EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - May 18, 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.  Please refrain from posting petitions or donation requests without OSC approval.  Thank you for joining us.

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​1) Tesla's Giant Australian Battery Saved Consumers $35 Million in Four Months ​
https://www.ecowatch.com/tesla-australia-battery-2568719032.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=005cfc543f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-005cfc543f-86095421
"In the first four months of operations of the Hornsdale Power Reserve, the frequency ancillary services prices went down by 90 percent, so that's 9-0 per cent," van Gendt said Thursday, as quoted by Renew Economy. "And the 100 megawatt battery has achieved over 55 percent of the FCAS revenues in South Australia. So it's 2 percent of the capacity in South Australia achieving 55 percent of the revenues in South Australia."

2) New Farm Bill Contains Sneak Attack on the Environment With Toxic Pesticides
https://www.ecowatch.com/farm-bill-pesticides-2567904160.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=005cfc543f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-005cfc543f-86095421

Union Of Concerned Scientists: "For both humans and wildlife, the Republican reauthorization of the farm bill would usher in the weakest federal protections against pesticide abuse since Rachel Carson charted the destruction of species by overuse of DDT and other pesticides in her seminal 1962 book Silent Spring. She wrote of pesticide poisonings, and mental illness to people, documented by American, British, New Zealand and Australian researchers. One study by the University of Melbourne noted how three chemical scientists, eight greenhouse workers and five farm workers suffered from impaired memory, schizophrenia and depression. "All had normal medical histories before the chemicals they were using boomeranged and struck them down," she wrote. She said their illness was "a heavy price to pay for the temporary destruction of a few insects, but a price that will continue to be exacted as long as we insist upon using chemicals that strike directly at the nervous system."

3) The Thinking Error at the Root of Science Denial
https://www.ecowatch.com/science-denial-evidence-policy-2567016487.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=005cfc543f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-005cfc543f-86095421

The Conversation: "I have observed deniers use a three-step strategy to mislead the scientifically unsophisticated. First, they cite areas of uncertainty or controversy, no matter how minor, within the body of research that invalidates their desired course of action. Second, they categorize the overall scientific status of that body of research as uncertain and controversial. Finally, deniers advocate proceeding as if the research did not exist."

​4) ​How Wall Street Enabled the Fracking 'Revolution' That's Losing Billions
https://www.ecowatch.com/wall-street-fracking-revolution-2566742237.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421

DeSmogBlog: "Continental recently reported plans to drill 350 new wells at an estimated cost of $11.7 million per well, which adds up to over $4 billion in total costs on those wells. The company currently holds more than $6 billion in debt and less than $100 million cash. How will Continental fund those new wells?... Perhaps Continental will fund it by selling assets because without more debt, Continental does not have the money to fund those new wells. However, if past is prelude, then Wall Street will happily lend Continental as much money as it wants."

5) Flooding, Freshwater Loss Could Make Atoll Islands Uninhabitable by 2050
https://www.ecowatch.com/atoll-islands-sea-level-rise-2567585255.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421

Climate News Network: "Coast-dwellers and people of the lowest-lying islands have the most to lose from climate change, starting with the ground on which they live. Sea level rise has already been identified as a threat for one small settlement off the coast of the U.S. mainland, and future sea level rise could threaten many in the wider Pacific and sweep away tourist investments in the Indian Ocean... "The tipping point when potable groundwater on the majority of atoll islands will be unavailable is projected to be reached no later than the middle of the 21st century," said Curt Storlazzi of the U.S. Geological Survey, who led the research... "The overwash events generally result in salty ocean water seeping into the ground and contaminating the freshwater aquifer. Rainfall later in the year is not enough to flush out the saltwater and refresh the island's water supply before the next year's storms arrive, repeating the overwash events," said Stephen Gingerich of the USGS."

​6) Rock Climbers and Supporters 'Climb the Hill' for Public Lands
https://www.ecowatch.com/climb-the-hill-2567674242.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421

AND
490,000 Pounds of Toxic Pesticides Sprayed on National Wildlife Refuges
https://www.ecowatch.com/toxic-pesticides-national-wildlife-refuges-2567651475.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421

Center For Biological Diversity: "The pesticides include the highly toxic herbicides dicamba and 2,4-D, which threaten the endangered species and migrating birds that wildlife refuges were created to protect. Refuge pesticide use in 2016 was consistent with pesticide applications on refuges over the previous two years, the Center for Biological Diversity analysis showed. America's 562 national wildlife refuges include forests, wetlands and waterways vital to thousands of species, including more than 280 protected under the Endangered Species Act. Yet intensive commercial farming has become increasingly common on refuge lands, triggering escalating use of highly toxic pesticides that threaten the long-term health of these sensitive habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.In 2016 more than 270,000 acres of refuge land were sprayed with pesticides for agricultural purposes."

7) NTP Scientist: Glyphosate Formulations 'Much More Toxic' Than Chemical Itself
https://www.ecowatch.com/glyphosate-formulations-toxic-2567648669.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421
"According to a poster of the NTP's research, glyphosate formulations decreased human cell "viability" by disrupting cell membranes. Also, the concoctions "significantly altered" cell viability. "We see the formulations are much more toxic. The formulations were killing the cells," Mike DeVito, acting chief of the National Toxicology Program Laboratory, told The Guardian. "The glyphosate really didn't do it."

8) Costa Rica President Announces 'Titanic and Beautiful Task' of Abolishing Fossil Fuels
https://www.ecowatch.com/costa-rica-fossil-fuels-renewables-2567614857.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421
"Decarbonization is the great task of our generation, and Costa Rica must be among the first countries in the world to achieve it, if not the first," he said. His goal is for Costa Rica to lead the Paris agreement on climate change and be a "world decarbonization laboratory" before the United Nations' climate talks in 2020 (COP 26)."

9) Seattle County Files 11th U.S. Climate Liability Lawsuit Against Big Oil
https://www.ecowatch.com/seattle-climate-lawsuit-2567616554.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421
"King County, which covers the Seattle metropolitan area, followed the lead of 10 other cities and counties in the U.S. when it filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the world's five largest oil companies for damages incurred by climate change, a county press release announced."

10) 1,400 Tons of Contaminated Soil Hauled From Montana Reservation Oil Spill Site
https://www.ecowatch.com/oil-spill-montana-reservation-2569319391.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=02cfc6c64f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-02cfc6c64f-86095421
AND
Pipeline Spews Raw Crude Oil in Oklahoma City
https://www.ecowatch.com/oil-spill-oklahoma-city-2567868365.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=8ea4303373-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-8ea4303373-86095421
"The release occurred in a well-populated area, with many houses surrounding the facility. Some residents expressed dismay after their property was coated in oil. One tweeted to DCP Midstream, "a massive leak at your facility in Edmond, OK, just coated my entire house and my neighborhood with crude. What are you going to do to clean it up?!?"... Sunoco is a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, which owns about 71,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and crude oil pipelines across the country, including the contentious Dakota Access pipeline."

11) Texas Residents Urge Rejection of World's Largest Plastics Plant: 'Millions of Gallons of Toxic Wastewater a Day' Would Be Dumped Into Corpus Christi Bay
https://www.ecowatch.com/texas-plastics-plant-exxon-2567615267.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=9b6ca2e36c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-9b6ca2e36c-86095421

Center For Biological Diversity: "The Center for Biological Diversity and more than 1,100 Texas residents are demanding that Texas regulators reconsider issuing a wastewater permit to a project that would be the world's largest plastics plant. The facility, funded by ExxonMobil and the Saudi Arabian government, would discharge more than 13 million gallons a day of toxic wastewater. It will exceed legal pollution standards, as the Center for Biological Diversity notes in a petition filed Wednesday with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The plant, which would receive more than $1 billion in state tax breaks, would "crack" the ethane in natural gas to produce almost 2 million tons of ethylene and polyethylene annually. Polyethylene pellets are the basic building blocks of plastic products. The Texas plant is part of a multibillion-dollar push by the fossil fuel industry to increase global plastic production by 40 percent over the next decade."This facility will dump millions of gallons of toxic wastewater a day into beautiful Corpus Christi Bay. That's right in the middle of critical habitat for endangered whooping cranes," said Emily Jeffers, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "

12) New Federally Required GMO Labels Won't Say 'GMO'
https://www.organicconsumers.org/blog/new-federally-required-gmo-labels-wont-say-gmo

AND
Wait, What?
https://www.organicconsumers.org/newsletter/organic-bytes-588-totally-toxic-new-evidence-banning-monsantos-roundup-weedkiller/wait

Do you remember the speech Hillary Clinton gave at a biotech industry convention before the election? This is exactly what she recommended.

13) California Tree Loss Could Have Implications for Forests Nationwide
https://www.ecowatch.com/california-tree-loss-study-2569414275.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=10179dc035-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-10179dc035-86095421

14) Alaska Defies Partisan Climate Divide With Forthcoming Action Plan
https://www.ecowatch.com/alaska-climate-action-plan-2569444468.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=10179dc035-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-10179dc035-86095421
"Alaska has voted for a Republican for president in every U.S. election since 1964, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Given the growing partisan divide on climate change, one would not expect the state to take action on climate change, let alone acknowledge that it is a problem. But Alaska is also uniquely impacted by the effects of climate change. Scientists have called this year's loss of sea ice on the Bering Sea a "natural disaster" for Alaskan communities that rely on the ice pack to facilitate transportation and hunting, and to protect their homes from winter storms. The Native Alaskan village of Kivalina, located on a barrier island, even took a leading role in seeking damages for climate change when it sued fossil fuel companies in 2008 over the impacts of erosion and flooding from coastal storms due to sea-ice loss, though the suit was unsuccessful."

15) Oakland's Ban on Coal Shipments Overturned by Judge
https://www.ecowatch.com/oakland-coal-ban-2569352831.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=10179dc035-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-10179dc035-86095421

Climate Nexus: "U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ridiculed the city for violating its contract with the developer of the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal in its 2016 ban, writing in his opinion that there is no "substantial evidence" that coal shipments "would pose a substantial health or safety danger" to Oakland residents. "This is a fight for environmental justice and equity," Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement. "Oakland's most vulnerable communities have unfairly suffered the burden of pollutants and foul air for too long." The terminal's developers plan to source coal from the Powder River Basin region to store in Oakland before shipping overseas, and the judge's ruling was celebrated by local officials in coal-producing towns in Wyoming and Utah."

16) Federal Ruling on Controversial Pipeline May Halt Construction
https://www.ecowatch.com/atlantic-coast-pipeline-endangered-species-2569372543.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=10179dc035-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-10179dc035-86095421
"Opponents of the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would carry fracked natural gas from West Virginia through Virginia's Highland Country and into North Carolina, won a reprieve Tuesday when a federal appeals court invalidated a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) review of the pipeline, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported."

17) San Francisco Lawmakers Propose Bill Banning Plastic Straws
https://www.ecowatch.com/san-francisco-plastic-straw-ban-2569049425.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=02cfc6c64f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-02cfc6c64f-86095421
AND
First 'Plastic Free' Label Debuts to Help Shoppers Cut Waste
https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-free-label-2569358366.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=10179dc035-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-10179dc035-86095421
"The environmental group A Plastic Planet debuted the world's first "Plastic Free Trust Mark" to help shoppers know that their products are packaged entirely without the non-biodegradable material, which harms marine life and has entered the larger food chain. "Now we all know the damage our addiction to plastic has caused, we want to do the right thing and buy plastic-free. But it is harder than you think and a clear no-nonsense label is much needed," said A Plastic Planet co-founder Sian Sutherland in a statement."

18) Smart Windows Could Combine Solar Panels and TVs Too
https://www.ecowatch.com/smart-windows-2567914719.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=02cfc6c64f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-02cfc6c64f-86095421

19) Researchers Uncover 'New Phase of Globalization' With Major Climate Consequences
https://www.ecowatch.com/new-phase-of-globalization-2568824216.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=263cdfd6f8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-263cdfd6f8-86095421

20) WHO's Push to Ban Trans Fats Could Pave Way for Palm Oil
https://www.ecowatch.com/who-trans-fat-2568793389.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=263cdfd6f8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-263cdfd6f8-86095421
"The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday announced an initiative to ban artificial trans fats from the global food supply by 2023. This goal is a worthy endeavor, as the intake of trans fats has led to the deaths of 500,000 people from cardiovascular disease per year, according to WHO estimates. However, if governments adopt this measure, it could inadvertently ramp up the use of an environmentally destructive replacement—unsustainable palm oil."

21) Philippines Plans Manhattan-Sized Green City
https://www.ecowatch.com/philippines-green-city-2568759284.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=263cdfd6f8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-263cdfd6f8-86095421

22) New data offers insights into the dynamics of nonviolent resistance
https://wagingnonviolence.org/2018/05/new-navco-data-dynamics-nonviolent-resistance/

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%!

 

Take Action - Get Involved!

Sunday, May 20, 3:00-6:00pm
Spring Social for the Sonoma County environmental community
Nolan Ranch in Forestville
Free! Hosted by the Sonoma County Conservation Council
RSVP by May 19: w...@sonic.net or (707) 544-4582

Monday, May 21, 7-9 PM
Attend our next Earth Action Campaign meeting
Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
This campaign meets monthly on the 3rd Mondays. Meet in person or call in from home.
For more information go to http://OccupySonomaCounty.org or call 707-877-6650.
Note that this month we will not be having a formal meeting but doing Earth ACTION working on several projects.

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, Doors open 5:45; Dinner 7 PM ($20 RSVP), Program 7:30PM (free)
BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR GOOD JOBS AND ZERO WASTE
PANEL DISCUSSION, MODERATED BY MARTY BENNETT
Panelists: Fred Stemmler - Recology, Celia Furber - Recology, Sunny Galbraith - 350 Sonoma, Patricio Estupiñan - Recology, Marty Bennett - North Bay Jobs with Justice

Santa Rosa Veterans' Building, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa
Sponsored by the Santa Rosa Democratic Club
For more info contact North Bay Jobs with Justice: north...@gmail.com or 707-293-2863, northbayjobswithjustice.org, Facebook

Community Seed Exchange

Sat. May 26 (the last Saturday every month)
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd., Sebastopol
For more info: communitys...@gmail.com
9-10:30 Optional Work Party
11-12 Free Habitat Hedgerows Workshop
9-12 Seed Library

Saturday, June 9, 3-5 PM
Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock Meeting
3:00-5:00 Main Meeting (no public banking meeting)
Peace & Justice Center - 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
For more info: www.facebook.com/SonomaNoDAPL/, Email sonoma.s...@gmail.com​
Look for Public Bank Santa Rosa on Facebook or email them at in...@publicbanksantarosa.com.  Be sure to read and endorse their new resolution.

 

Wednesday, June 20, 7pm
350 Sonoma
General Meeting with 350 Petaluma and Jeff Creque, Director of Carbon Cycle Institute talking about carbon farming

Ongoing subgroups, Regenerative Agriculture, Zero Waste, Legislative Action.
For more info go to​ Facebook350 Sonoma or webpage 350sonoma.org. Email 350Sono...@gmail.com

 

Saturday, July 14
Healdsburg River Palooza at Veteran's Memorial Beach
B-Rad Foundation, Russian Riverkeeper, & Clean River Alliance
For more information contact rrke...@sonic.net or Sign up here.

 

Monday, July 30
Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SoCoCAN!), 7-9 PM

Peace and Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
Climate activist groups and individuals working together to address and reverse climate change. We meet on months with a 5th Monday. 2018 Next Meetings: July 30, Oct. 29.
For more info: (707) 595-0320 or SonomaC...@gmail.com (email preferred). Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SonomaCountyCAN/.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Event Tabling

There are several outdoor events where we will have our booth.  Help us set up and take down our booth and enjoy the event or stay with us to share information and answer questions with the public.

• May Meat Challenge

Help is needed on this new campaign.  We especially need links to plant-based recipes and nutrition information.  Join the discussion on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/159128031450231/.  Please help us promote it.  Go here for the information.  Please share your experiences and write a testimonial for next year.

• Video editing help is always needed - even one hour would help

We are behind in our video projects and could use some help in getting caught up. Our teach-in videos provide an ongoing opportunity to share important information with the public.  Go to our Youtube page to see some of our videos.

• Set up help is needed prior to our teach-ins

Help with taking down tables, setting up chairs, and bringing things in from the car.

• Growing plants for our plant sales

Especially vegetables, herbs, perennials and pollinator plants.

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.