EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - August 15, 2019

[Emerald]

​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.
If you wish to reduce email volume switch your membership to the digest or abridged version.
Please refrain from posting petitions or donation requests without OSC approval.  Thank you for joining us.

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There will be no Earth Action meeting or any OSC meetings or events in August.

OSC is on summer break in August.  

We will continue the weekly newsletter.

BREAKTHROUGH!

'Everyone Should Mobilize': Climate Leaders Urge Massive Turnout for Global Climate Strikes
https://tinyurl.com/y3chc76w (Common Dreams)
"Our house is on fire—let's act like it," says a call-to-action for September 20th and 27th strikes."

Tens of thousands sign petition demanding CBC host climate debate

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/08/08/news/tens-thousands-sign-petition-demanding-cbc-host-climate-debate

"A group of activists in Toronto delivered a petition with nearly 48,000 signatures to the CBC Friday morning, asking the broadcaster to host a federal leader's debate on climate change ahead of the October federal election.

The petition was organized by four advocacy groups... which recently made headlines with a campaign for a Canadian Green New Deal... the CBC has a responsibility as a public broadcaster to "provide a platform about this unprecedented national emergency so voters can clearly see where leaders stand on climate and what they’re prepared to do about it.”

GMOs & GLYPHOSATE

Impossible Burger Causes Some Beef in the “Green” Market

https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2019/08/impossible-burger-causes-some-beef-in-the-green-market/

"The burger is comprised of genetically engineered soy and heme (iron-containing molecule that is a component of hemoglobin and common to plants and animals). It contains over 11.3 times the amount of glyphosate residue as its counterpart, the non-GMO Beyond Burger. Spurring more controversy, the Impossible Foods Group recently attacked regenerative agricultural practices that advocates say are part of the solution to the current food system and climate crises."

FOSSIL FUELS

The Hydrocarbon Era’s Spectacular End

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-06/the-hydrocarbon-era-s-spectacular-end

"Replacing fossil fuels is a tall order, but it has to happen."

Current Investigation of ExxonMobil Could Spur Broader Climate Action

https://truthout.org/articles/current-investigation-of-exxonmobil-could-spur-broader-climate-action/

Report: ‘No Evidence That Fracking Can Operate Without Threatening Public Health’

https://www.ecowatch.com/risks-and-harms-of-fracking-2639651274.html

POLLUTION

Freshwater is getting neglected when it comes to plastic pollution research

https://www.ehn.org/freshwater-is-getting-neglected-when-it-comes-to-plastic-pollution-research-2639610931.html?rebelltitem=1

GREEN NEW DEAL

The Media Uses Coal Miners to Attack the Green New Deal While Ignoring Pensions

https://truthout.org/articles/the-media-uses-coal-miners-to-attack-the-green-new-deal-while-ignoring-pensions/

The Fight for a Green New Deal Can Start With Your Union Contract

https://truthout.org/articles/the-fight-for-a-green-new-deal-can-start-with-your-union-contract/

Candidates Should Visit the Country’s Most Polluted Areas, Activists Say

https://truthout.org/articles/candidates-should-visit-the-countrys-most-polluted-areas-activists-say/

WAKE UP CALL

The Increasing Irrelevance of Climate Change Denial

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-increasing-irrelevance-of-climate-change-denial/?amp

These two articles are posted to show that Scientific American, the Washington Post, and many other news sources are publishing emergency warnings about climate change.

Climate change isn’t an intangible future risk. It’s here now, and it’s killing us.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/08/09/climate-change-isnt-an-intangible-future-risk-its-here-now-its-killing-us/?fbclid=IwAR0LsHFRTc49vgSTJf51V5aAJggCPNjCt5jPi6DBJ4nfu5JWFPxwa45YSag

“I Feel Anxious”: Explosion at Texas Oil Refinery Highlights Uneven Impact of Energy Production (video)

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/8/2/baytown_exxonmobil_explosion_environmental_effects?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=c356f5972d-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-c356f5972d-191276697

Climate Scientist Jason Box: “Our Economic System Is Crashing with Reality” (video)

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/8/2/jason_box_greenland_melting_climate_part2?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=c356f5972d-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-c356f5972d-191276697

Exterminating the Future: World Outcry Grows as Brazil Rapidly Expands Deforestation of Amazon (video)

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/7/30/bolsonaro_amazon_deforestation_indigenous_leader_murdered?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=38dc8413bc-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-38dc8413bc-191276697

THINK TANK & STRATEGY

Yes, we can reforest on a massive scale – but it’s no substitute for slashing emissions

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/07/05/yes-can-reforest-massive-scale-no-substitute-slashing-emissions/

In-depth Q&A: The IPCC’s special report on climate change and land

https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-the-ipccs-special-report-on-climate-change-and-land

The Just Transition for Coal Workers Can Start Now. Colorado Is Showing How.

https://truthout.org/articles/the-just-transition-for-coal-workers-can-start-now-colorado-is-showing-how/

Scientists Urge UN to Add Environmental Destruction to Geneva Conventions' List of War Crimes

https://tinyurl.com/y254mdpz (Common Dreams)

Climate activists set sights on ending fossil fuel exports in Pacific Northwest once and for all

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2019/07/jordan-cove-lng-oregon-climate-activists-fossil-fuel-exports/

DIRECT ACTIONS

Queensland police arrest 56 climate change protesters in Brisbane

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/06/queensland-police-arrest-56-climate-change-protesters-in-brisbane

How I went from government adviser to convicted climate protester

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/climate-change-extinction-rebellion-london-protest-arrested

"Humanity faces an existential crisis. Officialdom won’t act – and I could no longer stand by and just watch."

Get ready for the Extinction Rebellion to start shaking things up in British Columbia and across Canada

https://www.straight.com/news/1282981/get-ready-extinction-rebellion-start-shaking-things-british-columbia-and-across-canada?amp=1

Extinction Rebellion: hitting a nerve at Australia's climate flashpoint

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/11/extinction-rebellion-hitting-a-nerve-at-australias-climate-flashpoint?CMP=share_btn_tw

Greta Thunberg takes climate fight to Germany’s threatened Hambach Forest

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/10/greta-thunberg-climate-change-fight-germany-hambach-forest?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco

"The felling of ancient woodland to make way for a giant coal mine brings together two linked battles for the activist."

Kentucky Miners Are Camped Out on Railroad Tracks Demanding Their Stolen Wages

https://truthout.org/articles/kentucky-miners-are-camped-out-on-railroad-tracks-demanding-their-stolen-wages/

Frustrated Ky. miners block coal shipment

https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/local/article_c195be90-02ce-5768-90b8-a9852c93536e.html

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Shift to Vegetarian Diets Is Needed to Save the World, Climate Scientists Say in Leaked Report

https://www.ecowatch.com/vegetarian-climate-change-2639648388.html

To know more about the OSC position on this subject go to http://OccupySonomaCounty.org/MayMeatChallenge

5 Questions About Agricultural Emissions Answered

https://www.ecowatch.com/agricultural-emissions-2639558750.html

ENDING ON A POSITIVE

7 Environmentalists Inspiring Climate Action

https://www.ecowatch.com/inspiring-environmental-activists-2638985453.html

Take Action - Get Involved!

Sunday, August 25, 12-4:00 PM Free

Indivisible Petaluma Presents the 22nd Annual Progressive Festival

Family Friendly event with a kid zone!

Bring reusable plates, etc. to get $1 off your food purchases
Walnut Park, Petaluma

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/653729388386109/

Saturday, August 31 (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 Garden Round Table and Summer Harvest Potluck

9-12:30 Seed Library
For more info: communityseedexchange@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 4, 7:30-9:00 PM Free

DRAWDOWN Workshop with Crystal Chissell from Project Drawdown

Teachers, Students, Parents, Public.... Copies of the Drawdown book for sale

Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Hwy 12, Sebastopol

Sponsored by The Rahus Institute and Sebastopol Grange

For more info: 707-829-3154 or carboncon...@rahus.org

Wednesday, September 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, California 95472
For more info contact: permacultureskillscenter.org or 707-824-0836

September 10, 11 & 12 - $15/day or $30/3 days, children free

National Heirloom Expo

Great speakers, organic food & vendors, displays of vegetables and flowers, school gsrden exhibits, music, seeds, and free chocolate!

Sonoma County Fairgrounds

For more info: https://theheirloomexpo.com/, in...@theheirloomexpo.com or call 417-924-8917

Monday, September 16, 7-9 PM (There is NO Earth Action meeting in August)
Occupy Sonoma County Earth Action Campaign Meeting
OSC will be discussing our Earth Action campaigns and event plans for next year.  Bring your ideas and proposals to this 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)

Friday, September 20 noon

Climate Strike & Rally

Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa

For more info: Sonoma County Sunrise Hub on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SunriseSoCo/

Sept. 20-27

Millions of school strikers have shown us they’re serious about climate action. Adults, will you join our youth?
https://globalclimatestrike.net/

Monday, October 7, 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: Woody
Notetaker: Jenny

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

Volunteer

• Please adopt 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 delivering them if you have a truck.

• Help editing our teach-in videos.

• We need an email list of bars and restaurants in Sonoma County.
• Make phone calls from home for 1-2 hours every other month. 

   No skill needed other than a pleasant phone demeanor.

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.