good news

The Hague Group Charges Israel With Genocide

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

While I didn’t plan on posting about Gaza today, I want to share something I just learned. Per journalist Jose Olivares writing for Drop Site News:

In Columbia, The Hague Group Charges
Israel With Genocide

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA—On Tuesday, ministers and officials from over 30 countries gathered in Bogotá, Colombia to convene The Hague Group, an international organization co-chaired by the governments of Colombia and South Africa. The two-day conference will discuss steps forward for the international community to stop Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians.

image from TheHagueGroup.org home page

I didn’t even know about The Hague Group, much less that they’d convened an emergency conference on behalf of the Palestinians being genocided by Israel (and the United States). I could’ve predicted, however, that the U.S. State Department would be unhappy about such a gathering.

In an official statement to Drop Site, the U.S. State Department said it strongly opposed the Hague Group’s meeting in Colombia.

“The United States strongly opposes efforts by so-called ‘multilateral blocs’ to weaponize international law as a tool to advance radical anti-Western agendas,” a State Department official said. “The so-called Hague Group—whose leading voices are South Africa and Cuba, authoritarian and communist regimes, respectively, with deeply troubling human rights records—seeks to undermine the sovereignty of democratic nations by isolating and attempting to delegitimate Israel, transparently laying the groundwork for targeting the United States, our military, and our allies.”

The U.S. will “aggressively defend our interests, our military, and our allies, including Israel, from such coordinated legal and diplomatic warfare. We urge our friends to stand with us in this critical endeavor.” The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year.

But as Annelle Shenile, a former State Department officer who resigned in March of 2024 over the genocide stated, “This is not the weaponization of international law. This is the application of international law.”

Shenile is attending the gathering, as is Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador and permanent observer of Palestine to the UN. Mansour was an opening speaker at the conference:

“The core values we believed humanity agreed were universal are shattered—blown to pieces, like the tens of thousands of starved, murdered, and injured civilians in Palestine. Accountability alone is not enough for justice to prevail in Palestine. We must deconstruct the regime of illegal colonial occupation and apartheid to ensure that the current horrifying crimes do not repeat. The best and most assured way to protect the Palestinian people from more crimes is their freedom.”

This news gives me hope. You can read Olivares’s entire article here.

Free Palestine!

Climate Movement Monday: good news

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

Welcome back to another Movement Monday in which we discuss all things climate. I typically offer a quick action you can take on behalf of a frontline community experiencing the worst effects of the climate crisis, but today am content to share two pieces of good news.

On December 26, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act. From the press release from Senator Liz Krueger who sponsored the bill in the Senate, this legislation “…will use the polluter-pays model exemplified by existing federal and state superfund laws to collect $75 billion over twenty-five years for climate change adaptation from the parties most responsible for causing the climate crisis – big oil and gas companies.”

This is very good news because, as is stated in the press release, New York is the 10th largest economy in the world. The final paragraph reads:

The Climate Change Superfund Act isn’t just necessary—it’s popular. According to a poll from Data for Progress, a whopping 89% of New Yorkers support fossil fuel companies covering at least some of the cost for climate damages. Another poll found that 70% of New York voters support the Climate Change Superfund Act, including majorities across party lines. Nationally, 89% of Democratic voters support the Climate Superfund approach, and 53% of New York voters are more likely to vote for candidates who support passing a Climate Superfund bill. 

Go here to read the press release in its entirety.

The second piece of good news is that on December 18, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of the 16 young people who in 2020 filed a lawsuit (Held v. Montana), charging the state with violating their constitutional rights by favoring fossil fuel development over the health and well-being of the citizenry. The Supreme Court decision upheld an earlier lower court decision, 6-1. It was the first state supreme court decision of this kind.

Supporters gather to greet plaintiffs as they arrive for the nation’s first youth climate change trial at Montana’s First Judicial District Court on June 12, 2023 in Helena, Montana
(William Campbell / Getty Images)

Per an EcoWatch article, Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah are set to hear similar cases (as are Pakistan, Uganda, Colombia, Australia and New Zealand).

Hatch Magazine also wrote about Montana’s Supreme Court decision, and I want to highlight this paragraph [emphasis mine]:

In its 6-1 majority ruling upholding the plaintiffs’ case, the court used sometimes strikingly affirmative language. Regarding whether Montana’s constitutional responsibility to guarantee its residents a “clean and healthful environment” includes the state including climate-related impacts in its decision making, the court was unequivocal, stating that the “plaintiffs showed at trial—without dispute—that climate change is harming Montana’s environmental life support system now and with increasing severity for the foreseeable future. The State and its agencies have previously acknowledged such current and future impacts to the Montana environment stemming from climate change, many of which can already be increasingly seen today.3 Plaintiffs showed that climate change does impact the clear, unpolluted air of the Bob Marshall wilderness; it does impact the availability of clear water and clear air in the Bull Mountains; and it does exacerbate the wildfire stench in Missoula, along with the rest of the State.”

We’ve seen how difficult it is to force climate action at the federal level**, so these wins on the state level are very encouraging. It’s possible to use our local might to push for meaningful action!

Thank you for reading this far. Solidarity! ✊🏾

**I’ve written before about Juliana v. United States, the constitutional lawsuit brought by young people, here and here. Go here for an updated  timeline from Our Children’s Trust, one of the legal teams representing the 21 young people in that case.

UPDATE on Let’s make “If I Must Die” a Bestseller

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

On December 6, I posted Let’s Turn Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” into a Bestseller, amplifying the campaign from Ryan Grim at Drop Site News, and I’m thrilled with the traffic my post received along with many clicks on the Bookshop.org link to purchase the book. That original post also includes the following important info:

UPDATE 12.17.24: DO NOT order from Amazon as scammers took note of the situation and are selling non-authentic books. PLEASE order from bookshop.org at above link.

Tracy here again: I’m editing to add that you can also request your library system purchase the book. In my system, “Suggest a purchase” tab is located under SERVICES. 

Edited to add: all proceeds will go to Refaat’s remaining family.

Today’s update comes again from Ryan Grim at Drop Site News. Here’s what he wrote:

Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” is officially a national bestseller

It didn’t happen the way we expected: The book has not yet made the New York Times bestseller list, but the other list the industry tracks is USA Today’s “Booklist.” And there, it settled in at #20 in its first week out.

The amount of attention a book gets during its launch has much to do with where it lands in our cultural landscape, which is the best part about all the energy around it the past few weeks. My hope is that Refaat’s book will be taught and read for years to come and is treated like the political and literary masterpiece it truly is.

The goal of hitting the Times list is still achievable, meanwhile, for two reasons. The Times list is opaque, but a publishing industry source told me that my initial understanding – that the paper counts orders as sales even if the book is out of stock – is probably not correct, and it’s more likely they count orders when they ship.

The book sold more than 20,000 copies but only 7,500 had been printed. That means that when the new printing arrives in January, at least 12,500 will be shipped, and in a typical January week, that number of sales is more than enough to make the bestseller list. So if you haven’t ordered one yet but still want to, your order will still count toward that effort.

I’ve heard from some people who’ve gotten notes from Amazon or other booksellers saying that the estimated ship date for the book is as late as March. That’s not true. The publisher has a very big print run going in January, so you’ll get your copy much sooner. If all of those books ship the same week, it should still make the NYT bestseller list. A huge thank you to everyone who bought a book, and I hope you’re glad that you did.

If you ordered a copy of Refaat Alareer’s beautiful book, thank you thank you thank you for putting it on the USA Today’s Booklist!!! And if you haven’t yet ordered a book for yourself, a friend, or requested your library system purchase copies, please do so (if you can) as it will still affect the New York Times bestseller ranking! PLEASE ORDER FROM BOOKSHOP.ORG TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED

It’s incredibly significant that a Palestinian who was targeted and murdered for using his voice on behalf of his people is still reaching the world with his voice that will never be silenced. This is what is meant by “don’t stop talking about Palestine.” Those in power are doing all they can to erase Palestinians from this world, but the people are standing with the oppressed and uplifting Refaat Alareer’s voice.

FREE PALESTINE!

Climate Movement Monday: good news + quick action

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

Welcome back to Movement Mondays where we focus on climate-related issues. This is going to be very brief as Zippy had a major medical issue over the weekend. He’s home and doing well now (YAY!), but my energy is depleted. However, I really wanted to share some good news on issues discussed here in the past because I want to celebrate the wins when we get them!

Photo by Jill Wellington/ pexels.com

  • Last May I posted about the proposed Uinta Basin Railway which would allow oil trains to travel along 200 miles of the twisty, turny Colorado River.  A stupendously horrible idea! Guess what? The Forest Service withdrew approval for the project! 
  • In November, I posted about 20 proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminals along the Gulf Coast and earlier this month wrote about a planned sit-in for February outside the Energy Department in opposition to CP2 and other proposed LNG terminals. Those terminals are another incredibly horrible idea that would effectively cancel out all U.S. carbon and methane progress made since 2005. Well, Biden put a temporary pause on approval of those projects. I didn’t use an exclamation point because climate activists understand that these pauses can be un-paused. The Energy Department is now updating the process to include climate and economic considerations. This is definitely good news that reflects the impact climate activists are making. (Here are responses from some frontline community organizations). But we’re wise to keep a close watch as we remember that Biden’s poll numbers are in the toilet due to his climate record (see Willow) and his facilitation of genocide in Gaza. He could very easily be dangling this “pause” as a way to earn support and then turn around and un-pause the permits. We need a permanent pause on ALL new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Okay, here’s info from Stop the Money Pipeline and the QUICK ACTION:

After the news [Biden’s LNG pause] broke, the stocks of one of the top owners of oil and gas in the region dramatically dropped! It’s a major blow to the oil and gas industry, which will certainly be banging down the White House doors to get the President to reverse his decision.

Right now is a critical time for banks to consider walking away from these fossil fuel projects, too. Send an email to top Wall Street executives: the White House just pressed pause on LNG in the Gulf South, it’s time you did, too.

In October, the climate case for stopping new LNG was strengthened by a new analysis from Cornell that showed that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from LNG made it *dirtier* than coal. This new announcement halts nearly 20 LNG terminals representing emissions equivalent to those of 675 coal-fired power plants.

If Wall Street banks were to join the White House and press pause on all financing for toxic projects in the Gulf South, it would be a gamechanger.

Make no mistake, these proposed projects are only possible because of the structural environmental racism baked into the approval of these projects that considers predominantly Black & Latino communities in the Gulf South – as well as Indigenous nations – entirely disposable for corporate profits.

Email the biggest Wall Street banks now to urge them to stop financing LNG!

Me, again. Please remember that it’s fine to send the letter as-is, but it will carry more impact if you take a moment to personalize it.

There is, of course, tremendous satisfaction in such egregious projects losing support, but I’d rather we were celebrating good stuff happening rather than bad stuff not happening.  But, we’ve got to play defense as well as offense. So, HOORAY!!!!!

Take good care of yourselves. Solidarity! ✊🏽

Climate Movement Monday: highlighting a climate win in 2023

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

Welcome back to Movement Mondays in which we discuss all things climate. I had aspirations for writing a round-up of climate wins from 2023, but didn’t summon the energy in time to create such a post.  🙂 However, I do want to shine a light on one issue we haven’t yet discussed here: factory farming.

As a lifelong vegetarian, I’m opposed to factory farming but wasn’t aware of what had happened in Oregon this past year until I did a search for “best climate wins in 2023.” Up popped an article written by Nick Englefried for Waging Nonviolence, a nonprofit media organization: A major win against factory farming points to a powerful new direction for the climate movement. The sub-headline reads Small farmers in Oregon, backed by a coalition of animal rights and climate activists, secured a big legislative victory over industrial factory farms, providing inspiration for wider action.

Here’s an introductory explanation of factory farming: “As animal agriculture became more concentrated and centralized during the last century, huge swaths of the country saw family farmers be displaced by factory farms, often called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs. Notorious for their environmental impacts and cruel treatment of animals, CAFOs confine hundreds or thousands of livestock in small spaces where they are fed artificial diets with the goal of maximizing profit. The tons of manure produced by CAFOs are frequently over-applied to agricultural fields, or stored in huge artificial holding ponds called “lagoons.” The facilities are also water-intensive, with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimating 20 percent of freshwater used by humans worldwide is going to animal feed production.”

The article goes on to explain the carbon footprint of CAFOs. Spoiler alert: all that methane is very bad!

But here’s the good news: “In July, Gov. Tina Kotek signed Oregon Senate Bill 85, which places a moratorium on factory farms’ ability to use unlimited amounts of groundwater. While some advocates consider the bill to be a diluted compromise, it has potential to significantly limit the destructive activities of CAFOs in a state where a healthy remnant of the family farming economy still thrives. On a national level, it represents the first major state legislative victory against factory farming in the U.S. in years.”

The long-term goal of the Oregon coalition (animal rights groups, environmental and climate organizations, and small farmers) is to pass a full moratorium on new factory farming in Oregon.

More good news: “Since the bill’s passage, three proposed factory farms — the Easterday mega-dairy in Morrow County and two industrial poultry farms in the Willamette Valley — have been abandoned by their developers. This is good news for the climate and also small farming communities who will not face local competition from these massive projects.” I would add that it’s also very good news for the cows and chickens who now won’t be brutally mistreated in those facilities.

I recommend reading the full article here because it discusses the historical shift in climate advocacy from changing personal habits to forcing systemic change, highlighting the wildly successful campaign to push back against George W. Bush’s plan to build 150 new coal plants. “By 2010, almost every proposed new coal plant in the U.S. was defeated, allowing climate activists to turn their attention to retiring existing plants.” 

I don’t know about you, but it energizes me to learn about successful efforts on behalf of people, animals, and planet! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this (for instance, are there feed lots or factory farms near where you live?) so please share in the comments.

Until next week, solidarity! ✊🏽

Ebike learning curve

/ Tracy Abell / 9 Comments

Last week, I gave thanks for our new ebike. I also mentioned that I hadn’t ridden a bike in quite some time. No biggie, right? Everyone knows that saying, “once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget.” Well, I’m here to say there might be things you forget. At least, I did.

I took my first ride on Friday, the day after the bike arrived. I was nervous but mostly excited. Zippy is a dedicated bicyclist and has invested in a carbon-fiber frame bike that weighs 18 pounds, and he offered to ride next to me as I rode the ebike that weighs 60 pounds (plus another eight pounds or so for the two baskets) to make sure I knew how to use all the controls. When we took off up the street, my handlebars were wobbling like mad which made me think he hadn’t properly mounted them. I panicked a bit but he assured me they were tight and that the wobble was due to my death grip. So I relaxed my grip and pedaled without wobble. Yay! A few minutes later, I needed to stop to make a seat adjustment so I squeezed the hand brakes and started to put my foot down. Well, I didn’t get my foot down in time and the bike tilted to the side. I tried righting it but those 68 pounds were too much for me and I went down with the bike.

BAM! I hit my right butt cheek on the pavement. This photo was taken today and, as you can see, the four-inch bruise has reached the vibrant multi-colored stage.

It wasn’t just me that got messed up. The right handlebar also hit the pavement and now the plastic end-cap is torn up. Oh, and the back basket also has a scrape along the side.

My maiden voyage was off to a bad start.

I’m happy to report I continued riding without incident and logged ten miles in our very hilly up-and-down neighborhood. The next day, we headed off to the library. Again, as we started down the street, my handlebars wobbled like mad. The death grip was back. But the wobbles were over quickly and we rode the five miles to the library. Some of it was in traffic which made me nervous, but Zippy was there to show me the way.

After I’d returned books and checked out another batch, we were at the bike rack preparing to leave again when a petite woman in her 80s struck up a conversation about ebikes. Turned out, she loved bicycling and is searching for a suitable ebike. I told her in no uncertain terms to get one that was small and light, and then told her my tale of woe. She nodded with understanding and then proceeded to tell us about the day she rode her bike down a big hill on Morrison Road. She’d wondered why the cars were moving so slowly and then realized it was because she was going so fast. Right after that realization, she encountered a situation that prompted her to use her brakes (which she said she should not have done), and went sailing over the handlebars. She showed us the six-inch scar on her elbow that’d shattered. Aside from being horrified on her behalf, all I could think was “I wish you hadn’t told me that right before I get back on my bike!” She was very cool, though, and I’d love to be as active as her at that age because she also shared that she’d put on her in-line skates the other day just to see if she could still go skating. Fortunately, she decided that wasn’t wise, but I admire the hell out of her spunk.

The library trip was a little over ten miles in total. And today I just rode another ten miles around my immediate neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhood to practice some more. There were no wobbles, no falls, and no scary stories of tiny women flying over handlebars. A pretty mellow experience, actually.

I’m thinking/hoping that my bike-riding procedural memory has fully kicked in. HOORAY!

 

Climate Movement Monday: good news + updates + March to End Fossil Fuels

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

Welcome back to another edition of Movement Mondays in which we discuss all things climate-related! I’m happy to share some good news today: last week, Biden cancelled the seven remaining oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Image from Wikimedia. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

From pbs.org: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s 1.5-million-acre (600,000-hectare) coastal plain, which lies along the Beaufort Sea on Alaska’s northeastern edge, is seen as sacred by the Indigenous Gwich’in because it is where caribou they rely on migrate and come to give birth. The plain is marked by hills, rivers and small lakes and tundra. Migratory birds and caribou pass through the plain, which provides habitat for wildlife including polar bears and wolves.

Note: While living in Alaska, I spent many hours collection signatures to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling, and once had a run-in with then Senator Ted Stevens. Needless to say, last week’s announcement was a long time coming! However, a 2017 tax law included a provision that there be two lease sales in the region in 2024. Biden needs to repeal the oil and gas program and permanently protect the Arctic Refuge on behalf of the Gwich-in. Also? Biden must cancel the Willow Project!

In less happy news, here are some updates on the Weelaunee Forest and Cop City in Atlanta:

  • Last week, the Republican Attorney General in Georgia filed RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) charges against 61 people while Democrats (Atlanta Mayor, Atlanta City Council members, and Senators Warnock and Ossoff) remain silent. In the document, the AG included a section on the “Anarchy background of Defend the Atlanta Forest,” which includes this: “Some of the major ideas that anarchists promote include collectivism, mutualism/mutual aid, and social solidarity, and these same ideas are frequently seen in the Defend the Atlanta Forest movement.” (see p 25). Guess what? I sign off each of these Movement Monday posts with “Solidarity!” and a raised fist. Also? Zippy and I deliver food boxes to people via the Rocky Mountain Mutual Aid Network. The state of Georgia is trying to criminalize people for taking care of other people. And on p 28 of the document, they decry “zines.” Oops, I’m also guilty of zine-making! My point here is that these are dangerous and oppressive charges meant to crush a movement and scare people away from action.
  • Today, organizers in Atlanta delivered 116,000 signatures in support of a Stop Cop City referendum to the city clerk. (Note: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was elected in November 2021 with 44,655 votes). Organizers were told the city would accept the signatures but NOT begin the verification process because of a legal injunction. This is an anti-democratic stalling tactic, as is their promise to use the same signature verification process the Democrats (rightfully) sued over in 2019 with the charge that signature verification disenfranchises marginalized communities. Again, prominent Democrats have remained silent on this hypocrisy. (Remember: in 2020, people all around the country rallied to support Warnock and Ossoff in their Senate races in order to beat back the Republicans’ fascism, only to see authoritarianism on full display over Cop City.)
  • You may wonder why so many around the world are rallying in support of #StopCopCity and that’s because this affects us all. Allowing them to build that urban warfare training center in Atlanta (to better learn how to crush movements such as the climate movement) will embolden the further militarization of the police. Already, there are plans to build a Cop City in Colorado Springs and Baltimore (like Atlanta, both cities have Black Democrat mayors) and another in Ohio. Plainly put, it’s vital for our collective survival to #StopCopCity.

Last week, I wrote about the potential for a UAW strike and today want to share an article from The Lever (“New At 6:30: Anti-Union Propaganda“) about the media coverage of the looming strike. Adam H. Johnson lays bare the bias in the media reports, including the conflict of interest between  NBCUniversal and General Motors. It’s a quick read and offers insights into how we as viewers can be manipulated by the deliberate framing of stories in the news.

Finally, I want to remind everyone that the March to End Fossil Fuels is happening in NYC on September 17th. There are also events happening all around the world (September 15-17th) as people gather to demand an immediate transition off the fossil fuels that are literally killing us with extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, pollution, etc. Check out this map to find an event near you.

If you read this far, thank you so much! I send wishes for a good week that includes moderate weather and temperatures. Solidarity! ✊🏽

Thankful Thursday: assortment edition

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

Hello, out there! I haven’t been around much because I’ve been hunkered down in the revision cave. However, today I am thankful because:

  • I finally, finally sent my revised manuscript to my agent earlier this week!
  • A family member made it through a surgery today!
  • Our new ebike was delivered this afternoon and Zippy just finished putting it all together (minus the front and back baskets)!

While Zippy is a bicyclist, I haven’t ridden a bike in years and have been content to keep running for my cardio exercise. So why the ebike? We’d like to avoid using our gas-powered vehicle as much as possible and because we live on a hill, running errands on a bike is very daunting. Zippy can ride up the hill but I’d have to get off and walk a bike for the approximate mile of incline. Oof.

But now  I’ll have pedal-assist when it comes to that big ol’ hill. I’ll be able to go to the library to return books and check out more! It’ll be a breeze going to the office supply store when I need another notebook or some pens! When Zippy is missing an ingredient for whatever delicious meal he’s preparing, I’ll be able to zip down to the supermarket and back! Yay yay yay!

In case anyone’s interested, the Heybike sale is going for another day. I realize it’s still LOTS of money (I’m also very thankful for our ability to invest in this bike), but wanted to put this info out there. Customer satisfaction seems to be very high for this bike. I’ll keep you posted on our experiences. In the meanwhile, I hope you and yours are having a good week!

Climate Movement Monday/Labor Day: solidarity with UAW

/ Tracy Abell / 8 Comments

Happy Labor Day on this Movement Monday! While the climate crisis continues to intensify, there is much to celebrate as workers organize and strike for better pay and working conditions. Here’s a great round-up on recent and upcoming union activity from Joshua P. Hill. Today I want to focus on the United Auto Workers (UAW) which is a great example of what a “just transition” should look like as we transition off fossil fuels to renewable energy. It’s important to remember the intersection between climate justice and worker justice. Today I’m asking you to make one quick phone call in solidarity with the auto workers (scroll down for details)

This is a complex issue and I’m nowhere near an expert on what’s happening, but it boils down this: Electric Vehicles (EV) are changing the UAW landscape and the workers need protections as the Big 3 automakers (Ford, Stellantis, General Motors) pivot to EV production. The following is an excerpt from An Open Letter to Big 3 Auto CEOs: The Climate Movement Stands with UAW!

Within the next few years — the span of this next contract — lies humanity’s last chance to navigate a transition away from fossil fuels, including away from combustion engines. With that shift comes an opportunity for workers in the United States to benefit from a revival of new manufacturing, including electric vehicles (EVs) and collective transportation like buses and trains, as a part of the renewable energy revolution. This transition must center workers and communities, especially those who have powered our economy through the fossil fuel era, and be a vehicle for economic and racial justice. We are putting you on notice: Corporate greed and shareholder profits must never again be put before safe, good-paying union jobs, clean air and water, and a liveable future.

I’d already decided today’s post would be an informational piece about the 150,000 UAW workers poised to strike and then was thrilled to receive an action alert from Climate Mobilization Project this morning. PLEASE take one minute to leave a message for the billionaire-CEOs of the Big 3 auto companies in support of the autoworkers. Here are the specifics:

When you call 318-300-1249, you’ll hear a brief intro about the contract negotiations from UAW. At the beep, just leave your message. That’s it!

Some points that you can bring up include:

  • The EV transition cannot be a “race to the bottom” that further exploits workers.
  • Workers deserve to benefit from the revival of new EV manufacturing. They deserve good union jobs with fair wages, job security, and dignified working conditions.
  • In recent months, workers and their communities have experienced unprecedented extreme heat, smoke pollution, flooding, and other disasters.
  • The leaders of auto companies have historically made decisions that exacerbated both of these crises over the past few decades — driving further inequality and increasing pollution.
  • Auto manufacturers can either do right by the workers who have sacrificed to keep companies profitable, or can face a united labor, environmental, and climate movement that is ready to fight side by side with UAW workers to win their demands.

The info you’ll hear before leaving your messages includes the fact that the Big 3 made a combined $21 billion in profits in just the first six months of this year . . . so a simple “Share the wealth” message is very appropriate!

Bonus: Here’s a short video clip of Shawn Fain, UAW President, on the gap between workers and billionaires. Gotta love it!

Thank you in advance for reading and taking action! These are scary times, but also exhilarating as we witness workers standing together for the collective good. Solidarity! ✊🏽

Climate Movement Monday: celebrating NY’s Green New Deal

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

Welcome back to Movement Mondays! The morning after putting up last week’s post, I went camping. But not where intended. We had reservations at Penitente Canyon and Great Sand Dunes National Park, but there were Red Flag Warnings for the area and we didn’t want to risk 50 mph wind gusts and heightened wildfire risk. So we cancelled those reservations and pivoted to Vega State Park where we had a lovely time. Yes, there was some wind and it rained all day Thursday, but we escaped the truly severe weather experienced around the rest of Colorado: tornadoes, 4-inch hailstones, flooding, heavy snows in the Rockies, damaging winds, etc. Unfortunately, Colorado was just one part of the country experiencing extreme weather events (I hope you all remained safe).

This is a climate crisis.

As I searched for today’s blog topic, I became overwhelmed by what’s happening as a result of our addiction to fossil fuels, especially after reading this mother-daughter op-ed “Cancer Alley: Pollution is Making Louisianans Sick” which describes how the ten-year-old girl’s skin is peeling due to pollution along the Gulf Coast. But rather than curling up in the fetal position, I’m taking Zippy’s advice to write about some good news on the climate front: New York passed a publicly funded renewable energy program!

Per independent journalists at The Lever: Last week, New York State took a major step toward realizing publicly-owned 100 percent renewable energy, passing the Build Public Renewables Act in the annual budget. The first-of-its-kind initiative requires the New York Power Authority — the largest state-owned power organization in the country — to provide solely renewable energy by 2030 and transitions all state-owned and municipal properties to renewables by 2035.

Photo by Gabriele Holtermann, AMNY

This victory provides not only a much-needed morale boost, but also provides a road map for winning similar victories around the country. This article from The Nation explains how New York’s Green New Deal was won. Organizing started around a proposed rate hike from private utility company ConEd. The Public Power campaign did research, learning that while ConEd was making $1 billion profit per year, the private utility had threatened to shut off power for 2 million low-income people. ConEd also failed to upgrade the grid which resulted in power outages and blackouts. The Public Power campaign organized around the state, holding town halls in affected areas. The movement grew! And four years later? Victory!

And other good news? As I write this, hundreds of Atlanta citizens have shown up to testify in front of the City Council in opposition to Cop City. As I wrote before, it’s vital we #StopCopCity especially in the face of the escalating climate crisis. It’s a very, very good sign that hundreds have shown up on a Monday to say NO to Cop City.

So while I didn’t include an action this week, I’d still love to hear from you whether it’s to share an action you want me to amplify or to describe extreme/nonextreme weather in your area or to shout-out an environmental victory or to express your feelings after reading the linked articles. Or maybe you have a great camping spot to recommend.  🙂  Whatever it is, I’m here for all of it! Until next Monday, solidarity! ✊🏽

Climate Movement Monday: innovation

/ Tracy Abell / 3 Comments

Welcome back to Movement Mondays! I usually share information about frontline communities that are bearing the worst effects of the climate crisis and then include an action item you can take in support of those communities. But this week, as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) caters to the 600+ fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance (a 25% increase over last year’s COP), I’ve decided to share “good news” innovations from around the world in hopes of expanding your perception of what’s possible.

FRANCE is working on legislation that would require parking lots with 80 or more spaces to install solar panels. This requirement is for new and existing parking lots. The government estimates the panels will generate as much power as ten nuclear reactors.

MEDELLIN, COLUMBIA is the country’s second largest city and now has 30 “green corridors” comprised of native trees and tropical plants. There are over 12 miles of interconnected shady walking and bicycle routes. The vegetation has lessened the air pollution and dropped the urban temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius since 2018.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS is the site of the first Great Bubble Barrier. This innovation traps plastic in canals, rivers, and streams, and prevents it from flowing into the ocean. Two-thirds of plastic waste in the oceans is transported there by canals and streams.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN has built the world’s first electrified road. A portion of the road connecting to the airport recharges electric vehicles as they drive over it. Sweden has plans to expand this innovation throughout the country.

This is just a tiny sampling of what’s being done around the world. We have the technology to do good things for the people and planet, and it’s on us to push for these innovative practices.

Solidarity! ✊🏽

Climate Movement Monday: offering support after Hurricane Ian + update re farmworkers

/ Tracy Abell / 2 Comments

Welcome back to Climate Movement Mondays in which I highlight frontline communities in need of our support as the climate crisis worsens. Last week, Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida with Category 4 strength (150 mph winds). As of this writing, the death toll is at 100 while the search continues for survivors. Many are without power or drinking water. Here are some organizations to support (remember, any amount helps!):

  • Community Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) is a grassroots disaster relief effort. We serve the most vulnerable populations food, water and assist with restoring resilience after man-made and natural disasters. We believe that your neighbor is your 1st responder. Our goal is to ensure we have all the necessary tools and protocols in place when disaster strikes via emergency mobilization with a rapid response.
    Donate here 
  • World Central Kitchen is already in place, serving hot meals.Staging Relief Teams ahead of landfall, WCK and our local partners were ready to begin serving fresh meals as soon as it was safe to do so. Within hours of the storm’s passing, we began distributing sandwiches and cooking hot, nourishing meals at our Relief Kitchen. Additionally, we have built partnerships with restaurants ready to help us scale immediately.
    Donate here
  • Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. Your donations go directly to our Ready Reserve Fund which increases the efficiency and capacity of Team Rubicon’s response to crises like this.
    Donate here 
  • Farm Share is a Florida nonprofit that sources leftover fruits and vegetables from farms and distributes them to people across the state. Established in 1991 as a food bank, Food Share partners with 2,000 food pantries, churches, schools, and other nonprofits throughout Florida to distribute food every single day.
    Donate here

Vehicles sit in flood water at the Palm Isle apartments in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Sept. 29, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.  (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Thank you in advance for your support! And I wanted to share a good-news update: California Governor Newsom signed the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act! This means farmworkers, those hardworking individuals who feed ALL OF US, can now vote for or against a union without interference from their employers. This is the second good-news update for Climate Movement Mondays!

Please note: the climate crisis is worsening and the hurricane season is NOT over yet. The best thing we can do as a society is keep all fossil fuels in the ground and make a just and equitable transition to renewable energy. We need YOU in the fight.

Solidarity! ✊🏽

 

 

Update on yesterday’s STOP the Dirty Deal post

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

Happy news, people! The organizing power of 600+ environmental organizations and frontline community groups has won the day. Because of our calls and emails in opposition to the dirty side deal that would have gutted bedrock environmental laws, eliminate public input, and fast-track fossil fuel projects, Senator Joe Manchin asked Senator Schumer to delete the permitting language from the Continuing Resolution (which is the funding to keep government running) that will be voted on this evening.

Why did he do this? Because his dirty deal did NOT have the votes to pass.

People power for the win!!!!!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Thank you to everyone who called and emailed representatives! You made this happen! Good things happen when people stick together.

Solidarity! ✊🏽

Update: treading lightly

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

After another burst of pain earlier this week, I finally made an appointment to have my finger checked out. Today, the orthopedic doctor was pleased the tendon seems stable and believes the pain is only due to inflammation that can’t settle down. She offered a steroid injection and, while I’m no fan of sharp needles, I said YES, PLEASE!

We’re hoping that shot is a one-off and that my left hand will fully recover. I’ve currently got my two fingers taped together and will do so for the next few days, but then the tape comes off and I (hopefully) will resume my regularly scheduled life and activities (that will include gardening!)

May 22, 2020

Until then, I’m going to follow the lead of this butterfly and tread lightly.

Joyful tidings

/ Tracy Abell / 5 Comments

I am overflowing with joy right now after finishing the latest round of revisions on my middle grade novel. One full day ahead of my self-imposed deadline!

July 15, 2021

I love this book. But for the next little while (two weeks, at the absolute minimum), I’m not going to think about those characters and their problems at all. I’m gonna soak up some of the life that takes place away from my standing desk and refill my well. Starting with our first camping trip of the season later this week. Woot!

Joyful tidings, indeed.

P.S. Did you know that a flock of magpies is called a “tiding”? Me, neither. So how cool is it that this morning’s oracle card drawing from my feathered messengers deck was . . . MAGPIE!

Oh, happy day

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

I won’t be forced to commit a crime against the new neighbors who let their Hummer idle for a minimum of ten minutes every weekday morning!

Day lilies exploding like fireworks. July 3, 2020

Their kids just came over to sell us chocolate for a school fundraiser and in the ensuring conversation with their dad, we learned they’re only renting that house for two months. Hooray!

I can handle two months of roaring, rumbling, exhaust-spewing activity across the street. I think. And if not, I will initiate a conversation. That conversation may or may not be well-received, but it’s not gonna be a forever kind of relationship, so . . . oh well.

Right now I’m just celebrating the fact I won’t always live across the street from people who believe it makes sense to drive their kids to school in a gas-guzzling assault vehicle. Oh, happy day.

My tail’s wagging

/ Tracy Abell / 11 Comments

Photo by Skyler Ewing from Pexels

Today, I ran for the first time in six weeks since injuring my foot while trail-running with Wildebeest. The boot‘s been off a little over two weeks, but I stayed on the streets and ran at a leisurely pace. Although there was no pain, I forced myself to walk before hitting 2.5 miles. Just to be safe. And I iced my foot upon my return.

I’m so happy! Man, I’ve missed the runner’s high.

Oh, happy day

/ Tracy Abell / 10 Comments

My follow-up x-rays came back negative for a stress fracture! What does this mean? Well, I’m now officially transitioning out of the walking boot! And, I just took my first walk in three weeks. A booted walk. The 1.3 mile-walk required the boot because my transition is “boot when outside” and “shoes when inside” for the next 3-4 days.

Right after the appointment, Zippy, Emma, and I walked around Kendrick Reservoir. It was a slow and absolutely glorious walk.

Photo by Dino Lenzini

So many Canada Geese on the water, honking and paddling about. Also, possibly some coots that were too far away to identify with the naked eye. Didn’t matter. I was just thrilled to be out in the sunshine, clomping around the one-mile loop that Wildebeest used to run intervals around while in high school cross country.

Oh, happy day.