Friends,

Last week I attended the Green New Deal Partnership Coalition kick-off. After months of preparation, we listened to and shared with our allies in the racial justice, youth, faith, and labor communities to discuss our shared goals for a Massachusetts Green New Deal.

We came to the understanding that we are not alone in our fight for a better future.

We heard from students fighting for their right to a healthy planet; from union organizers fighting to ensure workers aren't left behind; and from our neighbors of color in environmental justice communities fighting displacement and systemic inequality. 

As climate activists, we must both fight for legislation that mitigates the worst impacts of climate change in the future and that directly addresses the needs of our allies who are most affected by the climate crisis right now.

In 2020, we will be working with our partners in this forming coalition to create a vision for a Massachusetts Green New Deal via collaborative projects, education, and community outreach. Stay tuned for updates! 

In solidarity,
Adriene Galindo
Allston-Brighton Node

Mass Protest at the Weymouth Compressor Station Site

As Enbridge continues their construction of the compressor station, we'll be holding space at the site to collectively witness the injustice firsthand. Enbridge has a long track record of violating state law and Indigenous sovereignty. Come let your voice be heard. See the Facebook event here. TOMORROW, Wed, Feb 19, 8 am-2 pm, 50 Bridge St, North Weymouth. Park at 352 Bridge St or the Quincy Point Congregational Church.

Other 350 Mass News

Sign Up for Actions Targeting Chase Bank: Chase Bank is the top lender to the fossil fuel industry. Climate Courage, the direct action wing of 350 Mass, is planning several upcoming actions targeting various Chase Bank branches. Locations and details for each date are being worked out, so sign up here to stay in the loop. Find more detains on the next action here. Sat, Feb 22, Sat, Mar 21, and Thu, Apr 23.

Fix Our Transportation Crisis: Call To Action: Join the 350 Mass Transporation Working Group and allies at T4MA to attend the call to action to fix our broken transportation system. We need to urge legislators to act on on their promise to bring forward legislation to address the state's transportation crisis. RSVP here. Tue, Feb 25, 9:45 am, Room 437, MA State House, Boston.

Forum on the Weymouth Compressor: Join the 350 Mass Boston Node and allies for a screening of the Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station (FRRACS) documentary "Telling the Stories - Health Impacts in the Fore River Basin," followed by a panel featuring: Nathan Phillips, BU Professor; Alice Arena, FRRACS; Regina La Rocque, Physicians for Social Responsibility. More information and Facebook event here. Wed, Mar 4, 7 pm, 6 Eliot St., Jamaica Plain.

Webinar on Housing and Climate: The Housing and Environment Revenue Opportunities (HERO) Coalition is a group of environmental and housing advocacy organizations that have joined forces to advocate for new investments to protect our communities from the housing crisis and climate change. Join activists across the State and State Senator Jamie Eldridge for a webinar to learn about how the housing and climate crises are connected and how we can address these issues. RSVP here and learn about the HERO campaign here. Wed, Mar 4, 8 pm.

Local Environmental Action 2020 Conference: 350 Mass is a lead sponsor of this annual gathering of community leaders and activists. Sharpen the skills you need to make change, learn more about the problems facing our world today, and be inspired to keep up the fight. Learn more and register here. See the Facebook event. Sat, Mar 7, Northeastern University, Curry Student Center, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston.

Write a Letter to the Editor: 350 Mass members write lots of letters to the editor, many of which get published! Here are some recent letters:

• Taunton Daily Gazette: Everyone must take action now to combat climate change
• Cape Cod Times: Science is under attack from DC
• The Boston Globe: Yes to free bus service

Want to join the team? Email Vignesh Ramachandran to find out more!

Other Better Future Project News

Interfaith Summit on Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and How To Respond: Save the date! Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) invites you to a summit that brings together religious and spiritual communities from Boston and the surrounding area to engage in a discussion about climate change. Discover resources that will help us prepare for extreme weather-related issues. Sun, Mar 29, 2-6 pm, North American Indian Center of Boston, 105 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain.

Host a Boston-area Divest Ed Fellow Next Summer: Divest Ed, Better Future Project's national campus divestment program, will be hosting an in-person Boston summer fellowship for up to 15 student divestment leaders. If you live in the Greater Boston Area and have a spare room in your home, please consider hosting a fellow and fill out this form!

Other Climate Movement News

Call on Liberty Mutual to Ditch Fossil Fuels: The Stop the Money Pipeline campaign is calling on Liberty Mutual to ditch fossil fuels and close the loopholes in their new coal policy (read more here) and stop insuring tar sands and pipelines. Are you a Liberty Mutual policyholder? Did you reeive an invitation to the members meeting on April 8? Sign up here to get involved. 

Climate Justice: How Enforcement Can Help Communities at Risk: On February 26, you will hear from leading experts on legal enforcement, litigation, and the climate crisis. Join the Center for Progressive Reform and their allies for a discussion and presentation on EPA enforcement policy. RSVP for Zoom link here. Wed, Feb 26, 2 pm.

Planning the Green New Deal: Planning the Green New Deal is a student organized conference at the Harvard Graduate School School of Design that will focus on how to bring about necessary societal transformations in the form of a Green New Deal. Register here. Sat, Feb 29, 9 am, Harvard Graduate School of Design, 48 Quincy Street, Cambridge. 

Rally at Liberty Mutual Headquarters: Join the Rainforest Action Network, MassDivest Coalition, Mothers Out Front, and Insure Our Future Coalition in Boston's Back Bay to pay Liberty Mutual a visit! We'll be reminding them that the Boston-based insurance giant must step up action to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. Wed, Apr 8, 10-11 am, 175 Berkeley St, Boston.

Solidarity Opportunities

Make Schools Safe from ICE: Reports from Boston Public Schools are ending up in the hands of ICE, jeopardizing young people’s futures. The Boston Teachers Union and the Student Immigration Movement are taking action. Sign a petition to curb this information pipeline.

World Water Day: Indigenous & Palestinian Perspectives: On this 'World Water Day' Indigenous and Palestinian speakers will describe their struggles for water, land and self-determination and what it will take to build a sustainable future. There will also be short films and food, as well as the opportunity to learn about specific campaigns you can get involved in. More details here. Sun, Mar 22, 5 pm, 105 South Huntington Road, Jamaica Plain. 

Film Screening + Discussion: Dawnland: Join NAICOB and allies for a screening and discussion of the critically acclaimed film "Dawnland" - a film about the truth and reconciliation process following the atrocities committed by child welfare authorities who seperated Native families. More details here. Fri, Mar 27, 7 pm, 105 South Huntington Road, Jamaica Plain. 

About Better Future Project and 350 Mass