S.O.S. Climate Disaster: Vigil & Rally this Thursday!

[Rosemary Wessel]

Scroll down for info on State House Climate Rally this Thursday!

Check out the latest news from the Massachusetts climate movement! View this email in your browser Dear friends, I’ll be honest: I’m tired. As I’m sure is the case for many of us when we’re tired,  part of me tempts my brain with the notion of throwing in the towel. It begs the question: What have you actually accomplished?  My reason I won't give up is you and your effort. We have been fighting for two years for common-sense climate policy. We’ve come too far to not leave everything on the field. All potential energy legislation has been sent to a conference committee, the metaphorical smoke-filled back room of American government, where decisions are made in secret and little accountability. I think on this and that part of me whispers that the die has already been cast, that there is nothing more we can do. That same line is being echoed by some on Beacon Hill. Here’s my response: I don’t have a seat on conference, but I work with a team that has a powerful voice and there is always the capacity to respond. We have one week to frame the potential outcomes of this committee and that is time too precious to spend waiting for the work to get done.  Let's do this together, Andrew Gordon Legislative Manager S.O.S. Climate Disaster: Vigil & Rally this Thursday! We're mobilizing to show our legislators that we need urgent climate action. We are mobilizing on Thursday to show them the status quo isn't enough: 1) Vigils at the State House, 12-4pm: People will take 10 minute shifts reading from the National Climate Assessment, followed by recounting their personal story & who they are fighting for for up to five minutes #WhyWeWontRest 2) "Drown-in," 4PM: As thunderstorms rain down on Thursday, people will gather outside the State House, where we will have giant blue tarps to symbolize the rising waters that will gradually engulf the participants. We are asking everyone to dress in rain gear & to wear or bring life preservers & life vests. See the Facebook event here and RSVP here. Last Call! Final Chance to Call Your Rep. for Climate Action The conference committee deciding how to write the final energy bill for this term is meeting this week and we expect an outcome by next week. They need to hear from their colleagues now more than ever. We've updated our call tool so that you can easily find your representative's contact information while using our script. Thank you for all that you've done this year and continue to do. Call Conference Committee Members Directly: Ask the members of conference committee to consider a 3% RPS increase and solar equity as priorities! Be sure to tweet at them too, using #WhyWeWontRest and their handle! House Golden (@tomtipagolden): 617-722-2263 (press 1 then 1)  Jones (@RepBradJones): 617-722-2100 Haddad: 617-722-2600 Senate Barrett (@BarrettSenate): 617-722-1572 Pacheco (@MarcRPacheco): 617-722-1551 O'Connor: 617-722-1646 Other 350 Mass News 350 Mass Values & Principles: The 350 Mass Statewide Steering Team (SST) recently voted to endorse the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing, the 350.org Organizing Principles, and the Better Future Project’s own set of principles to help ground our work in important shared beliefs. Take a look and think about ways that you, your node, and the network as a whole can strive to fully embody these principles in our work! Other Better Future Project News Join CREW: Interested in helping your neighborhood prepare for the impacts of climate change? Join CREW! We aim to build grassroots climate resilience in neighborhoods across New England through education, service, and planning. Learn more and sign up here. Other Climate Movement News People’s Climate Movement Rises Again: On Saturday, September 8th, we’re joining the People’s Climate Movement and partners in bringing tens of thousands of people from across the country into the streets to show our leaders that we demand climate action. Eight weeks later, millions more will take those demands to the polls, making Climate, Jobs, and Justice deciding issues in the midterm elections and beyond. Sign up here to get involved. Solidarity Opportunities Families Belong Together & Free Volunteer Debrief/Orientation: Nearly a month ago, 350 Mass co-sponsored the Together & Free Rally Against Family Separation, led by Jobs with Justice and several immigrant justice organizations, which demanded action from both state and federal government around basic protections for immigrant communities. Climate justice requires immigrant justice. Join this event to learn what’s next! Jul 24, 6-7:30pm, 375 Centre St., Jamaica Plain MA People’s Agenda GOTV 2018: Jobs with Justice is fighting back by mobilizing the entire coalition under the banner of the “People’s Agenda,” a progressive slate that includes all of the 2018 ballot questions and ties them together with a central narrative of solidarity and building working class power in the Commonwealth. Join this event to learn more and find out how you can help Get Out The Vote this fall! See the Facebook event. Jul 30, 6-8pm, 375 Centre St., Jamaica Plain Cosecha March on NEU - Abolish ICE!:Northeastern University has received $2.7 million from an ongoing research contract with ICE. The agency is also listed as an employer for NEU’s student co-op program. The university benefits from and provides services to ICE, making them complicit in the agency’s criminalization and dehumanization of the immigrant community. Join Cosecha to march on NEU! See the Facebook event. Jul 31, 5:30-7:30pm, Ruggles Station, Boston Victory on Minimum Wage and Paid Leave, But We’re Not Done: The governor just signed into law a Paid Family & Medical Leave program and $15 min wage, which 350 Mass worked with over 100 other groups in the Raise Up Mass Coalition to achieve. But our fight for economic--and climate--justice is just beginning, and we will not forget those workers who the legislature left behind in this law. How can Raise Up Mass continue the fight? Add your ideas here. Is this newsletter a helpful resource? Help us make it possible by donating today!  About Better Future Project and 350 Massachusetts Better Future Project (BFP) builds grassroots power to advance a rapid transition beyond fossil fuels. 350 Mass is Better Future Project's volunteer-led climate action network.  We're on Facebook and Twitter. Did you receive this email from a friend? You can subscribe here.  Questions? Email Alan Palm, al...@betterfutureproject.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Upcoming Node Activity   Berkshires 350 Mass Node Meeting Wed, Aug 15, 6-8 pm Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield Boston 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Jul 24, 7-8:30 pm First Church JP 6 Eliot St, Boston Cambridge 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Jul 24, 6:30-8:30 pm (orientation for new members at 6 pm) First Church Cambridge 11 Garden St, Cambridge Cape Cod 350 Mass Node Meeting  Thu, Jul 26, 7-8:30 pm Sturgis Library 3090 Main St, Barnstable Greater Franklin 350 Mass Node Meeting Thu, Aug 2, 7-9 pm First Universalist Society in Franklin 262 Chestnut St, Franklin Lowell 350 Mass Node Meeting  Wed, Jul 25, 7-8:30 pm Mill No. 5 250 Jackson St, Lowell MetroNorth 350 Mass Node Meeting Wed, Aug 1, 11:30 am-1:30 pm Unitarian Church 478 Main St, Winchester MetroWest 350 Mass Node Meeting Fri, Aug 2, 7-9:30 pm Scott Hall 24 Vernon St, Framingham Mystic 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Jul 24, 7-8 pm Medford High School, Rm V220 489 Winthrop St, Medford Newton 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Aug 21, 7-9 pm  First Unitarian Society in Newton 1326 Washington St, Newton North Shore 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Aug 7, 6:30-8:30 pm Beverly Farms Library 24 Vine St, Beverly South Coast 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Jul 24, 7-8:30 pm First Parish Church in Taunton 76 Church Green, Taunton South Shore 350 Mass Node Meeting Tue, Aug 7, 7-9 pm Old Ship Church Parish House 107 Main St, Hingham Upper Charles 350 Mass Node Meeting Mon, Aug 27, 7-9 pm Sherborn Unitarian Universalist Church 11 Washington St, Sherborn Watertown 350 Mass Node Meeting Sun, Jul 29, 4-6 pm The Residence at Watertown Square 20 Summer St, Watertown