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Friends,
News of the Australian wildfires and their devastating impact on
lives, homes, and wildlife is driving home the severity of climate
change for all of us. We share the same atmosphere, and those
deadly impacts on the other side of the world are intimately connected
with our actions right here, right now.
Here's the good news. 2020 is the year we take bold collective
action in Massachusetts. As I write this newsletter, hundreds
of climate activists are advocating for bold, progressive climate
policies in the State House AND supporting allies on the issues of
rent control and stopping new fossil fuel infrastructure.
While politics seek to divide, our movements will unite. It's going to
take all of us to build solutions that work for all of us. Are
you with me?
In solidarity,
Vignesh Ramachandran
Digital Organizer
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Mass Power Forward Lobby Day: We Need Your Calls!
Today,
hundreds of members of the Mass Power Forward coalition are at Beacon
Hill to demand that our legislators do everything they can to promote
a clean energy future. If you couldn't be there, use this guide to call your reps and urge them to take the
Mass Power Forward Climate Justice Pledge.
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Updates on the Weymouth Compressor Station
New
Video: Learn more about the Weymouth Compressor Station in a
new video, Governor Baker's Toxic Legacy.
Toxic Site Inspection: The Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection is letting Enbridge proceed
with their dangerous compressor station plans. The People’s DEP, made
of residents and allies, will be rallying to witness Enbridge’s
continued violation. Learn more here. Wed, Jan 15, 7-9 am, 352 Bridge
St, Weymouth.
Strength in the Struggle—Renewing Spirits for the Work of Climate
Justice: In cooperation with Fore River Residents Against the
Compressor Station (FRRACS), local faith leaders invite interfaith
colleagues, members of faith and spiritual communities, and all people
of good will to a public spiritual witness for climate justice. See the Facebook event. Mon Jan 27, 10 am-12:30
pm, Quincy Point Congregational Church, 444 Washington St,
Quincy.
Screen FRRACS' Documentary In Your 350 Mass Node:
Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station (FRRACS)
has made a documentary about their movement to stop Enbridge (here is the trailer). We want
to screen the documentary far and wide across the state (our goal is a
screening in EVERY community we're active in!). Sign up here if you’re interested
in hosting a screening.
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Other 350 Mass News
Transportation Working Group Meeting: The
Transportation Working Group will meet next week with pizza in
Cambridge. Our guest will be Jon Wishnie, Better Future Project's
Climate Justice Partnerships Organizer. For more information, please
email John Macdougall. Thu, Jan 23, 5:45-8 pm.
Greater Franklin Node Games and Brews Fundraiser:
Start the new year off with tasty brews, friends, and
climate action! We’re asking for a $25 suggested contribution at the
door which gets you a free beer, snacks, and games. See the Facebook event. Sun, Jan 26, 6-8 pm,
CraftRoots Brewing, 4 Industrial Road, Milford.
Scaling Up Energy Democracy: How can we rapidly
transition away from fossil fuel energy while increasing democratic
control of the energy grid? Larry Rosenberg, an activist with Elders
Climate Action and 350 Massachusetts, will talk about what we need to
to make 100% renewable energy possible. See the Facebook event. Wed, Jan 29, 7-8:30
pm, Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge.
Write a Letter to the Editor: 350 Mass members write
lots of letters to the editor, many of which get published! Here are
some recent letters:
Want to join
the team? Email Vignesh Ramachandran to find out more!
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Other Better Future Project News
Calling All Librarians: Last September,
Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) helped Massachusetts
librarians offer over 90 programs as part of the annual Climate
Preparedness Week. If your library participated in Climate
Preparedness Week—or even if it didn’t—read here to find out more about how you can incorporate
climate resilience programming into your library’s mission!
Host a Boston-area Divest Ed Fellow
Next Summer: Divest Ed, Better Future Project's national
campus divestment program, will be hosting an in-person Boston summer
fellowship for up to 15 student divestment leaders. If you live in the
Greater Boston Area and have a spare room in your home, please
consider hosting a fellow and fill out this form!
Divest Ed is Hiring a Director: Better Future
Project is looking for a Divest Ed director to start in 2020! We need
someone with a vision for the student fossil fuel divestment movement,
a passion for student and youth organizing, a commitment to climate
justice, and experience working with young people and partnering with
other movements. See here for the job listing.
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Other Climate Movement News
TODAY—Forum on Massachusetts Climate
Legislation: Hear State Representatives Sean Garballey and
Dave Rogers present updates on House climate/environmental bills.
Cabell Eames of Mass Power Forward will also be speaking. Discover how
the legislative process works and learn more about what we can do to
support and ensure the success of this legislation. Sponsored by the
Arlington Democratic Town Committee. Tue, Jan 14, 7-8:30 pm,
Community Room of the Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington.
Climate Change—A Course for Everyone: This
free and open course is intended to promote climate change education,
resilience, and action. We'll examine the basic science of climate
change, its local and global impacts, and strategies for preventing
its worst outcomes while preparing for those we can no longer avoid.
Learn more here and see a live stream here. Ongoing through Wed, April 8,
6-8 pm, Northeastern, 40 Leon St, Boston.
Community Meeting about the Effect of the Environmental Crisis
on the Poor and Vulnerable: At this event hosted by the
multifaith organization A Faith That Does Justice, speakers will
discuss the health impact of climate change, the moral
responsibilities of developed nations in providing for and protecting
those impacted by climate change, and what we, as individuals, can do
about it. Register for free here or enjoy the live stream here. Wed, Jan 15, 6:15-8 pm,
Courtyard Boston Downtown Marriott, 275 Tremont St, Boston.
Visions of Justice Forum: Come to this second annual
forum of speakers, visual arts, music, and conversation on social
justice issues. This year’s program focuses on the disproportionate
impact of environmental changes on marginalized communities. Speakers
include Sonja Spears of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Susan
Church at Demissie & Church, and Craig Altemose of Better Future
Project. Sat, Feb 8 (snow date Mar 7), 9:30 am-2:30 pm, Unitarian
Universalist Area Church (UUAC), 11 Washington St,
Sherborn.
Webinar—Affordable Housing as a Climate
Solution: Are you interested in learning from experts about
why sustainable housing is a key part of the climate solution? Join
this webinar, the third of a four-part series hosted by MCAN, LISC,
and the Smart Growth Alliance. Learn more and RSVP here. Tue, Jan 28, 7-8
pm.
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Solidarity Opportunities
TODAY—Action at Eversource meeting / Acción en
reunion de
Eversource:
Eversource has called for an open community design meeting to discuss
designs for the high voltage, high risk substation. Join GreenRoots in
taking over the meeting with demands of a soccer field and sustainable
diesel-free energy on the proposed location. See the Facebook event. Tue, Jan 14, 5:30-7:30pm,
East Boston High School, 86 White St, Boston.
Support the MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda: There
are five bills in the 2019-2021 legislative session that would benefit
Indigenous Peoples. Learn more about the Massachusetts Indigenous Peoples
Legislative Agenda here and support it here.
Safe Communities Act Hearing: It's past time
people in Massachusetts stand up and say loud and clear: Immigrants
are welcome here. The Joint Committee on
Public Safety and Homeland Security will hold a public hearing on the
Safe Communities Act. You're free to testify, but even if you don't,
you make an impact with your presence. RSVP here and see the Facebook event. Fri, Jan 24, 11 am, Gardner
Auditorium, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston.
No War on Iran! U.S. Troops Out! Global Day of
Protest: The Trump administration is dragging the
United States into a war that could engulf the whole region and turn
into a global conflict of unpredictable scope and the gravest
consequences. It's time to demand clearly: no war on Iran and U.S.
troops out of the Middle East! See the Facebook event. Sat, Jan 25, 1-3
pm, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St,
Boston.
It's Time for Corporations to Pay Their Fair Share! Ask if
Your Legislator Agrees: Big business lobbyists are pushing
legislators to pass regressive taxes and fees that disproportionately
affect low- and middle-income people. Contact your legislator by phone or email and voice
your opposition to regressive revenue and voice your support for
corporations paying their fair share.
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About Better
Future Project and 350 Mass
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