EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS - July 23, 2024

[OSC]

EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS  

Welcome to the people who have joined recently.  This is a simple weekly(ish) 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!
Solar and Wind Projects Under Construction in China Have 2x the Capacity of the Rest of the World’s Renewable Energy Projects Combined: Report

https://www.ecowatch.com/china-renewable-energy-construction-capacity.html

UK to Invest $9.37 Billion in Green Industry Projects as Part of New Government’s National Wealth Fund
https://www.ecowatch.com/uk-green-industry-projects-national-wealth-fund.html

Puerto Rico Sues Oil Companies for $1 Billion in Climate Damages
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/puerto-rico-files-usd1-billion-climate-lawsuit-against-oil-companies/
"Puerto Rico is suing fossil fuel companies over climate damages, saying that the industry knew about the dangers of its products and that the island is paying the price."

LOCAL REPORTS
Burning Injustice: Latino Activists Battle to Shut Down California's Toxic Incinerator (video)
https://youtu.be/ZxQYcWu1bCs?si=ESHDl10u_6ZG_ah0
"Burning Injustice" is a powerful short documentary that follows the inspiring journey of Latino activists, John Mataka and Bianca Lopez, as they lead a fight against one of the last trash incinerators in California. Set in California's Central Valley, the film exposes the devastating health consequences of pollution and highlights their tireless efforts to close the facility for good. Through their unwavering determination, they call for environmental justice and a safer future for their community."

Salamander find raises fuel-break concerns

https://www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/critters/salamander-find-raises-fuel-break-concerns/article_fcb21e2e-2f98-11ef-a9ab-a7b30201179e.html

"In a May 13 letter to Forest Supervisor Christopher Stubbs, Los Padres ForestWatch, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute expressed concern that the 1,600-acre Tecuya Ridge Shaded Fuelbreak Project will impact a rare species of salamander in the project area."

Sonoma County supervisors rewrite ballot question for factory farm measure
https://www.sonomacountygazette.com/sonoma-county-news/sonoma-county-supervisors-rewrite-ballot-question-for-measure-j/

California set to loan $400 million to controversial nuclear power plant

https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/06/california-set-to-loan-400-million-to-controversial-nuclear-power-plant/

Cool Petaluma Rethink Consumption Action Plan Worksheet
https://www.coolpetaluma.org/action/consumption
"From food to fashion, we can reimagine the full lifecycle of our stuff, eliminating waste and pollution while increasing longevity and sharing. Living on a beautiful, finite planet means we will benefit from creating a circular economy where nothing gets thrown “away.”

How much are wildfires costing every Californian? Here’s the stunning math
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/wildfire-insurance-cost-california-19361549.php

A new Manhattan Project
https://eedition.pressdemocrat.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=8bbad841-7c22-4953-b38e-1244410eab1c&share=true
Letter To The Editor about climate emergency and cap-and-trade.

Wildfire smoke's toll on Sonoma County: Alarming study results
https://www.sonomacountygazette.com/sonoma-county-news/wildfire-smoke-mortality-sonoma-county/

Starving brown pelicans strain wildlife rescue centers
https://bohemian.com/starving-brown-pelicans-strain-wildlife-rescue-centers/

GMOs, GLYPHOSATE & TOXINS
Electric vehicle batteries adding to toxic PFAS pollution, study finds
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/07/electric-vehicle-batteries-adding-to-toxic-pfas-pollution-study-finds/
"A type of toxic PFAS in lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and other electronics is polluting air, soil and water in the United States and Europe, adding to concerns that the growing clean energy sector could harm the environment even as it strives to combat climate change, according to a new study."

New Study Locates PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Hot Spots in U.S.
https://www.ecowatch.com/pfas-hot-spots-us-water-contamination.html

Monsanto Roundup trial win overturned by Oregon court
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/07/monsanto-roundup-trial-win-overturned-by-oregon-court/

PLASTIC & POLLUTION
Biofuels manufacturing found to be a significant source of hazardous air pollution
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/06/biofuels-manufacturing-found-to-be-a-significant-source-of-hazardous-air-pollution/

Plastics producers face potential wave of lawsuits, report suggests
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/06/plastics-producers-face-potential-wave-of-lawsuits-report-suggests/
"In California, Attorney General Rob Bonta has led a first-of-its-kind investigation, initiated in 2022, into fossil fuel and petrochemical companies over their role in creating and perpetuating the plastic pollution crisis. The probe includes a focus on alleged industry deception around promoting the false promise of plastic recycling."

New test finds more than 50 common chemicals may be linked to infertility
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/06/new-test-finds-more-than-50-common-chemicals-may-be-linked-to-infertility/
"Using a new testing tool, US researchers said this week they have found more than 50 chemicals that pose a strong risk to fertility, including chemicals used in plastic water bottles and other common products."

Baby bottle makers deceived parents over dangers of plastic products, lawsuits allege
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/06/baby-bottle-makers-deceived-parents-over-dangers-of-plastic-products-lawsuits-allege/

WAKE UP CALL
Fukushima Toxic Dumping
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/07/19/fukushima-toxic-dumping/

Miso removes radiation from the body, as well as asparagus, leafy greens such as kale, shiitake mushrooms, reishi and other medicinal mushrooms, and seaweed.  Be sure that they are organic and grown away from radiation sources because they will also absorb radiation from the environment.  Miso Master is traditional Japanese miso but comes from Asheville, North Carolina (available at most stores that carry miso).  Rising Tides sells dulse from the Northern Atlantic ocean (available at Community Market) that has been tested for heavy metals (seaweeds are often picking up lead and cadmium now so heed the Prop 65 warnings on those packages).  Mountain Rose Herbs also sells good quality Atlantic seaweeds.  A quarter-sized piece of seaweed every day is a small amount with many benefits.  Good for animals too!  

UAE used Global Climate Summit to secure $100 billion in oil deals: Investigation reveals

https://www.nationofchange.org/2024/06/07/uae-used-global-climate-summit-to-secure-100-billion-in-oil-deals-investigation-reveals/

The United Arab Emirates pursued nearly $100 billion worth of oil and gas deals the same year it led the global climate summit, analysis finds https://www.businessinsider.com/uae-strikes-oil-and-gas-deals-during-historic-climate-summit-2024-6

Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands
https://apnews.com/article/prison-to-plate-inmate-labor-investigation-c6f0eb4747963283316e494eadf08c4e

The Global Race for Water in the Arizona Desert (audio)
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2024/06/reveal-arizona-water-the-grab/
"An unlikely contributor to Arizona’s water crisis: Saudi Arabia’s largest dairy company. Deep in the Arizona desert, the company, Almarai, was using huge amounts of water to grow hay—then shipping it back home to feed dairy cows."

‘Surely we are smarter than mowing down 1,000-year-old trees to make T-shirts’ – the complex rise of viscose
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/article/2024/jul/01/surely-we-are-smarter-than-mowing-down-1000-year-old-trees-to-make-t-shirts-the-complex-rise-of-viscose
"You would be forgiven for thinking that your wood pulp top is sustainable. But you might be surprised to hear just how many forests are being felled to make it."

Climate Crisis 101: Everything You Need to Know
https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-crisis-facts-ecowatch.html

THINK TANK & STRATEGY
Building a Planet of Peace Is the Only Realistic Thing to Do

https://resumen-english.org/2024/07/building-a-planet-of-peace-is-the-only-realistic-thing-to-do/

NY Gov. Hochul 'Must Sign' Climate Change Superfund Act
https://www.commondreams.org/news/ny-gov-hochul-must-sign-climate-change-superfund-act

"After what New Yorkers and environmental campaigners called a "betrayal" by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this week, the Democrat is now under pressure to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act, which state legislators finally passed."

Meet the anti-greenwashers
https://imagine5.com/articles/meet-the-anti-greenwashers/

"A heroic alliance of activists, data geeks and other defiant souls are stepping up to hose off the green paint – and keep the world’s energies focused on what’s real."

In bid to slash chemical use, robots take on farm fields
https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/07/in-bid-to-slash-chemical-use-robots-take-on-farm-fields/

DIRECT ACTIONS
Elders arrested protesting Citibank’s billions in fossil fuel financing amid record heatwaves

https://www.nationofchange.org/2024/07/09/elders-arrested-protesting-citibanks-billions-in-fossil-fuel-financing-amid-record-heatwaves/

"Dozens of elder climate activists, including 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, were arrested Monday in New York City while protesting Citibank’s continued financing of fossil fuel projects. The protest took place as Earth experienced what is likely to be its hottest summer on record, highlighting a worsening planetary emergency.
The group, known as Third Act, which consists mostly of members aged 60 and older, led a “funeral procession” near Citibank’s Manhattan headquarters. The demonstration was held in remembrance of senior citizens who have died during recent heatwaves and to condemn the bank for being the leading funder of fossil fuel expansion worldwide. This event is part of a series of ongoing climate protests organized by Summer of Heat."

Summer of Heat: Elders Out Front (video)
https://vimeo.com/960384047
"On June 13, nearly 200 Third Actors and other allies staged a Rocking Chair Rebellion at the Citigroup headquarters in New York City in nonviolent civil disobedience to demand an end to the financing of new fossil fuel ventures. 60 elders took arrest for blocking the main entrance."

SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Tales from a Life in the Field with George Schaller
https://rewilding.org/tales-from-a-life-in-the-field-with-george-schaller/

Organic Egg Scorecard
https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/eggs/
"See how the best brands make it to the top of our updated Organic Egg Scorecard, then use our tool to buy the highest-rated organic egg brand you can afford."

DIY Shampoo Bars with Herbs

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/diy-shampoo-bars-with-herbs

What better way to participate in Plastic Free July than to learn how to skip all packaging entirely!

Professional mower showcases grass removal tool that outcompetes power tools: '[It's] faster, it's silent'

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/scythe-garden-tools-odd-equipment-lawn-mower/

"Lawn mowers and other yard equipment are a sneakily pervasive source of air pollution. Many of these devices eat up huge amounts of gas, spewing out harmful pollutants in the process. That's why one content creator is on a mission to show fellow gardeners the wonders of an old-fashioned tool that is underutilized in today's world: the scythe."

Permaculture found to be a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture
https://phys.org/news/2024-07-permaculture-sustainable-alternative-conventional-agriculture.html

ENDING ON A POSITIVE

Where to swim in Sonoma County this summer
https://www.sonomacountygazette.com/sonoma-county-news/best-swimming-sonoma-county-guide/

Homemade Muscle Rub with Cayenne and St. John’s Wort

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/cayenne-st-johns-wort-salve

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?

https://OccupySonomaCounty.org
https://OccupySonomaCounty.org/es (en español)
http://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.