Home

7 years ago was the BP spill, in 9 days we’ll see you at the People’s Climate March

Donald Trump hates big protests. So we’re gonna give him the biggest one yet to cap the first 100 days of resistance. I’m sure you’ve already heard about the PCM March for climate, jobs, and justice on April 29. What you might not have heard or remembered is that today is the 7th anniversary of the BP horizon oil spill.1 Seven years ago today, the rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and started the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Almost five million barrels of oil were spilled, and less than 25% have ever been recovered.2 But despite the loss of life, livelihoods, and long-lasting health impacts – no person was ever sent to jail.2 And things are not likely to get better under Trump: The EPA, is facing a budget cut of nearly one-third.3 Scheduled for elimination are programs to clean up the Gulf of Mexico, address environmental justice, and criminal enforcement divisions to punish polluters like BP.4 Last month, the Department of the Interior announced 73 million more acres of the Gulf will be auctioned off this …

7 years ago was the BP spill, in 9 days we’ll see you at the People’s Climate March Read More »

Rise with Standing Rock

Knifing tipis and pointing loaded rifles at indigenous organizers: That’s how they cleared the prayer camp at Standing Rock.1 The closure of the main camp at Standing Rock was a hard thing to watch, even from afar. Police moved through the smoke of structures burned in ceremonial fires, arresting and chasing down anyone who remained.2 But if, like me, you watched the final hours of Oceti Sakowin Camp with deep sadness, you should know this is not the end of our movement or fight. We have work to do. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Indigenous Environmental Network, Native Organizers Alliance and many of our other allies have called for a mass demonstration on March 10th to carry the momentum from Standing Rock forward.3 Join ‘Native Nations Rising: Rise with Standing Rock’ on March 10 to stand in solidarity with Standing Rock and Indigenous nations across the county. If you’ll be in or near Washington D.C. next week, RSVP here to join us for a march to the White House If you live elsewhere, not to worry, there are sister marches …

Rise with Standing Rock Read More »

About that Republican Carbon Tax

Editorial boards everywhere are positively swooning over the dulcet crooning of a new boy band called The Climate Leadership Council (CLC). That’s right, the carbon tax band is back together! But as usual, for backers of a carbon tax, the editorial boards are missing a fundamental truth: Climate change will not be solved by a bipartisan consensus of old white men. And we know this is so because 1) We’ve heard all this before; 2) This isn’t a sincere attempt to solve climate change, it’s grandstanding by paid pundits; and 3) Sincere, workable plans to solve climate change exist, but they’re never written by bipartisan old white men from the pundit class.

Check out what you did to DeFundDAPL

** Update** I was writing you a message about what we did to De-Fund the Dakota Access Pipeline (# DeFundDAPL) is working. And then Trump’s Army Corps of Engineers announced that they were ignoring the law, tribal sovereignty, US treaties, and common decency to ram through the Dakota access pipeline. In response, I’m encouraging everyone to join the massive “last stand” day of action happening today. Dozens of events are already planned around the county – Find yours and show up today. And then stay tuned for more info on how we can stop this pipeline. Here’s what I was going to say: Last week we announced that over 700,000 people, representing over $2.3 billion (with a B), were ready to move their money out of the 17 banks funding the Dakota Access pipeline. Boy, did we get their attention. In the las week, Danish bank DNB has agreed to stop financing DAPL unless they re-route or cancel the pipeline in accordance with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s wishes. Citibank, Wells Fargo, ING and more have all agreed to meet with indigenous …

Check out what you did to DeFundDAPL Read More »

Help shut down the banks funding the Dakota Access Pipeline

You’ve signed on and spoken out, now it’s time to show up: Donald Trump has signed executive memos intended to expedite the construction of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines.1 But there’s something he doesn’t know or expect: A growing movement of over half a million consumers around the world, representing over $2.3 billion dollars, are calling on the 17 banks funding the Dakota Access Pipeline to cancel or re-negotiate their loans.2 If they do, DAPL will be broke and construction will have to be delayed or canceled. But we need your help next week to starve the black snake by cutting off its funding. Can you RSVP to host or attend a #DeFundDAPL rally next week at a bank branch near you? We’re ready to support you with sample materials, action plans, fliers, and more. Let’s be perfectly clear: Trump’s executive memos will not get DAPL or KXL built. The corporate owners — Energy Transfer Partners, Sunoco Logistics, Transcanada et al — still need permits, approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, and most importantly MONEY to build …

Help shut down the banks funding the Dakota Access Pipeline Read More »

Reject Rex

First of all – great job on Monday with the #DayAgainstDenial events. Thousands of people rallied in all 50 states – marching, meeting with senators, demanding accountability for the least ethical, most racist, least qualified, and most climate-denying cabinet ever nominated. Those actions (which many of you attended) gathered media attention around the world – and they helped demonstrate a fierce resistance to Trump’s plans to govern in defiance of facts, science, and common decency. But we can’t rest on our laurels – Trump and Republican leaders in the Senate are trying to ram through confirmation hearings on four nominees today. ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is testifying today and is probably the highest profile, but certainly not the only, dangerous nominee. To stop Rex Tillerson, or any of these nominees, we need every Democrat in the Senate and at least 3 Republicans to vote against them. There’s good news: Some Republicans like McCain, Graham, and Rubio have voiced hesitations about Tillerson. We can win, but we need to put pressure on these senators. Call your senators TODAY: Call the Senate switchboard at …

Reject Rex Read More »

Day Against Denial – stop Trump’s Cabinet

This week Senators will begin hearings on Donald Trump’s picks for his cabinet — including the climate deniers he’s chosen for every major environment related position in the White House. Tomorrow, Monday January 9, is our chance to push back. A huge coalition of groups are organizing actions at Senate offices in all 50 states to oppose the Climate Denier Cabinet. The #DayAgainstDenial will put pressure on every single Senator to stand up against Trump’s reckless picks — and there’s an event near you in Columbia. RSVP here for the Day Against Denial action in Columbia on January 9th and help keep Trump’s climate deniers out of the cabinet. Most Senators don’t have a position yet on Trump’s cabinet choices, and are waiting to hear from their constituents to pick a side. We need to make sure every Senator knows that the climate is changing and anyone who denies it should not be in the White House Cabinet. Here’s who Trump has nominated: Secretary of State: ExxonMobil’s CEO Rex Tillerson, a top funder of climate denial and attacks on climate action …

Day Against Denial – stop Trump’s Cabinet Read More »

EPA retracts fracked statement in report

Who says internet petitions don’t work? I just wanted to send you a quick update and share some exciting news from this week — You’re one of the thousands of people and a host of partners who asked the EPA to retract their report which inaccurately stated that fracking caused “no widespread, systemic impact” on drinking water. Thanks to your advocacy, and the tireless work of frontline activists in Pennsylvania, Wyoming and Texas (just to name a few of the places EPA studied during the 5 years they worked on this report), last week the EPA released a final version of that report that admitted the truth: Fracking can and does contaminate drinking water. Coming so closely on the heels of our petition campaign, there’s no doubt that our advocacy and emails have helped make this happen. So THANK YOU again for signing on and speaking up – together, we made an impact. Check out the news and share on social media! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Or just forward this email to friends! This is only a small …

EPA retracts fracked statement in report Read More »

The non-consent of the governed

I want to propose a radical idea: We don’t owe Trump or his supporters anything but resistance. And it’s time to show them they will get nothing from us – not an inch of compromise, not an ounce of permission. It’s time to get out your wooden shoes and dismantle the machinery of oppression. Before the election, indigenous leaders called for a national day of action on November 15targeting Army Corps of Engineers offices around the country. In solidarity with the ongoing protest and encampment to block the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, the idea was to dial up pressure on the Obama administration and all parts of the federal government that permit – literally and figuratively – the destruction of sacred sites, the desecration of water, and the poisoning of our climate It was and is a good plan. But after the election of Donald Trump, it’s more. It’s our first big opportunity to make it clear that we, the movement for climate justice and life on earth, have the power to shut down and dismantle the institutions pushing …

The non-consent of the governed Read More »

Start here?

I’ve been thinking about what to say. About what can be said. Where do we start with what just happened in this country? So I’ve been reading facebook and text messages like everyone else. I liked Farhad’s I see you and I need to be seen. I feel very viscerally everyone who’s just devastated: crying, inconsolable, destroyed by this news. I feel to the shock and numbness so many people speak of. I just went and stood in my own garden, as I usually do when I need to find my center, and there’s something unrecognizable about the whole world. Like some piece of gravity or physics has changed and I can’t fathom up or down yet. I don’t yet feel the anger, the determination, the drive to go organize and fight and win some speak of, but I understand it. I cringe at the finger-pointing, but I understand that too. This was a thing done to us, not a thing born of our inaction or complacency. We need to fight, I believe we will. Far and away the hardest to read and respond to are the posts …

Start here? Read More »

Scroll to Top