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

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1) Toxic Coal Ash Being Dumped in Puerto Rico, Which Already Suffers Worst Drinking Water in the Nation (video)
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/3/9/toxic_coal_ash_being_dumped_in?utm_source=Democracy+Now!&utm_campaign=87f548e907-Daily_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-87f548e907-191276697

AND
How an Alabama Town Is Fighting Against Cancerous & Toxic Coal Ash Dumping—No Thanks to Trump’s EPA (video)
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/3/9/how_an_alabama_town_is_fighting_against?utm_source=Democracy+Now!&utm_campaign=87f548e907-Daily_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-87f548e907-191276697

2) Renewable Communities Produce Energy, Jobs and Hope
https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-communities-energy-jobs-hope-2544101465.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=aaad04f9dd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-aaad04f9dd-86095421

David Suzuki: :Anishinaabe economist and writer Winona LaDuke identifies two types of economies, grounded in different ways of seeing. She characterized one as an "extreme extractive economy" fed by exploitation of people and nature. The second is a "regenerative economy" based on an understanding of the land and our relationship to it."

3) MIT Races to Put Nuclear Fusion on the Grid to Fight Climate Change
https://www.ecowatch.com/nuclear-fusion-mit-2545024588.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=aaad04f9dd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-aaad04f9dd-86095421

OMG this is so not the solution to our problems! Leave this stuff alone.

4) 20,000 Scientists Have Now Signed 'Warning to Humanity'
https://www.ecowatch.com/warning-to-humanity-scientists-2544973158.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=aaad04f9dd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-aaad04f9dd-86095421
AND
Commonwealth Science Bodies Urge Climate Action in Unprecedented Plea
https://www.ecowatch.com/commonwealth-science-bodies-climate-action-2546465604.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=1b02facc66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-1b02facc66-86095421

5) The Real Organic Project: Disgusted With the USDA, Farmers Make Their Own Organic Label
https://www.ecowatch.com/real-organic-project-2543580612.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=0d570f2fac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-0d570f2fac-86095421

Modern Farmer: "The Real Organic Project will include an additional label on top of the USDA's certified organic label that indicates a project was farmed according to the standards of the Real Organic Project. According to the post: "Starting a new label is not a small task, but we can no longer find an alternative." The group behind the Real Organic Project is made up of a large collection of farmers and academics from around the country. The label, said Chapman, who is the group's lead spokesman, "is an attempt to create an add-on label to USDA Organic that will have more transparency and integrity in terms of honoring the traditional values of organic farming."

6) Fossil Fuel Execs Very Annoyed #KeepItIntheGround Movement Crimping Their Ability to Pillage Planet
https://www.ecowatch.com/fossil-fuel-execs-annoyed-2544696825.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=0d570f2fac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-0d570f2fac-86095421

7) San Francisco Sinks as Waters Rise
https://www.ecowatch.com/san-francisco-sea-level-rise-2544914546.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=0d570f2fac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-0d570f2fac-86095421

8) Want Sustainable Clothing? It's Time to Meet Regenerative Fiber
https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-2541799617.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421

AlterNet: " Currently, 87 percent of the clothing we consume ends up in a landfill or incinerated... If it's not certified organic, it's GMO."

AND
The Environmental and Human Cost of Making a Pair of Jeans
https://www.ecowatch.com/environmental-cost-jeans-2544519658.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=6b73d09fc6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-6b73d09fc6-86095421
"It is estimated that 70 percent of Asia's rivers and lakes are contaminated by the 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by that continent's textile industry."
There are solutions to this global problem.  This article tells one small part of the whole picture of exploitation in this industry.  Boycott Levis!  Boycott all sweatshop clothing!

9) Pollution, Race and the Search for Justice
https://www.ecowatch.com/pollution-race-search-for-justice-2543107924.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421
Nexus Media: "The statistics provide evidence for what advocates call "environmental racism." Communities of color aren't suffering by chance, they say. Rather, these conditions are the result of decades of indifference from people in power. Last summer Nexus Media went on a tour of the Deep South to talk with these communities about the pollution they deal with every day."

10) Bill Nye Confronts Justin Trudeau Over Kinder Morgan Pipeline
https://www.ecowatch.com/bill-nye-justin-trudeau-pipeline-2544011520.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421
"At a recent sit-down at the University of Ottawa, TV personality and science advocate Bill Nye confronted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about his approval of the controversial Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion."

AND
Germany’s New Coalition Agreement Waffles on Paris Goals
https://www.ecowatch.com/germany-paris-agreement-2546959322.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=cb2be1caee-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-cb2be1caee-86095421

AND
India and France Strengthen Joint Commitments to Renewable Energy

https://www.ecowatch.com/india-france-solar-paris-agreement-2546402626.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=1b02facc66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-1b02facc66-86095421

11) 'We'll See You in Court': Kids Climate Lawsuit Moves Forward After Judge Denies Trump
https://www.ecowatch.com/kids-climate-lawsuit-trial-2544414443.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421
"A federal court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to shut down a landmark lawsuit initiated by 21 young plaintiffs suing the government for its creation of climate danger."

AND
Judge Orders Historic Hearing on Climate Science
https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-science-hearing-california-2544434233.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421

12) U.S. to Unleash 'Major Second Wave' of Fracked Oil
https://www.ecowatch.com/major-second-wave-fracked-oil-2544063848.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=664b472727-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-664b472727-86095421

AND
From Asthma to Cancer, 'Blistering' New Report Details Human Cost of Fracking
https://www.ecowatch.com/public-health-risks-of-fracking-2547380045.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=cb2be1caee-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-cb2be1caee-86095421

13) Monsanto Says Its Pesticides Are Safe. Now, A Court Wants To See The Proof
https://popularresistance.org/monsanto-says-its-pesticides-are-safe-now-a-court-wants-to-see-the-proof/

Popular Resistance: "The public offering of expert testimony in San Francisco about Monsanto’s pervasive pesticide presents an important opportunity to separate the science from the spin. We all should be watching."

14) Three American Cities That Could Be The Next Cape Town
https://www.ecowatch.com/three-american-cities-cape-town-2544493744.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=6b73d09fc6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-6b73d09fc6-86095421

15) Redacted Tonight #186 (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euz05bsMiCM
Animal Agriculture Is The Leading Cause of Climate Change, and other stories.

Warning: Adult language and crude humor.

16) Review Shows New Regulations Needed on Toxic Pesticide Ingredients
https://sustainablepulse.com/2018/03/12/review-shows-new-regulations-needed-on-toxic-pesticide-ingredients/#.Wqpu_LjLezZ

17) New York Announces Nation-Leading $1.4B Investment in Renewables
https://www.ecowatch.com/new-york-renewable-energy-2546962806.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=cb2be1caee-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-cb2be1caee-86095421

18) Lead Exposure Linked to 412,000 Premature Deaths in U.S. Each Year
https://www.ecowatch.com/lead-exposure-health-risks-2546978387.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=cb2be1caee-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-cb2be1caee-86095421

19) If One Appointee Gets His Way, UN Could Recognize Healthy Environment as Human Right
https://www.ecowatch.com/un-human-rights-2546434079.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=1b02facc66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-1b02facc66-86095421

20) First Nations Build a 'Watch House' in Path of Kinder Morgan Pipeline
https://www.ecowatch.com/first-nations-watch-house-2546477424.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=1b02facc66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-1b02facc66-86095421

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!

Monday, March 19, 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.

 

Saturday, March 24​, 2-5 PM

Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock Meeting

1:00-3:00 pm Divestment & Public Banking
3:00-5:00 Main Meeting
Peace & Justice Center - 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
For more info: www.facebook.com/SonomaNoDAPL/, Email sonoma.solidarity@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.

Saturday, March 24, 1-3 PM
What's on those vines? Drink the change you want to see in the world.
Wine & Water Watch Presents Pam Strayer, a leading specialist on American organic and biodynamic vineyards.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Fireside Room, 282 South High St., Sebastopol.

You'll find out what is being applied to vineyards in our area and how to support family friendly farming. Free Event. For more info, visit the website.

Monday, March 26, 7-9 PM

KBBF Presents An Occupy Sonoma County Teach-in: Urban Farming & Backyard Sustainability
Free with Donations Welcome
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.
Presenter Jonathan Bravo, a field expert at LandPaths and Bayer Farm, has been dedicated to education and community action where he can express part of his life philosophy, 'what you seed you will harvest.'

​Pay-What-You-Can Plant Sale & Free Seed Exchange (bring your extra seeds to share).​ Everyone is welcome to this free event.
For more information go to OccupySonomaCounty.org or call (707)877-6650.

Community Seed Exchange
Sat. March 31 (the last Saturday every month)
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd., Sebastopol
For more info: communityseedexchange@gmail.com

9-10:30 Optional Work Party

11-12 Growing Grains

9-12 Seed Library

April 21

Earth Day Creek Cleanup in Windsor - the 1^st ever!

B-Rad Foundation, Russian Riverkeeper, & Clean River Alliance

For more information contact rrke...@sonic.net

 

Monday, April 30 ​, 7-9 PM,

Sonoma County Climate Activist Network Meeting - SoCo CAN!
Peace & Justice Center

Climate change groups and individuals working together to coordinate efforts and make action plans.
Join the new Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SonomaCountyCAN.

Thursday, May 10

2nd Annual ​Sonoma County Zero Waste Symposium
Zero Waste Sonoma is making great strides in reducing waste across Sonoma County through reducing, composting, reusing, and recycling.K​ick off Zero Waste Week (May 6 - 12)
For more info go to: https://zerowastesonoma.org/​

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.

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 Healdsburg, Sonoma, Guerneville, 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 countywide social justice campaigns that are globally relevant.