Dear friends,
Last night, I listened to a Brooklyn Public Library discussion among young climate activists and Naomi Klein, author of How to Change Everything. The best thing was hearing the young people speak.
In response to a question about what teachers can do, 13-year-old Aissatou Bah, reminded adults of the dangers of focusing on individual actions like composting and recycling. By middle school, teachers have to be talking about policy. Aissatou’s concern is that children are learning to blame themselves for the problem instead of understanding and fighting the larger forces that have created the conditions that threaten the planet.
All of the young people present were impatient with the idea that it’s too scary to talk to young people about the climate crisis. Tokata Iron Eyes, of the Standing Rock Sioux people, said that there was nothing scarier than knowing that something is wrong and not being able or knowing how to advocate for yourself and your community. Klein had pointed out that the young people who became involved as Water Protectors had much lower incidence of suicidal thoughts. Tokata, who is now in college, said that her decade of activism has enabled her to put a name to the things she feels. Speaking of the climate crisis, Tokata said,
It’s not a lost cause. It’s not hopeless. We have solutions. We have the numbers.
Her final point is that there are enough of us to effect change. That is good news.
EarthJustice took ConocoPhillips to court and won a ruling to stop the company’s plan — to refreeze and then drill the Arctic for oil. This is a cartoon-villain’s plan and the the 9th Circuit Court blocked it because of the irreparable harm it could do.
Speaking of cartoon villains…it looks like we’ll eventually get to see the former guy’s tax returns, since the US Supreme Court rejected his appeal to keep his finances private. He has exhausted his options to litigate his way out of it. It’s so nice not to think about him for days on end, AND we have every reason to relish the thought of his eventual comeuppance.
New Yorkers have been struggling to get appointments for vaccinations. In addition, there were delays in deliveries of vaccines due to the weather. A friend passed on some helpful information that she got in an email from a friend. It is now possible to register for an appointment by phone or online. If you call,
they will ask you some questions to confirm you are eligible for the vaccine, and then work with you to schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient. You can tell the call center agent you want to get an appointment at Medgar Evers College.
To make an appointment by phone, call the NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 1-833-697-4829 (the hotline is open from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week).
To register online, you have to complete a form with personal information to confirm eligibility.
If you are eligible, you will see locations where you can schedule a vaccine appointment listed out by proximity to your address. Select Medgar Evers College, and complete the process on the online scheduling system until your appointment is confirmed.
To register for a vaccine appointment online, use the Am I Eligible tool at am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.
The NYS budget process has begun. I know, I know. It doesn’t sound like good news. But it’s an opportunity. The scrutiny of the governor, who is still taking a lot of heat for the failure to accurately report the Covid death toll of nursing home residents, makes it possible to push hard (with a dose of asshat-shaming) for budget items that will make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Write a letter in support of the Invest in New York Act package. This is a ready-made action that you can personalize in 1-2 minutes.
Contribute to the Upstate-Downstate Housing Alliance, a diverse coalition of tenants, homeless people, manufactured housing residents, and advocates from across NY.
Nicole Malliotakis will face a progressive Democrat, Brittany Ramos DeBarros, in 2022. We should not give up on the only NYC Congressional seat held by a Republican; there are still more registered Democrats than Republicans on Staten Island, who can be forgiven for a lack of enthusiasm for Max Rose. And, of course, part of the district is in Brooklyn.
Read this interview with Brittany Ramos DeBarros.
Watch and share Brittany Ramos DeBarros’s launch video and consider a donation.
Finally, if you want more information about Ranked Choice Voting, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church is offering a training today on Zoom.
Join the Zoom for Ranked Choice Voting training at 12:30 PM today. Here’s all you need: Meeting ID: 847 7493 4781 Passcode: 903990
Have a good day!
with love,
L