EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - November 15, 2018

[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.
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BREAKTHROUGH!
1) Federal Judge Halts Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline
https://truthout.org/articles/federal-judge-halts-construction-of-keystone-xl-pipeline/
AND
2) “An Incredible Victory”: Opponents of Keystone XL Pipeline Praise Judicial Order Blocking Construction (video)
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/11/13/an_incredible_victory_opponents_of_keystone?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=c9ce4baf6d-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-c9ce4baf6d-191276697
AND
3) Judge Halts Keystone XL, Rules Trump ‘Cannot Simply Disregard’ Climate Science
https://www.ecowatch.com/judge-halts-keystone-xl-2618863827.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=01fc1676ac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-01fc1676ac-86095421
AND
4) Dirty Pipelines Are Bad Investments and a Reputational Risk for Banks
https://www.ecowatch.com/pipelines-banks-bad-investments-2618513419.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=a6581d3d58-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-a6581d3d58-86095421

OIL & GAS
5) Oil and real estate interests pour money into Petaluma and Santa Rosa races
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8873734-181/oil-and-real-estate-interests?fbclid=IwAR2MkFzDSucN-WIZL9aHCJGfiVen4rhup0RxhLxf_4BzaUydhTbo1nYH7bc&artslide=8&sba=AAS
"The most visible has been in Petaluma, where a committee backed by several large oil companies has poured more than $78,000 into the race for mayor, according to campaign finance records."

PIPELINES
6) Landowners Fight the Bayou Bridge Pipeline in Court
https://truthout.org/articles/landowners-fight-the-bayou-bridge-pipeline-in-court/

AND
7) North Dakota's Native Americans say new law blocks much of population's right to vote (video)
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/north-dakotas-native-americans-law-blocks-populations-vote/story?id=58912062

This is an hour-long television show on ABC News.

WAKE UP CALL
8) ‘Despair’ as global carbon emissions to hit new record in 2018
http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/10/18/despair-global-carbon-emissions-hit-new-record-2018/

AND

9) Ice Sheets in Greenland, Antarctica Could Reach Catastrophic 'Tipping Points' if We Don't Limit Warming
https://www.ecowatch.com/ice-sheets-greenland-antarctica-warming-2619507205.html

AND

10) The Seafloor Is Disappearing
https://www.ecowatch.com/the-seafloor-is-disappearing-2618748306.html

AND
11) 31 Dead, 250,000 Evacuated in California Fires as Governor Blames Climate Change
https://www.ecowatch.com/california-wildfires-climate-change-trump-2619339720.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=63ad675e41-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-63ad675e41-86095421

AND

12) Forty-Eight Dead and Counting From California’s Deadliest Wildfire
https://truthout.org/articles/48-dead-and-counting-from-californias-deadliest-wildfire/

AND

13) Climate Scientist Who Fled CA Wildfire: We’re Going to Keep Paying Price If We Ignore Climate Change (video)
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/11/13/climate_scientist_who_fled_ca_wildfire?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=4b17af9e3e-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-4b17af9e3e-191276697

AND

14) As California Burns, Undocumented People Face Gap in Recovery Aid
https://truthout.org/articles/as-california-burns-undocumented-people-face-gap-in-recovery-aid/

Truthout: "Never did we expect the $6 million we’ve raised so far,” Omar Medina, the director of UndocuFund, says...” UndocuFund... has grown into much more than just a fire relief fund... coordinators began to form a larger vision with the aim of addressing some of the long term, systemic injustices... wages before the fire were already almost impossible to live off of in the Bay Area. Not to mention ongoing labor violations, the fear of ICE raids, and a housing crisis that was only exacerbated by the fire.  “I think with the UndocuFund it’s an opportunity to start talking about equity amongst working people,” says Davin Cardenas, the co-director of the North Bay Organizing Project...  “That’s really the next step in thinking about our resiliency,” says Mara Ventura, the executive director of North Bay Jobs with Justice. “We want to see undocumented people leading and making the decisions for the solutions they want to see... that we’re actually changing systems... to address long term needs.”

THINK TANK & STRATEGY
15) Moorside’s atomic dream was an illusion. Renewables are the future
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/11/moorside-atomic-dream-illusion-renewables-are-the-future?CMP=share_btn_tw
AND
16) As Fires Devastate California, 350.org Calls for Transition to 100% Renewable Energy Economy (video)
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/11/13/as_fires_devastate_california_350org_calls?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=c9ce4baf6d-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-c9ce4baf6d-191276697
AND
17) Ten ways climate change is making wildfires worse
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/ten-ways-climate-change-is-making-wildfires-worse?cid=news:socialshare:twitter
AND
18) Will This Climate Change Dystopia Have a Sequel?
https://truthout.org/articles/will-this-climate-change-dystopia-have-a-sequel/

DIRECT ACTIONS
19) Video: Freedom to Breathe Tour Bus Visits Communities Across the Country Working on Climate Solutions
https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-solutions-us-communities-2618505661.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=200143978b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-200143978b-86095421

AND

20) RESPECT EXISTENCE OR EXPECT RESISTANCE
https://sendy.carow.solutions/w/IjyxMpibdQoYXKp5kRPtlg/Ywkx3O0OCbJYsdIZu6quMw/OC0NLkFC8Cf9pkuCs1Yf4Q

AND
21) ‘I’m Putting My Life On Hold’: 22 Climate Activists Arrested
https://www.ecowatch.com/22-climate-activists-arrested-london-2619516359.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=373c1f82c8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-373c1f82c8-86095421
Warning: Adult language
AND
22) Climate Leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Joins Hundreds of Activists in Pelosi’s Office to Call for a Green New Deal https://www.ecowatch.com/ocasio-cortez-pelosi-climate-change-2619674477.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=373c1f82c8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-373c1f82c8-86095421
"More than 200 protesters, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, staged a sit-in at Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi's office Tuesday calling on her to support the measure, Politico reported. "This morning 100s of young people came together to ask us as elected officials to act urgently to draft a Green New Deal that gets us to 100% renewable energy ASAP," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "They asked me to join them, and I did. We can embrace the energy of activism to move our party's goals forward." In a statement, Pelosi asked that Capital Police allow demonstrators "to continue to organize and participate in our democracy," but activists tweeted that around 50 were arrested outside her office and Capitol Police confirmed the number of arrests as 51, Politico reported."

SUSTAINABLE LIVING
23) Oreo Cookie Maker Linked to Orangutan Habitat Destruction for Palm Oil
https://www.ecowatch.com/mondelez-oreos-palm-oil-orangutans-2619541935.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=373c1f82c8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-373c1f82c8-86095421
Also Girl Scout cookies and many other cookies and crackers.  Read your food labels and stop buying products with palm oil.  There is no such thing as "sustainable" palm oil.
AND
24) FDA Approves First Waste-Gas-Reduction Drug for Cattle
https://www.ecowatch.com/fda-approves-first-waste-gas-reduction-drug-for-cattle-2618890785.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=01fc1676ac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-01fc1676ac-86095421

Now yet another drug for factory farmed animals instead of giving them food that they can digest.  If you eat meat buy grass fed, grass finished, organic meat from local farms with regenerative practices.  If you are on a budget buy a smaller amount and eat more healthy for the same price.  Consider reducing your meat consumption to reduce greenhouse gas which is the primary cause of climate change.

AND
25) 16 New Vegan Cookbooks We Can't Wait to Read in 2019

https://www.ecowatch.com/new-vegan-cookbooks-2019-2617414593.html?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1541423721&fbclid=IwAR2dWskXkCOkSf1guBe8QiIN7feXX0vDq1e0uB2DBlRKwbNRT8_m1_eLQBU

Reducing your consumption of animal products is the single best individual action you can take to reduce greenhouse gas, the #1 cause of climate change. If this is a big change for you consider making gradual steps in this direction or decide how far to go that is comfortable for you. Instead of focusing on what you are taking out of your diet, think about what you would like to add. If you add more nutritious foods eventually they will replace the foods you are choosing to reduce or eliminate. Do you love fatty foods, for example? Try adding avocados to your diet which offer a lot of nutrition as well as healthy fats. Do you love sweets? Try adding more fresh local fruits in season. Do you crave protein? Try adding lentils, nuts, and beans. Do you feel like you need red meat for iron? Try black beans or beets. For calcium: collard greens have 256 mg. of usable calcium per serving. Other leafy greens, almonds, and broccoli are also good sources of calcium.

ENDING ON A POSITIVE
26) Judge: Wildlife Must Be Considered Before Permitting Fracking Off SoCal Coast
https://www.ecowatch.com/judge-halts-fracking-off-socal-coast-2619347365.html

Take Action - Get Involved!

Saturday, November 10, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Sonoma Solidarity With Standing Rock meeting
Peace and Justice Center - 467 Sebastopol Avenue, Santa Rosa 
1:30 to 3:00 PM - Public Banking meeting
3:00 to 4:30 PM - Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock admin/divestment meeting
For more info, visit: www.sonomasolidarity.org

Monday, November 19, 7-9 PM

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
(No meeting in December)

Monday November 19, 6:00-7:30pm - FREE
Looking Forward: A Just, Equitable and Sustainable Recovery
Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa. , open to the public, wheelchair accessible and Spanish translation provided. Coffee and light refreshments served.

For more info go to Facebook: 350 Sonoma or webpage 350sonoma.org. Email 350Sonomacounty@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 21, 7pm
350 Sonoma
For more info go to Facebook: 350 Sonoma or webpage 350sonoma.org. Email 350Sonomacounty@gmail.com

Saturday November 24 (the last Saturday every month)

Community Seed Exchange 
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd., Sebastopol
For more info: communityseedexchange@gmail.com
9-10:30 Optional Work Party
12-1 Free Workshop
9-12 Seed Library

Monday, December 3
Occupy Sonoma County Six Year Birthday!
And kick off to our month-long Winter Break (no meetings or newsletter in December)

December 6, 5-8 PM

Holiday Networking Party & Awards for Leadership in Post-fire Ecosystem Regeneration

Sebastopol Grange

Sonoma County Conservation Council: sc...@sonic.net

Thurs. Dec. 6, 7:00-8:30 PM

Traditional Environmental Knowledge and Climate Change Presentation with Pomo Tribal Elder
Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road, Santa Rosa
$12

For more info: (707) 527-9277 or in...@lagunafoundation.org

Monday, February 4, 7-9 PM

Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SoCoCAN!)

Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa 95401

Please submit campaign proposals in writing: SonomaC...@gmail.com or to the SoCoCAN listserv (preferred)

Facilitator for this meeting: Anne Jacopetti

Volunteer Opportunities

• We are evaluating our practice of posting event flyers to bulletin boards.  The OSC person who does this drives an old truck so the cost to the environment is even more significant than what we are spending financially to cover Sonoma County's bulletin boards six times a year.  Some of us take flyers to the locations where we already shop.  If everyone did this we could cover the bulletin boards without someone driving around in an old truck.  Can you agree to cover the bulletin boards where you already shop?  Please let us know what bulletin boards you can cover.  Flyers can always be downloaded from our website.      

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.