 John, Yesterday DNC bosses removed the democratically added language included in the final party platform which stated that “Democrats support eliminating tax breaks and subsidies for fossil fuels.” They removed this language behind closed doors with no explanation. This is an outrage, particularly given that ending fossil fuel subsidies was a part of the 2016 platform, and has been a prominent part of both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ campaigns. This smells of corruption, and begs the question for the Democratic Party: which side are you on, people or polluters? Joe Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to banning fossil fuel subsidies, but he's also been reported to have fossil fuel lawyers like Ken Salazar advising his campaign. It's time for Joe to publicly committing to exclude people shilling for fossil fuel executives out of a Biden-Harris campaign and administration. He’s started to talk-the-talk on climate change, but it’s time to walk-the-walk. Keeping out people in the pocket of fossil fuel executives is the only way to earn the trust of our generation. This summer alone, millions of people across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, the East Coast, Iowa, Texas, the Gulf Coast, California, and beyond have experienced record-breaking storms, wildfires, and heatwaves. Our generation has inherited an entirely preventable crisis created and fueled by elites who have extracted oil and wealth at the expense of a liveable planet and our futures. And yet, not only is the DNC backtracking on its promise to end handouts for these executives, but it’s being reported that people like Ken Salazar are advising Joe Biden’s campaign. After leaving his position as Obama’s first-term Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar immediately joined the law firm that represented BP in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He also defended Anadarko Petroleum, an oil and gas company that was responsible for a major gas explosion destroying homes and killing two people in Colorado. His views on fracking? “I would say to everybody that hydraulic fracking is safe.” Our movement has already pushed Biden and Harris to campaign on enacting the most ambitious climate action in US history, and pressured weak-on-climate advisers like Larry Summers out of positions in a Biden administration. But those words are just empty promises if we can’t be sure that Biden and Harris won’t be surrounded by people working on behalf of fossil fuel polluters. This election is a matter of life or death for our generation, and Biden and Harris can only win if young people show up to vote for them in historic numbers. Joe Biden, show young people you’ll fight for our generation with no corrupting influences. Ban all fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, consultants to and lawyers for fossil fuel firms and aligned organizations from a Biden-Harris transition team, cabinet, campaign or administration advisor roles, or any other position in a Biden-Harris administration. The stakes of defeating Trump couldn’t be higher, that’s why we need Biden to take our generation seriously. We must call out corruption whenever we see it. Thank you for fighting with us, Lauren Maunus, Sunrise Movement Political Team Sunrise Movement If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. |