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Dear
friends,
We mourn the lives of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Sean Reed and Breonna
Taylor, all recently killed by police, and Ahmaud Artery killed
by a former police officer. We honor the courageous
resistance demanding accountability, and we declare in solidarity
that Black lives matter.
For four centuries, state-supported violence against Black people has
been a constant force on this continent. From slavery to Jim Crow to
the Tulsa massacre (yesterday was the 99th anniversary),
from redlining to mass incarceration to policies that perpetuate
inequities in health and economics, to today's ongoing police
violence—it is ever-present
and relentless.
White people like me have the privilege of choosing whether or not to
ignore the systemic oppression that for others is an inescapable
reality. We in the 350 Mass community have chosen to fight for climate
justice. But the climate crisis, like the pandemic, is hitting hardest
in communities that already suffer from racial and economic
oppression. If we care about justice for future generations,
then we must care for the people who are suffering atrocities at the
hands of our state right now. We must build power and unity
in movements for justice in all its forms.
The public murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 shines a
light on and urgent issues of police violence and racial oppression in
the US. But as the system is challenged, it lashes out. I urge
us to hear and respond to the calls for help from our
neighbors, friends, and allies and mobilize resources to address
immediate needs. I urge us to continue to educate ourselves
and our communities on white supremacy and how to dismantle
it. I urge us to keep fighting for systemic change
that will address these combined crises by centering the needs and
voices of those most impacted. Solidarity is a practice, and we won’t
do it perfectly, but we have a responsibility to act. Here are a few
ways to help:
Sincerely,
Alan Palm
Director of 350 Mass Organizing
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Mass Power Forward June 3 Digital Day of Action
June 4 is the
deadline for many bills to be reported out of committee. Bills that
are not reported out of committee are generally considered to be
"dead" for the remainder of the session. We still have two
priority bills that need a favorable report by June 4 from
the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee:
- S.1958/H.2836 - An Act Re-powering Massachusetts with 100%
Renewable Energy
- H.2810 - An Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce
Carbon Emissions
From
now through June 3, we need you to help us use social media, phone
calls, and emails to raise up these issues! On June 3, 350
Mass, alongside hundreds of organizations from across the state who
are part of the Mass Power Forward coalition, will raise our voices
together to show support for these two priorities Sign up here and see the Day of Action Guide here.
We'll also be hosting a follow up day of action on June 12. Save the
date and stay tuned!
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Support Emergency Paid Sick Time
Legislation
for Emergency Paid Sick Time (H.4700 / S.2701) has been cosponsored by
a majority of our State Representatives and Senators, and there was a
virtual hearing last week. You can watch the testimony from the hearing here and help by
amplifying posts about this testimony on Twitter and Facebook. Your legislators need to hear from
you ASAP. Whether they've already cosponsored the legislation
or are not official cosponsors, they can ask that members of
leadership in their chamber prioritize it and take action to pass it.
Contact them here.
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An
Intimate Conversation with Bill McKibben to Benefit 350 Mass
Only
four spots left! Join Bill McKibben for a conversation about
this particular moment in the climate crisis, how we can build more
power, and how we can enhance our organizing to defeat the vested
interests that are preventing a robust climate agenda. This event will
be held on zoom and capped at 25 computers. We're asking for a minimum
donation of $250 per person or $300 per two-person attendance on the
same computer. Sign up here.
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Other 350 Mass News
Give
Chase an F on Climate: Join Climate Courage, our Direct
Action group, to leave reviews for Chase Bank on a number of
platforms, calling out their outrageous financial support of the
fossil fuel industry! We'll send you a reminder email with easy,
step-by-step instructions (plus sample reviews) for a variety of
platforms like Yelp and Google Maps. Sign up here.
Sign a
Petition to Build Back Better: Support the 350 Mass North
Shore and Greater Lowell nodes in their efforts to show their
representatives that the people of Massachusetts demand action to
address the climate crisis, reduce pollution, invest in
infrastructure, and create good jobs. Sign here.
We Need Your Photos: Do you have any great pics or
short videos of 350 Mass rallies, meetings, and other activities?
We're looking for photos of our volunteers taking action, smiling, and
having a great time! Please upload them here.
Write a Letter to the Editor: There has never been a
better time to take part in 350 Mass' Letters to the Editor (LTE)
team. Want to join? Email Alan Palm, Director of
Organizing, to find out more! Our members have a great success
rate in getting letters published!
Here are some recent letters:
In the Boston Globe a letter from 350 Mass member Brent
Whelan: "Pandemic throws a wrench into clean energy
effort"
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Other Climate Movement News
Tell
BlackRock To Divest from Fossil Fuels: BlackRock is the
world's leading investor in fossil fuels. Send a postcard urging CEO Larry Fink to be true to
his words and "transform finance" in the face of the climate
crisis.
Urge Liberty Mutual to Stop Funding the Climate Crisis:
Liberty Mutual is a huge backer of the tar sands sector,
which spells disaster for the climate and Indigenous rights.
Are you a Liberty Mutual policyholder? You have a unique platform to
voice concerns. Sign up here.
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Solidarity Opportunities
Petition—Tell Governor Baker that Reopening Plan
Must Protect Workers and Hard-hit Communities: Essential
workers, communities of color, and nursing home residents are bearing
the worst brunt of the COVID-19 epidemic. None of these groups are
represented in Governor Baker's Advisory Board for reopening the
Massachusetts economy. Sign a petition demanding a more equitable
reopening.
Stand With the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: The Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe, the very tribe that welcomed the Pilgrims in the
1600s, is at risk of losing what is left of their homelands due to a
determination made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Sign a petition to support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Reservation Reaffirmation Act (HR.312).
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Is this newsletter a
helpful resource? Help us make it possible by donating today! |
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About Better
Future Project and 350 Mass
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