PALESTINE PROTESTS
Student protestors are bravely taking a
stand in support of Palestine, despite rising repression. We’re seeing it on
college campuses across the country, including my alma mater Columbia
University.
I’ve been talking with a number of student
activists recently, and each time, I am amazed at their courage, willingness to
take risks, and most importantly, their understanding of how climate change, the U.S. military,
and the displacement and persecution of Palestinians are linked together.
Students are connecting the dots between
their university trustees — often leaders in global finance and private equity
— who are mining the planet, arming the Israeli military, and funding wars that
result in millions of tons of carbon emissions each year.
For those of us at 350.org, these
issues are all connected. When supporters like you
helped launch the divestment movement, we knew the key to a changed planet was
to cut off their finances. We also knew that the issues do not exist in a
vacuum. As we stood against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, we
targeted Wells Fargo with the understanding that their financing of the
pipeline was one part of the same business that invests in private prisons and
forecloses on private homes.
We can only
imagine the pressure and risk any given student is taking to occupy their
campus. There’s the arrest itself, which carries varying levels
of risk depending on a student’s background and immigration status. And there’s
also the fact that universities now threaten suspension, expulsion, and loss of
educational opportunities that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I often
wonder, what can we do in the face of this kind of opposition?
One thing we can do is stand in
solidarity with the students and call out universities on social media for
persecuting their own students. Social media is a powerful platform — and
universities, like politicians and other powerful figures, are sensitive to
public opinion.
350 NATIONAL UTILITIES CAMPAIGN
We’ve just launched our new massive
climate campaign. We’re taking on fossil fuel utilities across the
entire country and exposing their role in slowing (or accelerating) the just
transition to renewable energy we need.
Last Thursday, at our virtual kick-off,
climate and energy experts joined hundreds of people to get ready to change the
way utilities are structured in the United States.
Our new campaign couldn’t come at a more important time, Phil And Lynn.
In the coming weeks, fossil fuel and
utility companies will announce yet another round of record profits — all while
burning our planet down, raising our rates to light, heat, and cool our homes,
and actively blocking the just transition.
They are banking on us continuing to pay our bills and air any grievances
in private. But our climate movement says no more!
We plan to shine a light on utility
companies and their complicity in the climate crisis by raising awareness,
training local and regional activists, and equipping people with the tools we
need to take action everywhere.
Here’s how you can take the next step and join us in this critical fight:
We’re launching a free virtual public education series on
utilities. Can you join us?
Sign up »
Let's flood Costco's feedback forms: "Costco: your Citi credit card is creating a living hell for communities on the frontlines of fossil fuel destruction"
STAND UP TO WALL STREET IN
A sustained campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience to end financing for fossil fuels.
TELL THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT - INVESTIGATE BIG OIL
The Senate Budget Committee just held a major hearing to investigate Big Oil's decades-long campaign of climate deception and delay. Their investigation uncovered that Big Oil knew all along that their products were fueling a climate catastrophe, but lied to the public to protect their massive profits.
We can’t let them get away with this.
Join us in calling on the Department of Justice to launch an investigation of Big Oil and hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
