EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - February 22, 2018
Emerald
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
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1) Wildflower planting on farms boosts
birds, from skylarks to starlings
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/03/wildflower-planting-on-farms-boosts-birds-from-skylarks-to-starlings
2) 62,458 Pounds of Monsanto Weedkiller.
In One Year. In One Small State.
https://www.organicconsumers.org/blog/62458-pounds-monsanto-weedkiller-one-year-one-small-state
Organic
Consumers Association: "The use of glyphosate alone—just on Vermont dairy
farms—jumped 27 percent between 2014 – 2017, according to new data released
last month by Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets."
AND
Got Monsanto's Glyphosate in Your Lunch?
http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/got_monsanto_s_glyphosate_in_your_lunch?utm_campaign=news_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=yesmaam
The
solution is to eat organic, although that's no guarantee due to wind
drift. Get organic foods from a reliable source such as the farmer's
market or a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). USDA organic is
95%! CCOF and Oregon Tilth is a more reliable standard for organic.
AND
In Blow to Monsanto, Arkansas Ban on Controversial Herbicide to Remain
https://www.ecowatch.com/monsanto-arkansas-herbicide-ban-2536779947.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=14ad2f9091-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-14ad2f9091-86095421
AND
Transforming the Food We Eat With DowDuPont
https://www.ecowatch.com/atlantic-magazine-harvest-2534831978.html?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1518708521
3) San Juan Mayor Calls for End to
Puerto Rico’s Colonial Status Amid Slow Hurricane Maria Recovery
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/19/san_juan_mayor_calls_for_end?utm_source=Democracy+Now!&utm_campaign=1ffb0f836c-Daily_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-1ffb0f836c-191276697
AND
Five Months After Maria, San Juan Mayor Decries “Disaster Capitalism” &
Privatization in Puerto Rico
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/2/19/five_months_after_maria_san_juan?utm_source=Democracy+Now!&utm_campaign=1ffb0f836c-Daily_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-1ffb0f836c-191276697
AND
Puerto Rico Needs Your Help for Recovery, But Also for Reform
https://www.ecowatch.com/helping-in-puerto-rico-2534130569.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
4) 13 Youths 'in a Position of Danger'
Sue Washington State Over Climate Crisis
https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-lawsuit-washington-youth-2536683798.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=9be1dda175-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-9be1dda175-86095421
5) 3 Things Cities Can Learn from Cape
Town’s Impending 'Day Zero' Water Shut-Off
https://www.ecowatch.com/cities-drought-cape-town-2535012855.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=9be1dda175-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-9be1dda175-86095421
World
Resources Institute: "Cape Town is running out of water. After three
years of
intense drought, South Africa's second-largest city is just a few months away
from "Day Zero," the day when the city government will shut
off water
taps for most homes and businesses."
AND
How Water Scarcity Shapes the World's Refugee Crisis
https://www.ecowatch.com/refugee-crisis-water-shortage-2535042186.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=f2e2bf5749-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-f2e2bf5749-86095421
6) New Online Calculator Lets You See
the Impact of Your Meat Intake
https://www.ecowatch.com/meat-blitz-calculator-2534881754.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=9be1dda175-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-9be1dda175-86095421
7) Household Products Cause as Much Air
Pollution as Cars, Surprising Study Finds
https://www.ecowatch.com/air-pollution-consumer-products-2535518814.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=f2e2bf5749-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-f2e2bf5749-86095421
8) Renewables Now Contribute Nearly
One-Fifth of U.S. Electricity Generation
https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy-us-2535432605.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=f2e2bf5749-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-f2e2bf5749-86095421
AND
World's First Floating Wind Farm Exceeds Expectations
https://www.ecowatch.com/floating-wind-farm-scotland-2535373353.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
9) Air Pollution From Industrial
Shutdowns and Startups a Grave Danger to Public Health
https://www.ecowatch.com/air-pollution-startups-shutdowns-2534981679.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=f2e2bf5749-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-f2e2bf5749-86095421
The
Conversation: "When Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast in August
2017, many industrial facilities had to shut down their operations before the
storm arrived and restart once rainfall and flooding had subsided.
These shutdowns and startups, as well as accidents caused by the hurricane, led
to a significant release of air pollutants. Over a period of about two weeks,
data we compiled from the Texas' Air Emission Event Report Database indicates
these sites released 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants."
10) Coastal Recreation and Tourism
Businesses Fight Offshore Oil Drilling Proposal
https://www.ecowatch.com/offshore-drilling-tourism-recreation-2535424916.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=f2e2bf5749-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-f2e2bf5749-86095421
11) China Reassigns 60,000 Soldiers to
Plant Trees
https://www.ecowatch.com/china-trees-soldiers-2534965590.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
This
is awesome!
AND
Taiwan Sets Aggressive Timeline to Ban Straws and Other Single-Use Plastics
https://www.ecowatch.com/taiwan-plastics-ban-2535001646.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
AND
Germany Considers Free Public Transport to Fight Air Pollution
https://www.ecowatch.com/germany-air-pollution-2534823666.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=28d3e74899-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-28d3e74899-86095421
AND
America’s Cities Are the Vanguard for a Sustainable Future
https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-mayors-letter-2537152940.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=d202c7f503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-d202c7f503-86095421
12) Update on Nestlé: Michiganders
Mobilize to Take Back Public Water
https://www.ecowatch.com/nestle-michigan-water-2534869852.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
Boycott
Nestlé, especially their water (Perrier and San Pellegrino) and everything they
make. They are one of the worst corporations of all time!
AND
Report: 64% of Bottled Water Is Tap Water, Costs 2000x More
https://www.ecowatch.com/bottled-water-sources-tap-2537510642.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=d202c7f503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-d202c7f503-86095421
https://www.ecowatch.com/bottled-water-sources-tap-2537510642.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=d202c7f503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-d202c7f503-86095421
Common
Dreams: "Bottled water companies including Nestlé and Coca-Cola have
succeeded in selling their products through predatory marketing tactics.
The industry frequently targets low-income groups, people of color, and
immigrant communities—people who may have lacked or still lack access to safe
water—for their marketing campaigns. In 2014, Nestlé spent upwards of $5 billion
advertising its Pure Life brand, with $3.8 billion going to Spanish-language TV
ads."
13) How to Reduce Methane Emissions From
the Oil and Gas Industry Across North America
https://www.ecowatch.com/methane-emissions-us-2534478882.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
14) More Action Needed to Ensure Safe
Water for First Nations
https://www.ecowatch.com/safe-water-first-nations-2534881777.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=5d463eecd5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-5d463eecd5-86095421
15) 5 Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to
Toxic BPA
https://www.ecowatch.com/toxic-bpa-exposure-2532782284.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=28d3e74899-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-28d3e74899-86095421
"BPA-free"
is really misleading. When manufacturers take out this bisphenol they
replace it with another one just as toxic that has no bad marketing against
it. Avoid using all plastics in contact with your food. It's hard
to eliminate entirely so consider ways to eliminate toxins from your body as
part of your regular health regime.
16) 73% of Deep-Sea Fish Have Ingested
Plastic
https://www.ecowatch.com/plastics-deep-sea-fish-2536726086.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=14ad2f9091-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-14ad2f9091-86095421
Microplastics
are a serious problem in the ocean.
17) Climate Change, Conflict Leave 224
Million Undernourished in Africa
https://www.ecowatch.com/africa-malnutrition-climate-change-2537161073.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=d202c7f503-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-d202c7f503-86095421
When
we consider healthy food choices we must also consider what is healthy for the
planet and all life living here. What food choices are sustainable for
all of us?
18) Guided February Hike Offers Glimpse
at Nature’s Renewal after Fires
http://www.sonomamag.com/guided-february-hike-offers-glimpse-natures-renewal-fires/?utm_source=Lifestyle&utm_medium=top-stories&utm_campaign=pd_study&utm_content=pos_6
Saturday,
February 24, 1 to 4 p.m. Advance registration is free but required, due to
limited capacity, at landpaths.org. Exact location and
additional details will be provided to registered participants.
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!
Rebuild Green Expo
February 23, 10-7
Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial
Building
Free
This expo will provide a great opportunity for rebuilders, the
community, and community organizers to learn more about what each other are
doing, how best to collaborate on the rebuild and what support is still needed.
The morning session will consist of educational presentations and breaks outs
for community organizers, while the afternoon will be open to the public with
tabling from local organizations. Check out more details here.
Community Seed Exchange
Sat. Feb. 24 (the last Saturday every month)
For more info: communityseedexchange@gmail.com
Schools for Climate Action Monthly Meeting
Thursday, Mar 8, 5:30 PM
Please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/9c8b51ba1d164446dc2040ba88984b7b
Attend our next Earth Action Campaign meeting
Monday, March 19, 7-9 PM
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.
Sonoma
Solidarity with Standing Rock Meeting
Saturday, March
24, 2-5 PM
2-3:30 pm Divestment & Public Banking
3:30-5 pm Main 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.
KBBF Presents An Occupy Sonoma
County Teach-in: Urban Farming & Backyard Sustainability
Monday, March 26, 7-9 PM
Donations requested
Carpenters' Union Hall, 1706 Corby Ave, Santa Rosa 95407
While
healthy food can be prohibitively expensive, unhealthy food costs us even more
in the long term with health costs and shorter lives. There is an answer to
this dilemma: learn how to grow organic foods in your backyard year-round in
healthy soils free from petrochemicals. Everyone is welcome to this free event.
Bayer Farms will provide free, locally grown, seasonal, organic food for you to
take home!
Presenter Jonathan Bravo has been dedicated to the field of education and
involved in community action for many years. Currently he works at Bayer Farm,
where he can express part of his life philosophy, 'what you seed you will
harvest.'
For more information go to OccupySonomaCounty.org
or call (707)877-6650.
Monday, April 30 , 7-9 PM, Peace & Justice Center
Join the new Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SonomaCountyCAN.
2nd Annual Sonoma County Zero Waste Symposium
Thursday, May 10
Zero Waste Sonoma is making great strides in reducing waste across Sonoma County through reducing, composting, reusing, and recycling.Kick off Zero Waste Week (May 6 - 12)
For more info go to: https://zerowastesonoma.org/
Volunteer Opportunities
• Adopt-A-Bulletin Board
What locations do you
already go to that have bulletin boards? Where can you easily go to in
your own neighborhood to help us publicize teach-ins and events? Download
our latest flyer from our website and let us know where you are posting. We especially need help covering Petaluma, Cotati and Rohnert Park.
• 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.
Can you help us upload some video clips to our Youtube page?
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 county-wide social justice campaigns that are globally relevant.