Climate Memo Mondays #49

 

49. Climate Memo Mondays, November 15, 2021

The following can be used to assess Biden post -Glasgow

Drew Hudson drew@198methods.org

n Action, allies, Homeon Posted onOctober 20, 2021

From October 11-15, thousands marched to the White House to demand that President Biden stop all new fossil fuel projects and declare a climate emergency. More than 650 of us participated in civil disobedience and were arrested, and the Biden-Harris White House was forced to respond.
Before he goes, will you tell him to take action, declare a climate emergency, and shut down fossil fuels in accord with the demands of our week of action?
Take action Now:
President Biden promised to address the climate emergency and confront a legacy of environmental injustice, but so far, his administration continues to allow the fossil fuel industry to drive climate change, poison communities, and violate Indigenous rights. President Biden, ahead of the COP26 United Nations climate summit, you cannot claim to be a climate leader when you are still supporting fossil fuels. Stand with frontline communities, protect future generations, stop approving fossil fuel projects, and declare a climate emergency now.   [WELL, HOW DID HE DO? I hope a comprehensive assessment will appear soon.  –D]

But we know COP 26 fell short of what was needed to arrest the climate emergency, and we must continue to ORGANIZE FOR CHANGE.

Here’s how Jane Fonda did it in DC for four months. 

Jane Fonda.  What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action.  2020. 

This is one of the best books on political ACTION I have read. Every page describes her  4-month sustained action in DC.

     The first person Ms. Fonda consulted with her idea of going to DC for a four-month demonstration for the climate was Greenpeace’s president, Annie Leonard.  All of the planning meetings occurred at Greenpeace’s headquarters.  Leonard wrote the appendixes, “An Introduction to Understanding the Climate Emergency,” on “the science of the crisis and the urgent solutions,” and “Civil Disobedience.” 

      Another  of Fonda’s methods in seeking an effective action is her “repeaters,” to disseminate the messages at the Fire Drill Fridays and Teach-ins.  Among these are experts and her celebrity friends, from Gloria Steinem to Sweet Honey in the Rock.

           Her book describes the seventeen chapters, from “The Wake-Up Call”, “The Launch,”  the Green New Deal, the guiding framework: stop fossil fuels and transition to wind and solar with equity. . . .

        Her initial meetings at Greepeace created a dramatic structure for the action: “Teachins” for explaining the issues; “Fire Drill Fridays: Going Forward”, look ahead.  

     Fourteen chapters discuss fourteen topics from  Oceans to  War and the Military, to Holding the Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable, to Stopping the Money Pipeline.

     And each week Jane and diverse supporters went to jail for blockading.

Summary:
Build cooperation and alliances: for Fonda especially Greenpeace.

Engage diverse communicators of the action—from celebrities to local activists representing many constituencies.

Present a framework for steady guidance:  the Green New Deal.

Identify 14 topics to be explained, including “War, the Military, and Climate Change.”

Create weekly dramatic live presentations:  weekly Teach-ins of the history of warming and denial, and Fire-Drill Fridays looking forward to changes.

Commit Civil Disobedience!