John --
We hope you are staying healthy and finding support during
these disorienting times.
As climate activists, we know that
as climate change worsens, we will see increasingly frequent and
dangerous crises like this one.
This is a grim thought, but I also
find it a powerful one: the structures, connections and resources we
develop to support each other now, will leave us better prepared to
support each other during future climate crises and
disasters.
We know that climate change
disproportionately harms people already marginalized by society, and
this public health crisis is no exception: my heart is particularly
with people who have compromised immune systems; people without health
insurance or access to treatment; those who cannot afford to stay home
from work and do not have paid sick time; kids who rely on free school
lunch; and many others.
Tuesday’s weekly newsletter will
focus on resources and best practices for responding to coronavirus.
But while that is still a work in progress, we wanted to send one
resource out without delay.
In the spirit of support and solidarity, I want to
introduce a new tool: 350
Mass and Community Mutual Aid form. While a certain administration in DC is not
going to take care of us or our people, we have many resources to care
for each other.
Do you have resources to share with
someone in need--extra food to share with a neighbor? A room someone
forced to leave campus housing could stay in? A Netflix
password?
Do you have needs the community
could help meet--someone to look after your kids? Someone to drive you
to the grocery store so you can avoid public transit?
Please fill
out this Google form with your needs and
offerings: The results will
be on a survey you can access to connect with each other. I’m excited
to use this tool both to help support our friends and community within
the 350 Mass network as well as to share it with frontline community
partners, and I encourage you to share it with your community
(on a neighborhood forum, Facebook group, or just with family and
friends), especially those whose needs might be higher or
access to resources lower.
(Note: many communities are putting
together local mutual aid networks as well--we encourage you to
participate if your community has one, or consider forming one if not!)
With love and power, Jon
Wishnie for 350 Mass
350ma.org
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