Dear friends,
The first two months of the year suggest that this is going to be an exceptionally arduous time on earth. My sense of urgency is winning the struggle against my desire to lie on the floor and moan.
The amount of aid reaching the people of Gaza plummeted in February.
More than one hundred people were killed in the incident and around 750 people were wounded. World leaders are expressing outrage over the carnage and demanding answers. So should we.
Tell President Biden to call for a ceasefire to stop the atrocities in Gaza.
The Working Families Ceasefire Tracker, created with Jewish Voice for Peace, lists the 71 members of Congress who have “called for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities in Israel and occupied Palestine.” The list was updated yesterday.
Write to your representative and your senators — either to thank them or to urge them to call for peace.
An enormous blizzard is slamming California as I write. The frequency and intensity of storms in California are linked to both climate change and El Niño.
The good people behind the End Climate Silence newsletter remind us that
“climate change is increasing the size and danger of catastrophic wildfires by making fire-prone areas hotter and drier.”
This week’s newsletter explains the guidance to use the phrase “phase out fossil fuels” rather than the capacious and potentially misleading alternative. This seems like a good challenge for me and each of us to take up.
The author of this week’s newsletter, Dr. Genevieve Guenther, describes the dangers of imprecise language:
The problem with the phrase “we need to reduce emissions” is that it enables too wide a latitude for greenwashing as a cover for pollution. (“Reduce emissions” is part of a constellation of weasel words beloved by the oil and gas industry; others are “low-carbon” and “cleaner.”) How much do emissions really need to be reduced? 10%? 50%? 1%? Who can tell.
Every time you say “we need to phase out fossil fuels,” you will be educating your interlocutors and the people listening to your speech (or reading your writing) while also countering industry and stakeholder propaganda. This will help to start shifting people’s false beliefs about there being no need to phase out fossil fuels.
Dr. Guenther’s larger point is that it matters how we talk about the climate emergency. My point is that we also must not stop talking about it. It is another problem that must be met with a sense of urgency, wherever you are.
New York State needs to phase out fossil fuels and the NY HEAT Act is part of the strategy.
The HEAT Act would not prevent customers who want a new gas hookup from getting one. But it would require them to pay for gas connections themselves, instead of having the utility’s entire customer base picking up the tab. That would put climate-friendly alternatives, like electrification, on a more level playing field for customers looking to switch heating and cooking fuel sources or connect a new building.
Tell your NYS Assembly Member to sign the budget letters to support the NY HEAT Act and the Climate, Jobs, & Justice package! This quick action is from NY Renews.
The Supreme Court’s decision to accept the former president’s appeal on the question of immunity is another disastrous delay for justice. Because of the infuriating timeline — arguments won’t be heard until late April — it appears more and more likely that a trial in the January 6 case will not occur before the November election.
The postponement of Trump’s trial places more pressure on us to ensure his sound defeat in the polls.
It’s a good time to ask yourself how you’re going to get involved. I encourage you to consider working with the Environmental Voter Project or Postcards to Voters to activate voters.
Or you can get involved in state-level elections, the latter being very, very important when it comes to voting access and election rules.
If you have more money than time, I encourage you to contribute generously to the Working Families Party or to your favorite candidates.
What are you doing to defeat MAGA extremists?
with love,
L