While COVID-19 confines us to our homes, we can’t let it silence us.
Now is the time to comfort and support each other by phone, email, and social media. The fight for climate and economic justice continues, and as the government is passing sweeping legislation, it’s more important than ever to pay attention. Together, we can respond to this challenge by finding creative new ways of organizing, strengthening our organization and uniting with progressive partners to make our voices heard.
It’s also a time to express solidarity with our neighbors who may be facing health and income challenges. This Coronavirus Resource Kit includes resources, local mutual aid projects, and donation opportunities.
Bad Business Bailouts Finance Fossil Fuels
Even as these times demand a focus on people not profits, the fossil fuel industry is looking for a bailout. Call and email your US Representative, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and urge them to oppose any bailout for oil and gas corporations. Reach them through social media with the hashtag #NoFossilFuelBailout, and add an @ symbol before your representative and senators’ names so they see your post.
350.org Training
Earth Day Climate Strike: Using Art and Song to Grow Our Movement in Times of Pandemic
Arts organizer David Solnit will show and tell virtual art builds and other projects groups can do, drawing on the Climate Strike Arts Kit. Register here for this training on Friday, March 27, at 8:00pm.
Enroll in Sunrise School
This week, the Sunrise Movement is launching Sunrise School, a series of online trainings and workshops focused on organizing, building power, and winning the Green New Deal. Sign up, or join one of the upcoming Welcome Calls, starting this Thursday.
Help Ban Polystyrene in New York State
Polystyrene harms both our environment and our community’s ability to manage waste. The external costs of polystyrene use are passed down to the local taxpayer and, without a safe or affordable recycling solution, polystyrene waste pollutes our lands and waterways for generations.
Please take a moment to urge your NYS assembly member or senator to support the polystyrene ban in the governor’s budget, to be voted on this week. Sign the petition and use this toolkit to help others call on legislators to #banpolystyrene.
Emergency COVID-19 Phone Bank on Sunday, March 29th
350Brooklyn members will be joining a remote phone bank on Sunday, March 29th from 1:00-3:00pm with NYC DSA Eco-Socialist Working Group and the Movement for the Green New Deal. We will be calling on DSA members in Brooklyn to contact their legislators to support state Senator Michael Gianaris’ bill that would suspend rents and publicly call on Cuomo to suspend utility bill payments during the COVID-19 emergency.
Please email Marli Kasdan ([email protected]) or Sarah Reed ([email protected]) if you would like to participate.
Action Continues as the City Shuts Down
City Council members are focusing on the current crisis, and the City Action committee needs your help to strategize on Renewable Rikers and electric buses. Want to help? Email [email protected].
Online Earth Day
Even with social distancing, there will be many ways to participate in the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Join us for online action, April 22 to 25.
If you have social media, film, or video skills or would like to be involved in any other way, please email [email protected] with the subject line “4/22”.
A Closing Thought
Many people have been struck by the parallels between the COVID-19 crisis and the climate crisis. For a deeper discussion of this issue check out: Coronavirus Holds Key Lessons on How to Fight Climate.
Your colleagues at 350Brooklyn aim to be a source of support and resiliency in this crisis. If you know of any resource or action that is relevant to our work please contact: [email protected].
Stay well, stay safe, forward together!
