Occupy Sonoma: the environmental stories you should know about

Occupy Sonoma County

EARTH ACTION IN THE NEWS  

Welcome to the people who have joined recently.  This is a simple weekly newsletter.  Your participation is encouraged.  Please share information and actions about climate change, climate justice, GMOs, toxic chemicals, and Earth-related topics.
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BREAKTHROUGH!

The Yurok Tribe Is Using California’s Carbon Offset Program to Buy Back Its Land

https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2021/04/19/california-carbon-offset-program-yurok-tribe-land-back?fbclid=IwAR3MB-bHmyXOp3LoOLOjg-h9eu6nm3FCdy_i5rpY2QQxkPlfbt4crRxqStw

Washington State plans to phase out new gas cars by 2030

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/washington-state-plans-to-phase-out-new-gas-cars-by-2030/ar-BB1fGABI

This is one excellent solution for a bigger problem that can’t be solved this way.  Continuing to over-consume resources doesn’t stop by switching to a different kind of car.  We are at a turning point where we have to rethink how we are living on our planet.  Urban planning that creates a natural lifestyle of working and shopping near where we live reduces the need for driving.  Creating safe infrastructures for bicycle and pedestrian transportation, and public transportation systems that meet the majority of people’s needs – these are the solutions that are sustainable.  

LOCAL REPORTS

California Senate Fails to Advance Fracking Ban Bill

https://www.ecowatch.com/california-fracking-bill-fails-2652571797.html?mc_cid=924750c214&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Newsom Declares Drought Emergency in 2 Counties as State Sees Fourth-Driest Year

https://www.kqed.org/news/11870600/newsom-declares-drought-emergency-in-2-counties-as-state-sees-fourth-driest-year?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=News%20Daily&mc_key=00Q1Y00001xsPQmUAM

PG&E lawyers challenge bulk of charges tied to 2019 Kincade fire in Sonoma County

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/business/pge-lawyers-challenge-bulk-of-charges-tied-to-2019-kincade-fire-in-sonoma/?trk_msg=SGKA8Q1UP2J4PEO5K1ODEPQ8BG&trk_contact=QQQLPEJ4NTMGK1AJ6O84IQKD2K&trk_module=new&trk_sid=5I5FH928S9124O7PE9PGVDFO7O&utm_email=94D5D43DA4752562A4E1D47CED&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pressdemocrat.com%2farticle%2fbusiness%2fpge-lawyers-challenge-bulk-of-charges-tied-to-2019-kincade-fire-in-sonoma%2f&utm_campaign=pd_daily

Regulators blast PG&E for neglect in reducing wildfire risk

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/power-regulators-cast-doubt-on-pges-plans/?trk_msg=0BH36TDSO9K4NFHJOCHIJ1VRS0&trk_contact=QQQLPEJ4NTMGK1AJ6O84IQKD2K&trk_module=new&trk_sid=OCRMAR047HSJ37MHARITBEKBG8&utm_email=94D5D43DA4752562A4E1D47CED&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pressdemocrat.com%2farticle%2fnews%2fpower-regulators-cast-doubt-on-pges-plans%2f&utm_campaign=pd_daily

Regulators Impose New Oversight on PG&E After Utility Falls Short on Wildfire Safety Work

https://www.kqed.org/news/11869709/regulators-impose-new-oversight-on-pge-after-utility-falls-short-on-wildfire-safety-work?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=News%20Daily&mc_key=00Q1Y00001xsPQmUAM

“A procession of speakers ripped PG&E for persisting in neglectful behavior that has put lives at risk, and driving up electricity rates to help pay for its reckless conduct. Many of the commenters also blasted regulators for lax oversight and urged they immediately rescind PG&E’s “license to burn,” as some described it.”

GMOs, GLYPHOSATE & TOXINS

Toxic and Radioactive: The Damage From Mining Rare Elements

https://www.ecowatch.com/rare-elements-mining-toxic-radioactive-2652513660.html?mc_cid=477bcdc74b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

LA’s Deadly Nuclear Nightmare Film: “Cancer Moves Faster than Bureaucracy” (audio)

http://nuclearhotseat.com/2021/04/14/las-deadly-nuclear-nightmare-santa-susana-field-lab-documentary/?fbclid=IwAR3-lV-1xYzrt3SzWw0Kc9rRllY5rwHgIb6EE2kcRpF6xWg6w8SfyefKGX8
“New documentary tells the story of how Melissa Bumstead came to spearhead the drive to clean up the radioactive, toxic site located just 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles.”

Pesticide Pollution in Recreational Lakes Documented

https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2021/04/pesticide-pollution-in-recreational-lakes-documented/

Indoor Dust Contains PFAS and Other Toxic Chemicals

https://theintercept.com/2021/04/14/pfas-toxic-chemicals-indoor-dust/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20Intercept%20Newsletter

PIPELINES

Biden Refuses to Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline, Despite Campaign Pledges on Tribal Relations and Climate

https://www.ecowatch.com/biden-dakota-access-pipeline-2652502898.html

Local Cops Said Pipeline Company Had Influence Over Government Appointment

https://theintercept.com/2021/04/17/enbridge-line-3-minnesota-police-protest/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20Intercept%20Newsletter

PLASTIC & POLLUTION

Japan to Release Fukushima Wastewater Into the Pacific

https://www.ecowatch.com/japan-fukushima-wastewater-pacific-2652516275.html?mc_cid=477bcdc74b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

How to stop discarded face masks from polluting the planet

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-to-stop-discarded-face-masks-from-polluting-the-planet?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Planet_Possible_20210420&rid=2A83A1679DA3D00B06D379678BB5845B

“Personal protective equipment is made of plastic and isn’t recyclable. Now it’s being found everywhere on earth, including the oceans. The solution isn’t complicated: Throw them away.”

Plastics Rebellion

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5PeDsVY7Nmmf-QZO6HQ7YaBE6IBWHo9ImvNjBf7Mzg/edit?link_id=48&can_id=7a5e06f628128af1cda6e58f09ec9690&source=email-the-scientists-have-had-enough-global-newsletter-50&email_referrer=email_1145059&email_subject=the-scientists-have-had-enough-global-newsletter-50

A sister group within Extinction Rebellion

GREEN NEW DEAL

A Reparative Politics for the Climate Crisis: A Roundtable

https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-reparative-politics-for-the-climate-crisis-a-roundtable

Haaland creates climate task force, pledges to address environmental injustices

https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/04/haaland-climate-change/

Biden prepares sweeping order on climate-related risks

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/15/biden-climate-risks-executive-order-481962

Hundreds of Companies Call for US to Slash Carbon Emissions

https://www.kqed.org/science/1973776/hundreds-of-companies-call-for-u-s-to-slash-carbon-emissions?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20201009_Science_ScienceNewsletter_Newsletter&mc_key=00Q1Y00001xsPQmUAM

LEAK: EU to table ‘climate taxonomy’, leaving gas and nuclear for later

https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/leak-eu-to-table-climate-taxonomy-leaving-gas-and-nuclear-for-later/

“Bioenergy is particularly sensitive for Nordic countries, who rely on biomass for a large share of their renewable energy consumption.”
Forest-based biomass (burning trees for electricity) is not renewable energy! 

WAKE UP CALL

Underwater Robot Detects More Warm Water Beneath Antarctica’s Doomsday Glacier

https://www.ecowatch.com/doomsday-glacier-warm-water-2652514760.html?mc_cid=477bcdc74b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Scientists Warn 4°C World Would Unleash ‘Unimaginable Amounts of Water’ as Ice Shelves Collapse

https://www.ecowatch.com/antarctic-ice-shelves-2652496656.html?mc_cid=ded37c8c9a&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Climate Research Station Closes Due to Climate Crisis

https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-research-station-nws-closes-2652573445.html?mc_cid=924750c214&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Marine Life Is Fleeing the Equator to Cooler Waters – This Could Trigger a Mass Extinction Event

https://www.ecowatch.com/marine-life-equator-2652490534.html?mc_cid=ded37c8c9a&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Algal Blooms Could Spew Lethal Toxins Into the Air, New Study Suggests

https://www.ecowatch.com/algal-blooms-toxins-air-2651921582.html?mc_cid=552044d59b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

Scientists Alarmed at Surging Atmospheric Methane, CO2

https://www.ecowatch.com/atmospheric-methane-carbon-dioxide-2651893963.html?mc_cid=552044d59b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2


THINK TANK & STRATEGY

Journalists Urged to Emphasize ‘Climate Emergency’

https://www.ecowatch.com/journalism-climate-emergency-2652515495.html?mc_cid=477bcdc74b&mc_eid=41817bb0a2

U.S., China Say They Will Cooperate to Tackle Climate Change

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-18/u-s-china-say-they-will-cooperate-to-tackle-climate-change?srnd=green

Ecotourism could help the ‘Amazon of North America’ recover. Here’s how.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/the-amazon-of-north-america-is-disintegrating-visit-mindfully?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Planet_Possible_20210420&rid=2A83A1679DA3D00B06D379678BB5845B

Biden Wants the U.S. to Lead on Climate Action, But the World Needs Proof

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-19/biden-wants-the-u-s-to-lead-on-climate-action-but-the-world-needs-proof?sref=1Akj1jLg

Now Is Our Last Best Chance to Confront the Climate Crisis

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/climate-crisis-2050-goals-biden-administration-1154528/?fbclid=IwAR1DKx9YL8M_M-oIoBYOZMnWOjqpNd-4VL54JwDbhxLaJ7ob_KdQWw8bdgE

We can’t wait for the big power and money interests to wake up and take action soon enough.  The future is in our hands.

Food and Environmental Justice Groups Petition EPA to Regulate Dairy and Hog Methane

https://www.foodandpower.net/latest/food-ej-groups-epa-hog-dairy-methane-petition

DIRECT ACTIONS

Farmers Are Leading India’s Biggest Social Movement in a Generation

https://jacobinmag.com/2021/04/indian-farmers-strike-modi-bjp-social-movements-historical-struggles/

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

The Environmental Implications of the Return to the Office

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-29/is-telecommuting-really-greener-it-depends?srnd=citylab-environment

“A new tool can help companies measure workplace carbon emissions, and figure out if going remote is easier on the planet. “

Offshore wind is poised to take off in the U.S.—but it won’t be easy

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/offshore-wind-is-poised-to-take-off-in-the-us-but-it-wont-be-easy?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Planet_Possible_20210420&rid=2A83A1679DA3D00B06D379678BB5845B

How to Make Homemade Liquid Fertilizer by David The Good (video)

https://thegrownetwork.com/homemade-liquid-fertilizer/

” This simple, effective recipe for homemade liquid fertilizer is highly customizable—so you can use whatever you have on hand!”

ENDING ON A POSITIVE

FireDrill Fridays With Jane Fonda (video)

https://fb.watch/4WG7UfeZcG/

Video podcast with Jane Fonda and youth climate activists

Call To Action! 
We urge all groups including schools, neighborhood associations, organizations, clubs and groups of any kind to adopt a Climate Declaration.  Adopt ours or write your own.  Share your Climate Declaration with local governments, the media, write articles, and share information. 
Occupy Sonoma County Climate Declaration

Occupy Sonoma County, along with concerned, forward thinking people all over the world, declares that climate change has reached catastrophic proportions as evidenced by the current level of CO2 in the atmosphere, the melting of polar ice caps, and the continual rising of global temperatures.  This is a global emergency, and we must act immediately.  We invite all forces of life to join together for our survival.  We stand up for life.

We recognize that the root of climate change is a capitalist system run by money greedy corporations and the governments that they control.  We actively oppose greenhouse gas producers, nuclear power investors, and fossil fuel companies by boycotting their products, developing alternatives, divesting from corporations that endorse them and insisting that governments at all levels take action.  We call on all governments and corporations to adopt life-sustaining practices immediately.

The people must act now to stop this destruction from continuing and reverse the damage this has caused.  The future is in our hands.  We are the 99%!

What Earth Actions are you taking?


https://OccupySonomaCounty.org

https://OccupySonomaCounty.org/es

(en español)

http://facebook.com/OccupySonomaCounty

https://twitter.com/OcSoCo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJoCP-ePUTPWNgHZwtBelg

Occupy Sonoma County embraces the egalitarian, deep democracy principles of the Occupy Movement with a regional strategy for effectively organizing countywide social justice campaigns that are globally relevant.