Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Kenyan professor Wangari Maathai poses during the COP15 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 15, 2009. Olivier Morin / AFP / Getty Images
By Kate Whiting
From Greta Thunberg to Sir David Attenborough, the headline-grabbing climate change activists and environmentalists of today are predominantly white. But like many areas of society, those whose voices are heard most often are not necessarily representative of the whole.
<p><a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/8-black-environmentalists-need-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Environmental issues are deeply interconnected with racial justice</a> as Black people have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution, climate change and lack of access to green space.</p><p>In June 2020, 25 Black environmental leaders published an open letter calling for an end to the '<a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploads-wysiwig/Statement%20on%20systemic%20and%20pervasive%20racism%20within%20the%20environmental%20field.pdf" target="_blank">systemic and pervasive racism within the environmental field</a>.' They called for an end to negative narratives around Black people and their relationship with nature in the U.S., Europe and Africa and listed solutions to eradicate racism, from education to ensuring access to wildlife.</p><p>From environmental justice advocates to scientists and social entrepreneurs, here are just a handful of the many Black environmentalists who have contributed to our global understanding of the need to look after our planet.</p>
1. Wangari Maathai
<p>In 2004, Professor Maathai made history as the <a href="https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/Prize-winners/Prizewinner-documentation/Wangari-Maathai" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize</a> for her dedication to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She started the <a href="http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Green Belt Movement</a>, a community-based tree planting initiative that aims to reduce poverty and encourage conservation, in 1977. More than 51 million trees have been planted helping build climate resilience and empower communities, especially women and girls. Her environmental work is celebrated every year on <a href="http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/node/955" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wangari Maathai Day on 3 March</a>.</p>2. Robert Bullard
<p>Known as the 'father of environmental justice,' Dr Bullard has <a href="https://www.unep.org/championsofearth/laureates/2020/robert-bullard" target="_blank">campaigned against harmful waste</a> being dumped in predominantly Black neighborhoods in the southern states of the U.S. since the 1970s. His first book, Dumping in Dixie, highlighted the link between systemic racism and environmental oppression, showing how the descendants of slaves were exposed to higher-than-average levels of pollutants. In 1994, his work led to the signing of the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/albert-huang/20th-anniversary-president-clintons-executive-order-12898-environmental-justice" target="_blank">Executive Order on Environmental Justice</a>, which the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/" target="_blank">Biden administration is building on</a>.<br></p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7983f54726debdd824f97f9ad3bdbb87"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T_VjSGk8s18?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4OTYxMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzA2NTg5MH0.Bo1gWG2ciWhbBFN5X0pX5h68T566FLm1eO_ulQYYjqg/img.png?width=980" id="31f4c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="685c35c43855fcf8319ac2edba5e4fd2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1696" data-height="1204" />
Pollution has a race problem. Elizabethwarren.com
3. John Francis
<p>Helping the clean-up operation after an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in January 1971 inspired Francis to <a href="https://planetwalk.org/about-john/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stop taking motorized transport</a>. Instead, for 22 years, he walked everywhere. He also took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years, so he could listen to others. He has walked the width of the U.S. and sailed and walked through South America, earning the nickname "Planetwalker," and raising awareness of how interconnected people are with the environment.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="09b968e0e9964e31406954dcea45981d"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vgQjL23_FoU?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
4. Dr. Warren Washington
<p>A meteorology and climate pioneer, Dr. Washington was one of the first people to develop atmospheric computer models in the 1960s, which have helped scientists understand climate change. These models now also incorporate the oceans and sea ice, surface water and vegetation. In 2007, the <a href="https://www.cgd.ucar.edu/pcm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Parallel Climate Model (PCM)</a> and <a href="https://www.cesm.ucar.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Community Earth System Model (CESM)</a>, earned Dr. Washington and his colleagues the <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nobel Peace Prize</a>, as part of the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a>.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="09fbf6dc37f275f438a0d53ec0fe1874"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bvJ4jTy2mTk?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
5. Angelou Ezeilo
<p>Huge trees and hikes to pick berries during her childhood in upstate New York inspired Ezeilo to become an environmentalist and set up the <a href="https://gyfoundation.org/staff/Angelou-Ezeilo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Greening Youth Foundation</a>, to educate future generations about the importance of preservation. Through its schools program and Youth Conservation Corps, the social enterprise provides access to nature to disadvantaged children and young people in the U.S. and West Africa. In 2019, Ezeilo published her book <em>Engage, Connect, Protect: Empowering Diverse Youth as Environmental Leaders</em>, co-written by her Pulitzer Prize-winning brother Nick Chiles.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ce4547d4e5c0b9ad2927f19fd75bf4ab"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YojKMfUvJMs?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
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Icicles hang off the State Highway 195 sign on February 18, 2021 in Killeen, Texas following winter storm Uri, which has brought historic cold weather and power outages. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
While millions of Texans on Monday continued living without safe drinking water and many faced storm damage and massive electricity bills, youth leaders with the Sunrise Movement rallied at the state capitol in Austin, using the current conditions across the Lone Star State to bolster their demand for a Green New Deal.
<p>"Texas is the perfect example of what happens when our politicians cater to fossil fuel executives instead of the young people who have been shouting from the rooftops for years, warning of an impending climate emergency like this," said Sunrise leader Chante Davis in a statement ahead of the rally.</p><p>The Houston teenager's family moved to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.</p><p>"I've survived three once-in-a lifetime storms in my 17 years of life," Davis said. "We need change, and the Green New Deal is the obvious, urgent solution. As our communities come together to fill the void of our government, our leaders must invest in us to provide jobs that directly address the crises we face."</p><p>The group has been a key proponent of the Green New Deal resolution <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/07/major-party-backing-ocasio-cortez-and-markey-unveil-green-new-deal-outlining-wwii" target="_blank">introduced</a> in 2019 by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).</p>
<div id="33fe2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="20d635a68d8c6c0e2ee0e9ba14e3bf69"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363901146478219266" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected] at the Texas Capitol this morning to confront state and country leaders about last week’s snow storm… https://t.co/kokBBRZoNA</div> — Hannah Falcon (@Hannah Falcon)<a href="https://twitter.com/hannahfalcon_/statuses/1363901146478219266">1614014348.0</a></blockquote></div>
<div id="5f790" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="94bf16b155a9b5ee079ce2b230981e54"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363909975597285382" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">And the state has the fucking gall right now to put troopers with ARs out on the capitol grounds to intimidate us.… https://t.co/WFUZcKDcKl</div> — EmGe (@EmGe)<a href="https://twitter.com/em_magining/statuses/1363909975597285382">1614016453.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Last week's <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/19/fossil-fuel-exec-brags-hitting-jackpot-natural-gas-prices-surge-amid-deadly-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deadly</a> winter weather, which experts have <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/role-climate-crisis-cant-be-hand-waved-away-scientists-say-freezing-texas-linked" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">linked</a> to human-caused climate change, led to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/he-lying-people-are-dying-calls-texas-governor-resign-he-blames-power-outages-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">major power </a>outages across Texas—the only state that mostly relies on its own electricity grid. Some Republicans, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, tried to blame renewable energy and warn of the not-yet-implemented Green New Deal, but the outages were largely tied to fossil fuel and nuclear facilities. Though much of the state now has power again, Texans are still dealing with water and food issues.</p><p>Concerns are also <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/21/no-safe-amount-environmentalists-sound-alarm-over-texas-refineries-release-hundreds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mounting</a> over the hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants—including benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide—that Texas oil refineries released while scrambling to shut down during the storm.</p><p>Climate campaigners within and beyond Texas have responded to the state's cascading crises by <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/forget-ted-cruz-whats-really-missing-texas-green-new-deal" target="_blank">ramping up</a> their calls for a Green New Deal, which would create millions of jobs by transitioning the nation to 100% clean power while launching a WWII-style mobilization to build "resiliency against climate change-related disasters."</p>
<div id="580d0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="87ca15ef9a8a31b909d0919db56fa761"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1362528807073234948" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">We know that when our lights go out, there are neighborhoods like @GovAbbott’s whose don’t. The rest of us? We com… https://t.co/EwTZ4kA2Zh</div> — Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@Sunrise Movement 🌅)<a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/statuses/1362528807073234948">1613687156.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In a <a href="https://secure.everyaction.com/8GnCQBZjI0S6EweMDre84A2" target="_blank">petition</a> open for signatures from Texas residents, Sunrise lays out four key demands—including the resignation of Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who came <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-accused-flying-cancun-texas-power-outages-photo-goes-viral-1570118" target="_blank">under fire</a> last week for fleeing to Cancún for a vacation as his constituents <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/blood-abbotts-hands-anger-gop-leaders-surges-food-water-shortages-compound-texas" target="_blank">endured</a> the fallout from the storm during the coronavirus pandemic:</p><ul><li>Direct, Immediate Relief: We need cancelled utility bills, direct cash assistance of $2,000/month, a rent freeze, and specific support for our most marginalized community members.</li><li>A 100% Renewable, Resilient Energy System and Good Jobs to Build It: A public, well-regulated power system to make our state and country more resilient to future disasters and create good union jobs for our communities.</li><li>Joe Biden must come to Texas. Where Texas' leaders have failed us, the president of the United States has an opportunity to lead. He must come to Texas and help the suffering, and use this moment to take urgent action on the climate crisis and build the resilient power system of the future.</li><li>The resignation of Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz. Gov. Abbott and Sen. Cruz have neglected their duty as public servants in the midst of this humanitarian crisis and must step down immediately. They are unfit to serve.</li></ul><p>Journalist and environmentalist Naomi Klein on Monday noted Cruz's attempted defense of the trip in a tweet promoting the Sunrise rally:</p>
<div id="8bcef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c7186a458462e9d1332cd150cf23d73e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363902295344226304" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Ted Cruz says he went to Mexico to be a "good parent." That was BS, as we all know. The way to be a good parent (or… https://t.co/uWZWdCgsbe</div> — Naomi Klein (@Naomi Klein)<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiAKlein/statuses/1363902295344226304">1614014621.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Klein—author of <a href="https://inthesetimes.com/article/this-changes-everything-naomi-klein-lessons" target="_blank"><em>This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate</em></a> and other books—<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/22/republicans-fear-green-new-deal-argues-naomi-klein-because-its-viable-alternative" target="_blank">argued</a> in a Sunday column for the <em>New York Times</em> that Republicans "fear" the Green New Deal because it offers a viable alternative to "the collapse of a 40-year experiment in free-market fundamentalism" that Texans are now enduring.</p><p>"The horrors currently unfolding in Texas expose both the reality of the climate crisis and the extreme vulnerability of fossil fuel infrastructure in the face of that crisis," Klein wrote. "So of course the Green New Deal finds itself under fierce attack. Because for the first time in a long time, Republicans face the very thing that they claim to revere but never actually wanted: competition—in the battle of ideas."</p>
<div id="d2af4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="07057c3270fc8f809f160c8a4aeff329"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363531126426398721" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I wrote about why Texas Republicans are terrified of the #GreenNewDeal for @nytimes. Their ideas are no longer "l… https://t.co/RWDDJhCeua</div> — Naomi Klein (@Naomi Klein)<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiAKlein/statuses/1363531126426398721">1613926128.0</a></blockquote></div><p> In a statement last week <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/demanding-gov-abbotts-resignation-sunrise-movement-says-texas-crisis-shows-urgent" target="_blank">calling on</a> Abbott to resign over his handling of the storm and his lies about the power outages on <em>Fox News</em>, Sunrise digital director Paris Moran declared that "we deserve a government that addresses our basic needs and protects all of us in moments of crisis."</p><p>"Despite the lies you'll hear from Gov. Abbott on <em>Fox News</em>, that's truly what the Green New Deal is all about," said Moran, whose family in Texas lost electricity, had food go bad, and lacked consistent running water. "We must come together and rebuild an era of prosperity through the Decade of the Green New Deal."</p>
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><em><br></em>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" data-width="710" data-height="959" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" data-width="800" data-height="800" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" data-width="600" data-height="600" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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UK Climate Activists Are Locked in a Self-Dug Tunnel Underneath a London Station
18 February
Climate
Activists raise their concerns outside the Department for Work and Pensions in London on Feb. 8, 2021 about the treatment of activists who are in a tunnel beneath Euston Station to stop the high-speed train project HS2. Kristian Buus / In Pictures / Getty Images
By Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Beneath London's Euston Station, climate protester Blue Sandford is chained by the ankle in an illegally dug tunnel. The tunnel, 12-feet deep and 100ft long, is wet and muddy. It is propped up by wooden frames: in places wide enough only for them to lie flat on their stomachs.
<p>The 18-year-old is resisting UK authorities as they try remove her and other protesters.</p><p>Under the cover of a tent, the "Stop HS2" activists spent two months secretly digging the tunnel with shovels and buckets before going public and locking themselves inside on January 27.</p><p>They're protesting Britain's High-Speed 2 railway project (HS2), which involves clearing ancient woodland to make way for tracks and other rail infrastructure. It will also mean redeveloping Euston Square Gardens, a park in front of the station, they say.</p><p>"We're in serious debt here, the whole world, in terms of carbon and gas and methane. We need to start planting trees, not cutting them down," said Sandford, speaking on the phone to DW from the tunnel.</p><p>Four of the tunnelers, including Sandford's brother Lazer, have been either forcibly removed, or left voluntarily. Lazer had encased his arm in a steel tube that was surrounded by concrete and had to be drilled out. At least three more remain, despite fears the makeshift passage could collapse. For the protesters, the stakes are high, because this represents the larger fight to halt climate change.</p><p>"I'm here because we're facing societal collapse, and wars and famine and drought on a scale that we've never seen before and I'm really terrified for my future," said Sandford, who has also taken part in the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/extinction-rebellion-the-activists-risking-prison-to-save-the-planet/a-48302957" target="_blank">Extinction Rebellion</a> protests, in a recorded message before the authorities arrived.</p>
<h2>Green Revolution or Carbon Nightmare?</h2><p>HS2 is the UK Government's major new railway project linking the capital, London, to northern cities like Manchester. After years of delays, construction finally began in September 2020.</p><p>The railway will allow high-speed trains to travel along their own tracks, freeing up the existing rail network for more local services with the aim of reducing cars on the road. <a href="https://bigplanbigchanges.co.uk/straight-answers/2-uncategorised/467-straight-answers-16" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HS2 says</a> its trains will offer cross-country travel with seven times lower emissions than cars and will carry freight to reduce high-polluting truck journeys.</p><p>Sustainable transport advocate and independent railway engineer Gareth Dennis says it is a vital part of the UK's plan to cut emissions and is being unfairly tarnished.</p><p>"We're hearing nothing about all the motorways and roads that are being built across the country, causing a huge amount more damage. There are bulldozers, diggers, tree felling, right now, with nobody digging a complicated set of tunnels in protest," said Dennis.</p><p>One point of contention is how long it will take for emissions from the construction and operation of HS2 to be canceled out by the benefits of greener travel. In 2019, the government's own commission, the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/870092/oakervee-review.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oakervee Review</a>, estimated that it could take 60 years of operation.</p><p>Adam Turner from Greens4HS2, a group of Green Party members who support electrified high-speed rail to achieve a net zero-carbon future and are at odds with the party's official position opposing HS2, said that though 60 years is not ideal, the UK must think about the bigger picture. <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/2021-climate-policy-biden-pledges/a-56437561" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">(Net zero</a> means reaching a balance between the greenhouse gases pumped into the atmosphere and those taken out.)</p><p>Greens4HS2 carried out an analysis showing the estimate could be reduced to 28 years "if government is assertive in driving people away from planes and cars, onto trains," added Turner.</p><p>But the protesters claim it will take much longer, as they believe estimates involved are skewed in HS2's favor, and do not take sufficient account of the likely increase in electric cars.</p>
<h2>Ancient Woodlands</h2><p>The emotive heart of the debate is over the ancient woodlands that have been felled to make way for new tracks.</p><p>Farmer Penny McGregor saw a local woods near Birmingham, a city in the English midlands, repossessed by HS2, and partially chopped down in 2020. She said the community treasured the area as a sanctuary full of birdsong and wild anemones, but she watched it get destroyed.</p><p>"It was all very traumatic that whole time," said McGregor. "I could hear the chainsaws every morning from the house. It's horrible. People on the footpaths said they could hear trees crashing."</p><p>HS2's critics point out that 13% of the UK is woodland, compared to more than 35-40% in the EU, and say the project's destruction of pristine woodlands is unacceptable.</p><p>UK conservation NGO Woodland Trust described HS2 as "devastating," saying the project threatens unique habitat as well as rare and endangered species and will exacerbate the UK's <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/bringing-britains-endangered-wildlife-back-from-the-brink/a-47854943" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">biodiversity crisis</a>.</p><p>Major parties on the left and right of British politics, including the Green Party and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), have also campaigned against HS2 due its cost and environmental impact. In 2019, the <a href="https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2019/11/28/hs2-is-an-act-of-ecocide-green-party-call-for-end-to-devastating-%C2%A380-billion-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Green Party labeled</a> it an act of "<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/could-germany-be-charged-with-ecocide/a-55585186" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ecocide</a>" that would cut habitats in half.</p><p>But advocates of the high-speed project call for more perspective, saying that just 43 out of 52,000 ancient woodlands have been affected, and that HS2 are planting seven million new trees to offset carbon emissions, all of which are native species specially picked by a leading UK tree nursery.</p><p>The project will cost a tiny fraction of the UK's tree coverage but is necessary to slash emissions, said Adam Turner from Greens4HS2.</p><p>"We're not going to achieve a zero-carbon Britain if we don't build it. And if we don't achieve a zero-carbon Britain, it won't just be a corridor of woodland we're saying goodbye to, it will be ancient woodland across the world. Those are the stakes here," said Turner.</p>
<h2>No Slowing Down</h2><p>For now, neither HS2 nor the protesters are deterred. The first phase of HS2 from London to Birmingham will be completed by 2031, with the second phases to Manchester and Leeds finished in 2040.</p><p>But the activists have warned there will be more tunnel protests to come.</p><p>Blue Sandford remains in the tunnel and could face criminal prosecution for her part in the protests. But she feels she has little choice.</p><p>"I don't want to be so scared that I have to risk my life. But I feel like I don't have a choice," she said. "Voting hasn't worked. Letters to MPs haven't worked. This is the only thing I can do."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/why-uk-climate-activists-are-locked-in-a-dangerous-self-dug-tunnel-under-a-london-station/a-56610551" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><span></span></p>
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Youth Climate Activists Want an Official Seat at the Table in Biden’s White House
16 February
Politics
18-year-old climate activist Sophia Kianni (middle right) wants to see the Biden administration adopt a model similar to the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, of which she is a U.S. representative. UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
By Ilana Cohen
Last November, youth climate activists helped elect U.S. President Joe Biden. The Green New Deal enthusiasts turned their peers out to the polls in record numbers, with youth of color making a key difference in battleground states. Many were motivated by Biden's historically bold climate agenda—which was shaped, in no small part, by the activism and input of youth climate activists. They were also moved by a strong desire to defeat climate science denier incumbent Donald Trump.
<p>But the first few weeks of the Biden administration have given activists some reason to doubt that Biden will deliver serious climate action. While <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/01/14/biden-climate-staff/" target="_blank">including</a> progressive climate policy leaders on his team and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/joe-biden-climate-crisis-orders-2650167632.html" target="_self">issuing</a> sweeping executive actions to combat climate change, Biden has also continued <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-27/biden-issues-dozens-of-oil-drilling-permits-in-first-few-days" target="_blank">issuing</a> dozens of new oil drilling permits.</p><p>Now, many youth climate activists are demanding a say in U.S. federal climate policy.</p><p>"We need to be given not just the mic but decision-making abilities," said Isabella Fallahi. The 17-year-old is the founder of <a href="https://pollutersout.org/" target="_blank">Polluters Out</a>, a global youth-led coalition targeting the fossil fuel industry. "We ought to be able to dictate what our future is going to look like."</p><h3>A Formal Role?</h3><p>Offering young climate activists an official seat at Biden's White House table could help secure Democratic support for upcoming elections. Such a position would also bring a fresh and likely more left-leaning perspective to federal climate policy.</p><p>Marcela Mulholland warned that "it's easy to pay lip service" to representing youth in policy making "without actually following through." Mulholland is Deputy Director for Climate at progressive think tank Data for Progress. "I would love to see more formalized structures… that make sure the youth climate perspective is represented in the policymaking process," she said.</p><p>Already, many youth climate activists are pointing to <a href="https://youth.gov/sites/default/files/YES-Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">historical precedent</a> for including young people in the work of local, state, national, and even international agencies. They hope that the White House will follow suit. </p><p>The 18-year-old climate activist Sophia Kianni, for instance, said she wanted to see the Biden administration adopt a model similar to the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change</a>, of which she is a U.S. representative. The group, initially <a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2020/07/young-leaders-tapped-to-invigorate-uns-climate-action-plans-hold-leaders-to-account/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">formed</a> last July, comprises seven 18 to 28-year-old climate leaders from around the world. The Advisory Group counsels UN Secretary-General António Guterres on international action to tackle the climate crisis. </p><p>Kianni suggested that the White House replicate this structure. She proposed assembling a diverse team of U.S. climate activists to advise climate policy czars Gina McCarthy and John Kerry, along with other federal agencies. </p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY1MzUyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDQyNDY4Nn0.yUDEuRUoc57k6UP5iir0lCPpMESWTREIdMlawHwTy2c/img.jpg?width=980" id="4cfb4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e11d6d30ebbe4a5a40a08603c54563ad" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1024" data-height="564" />
Sophia Kianni (middle, rightmost) attending a Zoom meeting for the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (top middle box). UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
<p>Meanwhile, a coalition of youth-led groups including climate organizations Earth Guardians and Future Coalition has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/politics/young-leaders-memo-biden-administration/index.html" target="_blank">put forward</a> a proposal for the administration to <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q0fDLgnnXCLKLWjJvnQW_eOAbzatk7eR25GrU54F9xs/edit" target="_blank">establish an independent "Office of Young Americans"</a>. Such an office would be situated within the Executive Office of the President. They also seek the appointment of a "Director of Youth Engagement" to oversee the office and engage with top executive agencies.</p><p>Going forward, "it should just be standard operating procedure" for the White House to engage with youth climate activists, says Natalie Mebane. Associate director of U.S. policy at 350 Action, Mebane believes that young people should be considered full stakeholders in climate policy. She added that longer-standing climate organizations like 350.org could help facilitate connections between the two.</p><p>A White House spokesperson didn't respond directly to questions about whether youth climate activists will have a formal role in the White House. But they stated that the administration "feels that youth climate activists will play an important role in tackling the climate crisis" and intends to work with them to do so. </p><h3>Young Power</h3><p>If Biden doesn't deliver a bold enough climate agenda, youth climate activists will make their frustration known. </p><p>"What we're going to do is what we do best and that's disrupt," said Fallahi. "As you see our anger rising, you can expect that the next step is we're going to take action," she remarked.</p><p>Disruptive action seems more difficult, though, when in-person action remains limited amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The massive youth climate strikes that once <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/9/20/20875682/youth-climate-strike-september-20-nyc-united-states" target="_blank">galvanized</a> international attention and led to a flurry of climate emergency declarations have become impracticable. </p><p>At the same time, digital communication has offered internet and social media-savvy youth climate activists unique opportunities to amplify their demands. </p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY1MzU1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTgyODQyNX0.vQu7bs6yaN68UZ3RhdhQI-9qBq_MKk_TpUbG5R7KwHo/img.jpg?width=980" id="0fdf9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="14c64137b8640c435c82e4556ad6861c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="799" data-height="533" />
Young people celebrate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Washington D.C. on November 7, 2020. Photo: Elvert Barnes. Lic: CC BY-SA 2.0
<p>Invoking her experiences <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/polluters-out-youth-climate-activistsdivestment" target="_blank">targeting</a> fossil fuel companies with Polluters Out, Fallahi suggested that youth climate activists could create "cyber storms." Some strategies are calling the White House, bombarding federal aides with emails, and posting en masse on social media to drum up public pressure.</p><p>"Cyber storms" would likely be the least of Biden's problems if the White House fails to make youth climate activists like Fallahi feel heard. Such failure could also diminish support for Democratic majorities in Congress among a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/millennials-and-gen-z-will-soon-dominate-us-elections/616818/" target="_blank">key block of voters</a> ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, according to Mulholland of Data for Progress. </p><p>Failing to deliver could also jeopardize a potential 2024 presidential run by current Vice President Kamala Harris. Given that Biden is <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/11/biden-single-term-082129" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">expected</a> to serve only a single term in office, many see Harris as a natural successor. </p><p>"Young people are the future of this country," said Mulholland. "If you want to win elections, you should make sure that they feel their perspective is included," she continued.</p><p>The extent to which the Biden administration engages with the youth climate movement remains to be seen. What's certain is that young Americans will be keeping a close watch.</p><p>"We helped get Biden elected and this is not how our generation is going to be paid back—in scraps." Fallahi refuses action that's "more symbolic than effective." "And I have full faith that the youth will be able to get that message across. Not just to the Biden administration but to the rest of the country too," she added.</p>
<p><em><em>This story originally appeared in</em> <a href="https://climatetracker.org/" target="_blank">Climate Tracker,</a> <em>and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.</em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Founding science mom Melissa Burt and her four-year-old daughter Mia at Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, Colorado in December 2020. Science Moms
Air quality scientist Tracey Holloway wants her children, nine month old Henry and 11 year old Peter, to be able to look back at the 2020s as the time when the U.S. and the world turned a corner on tackling climate change.
<p>That's why she has joined forces with other climate scientists to launch <a href="https://sciencemoms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Science Moms</a>. It's a nonpartisan group working to educate mothers about <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a> and inspire and empower them to raise their collective voices to advocate for action.</p>
<p><a href="https://directory.engr.wisc.edu/cee/Faculty/Holloway_Tracey/#:~:text=Tracey%20Holloway%20is%20a%20Professor%20in%20the%20Nelson,links%20between%20regional%20air%20quality%2C%20energy%2C%20and%20climate." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Holloway</a>, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said she is optimistic that things can improve and that mothers are a good group to focus on because they care about their children's future.</p><p>"When it comes to climate, there are so many ways to reduce our carbon emissions," such as implementing more renewable technology, Holloway said. "The barrier is the public will to push decision-makers at every level to adopt the solutions that are sitting on the shelf and waiting to be deployed."</p><p>Science Moms, working in partnership with the <a href="https://potentialenergycoalition.org/" target="_blank">Potential Energy Coalition</a> of marketing industry firms, wants to break down that barrier. The group is involved in an approximately $10 million advertising campaign that includes <a href="https://sciencemoms.com/our-message/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">videos</a> produced by the coalition that are airing in various media markets for at least six months.</p>
<p>Part of the Science Moms awareness effort is clearing up myths about climate change, such as that that there is nothing we can do about it and that it's far off in the distant future.</p><p>"This is not a future thing, this is a now thing," said oceanographer and climate modeler <a href="https://www.geo.arizona.edu/Russell" target="_blank">Joellen Russell</a>, another founding science mom. Russell, professor at the University of Arizona, pointed to Tucson having its <a href="https://patch.com/arizona/tucson/tucson-officially-breaks-all-time-heat-record" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hottest summer</a> on record, which sometimes made it difficult for her children, aged 10 and 13, to enjoy playing outside. </p><p>"It's moms particularly who are worried about the environmental conditions for small people," Russell said. "We worry about this all the time. And, when you extend it to worrying about the conditions on our planet, it's not a big leap for us" to be concerned about climate change.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTYzNTEyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NzIyMjkwOH0.4Fn1Hf8gOup_Sn84O7bHKLNMXktlq12i1xEudn8juLM/img.jpg?width=980" id="c24c4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4f64ddef5850a8ca3c402a40dda74207" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="4032" data-height="3024" />
Melissa Burt is a climate modeler and the assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at Colorado State University. Science Moms
<p>"We want moms to bump [climate change] up their list of worries," she added. Russell said she knows that's a big ask in the middle of a pandemic but that there is a big opportunity for change. She said moms can help in many ways, including talking about climate change with their family and neighbors, taking personal measures like buying energy-efficient cars, and contacting elected officials.</p><p>It's important to reach out to other mothers because "moms trust moms," added climate modeler <a href="https://engr.source.colostate.edu/melissa-burt-selected-for-iaspire-leadership-academy-and-national-academies-committee/" target="_blank">Melissa Burt</a>, mother of a four-year-old daughter and professor at Colorado State University.</p><p>For Burt, a woman of color, being a founding science mom also is important for increasing the visibility of scientists of color and for reaching out to communities disproportionately affected by climate change. "If I can connect with other moms, and in particular Black moms, to say that they have a role in tackling the climate crisis, that's one of the reasons that I'm involved with Science Moms," Burt said.</p><p><em>Randy Showstack is a contributing reporter for EcoWatch. You can follow him on Twitter @RandyShowstack.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Students protest climate change as part of the global movement Fridays for Future on March 15, 2019 in Paris, France. Kiran Ridley / Getty Images
French environmental groups have won a landmark court case hailed as the "affair of the century."
<p>In a decision Wednesday, the administrative court of Paris ruled that the French state failed to adequately act on the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>.</p><p>"This is an historic win for climate justice," Jean-François Julliard, the executive director of plaintiff Greenpeace France, told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/03/court-convicts-french-state-for-failure-to-address-climate-crisis" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>. "The decision not only takes into consideration what scientists say and what people want from French public policies, but it should also inspire people all over the world to hold their governments accountable for climate change in their courts."</p><p>Greenpeace France was one of four plaintiffs, along with French Oxfam, Nicolas Hulot Foundation and Notre Affaire à Tous ("An affair that concerns all of us"), <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/world/europe/france-emissions-court.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. The case followed a <a href="https://laffairedusiecle.net/petition/" target="_blank">petition</a> that demanded the French government meet its climate goals. With more than 2.3 million signatures, it is the largest online petition in French history.</p><p>The groups initially filed a complaint with the French prime minister's office in December 2018, according to The Guardian. When they received an inadequate response, they filed a legal challenge in March 2019.</p>
<p>The groups claimed that the French government did not act quickly enough to reduce its emissions, dragging its feet on actions such as improving buildings' energy efficiency and developing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>.</p><p>French President Emmanuel Macron has advocated for climate action on the international stage, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210203-french-government-found-guilty-in-landmark-lawsuit-over-climate-inaction" target="_blank">France 24 reported</a>. For example, he pushed the EU to increase its greenhouse gas reduction targets from 40 percent to 55 percent by 2030.</p><p>But France has still not met its commitments under the 2015 Paris agreement and delayed most of its climate action plans until after 2020, the groups said. Case in point, France needs to lower its emissions by 1.5 percent until 2025 in order to meet its targets and by 3.2 percent after that, The Guardian reported. However, France lowered its emissions by just 0.9 percent between 2018 and 2019.</p><p>The French government, meanwhile, countered that it had taken action and that it could not be held responsible for the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>So far, the ruling has no serious financial consequences. The court awarded the four plaintiffs the equivalent of about $1 each for "moral prejudice." The court also gave the French government two months to take appropriate steps before ordering it to lower emissions or compensating for the effects of its inaction, The New York Times reported. The government can appeal the ruling, but it is not known whether it will.</p><p>The case comes as a growing number of climate activists have <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/environmental-activists-climate-change-2648937624.html" target="_self">taken to the courts</a> to try and force governments to act. In the Netherlands, for instance, the Supreme Court ordered the government to reduce emissions in 2019.</p><p>Notre Affaire à Tous Director Cécilia Rinaudo said the impact of Wednesday's ruling extended beyond France.</p><p>"It's a victory for all the people who are already facing the devastating impact of the climate crisis that our leaders fail to tackle. The time has come for justice," Rinaudo told The Guardian.</p>
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Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images
In many schools, the study of climate change is limited to the science. But at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, students in one class also learn how to take climate action.
<p>"You need to know how to communicate it to people. You need to know how to organize if we're going to get anything done," said Jessica Gutknecht in the Department of Soil, Water and Climate.</p>
<p>Each spring, she co-teaches a class called "<a target="_blank" href="https://onestop2.umn.edu/pcas/viewCatalogCourse.do?courseId=815340" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change</a>."</p><p>Gutknecht walks students through the science. Teddie Potter from the School of Nursing encourages them to look at climate change from a health perspective. And Julia Nerbonne of the nonprofit Interfaith Power and Light teaches them how to lead grassroots change.</p><p>"We also have them do these community action projects where they are out pounding the pavement trying to get things done," Gutknecht said.</p><p>In the past, that's included starting community gardens, convincing businesses to do energy audits, and engaging sororities and fraternities in climate action.</p><p>"Every student needs to know that they have voice and that they can be actors in this wicked problem of climate change," Gutknecht said. "And so every step of the way, whatever we're teaching them, we are empowering them. And we're teaching them that they have something valuable to bring to the table, whatever their passions are."</p>
Listen:
<iframe style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/17278520/height/45/theme/standard/thumbnail/yes/direction/backward/" height="45" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe><p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/college-course-teaches-students-how-to-be-climate-leaders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yale Climate Connections</a>.</em></p>
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Lakota spiritual leader Chief Arvol Looking Horse attends a demonstration against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2015. Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images
President-elect Joe Biden is planning to cancel the controversial Keystone XL pipeline on the first day of his administration, a document reported by CBC on Sunday suggests.
<p>The words "Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit" were reportedly listed on a briefing note shared by the Biden transition team with U.S. stakeholders as part of a roundup of Biden's planned day one executive actions. <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/america-votes/biden-to-prioritize-blocking-of-keystone-xl-pipeline-extension-1.5270600" target="_blank">CTV News</a> also reviewed the briefing documents, and a source familiar with Biden's thinking told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-keystone/biden-to-cancel-keystone-xl-pipeline-permit-on-first-day-in-office-cbc-idINKBN29N00A" target="_blank">Reuters</a> that the President-elect is planning to cancel the pipeline as one of his first acts.</p><p>"The Biden administration halting the Keystone XL pipeline is a momentous sign that he is listening, taking action and making good on his promises to people and the planet," Kendall Mackey, 350.org Keep It In the Ground campaign manager, <a href="https://350.org/press-release/biden-kxl-executiveorder/" target="_blank">said</a> in response to the news. "This decision to halt the Keystone XL pipeline on day one in office sets a precedent that all permitting decisions must pass a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate</a> test and respect <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous-rights" target="_self">Indigenous rights</a>."</p><p>Mackey expressed hope that Biden would also end the equally controversial <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/dakota-access-pipeline" target="_self">Dakota Access</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/enbridge-line-3" target="_self">Line 3</a> pipelines.</p><p>The Keystone XL pipeline was first announced in 2005, CBC News reported. The pipeline is being built to carry 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day, stretching about 1,200 miles from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska. From there it would connect with the original Keystone pipeline that carries oil to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.</p>
<p>The pipeline has long been opposed by environmental and Indigenous groups, who are concerned about its climate impacts and the potential for leaks to harm <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife" target="_self">wildlife</a> and pollute <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking-water" target="_self">drinking water</a>, CTV News reported. Protests prompted the Obama administration to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/breaking-president-obama-rejects-keystone-xl-pipeline-1882117930.html" target="_self">rescind the permit in 2015</a>, but President Donald Trump reversed this decision with an <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-dakota-access-pipeline-2211697835.html" target="_self">executive order</a> in early 2017.</p><p>Biden's decision to once again rescind the permit is not surprising. His advisers have said in the past that he would move to block it again, according to <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-keystone-xl-pipeline-permit_n_60051931c5b6efae62f9d263" target="_blank">HuffPost</a>. Biden's campaign has vocally opposed the pipeline since May, according to CTV News.</p><p>The news has sparked opposition in Canada.</p><p>"I am deeply concerned by reports that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden may repeal the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL border crossing next week," Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/jkenney/status/1350957580106006533/photo/1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a>. "Doing so would kill jobs on both sides of the border, weaken the critically important Canada-U.S. relationship and undermine U.S. national security by making the United States more dependent on OPEC oil imports in the future."</p>
<p>Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., said the country still stood behind the pipeline and that it fit within Canada's climate plans, CBC News reported.</p><p>"The Government of Canada continues to support the Keystone XL project and the benefits that it will bring to both Canada and the United States," Hillman said.</p><p>Meanwhile, in a bid to make the project more appealing to Biden, owner TC Energy announced a plan on Sunday to reach zero emissions by 2030, hire union workers, sign Indigenous equity partners and install a $1.7 billion solar, wind and battery-powered operating system for the pipeline.</p><p>However, Canadian environmental groups and parties were pleased with the news.</p>
<p>"This is what true climate leadership looks like," Annamie Paul, leader of the federal Green Party, told CTV News.</p><p>Keith Stewart, a senior energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada, urged Canadians to follow suit and move away from the pipeline, which he likened to "beating [a] dead horse," CBC News reported.</p><p>"The Biden administration offers us a fresh start on addressing the climate crisis with a willing partner, so let's not blow it by pushing pipelines," Stewart said.</p>
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Environmental activist Sage Lenier is seen teaching her class at UC Berkeley. Irene Yi
By Sage Lenier
Sage Lenier, an environmental activist and graduate from UC Berkeley, created a wildly popular course at her university dedicated to sustainable solutions and circular systems thinking against the broader backdrop of environmental justice. In Spring 2020, the course enrolled more than 300 students eager to learn how they can drive the shift toward a more ethical and sustainable society. The World Economic Forum sat down with Sage for a quick Q&A.
<p><em><br/></em></p>
<h3>What Drove You to Start Teaching Zero Waste?</h3><p>When I started at UC Berkeley, I was excited to be going to a school that had – I'm told – one of the best environmental curriculums in the nation. But I quickly realized that much of the education I was receiving had little real-life application; the material lacked the call-to-action that is really necessary for addressing the ecological crisis.</p><p>That's why I decided to create a course that was solutions-focused and action-based. I started out with the concept of zero waste, but I scaled it up from individual-level action to build a vision for an economy, design system and culture that operate on the premise that natural resources are valuable and limited. I also cover modern food systems, climate change and decarbonization, and green cities, always looking at a global picture of access, equity, and cultural and ecological diversity.</p><p>The approach I take helps students learn how all of these things come together for a vision of a sustainable future. I want them to be excited about the year 2100, rather than terrified.</p><h3>What Are the Biggest Misconceptions About Your Course?</h3><p>Sometimes my course gets misconstrued as a place where I teach students about what they can do to lessen their individual environmental impact. It's not really that at all. I do try to walk my students through the changes that they can make in their own lives, but the course is really about a societal revolution. It's focused on structural change, political advocacy, and community power.</p><p>Two-thirds of my students are not environmental majors, and I try to give everyone something that they can do with their lives and their careers. A business major, after taking the class, might tell me: "I want to spend my career in businesses that fit with the circular economy." Or a biochemistry major might say: "I could operate a green lab." I'm focused on big-picture solutions, all of us coming together to accomplish something through so many different avenues with our different skill sets, as well as how we can make our community a little bit better.</p>
<h3>When We Talk About Climate Change, Sustainability and Equity, Are We Really Talking About the Same Thing?</h3><p>Absolutely, and I think most people are shocked when they start taking my course to learn that I'm not really here to advocate on behalf of trees. Climate change is a social justice issue; it is already exacerbating existing inequalities and will continue to do so.</p><p>I'm first and foremost a human rights activist. I've been passionate about feminism and racial justice from a very young age and have always done my best to educate and engage those around me. I came to environmentalism a few years ago with the realization that there are no human rights on a dead planet - this one movement really has the potential to encapsulate every social issue we have.</p><h3>What Do You Think Needs to Happen to Enable Us to Move to a Circular Economy More Quickly?</h3><p>If we really want to move towards a circular economy, we have to do a lot of direct targeting of the big corporations who already have the infrastructure, financial power and influence in our society. In our activism work, we need to be demanding that these massive companies that actually run our society and have control over our economy and government are accountable to the people.</p>
<h3>College Students Were Heavily Impacted by COVID-19 This Year. What Was That Experience Like for You, as a Student, Instructor and Activist?</h3><p>I'll be honest, I lost a lot this year. I had to give up my dreams of expanding this course to other schools and communities for now, and all of my activism campaigns completely dissolved. After I graduated, I slept on the couch at my grandmother's house for two months. I was very lucky to receive a job offer in July for an environmental nonprofit and be financially stable for the second half of this year, but I've had to fight very hard to get my mental and physical health back from where they went when I thought I was losing everything I'd ever worked for. This year has been transformative in some good ways too, though; I needed to take a step back before I burned out, and I deactivated my social media for six months after a few super viral posts because I wanted to ask myself why I feel qualified to educate people and check my intentions. I'm young, and it's easy to develop an ego and forget what you're really working towards when you start getting media attention.</p><h3>What's Next for You?</h3><p>Right now I'm just feeling very grateful to be employed and still doing important work. <a href="https://tinyurl.com/Zero-Waste-Solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zero Waste USA</a> recently reached out to me about sponsoring my course on their online platform, so I'm very excited to be back to teaching in the new year, and the class is going to be open to everyone! I want to keep going with this curriculum and eventually turn it into a book because I think what I've created is really unique, and it's a lot of the information that the average person really needs. For now, I'm getting back into the swing of things with teaching online and making educational content for Instagram. My teaching assistants, Annie Mitchell and Victoria Bartoszewicz, are still teaching it at Berkeley and after the pandemic I still do want to take it to other colleges, high schools, communities – anywhere that wants it.</p><p>When that eventually comes around, I'll be applying for grants and trying to get the book published. The idea of trying to get funding and hoping I get it and hoping it keeps coming is really scary, but I'm also excited because this is the most important thing that I can do – to continue to educate people and create a better equipped and larger environmental movement. It's a huge risk, but this is all I've ever wanted.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/i-created-a-class-to-teach-zero-waste/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em></p>
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Greta Thunberg Warns Humanity 'Still Speeding in Wrong Direction' on Climate
11 December 2020
Climate
Youth activist Greta Thunberg speaks at the Climate Action Summit at the United Nations on September 23, 2019 in New York City. Stephanie Keith / Getty Images
By Andrea Germanos
Teen climate leader Greta Thunberg on Thursday reiterated her demand that humanity end its inaction on the planetary emergency as she warned—five years after the Paris agreement was signed—the world is "speeding in the wrong direction" in terms of emission reductions.
<p>With nothing less than a total "system change" needed, the 17-year-old Swede told viewers in a new video that she's "inviting you to be part of the solution."</p><p>Thunberg shared the 3-minute video on Twitter Thursday—two days before the Paris climate agreement's five-year <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/12/12/historic-climate-deal-reached-campaigners-say-work-just-beginning" target="_blank">anniversary</a>.</p>
<div id="55a74" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="00cadf04f5611b6d1e8acbdac77c10f5"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1337091285182803968" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My name is Greta Thunberg and I am inviting you to be a part of the solution. As #ParisAgreement turns 5, our lead… https://t.co/kBVPEYilco</div> — Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg)<a href="https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/statuses/1337091285182803968">1607622378.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>While "a lot has happened" since the accord was finalized December 12, 2015 to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue a goal of a 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature threshold, "the action needed is still nowhere in sight," said Thunberg.</p><p>In fact, she warned, "We are still speeding in the wrong direction."</p><p>Thunberg denounced global leaders' "hypothetical targets" for emissions reductions and "big speeches," because "when it comes to the immediate action we need, we are still in a state of complete denial."</p><p>She further stressed that the "climate and ecological crisis cannot be solved without system change. That's no longer an opinion. That's a fact."</p>
<p>"For too long," Thunberg continued, "we have been distancing ourselves from nature, mistreating the planet—our only home—living as if there was no tomorrow," and are now poised to blow past the 1.5 warming threshold "within 7 years, long before we will even have a chance to deliver on our 2030 or 2050 targets."</p><p>Despite that projection, Thunberg said that "there is hope because the people have not yet been made aware."</p><p>"We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis. Nor can we treat something like a crisis unless we understand the emergency. So let's make this our main priority. Let's unite and spread awareness," she said.</p><p>"Once we become aware, then we can act," Thunberg continued. "Then change will come."</p><p>"This is the solution," she said. "We are the hope. We, the people."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/12/10/must-watch-video-greta-thunberg-warns-humanity-still-speeding-wrong-direction" target="_blank">Common Dreams.</a></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Protesters shouting slogans on megaphones during the climate strike on September 25 in Lisbon, Portugal. Hugo Amaral / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images
By Dana Drugmand
An unprecedented climate lawsuit brought by six Portuguese youths is to be fast-tracked at Europe's highest court, it was announced today.
The European Court of Human Rights said the case, which accuses 33 European nations of violating the applicants' right to life by disregarding the climate emergency, would be granted priority status due to the "importance and urgency of the issues raised."
<p>This is the first climate lawsuit to be filed with the <a href="https://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home&c=" target="_blank">international court in Strasbourg, France</a>, and campaigners say the decision represents a major step towards a potential landmark judgment.</p>
‘Protect Our Future’
<p>Cláudia Agostinho (21), Catarina Mota (20), Martim Agostinho (17), Sofia Oliveira (15), André Oliveira (12) and Mariana Agostinho (8) are <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/09/03/youth-climate-lawsuit-portugal-33-european-countries" target="_blank">bringing the case</a> with nonprofit law firm Global Legal Action Network (<span style="background-color: initial;">GLAN</span>), arguing that none of the countries have sufficiently ambitious targets to cut their emissions.</p><p>Portugal recently sweltered through its <a href="https://www.ipma.pt/pt/media/noticias/news.detail.jsp?f=/pt/media/noticias/textos/resumo-clima-julho-20.html" target="_blank">hottest July in 90 years</a> and has seen a rise in devastating heatwaves and wildfires over recent years due to rising temperatures. Four of the applicants live in Leiria, one of the regions worst-hit by the forest fires that killed more than 120 people in 2017. </p><p>Responding to the development, André Oliveira, 12, said: "It gives me lots of hope to know that the judges in the European Court of Human Rights recognise the urgency of our case." </p><p>"But what I'd like the most would be for European governments to immediately do what the scientists say is necessary to protect our future. Until they do this, we will keep on fighting with more determination than ever."</p>‘Highly Significant'
<p>The decision represents a "highly significant" step, <a href="https://www.glanlaw.org/about-us" target="_blank">GLAN</a> Director Dr. Gearóid Ó Cuinn said in a <a href="https://youth4climatejustice.org/" target="_blank">press release</a>.</p><p>"This is an appropriate response from the Court given the scale and imminence of the threat these young people face from the climate emergency," he added. </p><p>By suing the 33 countries all together, the youths aim to compel these national governments to act more aggressively on climate through a single court order, which would potentially be more effective than pursuing separate lawsuits or lobbying policymakers in each country.</p><p>If successful, the defendant countries would be legally bound not only to ramp up emissions cuts, but also to tackle overseas contributions to climate change including those of their multinational enterprises.</p>‘Major Hurdle’
<p>The <a href="https://youth4climatejustice.org/the-case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">countries targeted</a> include all of the European Union member states as well as Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, none of which are currently aligned with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement">Paris agreement</a> target to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) and pursue a limit of 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F).<a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> </a></p><p><a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Climate Action Tracker rates</a> most of Europe as "insufficient" in terms of its emissions reduction policies based on the Paris target, while Ukraine, Turkey and Russia are assessed as "critically insufficient" – meaning they are on track for a warming of 4 degrees C or higher.</p><p>The European Union has pledged to slash its emissions by <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/eu-climate-action/2030_ctp_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">at least 55 percent by 2030</a>. But the Portuguese youth plaintiffs are calling for cuts of at least 65 percent by 2030, a level that <a href="http://www.caneurope.org/energy/climate-energy-targets" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">European climate campaigners say</a> is necessary to meet the 1.5 degrees warming limit.</p><p> The 33 countries must each respond to the youths' complaint by the end of February, before lawyers representing the plaintiffs will respond to the points of defense. </p><p>"Nothing less than a 65 percent reduction by 2030 will be enough for the EU member states to comply with their obligations to the youth-applicants and indeed countless others," Gerry Liston, legal officer with GLAN, said in a press release.</p><p>"These brave young people have cleared a major hurdle in their pursuit of a judgment which compels European governments to accelerate their climate mitigation efforts."</p><p><span></span><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/11/29/court-advances-landmark-youth-climate-lawsuit-against-33-european-nations" target="_blank">DeSmog</a>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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AOC Joins Jane Fonda for Fire Drill Friday on Importance of November Victory for Earth
23 October 2020
Politics
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins actor and activist Jane Fonda to discuss early voting, "real climate leadership," and the Green New Deal. Fire Drill Fridays
By Andrea Germanos
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday will be the latest "fireside" chat guest to join actor and activist Jane Fonda, whose Fire Drill Fridays campaign—which has resulted in the arrests of fellow notable actors—has boosted demands for urgent action to rein in the climate emergency.
<p>The team behind Friday Drill Fridays sent an email to supporters on Thursday promoting the conversation, describing the New York Democrat as "clearly prepared to fight for and stand with working people no matter what" and saying she'd provide "insightful perspective" during the chat.</p><p>Fonda and Ocasio-Cortez's <a href="https://greenpeace.zoom.us/webinar/register/3016028606071/WN_OYvyfV5fQnSH4iSJFLFr8Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">talk</a> is slated to cover a range of topics including early voting, "real climate leadership," and the Green New Deal—the resolution Ocasio-Cortez <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/02/07/major-party-backing-ocasio-cortez-and-markey-unveil-green-new-deal-outlining-wwii" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">introduced</a> last year with Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).</p><p>"This is one of our most important calls in the lead-up to Election Day, and we want to come out on the other side of November 3 celebrating—and with no regrets," the email, signed by Fonda and the Fire Drill Fridays team at Greenpeace, said. "We know this election is absolutely critical for the political fight ahead for a Green New Deal and just recovery from Covid-19, and we're ready to fight for this win."</p>
<div id="7bafb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1669c4d28a3e920d9e21791ea6f8a469"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318584259825848321" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">🔥FRIDAY🔥 @JaneFonda, @GreenpeaceUSA, and @FireDrillFriday are thrilled to be joined by Rep. @AOC for a critical con… https://t.co/omILPXRe9W</div> — Fire Drill Fridays (@Fire Drill Fridays)<a href="https://twitter.com/FireDrillFriday/statuses/1318584259825848321">1603209960.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The conversation is scheduled to take place Friday, October 23 at 2 pm ET.</p><p>Eighty-two year old Fonda, a longtime environmentalist and veteran activist, kicked off Fire Drill Fridays in October last year with a focus on three demands: a Green New Deal, an end to fossil fuels, and a just transition to a renewable energy-based economy.</p><p>The weekly campaign featured Thursday night teach-ins—each with a different climate focus and speaker or speakers—ahead of Friday rallies and protests on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.—a place organizers <a href="https://firedrillfridays.com/about/%20" target="_blank">framed</a> as "the epicenter of the fight for our climate." The acts of civil disobedience resulted in multiple arrests, including of Fonda herself and her "Frankie and Grace" co-star Lily Tomlin.</p><p>Now forced to a largely digital format in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Fire Drill Fridays has kept up the momentum, with recent fireside Fire Drill guests including Juan Parras, founder and director of<a href="https://www.tejasbarrios.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> TEJAS</a>, and youth climate leader Jamie Margolin, also founder and co-executive director of <a href="http://thisiszerohour.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zero Hour</a>.</p><p>Fonda is also out with a new memoir, <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a33915820/jane-fonda-what-can-i-do-excerpt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>What Can I Do?: My Path from Climate Despair to Action</em></a>.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/10/22/aoc-join-jane-fonda-fire-drill-friday-focused-planetary-imperative-november-victory" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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