More information on the General Strike, opportunities to make your own General Strike signs & an interview on the moral side to the climate crisis and an article focusing on the implications of Trump’s rejection of Bahaman refugees.
In brief, a few events.
Trump is coming and there are numerous rallies and actions being planned. Our allies are still considering what to recommend. The Democratic Party of New Mexico is organizing a rally at Tiguex Park in ABQ with Rep. Haaland, Rep. Lujan and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver among the speakers. Frankly, this seems to be more of a Democratic Party political event than a rally to protest Trump’s presence and it is being staged 20 miles from the Santa Ana Center in Rio Rancho where Trump will appear. Other groups, including Nob Hill Indivisible, are seeking a permit to assemble much closer to the venue. Retake will publish more information as it becomes available. But do keep this on your calendar: Monday, Sept. 16, 5pm.
SEPT 14, 2019 in TAOS, NM 9:30-1pmThe WORLD CLIMATE SIMULATION (“WCS”). The WCS was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). WCS is a free group climate negotiation role-playing (a game). Already played by more than 60,447 participants at over 1,318 events, in 88 countries. I have reviewed the site promoting this event and it is pretty remarkable. You use the same forecasting tools used by the IPPC and then make global decisions about how to address the climate crisis. From comments from participants, it is a real eye-opening experience and gives you a far more grounded understanding of the scope and nature of action needed. CLICK HERE for details.
Retake Our Democracy on KSFR 101.1 FM, Saturdays, 8:30 am – 9 am. This week (Sept 14) I will be interviewing two youth climate activists from Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) Yang (full name) and Artemesio Romero y Carver. Joining them will be Bianca Sopoci Belknap, Co-Director of both EarthCare and New Energy Economy. YUCCA is the youth-led group organizing the Santa Fe General Strike on Friday, Sept. 20. We discussed their motivation for activism, how YUCCA was formed and plans for the General Strike. If you want to find out what will be happening on the 20th and why, listen in. General Strike: Friday, Sept. 20, 11:15-1:30, East Side of the Roundhouse. For more information, to RSVP and to invite others, click here to get to the Facebook event page.
When you click on the Facebook link above, you can RSVP, but you can also play organizer. By clicking on the “Share” tab on the top right, you then have the option to invite friends or share on your FB page or to a page where you have permission to post. I strongly recommend that you do all three. I’ve invited over 100 friends and posted this event page to the Retake website, Santa Fe Bulletin Board and to my personal page. We want this to be a massive show of concern, one that resonates to the Governor’s office on the 4th floor of the Roundhouse.
Another way to encourage friends to attend would be to send them Tuesday’s post: Why We ALL Must Strike. Click here to open the post and share. It provides more details on the strike and importantly frames the strike in the context of the larger climate crisis movement, providing motivation for joining. We simply can’t continue to function as if everything is normal while time passes and climate catastrophe becomes closer and closer to being inevitable. Please pitch in. Organize a group of your friends and join us on the 20th.
Wanna Make Your Own Climate Crisis Sign? Our friends at Wise Fool, 1131 Siler Rd B, Santa Fe, are hosting two sign-making events specifically for the General Strike. Sunday, Sept. 15 from 4-6pm and Thursday, Sept. 19 from 6-8pm. The event is free (though donations are welcome) and children are welcome. This would be a fun way to involve your entire family and to engage friends on a group outing before the General Strike. Plus then you will have cool signs for the Strike.
Methane Release Rules. Oil and gas operations in New Mexico are contributing to unhealthy ozone (commonly known as smog) pollution. When methane leaks from oil and gas production sites, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are a precursor to Ozone or Smog, are also emitted.
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Air Quality Bureau (AQB) is beginning the initial public outreach efforts for the New Mexico Ozone Attainment Initiative (OAI). The OAI is NMED’s response to several areas in the State nearing the 2015 8-hr Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone (O3). Outreach events are planned for:
- Santa Fe, September 12, 2019, 1:30-3:30 PM, Santa Fe Public Library Southside Branch, 6599 Jaguar Dr., Santa Fe, NM 87507
- Las Cruces, September 25, 2019, 9:30-11:30 AM, Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, Roadrunner Room, 200 E Picacho Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88001
- Carlsbad, September 26, 2019, 5:30-7:30 PM, Carlsbad Museum & Art Center, 418 W Fox St., Carlsbad, NM 88220
To read a Santa Fe New Mexican article on the hearings, click here.
Truthout on the Moral Dimensions of the Climate Crisis: What Would Real Climate Justice Look Like?
We have yet to come to terms with the moral, political and economic dimensions of the climate crisis. As we confront climate change, we must ask: What would real climate justice look like? And what is the connection between the pursuit of true democracy and the battle to stave off a climatic change catastrophe? Marit Hammond, a lecturer in environmental politics at Keele University in the U.K., advocates for the necessity of an “ecological democracy” in order to meet the climate emergency urgently and sustainably.”
Click here to read the Truthout interview with Marit Hammond where she outlines what climate justice and energy democracy could look like. And if you don’t realize just how much morality is involved in climate justice and what an international response can’t look like, one last piece for you today.
Trump Rejects Desperate Bahamans As Very Bad People
The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday, Trump’s response to hurricane Dorian’s devastation of the Bahamas last week: slam shut our doors. Never mind that our nation is one of the primary drivers of climate change, never mind that these people’s island country has been destroyed and never mind that, according to the Miami Herald, Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Mark Morgan indicated that Bahamans fleeing the disaster were welcome in the US, our President has a different view.
Everybody needs totally proper documentation,” Trump said on the South Lawn of the White House. “The Bahamas has some tremendous problems with people going to the Bahamas that weren’t supposed to be there. I don’t want to allow people that weren’t supposed to be in the Bahamas to come into the United States, including some very bad people and some very bad gang members and some very, very bad drug dealers.”
Miami Herald, Sept. 10, 2019
I am pretty sure that when the winds began howling at 160 mph shearing the roof of your home while a torrential rain floods your community, the first thing you are thinking about is to make sure you have your documentation. Fortunately, despite Trump’s morally repugnant response, Morgan indicated that refugees from Bahama are being allowed to enter the US with or without paperwork, a practice that may be short-lived, as Trump does not take kindly to those who stand up to him.
The moral dimension of the climate crisis will demand that we re-examine our priorities and our moral base. Are we to become an island of privilege shutting the door to those fleeing climate catastrophe? Or are we going to lead an international effort to develop strategies for those countries less impacted by the climate catastrophe to share resources and build an appropriate, humane, moral response to the crisis? Click here to read the Miami Herald report.
In solidarity, Paul & Roxanne
Categories: Uncategorized
Ya gotta start observing the local powers that be. https://www.sfreporter.com/news/coverstories/2019/09/11/elimination-round/ A nice reference to the “Dirt Bag Left.” At least they promoted Chapo Trap House. Whenever I look around here at the apathy, ignorance and horror, the lack of objective news is terrifying. It is no wonder this state has the highest rates of addiction, suicide and despair, and they are getting worse. It used to baffle me, how people could so easily ignore the suffering in their own neighborhoods, now I understand they are invested in it.
Check this out, https://theoutline.com/post/7920/climate-change-childrens-books?utm_source=topic_recent
The same tactics they used on children to keep them from being afraid of Climate Change, are being used by mass media. Of course the A.P.A helped mass media with their ongoing propaganda campaign.