NOVA Loved Mountains Today!

Northern Virginians stood with Appalachians and activists across the commonwealth today by visiting Senator Warner and Webb’s district offices and calling for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining. Representing a wide array of interests and constituencies, they all came with one message: oppose any efforts to block the EPA’s ability to protect our waterways from mountaintop removal mining and pollution from burning fossil fuels.

The lead pastor of Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke spoke about the moral obligation to protect the earth from damage due to climate change and the entire life cycle of coal. He made the point that climate and the environment is a rare issue that so many faiths can come together on

Congress wants to pass the Dirty Air Act?

Ok, here’s a shocking statement (insert sarcastic tone):

As reported by The Hill on September 14th: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Institute, National Mining Association and National Association of Manufacturers want to block the EPA from regulating pollution that causes climate change!

Is that news to you? Of course the country’s biggest polluters want to stop action that would curb pollution Continue reading

What happens when a priest, a rabbi, and an imam ask their senators to get serious?

Over one hundred Virginia clergy have united to send a message to Senators Webb and Warner that climate change is moral issue and their action is required. They delivered their letters to the senators’ offices and got some great press hits. See below for Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light’s release on the letter’s delivery:

RICHMOND, Va. — As the US Senate prepares to take up climate and energy legislation, over 100 religious

leaders from across Virginia delivered letters to Senators Webb and Warner today, making a moral case for comprehensive

climate legislation that includes strong emission reductions, international adaptation assistance, and protections for low-income families.

The letters were delivered in person to senate staff during meetings in Richmond today by a representative group of signers. Numerous others are calling the Senators’ DC offices to deliver their message. Transcending the intense lobbying from special interest groups, the faith community is calling on lawmakers to honor the values of caring both for our neighbors and for God’s creation.

Continue reading

Reason #12: China is winning the global clean energy race

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever, but there is also an unprecedented opportunity to build a new future.

We need an “Earth Day Revolution” to bring about historic advances in climate policy, renewable energy, green jobs, and to catalyze millions who can make personal commitments to sustainability by mobilizing the power of people to create change. We need the Senate to stop stalling and start acting on clean energy and climate solutions for America.

That’s why we’ve joined others in presenting Congress with 40 reasons to take action. Every day until Earth Day activists will deliver another reason to offices of Congressional leaders.

CCAN’s very own Chelsea Harnish joined others to deliver reason #12 to Senator Webb and Warner’s Richmond offices. Her message? China is winning the global clean energy race. Her method of communicating her message? An actual race.

LTE: Make it CLEAR

Chris Llewellyn is an amazing climate activist from Williamsburg. She was our CCANer of the Month back in June of 2007, which prompted me to go back and find that archived newsletter. Just a quick side note: It’s pretty amazing how far CCAN’s e-newsletters have come.

More importantly, I wanted to share her letter to the editor of the Daily Press about the Cap-and-Dividend solution, which was published earlier this week. Check it out below:

Make it CLEAR

BY Chris Llewellyn
Daily Press
March 8, 2010

Despite what our state attorney general says, the science is clear

Knock, Knock Senator Webb: Stand up for the Clean Air Act!

Today a group of Virginia climate change activists stopped by Senator Webb’s Falls Church district office to urge him to stand up for the Clean Air Act. Armed with hand-made signs and “Stop CO2” stickers, they talked to his staff about the importance of opposing the Murkowski Amendment. The amendment would block the Clean Air Act’s ability to limit global warming pollution by stripping the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite already hearing from many of his constituents, Senator Webb is still considering supporting this crippling amendment. We delivered almost 100 more comments from clean air supporters today, and we have to keep the pressure on. Don’t wait to add your voice by calling his office today to tell him to stand up to big polluters and protect the Clean Air Act!

Webb's Crucial Role

The enormous cap-and-trade bill is stalled in Congress but global warming and extreme weather continue to accelerate.

Luckily, there is an alternative that’s preferable to the loophole-laden, cap-and-trade legislation that passed the House of Representatives. And Virginia Senator Jim Webb could play a crucial role in passing this cap and “dividend” bill in the spring.

He needs to hear from you today!

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) recently introduced the “Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act,” which takes a different approach to reducing global warming pollution. Under the CLEAR Act, all carbon polluters must pay to emit carbon, there are no complicating offsets, and most of the revenue raised is returned in equal monthly payments to every legal U.S. resident.

The Economist called it “a refreshing dose of honesty” and the Washington Post editorial board agrees. To learn more, watch a short video where I explain this bold and refreshing new perspective on how to cap carbon emissions in the United States.

Senator Jim Webb has been sharply critical of the House-passed bill and has indicated interest in this different approach. So far, though, he has not signed on to the CLEAR Act. It’s time for some clear answers from Senator Webb!

Email Senator Webb today!

The Cantwell-Collins bill is our best shot at comprehensive climate legislation and Webb’s co-sponsorship would help immensely.

A Climate Bill Senator Webb CAN believe in!

http://bigjimindustries.com/wordpress/wp-content/rotary-cell-phone.jpgCall Senator Webb TODAY!http://bigjimindustries.com/wordpress/wp-content/rotary-cell-phone.jpg

A couple weeks ago Senator Jim Webb introduced a bill that would subsidize the nuclear industry and could divert money away from much needed solutions to the climate crisis. We flooded his office with hundreds of emails asking him what his plan was to solve global warming. Senator Webb has raised real concerns about cap and trade — handing money over to polluters for free, complicated offsets, and Wall Street gaming among them. Just last week, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a bill that represents a new approach to capping carbon that avoids these pitfalls. Over the past year, in meetings with CCAN members, Sen. Webb has indicated interest in this new approach.The Cantwell-Collins “Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal” (CLEAR) Act is simple, fair and built to last. With this bill all polluters pay and there are no complicating offsets. Instead of most permits given away for free and subsidies for corporations, every American would get a check each month through a monthly carbon “dividend.” Learn more>>Call Senator Webb and ask him to co-sponsor this new approach to reducing global warming pollutionSen. Webb: (202)-224-4024Call Script>>Under the Cantwell-Collins bill, the federal government would auction off carbon shares to the nation’s 2,000 or so fuel producers such as coal and oil companies. Every two years, the shares would expire and, over the years, the U.S. government would offer fewer and fewer shares for sale as a way to reduce carbon consumption. Seventy-five percent of the money raised would be rebated directly to U.S. citizens. Cantwell’s office estimated that an average family of four would receive a total of about $1,100 a year in the form of tax-free monthly checks.The other 25 percent of the money raised would be used exclusively for clean-energy research and development, energy efficiency programs and for assistance to communities and workers transitioning to a clean energy economy.Call Senator Webb now and ask him to co-sponsor the CLEAR ActSen. Webb: (202)-224-4024Call Script>>Thanks for all you do, and happy holidays!

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/images/rotary-phone.jpgCALL SCRIPT http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/images/rotary-phone.jpg

Hello. My name is ____ and I live in ______.

I’m calling to let Senator Webb know about the Cantwell-Collins CLEAR Act, which was introduced last Friday.

The bill is a simple, fair and enduring way for the United States to address global warming.

Given the Senator’s desire to address climate change, and his concerns about the complexities of a cap-and-trade system, I strongly urge him co-sponsor this important bill.

Report your Call

After you’ve made your call, please email Lauren Glickman at lauren@chesapeakeclimate.org so we can keep track of how many calls are placed and to let us know how the call went!

Trick or Treat!

IMG00124Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. For one day of the year, you get to be someone (or something) else. Today, a few of us dressed up as green jobs workers and delivered a message to our Virginia Senators: We want clean energy jobs NOW! Wearing green hard hats, work boots and tool belts, we delivered our messages in style- by presenting the staff of Senator Webb and Senator Warner with a Frankenstein halloween bucket filled with candy and petitions from folks all across the Commonwealth who want Congress to pass a strong climate bill this year. We think they got the message!
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