to climate change being the "silent driver" behind the immigration from Central America and southern Mexico to the US. While violence, organised crime, systemic corruption and poverty, which in many ways are the result of a long history of US meddling and militarism in the region, are the most cited reasons for the exodus from South to North America, experts say climate change in the region is exacerbating - and sometimes causing - these problems, and forcing people to move."

DIRECT ACTIONS
XR Global Hunger Strike
"On November 18th the Extinction Rebellion Global Hunger Strike will officially launch to demand that governments act on the climate and ecological emergency that threatens the extinction of a million species, the collapse of civilizations and the death of billions of humans. Many of these rebels will not consume food for one week and others will go for a longer period of time. They will go on hunger strike in solidarity with people starving because of climate and ecological breakdown and to force governments to confront the crisis by enacting Extinction Rebellion’s three demands."
Greta Thunberg Sets Sail, Again, After Climate Talks Relocate

Environmental Justice Activists Arrested Amid Growing Concerns Over Louisiana’s Cancer Alley Pollution

Should this tree have the same rights as you?
"The Lake Erie Ecosystem Bill of Rights came before Toledo citizens in a referendum on 26 February; 61% voted for it, and Lake Erie became – symbolically, temporarily – a “legal person”. It joined other more-than-human entities accorded various versions of legal personhood, including the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India (though this decision was later overturned by India’s supreme court), the Whanganui River in New Zealand (designated by parliamentary declaration “an indivisible and living whole”), the Colombian Amazon, and all nature in Ecuador, which in 2008 famously enshrined the rights of “Pachamama” (“Mother Nature”) in its constitution."

SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Earth power: hemp batteries better than lithium and graphene

Bristol Diesel Ban Approved in Effort to Clean Air
"Bristol moved one step closer to becoming the first city in the UK to ban diesel cars from its city center in an effort to tackle deadly air pollution, BBC News reported. The ban, which would prohibit private diesel vehicles from entering the city center between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., was approved by the Bristol City Council. If it is approved by the government, it would go into effect by 2021."

ENDING ON A POSITIVE
Giant Water Battery Cuts University's Energy Costs by $100 Million Over Next 25 Years

Take Action - Get Involved!
Friday, November 22, 7-9 PM
Hike the Divide: A Conversation about Climate Action on the Continental Divide Trail

Join Sunrise for a local premier screening of this independent documentary directed by Sunriser Connor DeVane that searches for hope in the face of climate breakdown.
Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa
For more info. https://mailchi.mp/d750b1d06099/join-us-for-a-screening-of-the-independent-documentary-hike-the-divide?e=1d4dc7aa44

Saturday, November 23, 3-5 PM (third Saturday every month)
Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock meeting
Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
For more info: www.sonomasolidarity.org and www.facebook.com/SonomaNoDAPL/

Saturday, November 30 (the last Saturday every month)
Community Seed Exchange
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd., Sebastopol
9-10:30 Optional Work Party
11-12 Free Workshop
9-12:30 Seed Library
For more info: communityseedexchange@gmail.com

Sunday, December 1, 1 – 3 PM
HOLIDAY GIFTAWAY & CLOTHING SWAP

Zero Waste Action - Sonoma County 8th Annual.
New-to-you clothing andgive away good unwanted items. Reusable gift items and household goods welcome. Minor repairs and clothing upcycling.
Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Rd (Hwy 12), Sebastopol
For more info and to volunteer: http://www.liteinitiatives.org/swaps

Tuesday, December 3
Occupy Sonoma County's 7 year birthday!
We will be on our winter break for the month of December.

Wednesday, December 4, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM or later
Collating the Peace & Justice Center's Peace Press
Help assemble 4,000 copies of the Peace Press with a fun group of people to show your support of the PJC.
Peace and Justice Center - 467 Sebastopol Ave, Santa Rosa 95401

Wednesday, December 4 (every first Wednesday) No Dogs
Sonoma County Permaculture Guild Monthly Potluck
Family Friendly & Fun. Swap
seeds/plants, & explore the PSC
Permaculture Skills Center, 2185 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol 95472
For more info contact: permacultureskillscenter.org or 707-824-0836

Thursday, December 5, 5 – 8 pm
, $30 includes dinner & one drink
Sonoma County Conservation Council & Sierra Club Sonoma Group Holiday Networking & Awards Party

Environmentalist of the Year award to Woody Hastings, Lifetime Environmental Achievement to Pat & Ted Eliot.
Party, good food, wine, hot cider and music with the NewGrange Jam Band - Bluegrass with a holiday theme.
Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave/Hwy 12
To volunteer or for more info: Wendy Krupnick, 544-4582, w...@sonic.net

Friday, December 6, 12 & 5 pm

Sunrise SoCo Joins Global Youth Strike

Sunrise Sonoma County is calling for the community to join the Global Youth Climate Strike by walking out of schools, workplaces, and homes for a day of climate justice action. 

12 noon: Die-Ins For Life at school campuses across the county and at Courthouse Square.

5:00pm: candlelit march from Julliard Park to Courthouse Square and vigil for the human and non-human victims of the wildfires and victims of global climate disasters everywhere.

For more info: sunri...@gmail.com


Monday, December 9, 7-9 PM
Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SoCoCAN!)
Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa 95401
This meeting will be discussing and planning a summit for 2020 to bring together and expand the network

Time will be allocated for all groups to make reports and request help with their campaigns

Facilitator for this meeting: Amanda
Notetaker: Maya

For more info: SonomaC...@gmail.com or to the SoCoCAN listserv (preferred)

 
Wednesday December 18, 7 - 9 PM (Every 3rd Wednesday)
350 Sonoma monthly organizing meeting
Peace and Justice Center - 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa

Monday, January 20, 7-9 PM (Every 3rd Monday - No meeting in December)
Occupy Sonoma County Earth Action Campaign Meeting

Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
For more information go to http://OccupySonomaCounty.org or call 707-877-6650 (website contact preferred)

Volunteer

• Make phone calls from home for 1 hour every other month as follow up to our press releases. 

   No skill needed other than a pleasant phone demeanor.

   Even once would be helpful.

• Please post flyers for our teach-ins at the bulletin boards where you already shop. 

   Download event flyers from our website or pick them up at the Peace & Justice Center Monday-Friday 1-4 PM. 

   Let us know what bulletin boards you can cover.  Thank you.
• Experienced builder to help us build raised bed garden boxes. 

• Help editing our teach-in videos.

• We need an email list of bars and restaurants in Sonoma County.

Call To Action! 
We urge all groups including schools, neighborhood associations, organizations, clubs and groups of any kind to adopt a Climate Declaration.  Adopt ours or write your own.  Share your Climate Declaration with local governments, the media, write articles, and share information. 
Occupy Sonoma County Climate Declaration

Occupy Sonoma County, along with concerned, forward thinking people all over the world, declares that climate change has reached catastrophic proportions as evidenced by the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere, the melting of polar ice caps, and the continual rising of global temperatures.  This is a global emergency, and we must act immediately.​  We invite all forces of life to join together for our survival.  We stand up for life.

We recognize that the root of climate change is a capitalist system run by money greedy corporations and the governments that they control.  We actively oppose greenhouse gas producers, nuclear power investors, and fossil fuel companies by boycotting their products, developing alternatives, divesting from corporations that endorse them and insisting that governments at all levels take action.  We call on all governments and corporations to adopt life-sustaining practices immediately.

The people must act now to stop this destruction from continuing and reverse the damage this has caused​.  The future is in our hands.  We are the 99%!

What Earth Actions are you taking?


707-877-6650
http://OccupySonomaCounty.org
http://OccupySonomaCounty.org/es
 ​ (
en español)
http://www.facebook.com/OccupySonomaCounty

https://twitter.com/OcSoCo

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJoCP-ePUTPWNgHZwtBelg


Occupy Sonoma County embraces the egalitarian, deep democracy principles of the Occupy Movement with a regional strategy for effectively organizing countywide social justice campaigns that are globally relevant

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