Cracks in the Fossil-Fueled Facade

 

Hi John,

Last week, Congress passed a bill that will destroy over 400,000 clean
energy jobs while achieving the largest transfer of wealth from the poor
to rich in U.S. history. The U.S. government is also diverting crucial
FEMA disaster relief funds for Florida concentration camps to hold
migrants in caged tents unable to protect them from the climate disasters
that FEMA money was meant for — even as communities in Texas are ravaged
by climate change-fueled flash floods.

At the same time, recent weeks remind us that cities and states continue
to step up, and that community organizing works. Public pressure led the
White House to suffer a last-minute defeat on its attempted sale of public
lands. No Kings protests drew historic turnout while Trump’s military
parade was sparsely attended. People also celebrated Juneteenth, marking
the real date of emancipation from American slavery, despite Black people
across the U.S. facing continued racism and oppression. And Pride month
was a poignant backdrop: it is about radical joy, and it began as a
protest; and this year members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies
celebrated their identity in the face of anti-Trans and anti-LGBTQ+ policy
and harassment.

Read on for some more of the seeds being sown that give us hope. We hope
you enjoy this fourth edition of our new monthly newsletter, "Cracks in
the Fossil-Fueled Facade."

In solidarity,

- Team 350

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Cities and States Taking the Lead

SPOTLIGHT: Progress toward utility accountability in Maryland and New
York. As part of our national utilities campaign, 350.org supports
legislation that bans for-profit utility companies from charging
ratepayers for lobbying and other political activity. Over the last two
years, we've been leading coalitions to pass bills to do this in Maryland
and New York and made key progress during the most recent legislative
sessions in those states.

* In Maryland, activists succeeded in getting important ratepayer
provisions added to an energy bill recently signed by Governor Moore.
These changes make it so that Maryland utility companies will not be
able to make consumers pay for the costs of private jets or fossil
fuel trade association dues. Shout out to 350 local groups HoCo
Climate Action and 350 MoCo for their work on this bill!
* New York's state Senate passed legislation barring utility companies
from charging ratepayers for lobbying and political activity. The bill
didn't cross the finish line in the Assembly before session ended on
June 17th, but the bill's passage in the Senate puts the coalition,
which includes 350 NYC, in a strong position to pass the bill next
year.

* This progress is a reminder that we need climate champions at all
levels of government, including state and municipal. You can find
more about 350 Action’s work in this regard on the [ [link removed] ]350 Action
website.

In case you missed it, the 350 Network Council hosted a special Utility
Justice 101 training featuring 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben that drew
over 100 people from across the country who are either currently engaged
in local utility work or are looking to start new campaigns.

* Interested in joining the fight for utility justice across the
country? [ [link removed] ]Sign onto the 350 Network Council’s demands.

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Resistance Across Movements

SPOTLIGHT: Los Angeles. Last month, the U.S. government deployed the
National Guard and the Marines to brutalize communities trying to stand up
for their immigrant neighbors. But in L.A. and across the nation, people
bravely stood strong and showed the power in community organizing.

[3]Pictured: Unarmed civilians (left and in background) standing up to the
National Guard. Credit Mel SmithPictured: Unarmed civilians (left and in
background) standing up to the National Guard.(CC0)

What does this have to do with climate change, and why should we care?

* Climate justice is migrant justice, and we must stand up in the face
of this onslaught and protect our neighbors and our communities from
this authoritarian regime. Attacks on civil liberties pose danger to
both people and the planet, and it is through the power of deep
community organizing that L.A. was so ready to rise up.
* The White House fabricated an excuse to abuse power and force a
confrontation. This is a deliberate tactic: causing fear, panic, and
chaos to justify acts of violence against unarmed people while
distracting from the harms the government is causing elsewhere. Fossil
fuel proponents use similar gaslighting tactics to block climate
progress too.
* [ [link removed] ]Read more about these attacks on migrants and what we can learn
about organizing.

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Standing Up to the Wealthy Elite

SPOTLIGHT: No Kings. Over 5 million people came out, many in pouring rain,
for mass mobilizations in all 50 states declaring “No Kings!” Meanwhile,
in stark contrast, the bleachers sat largely empty for the military parade
that Trump spent over $45 million on for his own birthday.

[5]Pictured: No Kings protestsPictured: No Kings protests (Melanie
Smith/350 (c) 2025)

No Kings shows that people power is growing rapidly: No Kings’ turnout
shows significant growth in the public outcry against the authoritarian
regime, more than doubling the turnout from the first “Hands Off”
mobilization only 2 months prior. The signs and chants also showed that
more and more Americans are connecting the dots between the communities
under attack in the U.S., from immigrants to workers and the LGBTQ+
community, building on the progress seen at the second “Hands Off”
protests and at May Day Strong, [ [link removed] ]which we profiled here.

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One Thing You Can Do RIGHT NOW

Did you know that in 27 states, utility companies are allowed to shut off
your power during extreme weather conditions, including deadly heat
waves? These utility companies are putting profits before people, and the
consequences are life or death.

Send a letter to Congress and demand they ban utility companies from
cutting off access to electricity and air conditioning during heat waves
nationwide!

 [ [link removed] ]Help stop the shutoffs »

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