Our first week of action focussed on civil disobedience actions at Citibank's global headquarters because they're the biggest investor in new fossil fuel expansion since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015. In other words, in a city full of climate criminals, Citi is the biggest investor in, and profiteer off of, the climate crisis.
And we let them know it: On Monday activists blockaded Citi HQ with 150+ people. On Tuesday, a giant pod of people dressed as orcas shut everything down. On Wednesday scientists, including Dr. Sandra Steingraber, brought data, research papers, and a whole lot of righteous fury. On Thursday our old friends from Third Act brought 50+ rocking chairs and 200+ elders to shut down Citibank in a bigger, better version of the action we took for the Spring Spark in Washington DC. And finally on Friday, there was a block party outside the Citi HQ with food, art and a mariachi band — because if we can't dance we don’t want to be in your revolution!
Actions continue this week led by youth organizers and in solidarity with calls for peace and ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. We're doing all this now and willing to risk so much because the stakes of the climate crisis are so high, and because it is so clear that all funding and development of new fossil fuel infrastructure must cease immediately. Every month for the last year has set a temperature record. Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, are higher than they've ever been and rising faster than ever before, according to scientists. And those same scientists and experts are equally clear – things are going to keep getting worse until we end fossil fuels.
As we've told you before, fossil fuel projects need three things to get built: Money, Permits, and Insurance. This summer, we’re using civil disobedience to stop the money pipeline, and challenge the global insurance industry in their biggest and most profitable home – New York City. And we know this kind of sustained action can lead to real change, because we’ve seen it before — Occupy Wall Street, shutting down the Trump administration, our recent victory over LNG export permitting — this not to mention the long and storied history of NVDA and civil disobedience here and abroad from the civil rights movement, to Indian independence to the Arab spring and much, much more.
So, don't delay – make a plan to join us June 28 in Nw York City; Or if that's not possible sign here to tell these big banks and investors to stop funding fossil fuels. Finally, if you're able – chip in $1.98 or more to support our summer of heat organizing work. We're helping with a variety of logistics from pedicabs, to water and ice cream deliveries, and more.
Thanks,
Drew and the 198 methods to defund fossil fuels crew
