Getting The Word Out About 350 — Something Worth Doing

If there is any chance of the first world scaling back on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions soon enough to have even a possibility of reigning in the burgeoning positive feedback loops of global climate change, it has to come up as a demand from the grass roots.  Now, we know that big corporations can ‘create’ public demand via marketing.  But in this case people scaling back would not help the short term profits for big corporations, so they have no real stake in getting these issues to the forefront.  It has to happen another way.  Here is one way that I think has a lot of promise.  I sent my email.  Won’t you send one too?  This is forwarded from the blog of Colin Beavan (aka “No Impact Man”):

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I really, really need support from all of you today (and I’m unashamedly bribing you with the offer of free Reverend Billy DVDs). But first I have to give you some background. Just read the bits in bold if you’re in hurry.

Next Friday, May 30, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York’s Eight Congressional District has kindly agreed to meet with me in his New York office. As one of his constituents, I intend to ask Representative Nadler to support an effective global warming mitigation policy that is based not on what is politically possible but on what is scientifically necessary.

More specifically, I intend to ask him to:

• Introduce, as soon as possible, a non-binding resolution to the House of Representatives asserting that we need a climate change mitigation policy with a goal of no more than 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide (read why here). Furthermore, the resolution should say that the United States must collaborate with the international community to achieve an effective successor to the Kyoto Protocol that will achieve the 350 goal or better (depending on how the science progresses).
• Pledge to support the 1sky.org policy platform that also includes creating five million green jobs (through, for example, weatherizing our buildings and manufacturing solar panels and windmills), and placing a moratorium on the building of new coal power plants.
• Pass on to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter addressed jointly to her and Representative Nadler, in his position as Assistant Whip, asking them both to push for the introduction of new and the strengthening of currently pending climate change legislation to reflect the crucial 350 goal. This means, at the very least, aiming for an 80% reduction in climate emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 and a 25% reduction by 2020.

Now then, here’s how I was hoping you could help. My dream is to present Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi with between 350 and 3,500 (10 x 350) emails of support for these policy objectives.

Can you help? All it requires is a cut and paste job (see below).

Fellow bloggers: would you be willing to pass this request onto your readers?

Everyone: would you email this around and get your friends to pitch in?

Two bits of good news:

1. Representative Nadler has been an ardent supporter of environmental issues ranging from the thorough cleanup of the World Trade Center site to securing federal funding for state conservation and wildlife grants. He received a score of 95% for his voting record in the 1st session of the 110th Congress from the League of Conservation Voters.
2. Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping have provided me with five copies of their new DVD, What Would Jesus Buy (watch the trailer here). I’m going to give the DVDs to people who send in their emails of support (the 1st, the 35th, 100th, the 350th and the 1000th).

Here’s how to send in your email of support:

Simply cut and paste the below, making sure to substitute in your name, mailing address and email address, and send it to noimpactman+nadler+pelosi@gmail.com (it looks like a weird email address but, don’t worry, it will work).

Dear Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi–

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of the people of the United States. It is indisputable that the health, happiness and security of the American people depends upon the well-being of our planetary habitat. It is also indisputable that the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is causing changes in our habitat that will adversely effect Americans on every level–from our health to our economy.

On May 30, Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man will visit Representative Nadler to express to him support for a number of climate change mitigation policies that are much stronger than those currently passing through Congress. Please consider this a letter of support for the measures Colin Beavan will be advocating.

Specifically, I support Colin Beavan in requesting that Representative Nadler and Speaker Pelosi both, together or separately:

• Introduce, as soon as possible, a non-binding resolution to the House of Representatives asserting that we need a climate change mitigation policy that accords not with what is politically possible but what is scientifically necessary–a goal of no more than 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide (read why here). Furthermore, this resolution should assert that the United States must collaborate with the international community to achieve an effective successor to the Kyoto Protocol that will achieve the 350 goal or better (depending on how the science progresses).
• Pledge to support the 1sky.org policy platform that also includes creating five million green jobs (through, for example, weatherizing our buildings and manufacturing solar panels and windmills) and placing a moratorium on the building of new coal power plants.
• Push for the introduction of new and the strengthening of currently pending climate change legislation to reflect the crucial 350 goal. This means, at the very least, aiming for an 80% reduction in climate emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 and a 25% reduction by 2020.

Yours sincerely,

<Your Name>
<Your Mailing Address>
<Your Email Address>

How To Help Myanmar

After the recent cyclone in Myanmar/Burma, there began the standard post-natural disaster political posturing where the US government tries to offer as little aid as possible, while APPEARING to offer much aid.  In addition, in this instance, much of the aid offered by the international community was either rejected by the Burmese government or is suspected of being diverted away from those in need by that same government.

Recently I received an email from the former director of the Yuba Watershed Institute, an organization to which I belong.  This woman had some personal contacts in the region, and she had asked her contacts for organizations already inside Myanmar that are doing relief/cyclone assistance work there.  Here is the message she received back:

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Dear friends and family,Many friends and associates have inquired from us on how they can help in Burma. As you probably know about the cyclone that hit Burma and cause widespread destruction and death. Many people have been left homeless and need aid immediately.The Burma government has not been co-operating with international aid agencies, not letting their aid into Burma and not letting their members into Burma. Here in Thailand, supplies are stuck at the international airport. Many of their experts and personal are not getting visas from the Burma government. It’s become a very frustrating situation for people who are concerned about the welfare of people in Burma. From our trips to Burma, we have become very close to the people of Burma. They deserve better than this. They need to know that they have been not totally forgotten by the world community.We know that you are concerned too. The best help now is to support the organizations that are established in Burma that can use money to buy supplies locally to immediately give relief to people. When you think about it, probably 50 or 60 bucks can save a life. We are talking about basic necessities like rice, clean water etc. From our research, talking to NGOs and other friends who have connection to Burma. These are 3 organizations that are established and doing relief work right now and need money to continue. If we have more information on the relief work in Burma, we will let you know. 1. http://www.foundationburma.org Local NGO, got information from friend who has contact in Burma, they are working on the ground with local volunteers. They are busy setting up shelter stations for refugees. 2. http://www.pactworld.org/cs/asia/myanmar This is also information provided from other international NGO that currently working in Burma, Pact Myanmar is an International NGO working in Burma since 1994. It is one of the biggest INGO in Burma. They have 430 staff and 400,000 beneficiary in the Irrawaddy division (the most affected division). They are currently working in 550 Villages of Irrawaddy division. Total program participant of Pact Myanmar is 400,000 and total staff nation wide is1300 3. http://www.shalommyanmar.org/index.htm This is a direct recommended from our close friend who is working in Aid agency that has a local office in Burma. This is a local NGO that is acting as a clearing house for other NGOs. (It’s not a religious organization.)

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Then she got another email from someone else, adding:

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CNN is now reporting that up to 100,000 people have died from the cyclone that hit Burma. The scale of this disaster is hard to even imagine, and relief is urgently needed. So we wanted to pass along this email from our friends at Avaaz.org (the global online progressive group) letting you know how you can help.

-Eli

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Dear friends, Burma has been devastated by a cyclone—and by the military junta’s failure to help its people cope. Help raise relief funds for distribution by Burma’s monks:  CLICK TO DONATE! In the wake of a massive cyclone, tens of thousands of Burmese are dead. More than 40,000 are missing. A million are homeless.  But what’s happening in Burma is not just a natural disaster—it’s also a catastrophe of bad leadership.  Burma’s brutal and corrupt military junta failed to warn the people, failed to evacuate any areas, and suppressed freedom of communication so that Burmese people didn’t know the storm was coming when the rest of the world did. Now the government is failing to respond to the disaster and obstructing international aid organizations.  Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma’s government could easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Today the International Burmese Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma’s powerful grass roots network of monasteries—the most trusted institutions in the country and currently the only source of housing and support in many devastated communities. Click below to help the Burmese people with a donation and see a video appeal to Avaaz from a leader of the monks:  https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/77.php  Giving to the monks is a smart, fast way to get aid directly to Burma’s people. Governments and international aid organizations are important, but face challenges—they may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced to provide aid according to the junta’s rules. And most will have to spend large amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks are already on the front lines of the aid effort—housing, feeding, and supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck.The International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls.  Last year, more than 800,000 of us around the world stood with the Burmese people as they rose up against the military dictatorship. The government lost no time then in dispatching its armies to ruthlessly crush the nonviolent democracy movement—but now, as tens of thousands die, the junta’s response is slow and threatens to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime’s pockets.  The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can help them to make a big difference.  Click here to donate:  https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/77.php  With hope,  Ricken, Ben, Graziela, Paul, Iain, Veronique, Pascal, Galit and the whole Avaaz team  PS: Here are some links to more information:  For more information about Avaaz’s work to support the Burmese people, click here:http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_report_back/  For more information about the cyclone, the humanitarian crisis, and the political dimension, see these articles:  New York Times: “A Challenge Getting Relief to Myanmar’s Remote Areas.” 7 May 2008.  BBC: “Will Burma’s leaders let aid in?” 6 May 2008.  India’s Economic Times: Indian meteorological department advised junta 48 hours in advance, 6 May 2008.  BBC: “Disaster tests Burma’s junta.” 5 May 2008  Times Online: “Aid workers fear Burma cyclone deaths will top 50,000.” 6 May 2008.  _________    ABOUT AVAAZ  Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.

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I encourage anyone who wants to donate to help the victims of the cyclone, to donate through one of these organizations, in the hope that the aid will actually make it to those in need, sidestepping the politics on both ends.

Spiking Food Prices, Hunger, Greed, and Triggering Change

Greenpa has said it better than I could.  Go here to read his post.

The spiking of food prices around the world in just the past few months, especially in the poor countries, has many causes.  It’s a coming together of effects from war, global climate change, drought, overpopulation, corrupt governments, and more.  There are many organizations out there that are trying to address each of these individual causes, and many more that are just trying to help alleviate the hunger that is a result.

But as Greenpa and others have observed, there is one truly shameful addition to the list of causes.  Pure greed.  And while the other causes of hunger are truly so complex that no one can be certain whether enough of the right actions are being taken until we look back in hindsight and see success or failure, improvement or tragedy, THIS cause could easily be simply turned off.  Regulated out of existence.  What we’re talking about is the derivative market of speculation on food crops.  People “investing” to “take advantage” of the “growth potential” of high food prices.

You know, we all wonder, as we watch the price of oil spike and sometimes plunge, or the price of gold or silver do the same, we all wonder how much of the price changes are truly a reflection of the demand versus the supply.  I mean, it makes sense for a price to rise when an item has become scarce, whether through long-term depletion or because of some temporary logistical supply interruption.  It makes sense for a price to rise when a static level of supply is expected to meet increasing demand.  But it makes NO sense for the price to rise because some traders have decided to “go long” or “go short” on corn futures.  And given the current situation, with hungry people rioting around the world because their barely-survivable food budget has suddenly become insufficient to keep them going, and given all the unavoidable forces pushing food prices higher at the moment (the aforementioned droughts, climate change, population pressures, peak oil-related costs of transportation, fertilizer, and all non-renewable energies), it’s absolutely *inhumane* that we permit a greed factor to be making it all worse.

As Greenpa says, this is one of those things where a rolling momentum, starting with bloggers, journalists, a grassroots awareness, can lead to legislative changes in fairly short order.  It’s time for a demand to be created to stop this practice.  In the USA, the pre-election year is as good a time as it gets for triggering national figures to take up causes from the grass roots.  It just takes more and more and more and more people talking about it, until it becomes a visible demand.

So, talk it up.  If you have a blog, post a link to Greenpa’s post.  Send this information in an email to anyone you know who sees the horror that this food crisis is, or the potential uber-horror it is snowballing to be.  If you know any politicians, rock stars, or tv producers, especially send it their way. If you participate in discussion boards that encompass current events or humanitarian issues or even just food, start a thread, put it in their sphere of consciousness.

Soon it will be on the news.  Then it will be on the legislative floors of the most affected countries.  It might not be on the floor of the US Congress until after November, but we’ll take what we can get.

Go forth.  Help get the snowball rolling.

It Has Begun…

Unfortunately, this is worth clicking on to see full-sized: