Today Joe Biden approved the Willow Arctic oil project in Alaska. It's an outrage. An act of utter political cowardice. And it destroys any hope Biden had of achieving his promises to stop fossil fuel extraction on public lands, or cut global warming pollution 50% by 2030. But this is not the end of the fight to #StopWillow, or to stop climate chaos.
First of all, on Willow, allies are following the lead of local, frontline, and indigenous communities denouncing Biden’s decision, and promising to continue to fight the project in court, in Alaska, and anywhere else. It's not too late to call the White House at 202-456-1111 Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 3pm ET | 8am-12noon PT – and give them a piece of your mind. Second, just like any other fossil fuel project, getting the permits is just one step in the process. Willow hasn't been built yet, and there's still time to make sure it never is.
But since we've been betrayed by politicians like Biden, we do need to change tactics: Specifically we need to get off social media (where more than 600 million actions and calls to #StopWillow were not enough) and get into the streets, and we need to go after fossil fuel projects like Willow where they're vulnerable – not with politicians, but with financiers.
Yup, you guessed it – we're inviting you, again, to join us on 3.21.23 to take action in the streets and in real life. You can cut up your cards and bank statements with fossil banks if that works for you. Or you can join in action and solidarity with thousands of consumers and citizens regardless of your financial status. If you're new to the story, RSVP here to join our webinar tomorrow, one week before the big day of action, and get all the details and info you need.
Back to the Willow project for a moment: ConocoPhillips, the oil company behind Willow, has borrowed $11.6 Billion dollars from the same big fossil banks we're protesting on the 21st — and that's just since 2015.