Friends,

There's no arguing around the reality and science of the coronavirus. As we struggle to figure out what to do, COVID-19 is revealing cracks of our broken system.

Like climate change, disease outbreaks affect vulnerable communities the most. Years of disinvestment in communities of Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color will compound this deadly threat.

When times are hard, we survive by building and relying on strong communities. As we work to create comprehensive solutions to COVID-19, we must keep our most vulnerable populations in mind—and help them seek justice.

There are plenty of ways to take action, whether you're out in the community or working at home. See below to get involved.

Onwards,
Vignesh Ramachandran
Digital Organizer

Solidarity with GreenRoots

Calling all environmental justice allies! The Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) published a draft decision approving Eversource's construction of a dangerous, unnecessary high-voltage electrical substation in a flood-plain and environmental justice community in East Boston. 

The EFSB will conduct a public meeting at 5 pm on Wednesday March 11 at East Boston High School to consider this case. GreenRoots is calling all allies to come and support community members in their resistance to the Eastie Substation! See the Facebook event and more details on how to support here.

Other 350 Mass News

Calling All Teachers: Are you a member of a 350 Mass node and also a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association? A group of active and retired MTA members have formed the MTA Climate Action Network and are organizing and mobilizing members to become climate justice activists! If you're interested, email Allston-Brighton node member (and MTA member) Justin Brown at [email protected].

Mass Power Forward Climate Justice Pledge: MPF is advocating for the Climate Justice Pledge as a way to tell Representatives to vote on amendments and bills that will address climate issues in Spring/Summer 2020. Ask your legislators to commit to this pledge to take action before it's too late. More information here. Now until Wed, Apr 1.

Solidarity Working Group Call: We'll be reading and discussing Developing Policy with an Equity Lens from the Green Justice Coalition. Zoom link for the call. Thu, Mar 12, 8 pm.

Transportation Working Group Meeting: The next meeting is a call-in. All are welcome, but if you plan to call in, please contact John MacDougall at [email protected]. Wed, Mar 18, 7-8:30 p.m.

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. Sat, Mar 21, and Thu, Apr 23.

Ballot Initiative Kickoff Meeting: Do you want bold climate legislation passed this session? 350 Mass is teaming up with other progressive organizations to let the Massachusetts Legislature know that we want climate laws now and we expect transparency when voting. Join us to strategize on how to organize in order to get our concerns turned into questions on the November ballot. Sat, Apr 4, 11:30 am-3 pm, Hassenfeld Conference Center, Brandeis 415 South St, Waltham.

Our Taxes, Our Future: Come to a peaceful climate action on tax day. The federal government continues to give massive subsidies and tax breaks to oil, natural gas, and coal corporations. We're calling on Governor Baker and the federal administration to take immediate action. Learn more on Facebook. Wed, Apr 15, 7:30 am-noon, Internal Revenue Services, JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St, 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
• MetroWest Daily News: Is Bezos up to the challenge?
• The Boston Globe: Fossil fuel industry feels tug of divestment movement

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

Sign a Petition to Protect Indigenous Sovereignty: Right now in British Columbia, Canada, Indigenous Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and land defenders are resisting the construction of the TC Energy Coastal GasLink pipeline slated to cut through their territories. Sign a petition to demand that Chase and KKR defund the pipeline.

Support Clean Transportation: The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is a collaboration of twelve states and D.C. that would cap transportation emissions and place a fee on fuel imports. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise much needed revenue to modernize the transportation system. State leaders are soliciting feedback on the program and will decide this spring if they will participate.

Discussion on Environmental Voter Project (EVP): The Boston Area Sustainability Group will host a discussion with Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and Executive Director of EVP. EVP has identified nearly 16 million environmentalists who don’t vote. Discover what EVP has learned and what they're doing to encourage voting. Register here and use the code ENVIRO for a $5 ticket. Tue, Mar 10, 6 pm, Cambridge Innovation Center, The Venture Cafe, 1 Broadway, 5th Floor, Cambridge (Kendall Square).

Power to the People—Connecting the Dots of the Protests Against Gas Infrastructure: Come to a panel at Brandeis with Andy Gheorghiu, Policy Advisor at Food and Water Europe (via Zoom), Nathan Phillips, Boston University, and Ya'ara Peretz, Head of Government at Green Course, Israel (via Zoom). RSVP here. Thu Mar 12, 2-3:20 pm, Shiffman 219, Brandeis University, Waltham.

Labor Solidarity with the Apr 22 Climate Strike: Labor activists from a number of unions in Massachusetts are coming together to host a roundtable discussion on labor’s role in supporting the Earth Day Climate Strike. If you're a union activists who's involved in climate justice issues or you're looking for ways to get your local union more involved, join in. RSVP here and see the Facebook event. Sat, Mar 14, noon-3pm, SEIU 509, 293 Boston Post Rd W, Marlborough.

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

Raise Up Massachusetts: Our grassroots activists flooded legislative inboxes and offices, and as a result, the House released their transportation revenue package, ensuring:

• A Tiered Corporate Minimum: large, profitable corporations will pay a fair share of their taxes according to their size.
• Low- and middle-income families won't be paying a disproportionate amount to invest.
• A long-term commitment to the Fair Share Amendment.

Please contact your legislator to thank them for their inclusion of a tiered corporate minimum, confirm their continued support of the Fair Share Amendment, and continue advocating for a fair and balanced revenue package.

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 how to get involved in specific campaigns. More details here. Sun, Mar 22, 5 pm, 105 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain. 

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

About Better Future Project and 350 Mass