Artists for the Climate: A Night with Wendell Berry, McKibben and Speth
We are honored to host Wendell Berry, one of the giants in environmental literature
Amid snowstorm, thousands call on Congress to keep winter cold!
A little snow won’t stop us. Of course the Capitol Climate Action will go on as planned! We expect 2,500 dedicated activists to stand tall at the Capitol Power Plant and demonstrate that the course of history bends toward progress.
You can follow the day as it unfolds at http://www.capitolclimateaction.org/
Join the twitter feed #art4clim
People talking about Artists for the Climate on Twitter
Coal Action Heats Up
It’s no secret that Virginia’s General Assembly is overly influenced by coal interests. Northern Virginia’s Dick Saslaw has accepted $85,000 contributions from Dominion Power and their investment has paid off. Over the years he has blocked any action to regulate the coal industry, and this year he even stepped up to block an efficiency bill that could have saved Virginians approximately $15 billion on electricity bills by 2025. These efforts have earned him the title, “the poster boy for the Commonwealth’s culture of coal-fired corruption” by Huffington Post. But he’s small beans compared to the federal legislators who are backed by coal.
This video by American News Project connects Monday’s Capitol Climate Acton and Power Shift to the embedded coal interests in congress. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has taken over a half a million from the coal industry, and has blocked efforts by some congress people, including Virginia’s Jim Moran to convert the coal plant that powers Capitol Hill to natural gas.
“For every member of congress, there are four lobbyists who are working on climate change, many who are opposed to sharp carbon reductions.”
Family Income and Climate Security: We Can Have Both
From the Huffington Post
Which one can crash faster: the American economy or the planet’s fragile atmosphere? It almost seems like a cruel race these days. Thankfully, one Congressional response could help solve global warming while putting serious dollars in the pockets of hurting Americans. And by dollars I don’t mean distant energy-efficiency savings or the vague promise of avoided oil wars. I’m talking about actual monthly wire transfers right now to real American families while the climate heals.
Washington is awash in creativity these days when it comes to the long-ignored problem of global warming. Legislative proposals include everything from a “cap and trade” approach to a carbon tax to a regime to “cap and invest” in green energy.
But only one idea, in my view, meets the critical requirements of fairness, rapid climate results, and guaranteed voter appeal. That idea is the so-called “cap and dividend” concept. Already, the idea of giving carbon dividends to U.S. citizens is supported by a wide spectrum of leaders, including Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), New York mayor Michael Bloomberg (independent), and former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich.
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Join the Text Loop for March 2!
We’re only three days away from the largest mass civil disobedience for the climate in U.S. history!
More than 2,500 people are planning to meet at Spirit of Justice Park, C St. and Capitol St SE in Washington, DC at 1pm and march to the Capitol Power Plant.
On Monday, when you’re at the action, the best way to get information about what’s going on is by texting “follow capitolclimate” (no quotations) to 40404 and getting updates via text message on your mobile phone.
During the action, we’ll have people devoted to making sure you get the most up-to-the-minute information about what’s happening, where, and when.
It is really easy, just text “follow capitolclimate” (no quotations) to 40404.
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Power Shift starts!
The first person I saw when I walked into the Convention Center today was Tom Owens, CCAN’s former Virginia Student Organizer. Last year he was running around UMD wearing a headband with antennas, trying to get students to sign a petition against the Wise County Coal plant. This year, with another new coal plant being planned in Surry, VA, it seems like history repeating itself. Except this time, we’re in the Convention Center, and we’re not a few thousand, we’re over 10,000. And, we’re not fighting a backward administration, we have Obama, who just a few days ago called for a cap on carbon emissions.
The huge formal rooms that house the Auto Show and corporate big wigs are now hosting the largest gathering of students in the history of the climate movement. All these students share a passion for the environment Continue reading
The awesome power of the word "clean"
The Reality campaign launched a new ad campaign directed by the Coen brothers. It’s great. Watch it!
Less than 100 tickets left for Sunday's event!
We’re nearly sold out for the Wendell Berry event on Sunday, so if you want tickets, buy them now.
Over 1400 people will be attending this event, which makes it the largest event of its kind that CCAN has ever organized. We’re thankful that we’ve been able to draw the lineup of musicians and authors that will be coming to the event, but what I’m looking forward to is the amount of CCAN volunteers, activists and allies that will be there to share in the energy and excitement of this weekend.
This is surely a historic weekend
BREAKING: Pelosi/Reid call to switch Capitol Power Plant off of coal!
From It’s Getting Hot in HereBreaking news – and the organizing hub for the Capitol Climate Action is lit up right now!Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just made an announcement moments ago – calling to switch the Capitol Power Plant entirely off of coal! Just 4 days before thousands of people are mobilizing at the facility for the largest act of civil disobedience in US history for the climate – this statement shows the power of grassroots action!
The Capitol Power Plant has been controversial for years – as an antiquated, inefficient facility that is the largest source of the pollution in Washington DC. While efforts to clean up the plant and switch off its usage of coal have been attempted for years (including by Pelosi and the Greening the Capitol Initiative), powerful coal state interests (namely Senators Mitch McConnell and Robert Byrd) have blocked attempts to end it’s usage of coal. This plant symbolizes the stranglehold coal has over our climate, our environment, our communities, and our political process.In the past 2 weeks, the Capitol Climate Action Coalition (made up of over 100 organizations from across the country) sent letters to Congress, informing them of our intent for peaceful action March 2nd at the Capitol Power Plant that is reflecting the urgency and seriousness of the climate crisis. And as the media buzz and public interest grows for this historic mobilization – we are flexing out political muscles, showing that people are demanding real change in our climate and energy policies.As Pelosi and Reid accurately noted:
Taking this major step toward cleaning up the Capitol Power Plant’s emissions would be an important demonstration of Congress’ willingness to deal with the enormous challenges of global warming, energy independence and our inefficient use of finite fossil fuels. We strongly encourage you to move forward aggressively with us on a comprehensive set of policies for the entire Capitol complex and the entire Legislative Branch to quickly reduce emissions and petroleum consumption through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean alternative fuels.
This statement today by Pelosi and Reid shows the power of grassroots movements to spur our leaders into action. As Congressional leaders are recognizing that better solutions exist for their own backyard – we must keep the pressure up to ensure that coal is phased out across the country, and replaced with clean, renewable, just solutions that solve the climate crisis, and support our communities.Thousands of you are already planning to join us March 2nd in DC – to make sure that our message is not simply about cleaning up one facility – but about climate justice for all. We still have non-violence trainings all weekend, and for people choosing to peacefully engage in civil disobedience or participate in the support rally -you can still join us in keeping this momentum up! Continue reading
