People’s Climate March 9/21/14

Hi all,

Every day, I hear about another crazy wonderful thing that someone is doing to prepare for the People’s Climate March. The variety is astounding — from bird puppets in the Pioneer Valley to reggae concerts in Cambridge to street medic trainings in Boston. Each morning I find my inspiration renewed by the latest video about the march or another amazing selection of posters.

Three weeks to go. I can’t wait to see you all in New York!

With love and hope,

Emily

Less than three weeks until the People’s Climate March in NYC! Have you purchased your bus tickets yet? All the logistical details are on the ticket purchase page, so be sure to read carefully! Now is the moment to invite friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to the march. Let’s fill as many buses as we can!

WGBH Boston, one of the country’s leading PBS stations, says that its mission is to “foster an informed and active citizenry” through radio and TV programs like NOVA. And yet David Koch (yes, thatDavid Koch) sits on WGBH’s Board of Trustees and its “Science Visiting Council”. This is the same David Koch who spends millions of dollars each year trying to convince the public that climate change isn’t real. The Kochs’ efforts to deny climate change and undermine climate science should be unacceptable at a place like WGBH. On October 1st, concerned climate activists will rally outside the station’s annual board meeting to call for a Koch-free WGBH! Save the date — details to follow.

The People’s Climate March on September 21 will be the largest climate mobilization in history. We’re looking for volunteers to serve as bus captains and help us bring hundreds of people to New York from Massachusetts for the march!

Are you interested in helping with outreach and recruitment leading up the march, and then checking people in on the day of? Sign up to volunteer here! We’re especially in need of bus captains in Worcester, Boston, Cambridge, and Amherst.

We’ve created a mass text messaging system to help everyone stay connected to 350MA before and during the People’s Climate March. To join, text @PCM350MA to 23559. We are also sending periodic email updates to all bus registrants. If you’re planning to make your own way to the march, but you want to stay updated on 350MA’s plans, please fill out this form to recieve the updates.

The 350MA Climate Legacy campaign platform is nearly realized! Coal will be effectively phased out within the next three years, fracking within Massachusetts is effectively prohibited, the Patrick administration is moving forward with preparations for a carbon tax study, and we’re holding the line against new fossil fuel infrastructure. To finish the job, we will now focus on (1) keeping out more tar sands and fracked gas by pushing for “clean fuel” and “clean energy” standards, and (2) fighting in the trenches against the advance of new or expanded gas infrastructure.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue our postcard drive outreach effort and prepare for drop-off events at the State House.  And mark your calendars: FERC Chair LaFleur, ISO-NE CEO van Welie, and EPA Administrator McCarthy (!) will be in Boston on Friday, September 19for a special energy industry event, a fantastic opportunity for 350MA to voice its concerns. Stay tuned for details!

Spectra Energy is trying to expand the Algonquin Pipeline, which runs across four states from New York to Massachusetts, in order to transport more gas. They want to construct six new loud, dirty and potentially explosive compressor stations and many new metering stations, including one across the street from an active quarry in Boston. Hearings with federal regulators are an important opportunity to express our views on this unnecessary and polluting new project! The upcoming hearing in Dedham is the only hearing scheduled for Massachusetts.
WHAT: FERC Hearing on Spectra Pipeline Expansion
WHEN: Monday, September 8, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
WHERE: Holiday Inn Dedham, 55 Ariadne Road, Dedham

The Worcester node of 350MA just voted to change its name to the “Central MA” node to reflect its geographic range. Congrats on the new name! If you’ve got questions about the Central MA node, you can email Errica Saunders, erricas@gmail.com.

Confused by all the info about climate change? Get the straight scoop from an expert at Climate 101 with Allison Dunn, Ph.D. atmospheric scientist at Worcester State University. This is a great opportunity to learn more about climate science!
WHAT: Climate Change 101 sponsored by the 350MA Central MA Node
WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 10:30am – 12:00pm
WHERE: Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Street, Worcester

The first People’s Climate March art build in Cambridge was a huge success! Join us at the next art build to create posters, banners, wearable art, noise makers, and more.

What to bring: (whatever you can from this list): arts and crafts supplies of all kinds, old umbrellas, scissors, large markers, paints & paint brushes, latex wall, poster paint, bed sheets, hats, tin pie plates, stapler & staples, poster board, mat board, cardboard, dowels, bambou garden stakes, cardboard tubing, straight pins, ribbon, string, rope, twine, tape, sponges, rags, drop clothes, tarps, plastic buckets, aprons, razor cutters.

Art Build 2 (Hosted by Follen UU Church Environmental Justice Task Force – will be family friendly)
WHEN: Saturday, September 13, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Community Center at Follen Community Church, 755 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington

Art Build 3 (Hosted by Mass Art – exact times and location to be determined)
WHEN: Saturday, September 13
WHERE: Mass Art, Boston

Make hand-held bird puppets from cardboard for the People’s Climate March with theatre artist and activist Beth Fairservis. We hope to fill the streets with flocks of birds handmade by groups in Western MA. RSVP to Beth Fairservis:bethbirth@crocker.com.

Bird Puppet-Making Session 2
WHEN: Saturday, September 13, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
WHERE: Heritage Park, 221 Appleton St, Holyoke

Bird Puppet-Making Session 3
WHEN: Sunday, September 14, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
WHERE: Yurt in the Woods Studio, Haydenville

Major mobilizations are an important tool in political movements, but they can also be hectic and stressful. In preparation for the People’s Climate March, the Boston Street Medics will hold a Protester Health and Safety training on Sunday, September 7. The space is mobility accessible, near Stony Brook Station on the Orange Line, and there is on- and off-street parking. This session will cover the basics of buddy and affinity group safety, weather-related illness, police/arrest safety and advocacy, special needs and chronic illness awareness, and post-action emotional self-care. The focus of this training is on injury and illness prevention, staying safe in the streets, and knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do. There is no cost to attend the session, but please RSVP by Thursday, September 4th at http://tinyurl.com/PCMBosHS. Please emailbostonstreetmedics@riseup.net with any questions.
WHAT: Boston Street Medics Protester Health & Safety Training
WHEN: Sunday, September 7, 2:00-4:00pm
WHERE: Bikes Not Bombs Hub, 284 Amory St. in the Brewery Complex, Jamaica Plain.

How are conflicts from Iraq to the Ukraine connected to climate change and fossil fuels? On September 11, Michael Klare, director of the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies (PAWSS), will give a talk at MIT titled “Hot War, Climate Change, & Sustainability”. The talk will cover the connections between global warming, scarce energy resources, and intensifying conflict worldwide. The event will help to build awareness for the People’s Climate March on September 21 in New York City. Sponsored by United for Justice with Peace.
WHAT: Lecture by Michael Klare on “Hot War, Climate Change & Sustainability”
WHEN: Thursday, September 11, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
WHERE: MIT Campus, Room 35-225, Cambridge

Matt Jenson, a local musician and professor at Berklee College of Music, is hosting a multimedia reggae experience on September 19that will help to build excitement for the People’s Climate March in New York City. The concert will feature a powerful set of Marley’s music followed by an equally powerful set of contemporary reggae. There is a $5 discount for the show if you purchase a bus ticket to attend the march! Purchase your show ticket here.
WHAT: “Get Up, Stand Up” reggae show to build buzz for the People’s Climate March
WHEN: Friday, September 19 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington

The Co-Op Power Sustainability Summit will be held on September 13 in Holyoke. Climate Action Now / 350 MA in the Pioneer Valley will be tabling to spread the word about the People’s Climate March! Register here, then email or call Dave Roitman (droitman@verizon.net; cell is(413) 535-7173) to get all the information and materials you’ll need for tabling!
WHAT: Tabling for the People’s Climate March at the Co-Op Power Sustainability Summit
WHEN: Saturday, September 13
WHERE: Heritage Park, 221 Appleton Street in Holyoke

We have green armbands/wristbands! Wear one proudly to show that you are going to the People’s Climate March or supporting it. It’s a great way to get people asking about the march and a great tool for recruitment. Whenever someone asks about the armband / wristband, tell them about the march, ask them to join in, and hand them a band along with our quarter page flyer explaining the march and how to get to it. Emailjimrecht@gmail.com to have a box of bands and flyers mailed to you or to arrange a pick up at the next Cambridge Node meeting!

Well, that basically sums it up. We depend on grassroots funding —sign up now as an ongoing contributor for Better Future Project / 350 Massachusetts!

Better Future Project (BFP) builds a powerful grassroots movement to confront the fossil fuel industry and meet our energy needs without contributing to climate change, oppression, or human suffering.

350 Massachusetts (350MA)is Better Future Project’s volunteer-led climate action network. Although closely aligned with the mission and values of 350.org, 350 Massachusetts is not part of 350.org.

Climate Summer is Better Future Project’s flagship leadership development program for young adults. Participants learn organizing skills including story-telling, relationship-building, social media, traditional media, event planning, campaign planning, and more, all while living their values and traveling exclusively by bicycle. Graduates go on to become leaders in the national climate justice movement.

If you have questions, email Emily Kirkland, Better Future Project Communications Coordinator, at emily@betterfutureproject.org. If you’ve received this email through a friend and you’d like to subscribe, click here.

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