Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/11

Download this GIF here.

Hi, all, and happy Friday.

I want to send a special word of love and concern to my readers in Hawaii, and Maui specifically. I’m gutted and concerned for you, but on top of thoughts and prayers I wish to make you a pledge: I promise to keep fighting for you and for all of us. The climate crisis is here. It’s frightening, angering, and deeply anxiety-producing. It’s also, as we’re seeing once again, deadly.

We can’t undo the damage already done, but we can certainly mitigate the damage to come, and we must. Please know that I will continue to offer—and take—climate-related actions as often as possible. I will also continue to work diligently to elect climate warriors up and down the ballot.

If we all do this, we can make a difference. And we will.

It’s no longer enough, after all, when faced with another climate-related catastrophe, to say “what a shame,” and move on. We are all, now, called to the battle. We must all ask ourselves “what more can I do?” (Not sure? Start here.) Then we must do it. We simply have no choice.

One last thing: let’s all remember that where climate is concerned it is beyond critical that we re-elect Biden, hold the Senate, re-take the House, and dislodge Republicans from office everywhere next year. I say that with inexpressible gravity. The GOP “climate” plan for 2025, recently released, is a jaw-dropping reversal of even the most modest progress we’ve made, coupled with a wide expansion of oil and gas drilling. It’s a suicide note wrapped in policy rhetoric and it absolutely cannot happen.

So let’s bolster ourselves for the battle ahead. Many have fought for great causes; we fight for the greatest one yet: to save the world. Literally.

Together we are up to the task.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling because I know that Republicans in the House are trying to defund President Biden’s climate programs in the NDAA, in appropriations, and in the Farm Bill. I am livid about this—I’m assuming we’re all watching the same news, right? Maui is the latest but won’t be the last climate catastrophe—there will be countless more until we get aggressive about addressing this emergency. Americans want more funding for addressing the climate crisis, not less. We want President Biden’s clean energy and climate programs expanded, not gutted, and I want to see the Senator fighting vocally and tirelessly to make addressing climate change a top priority. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I’m calling because I know that Republicans in the House are trying to defund President Biden’s climate programs in the NDAA, in appropriations, and in the Farm Bill. I am livid about this—I’m assuming we’re all watching the same news, right? Maui is the latest but won’t be the last climate catastrophe—there will be countless more until we get aggressive about addressing this emergency. Americans want more funding for addressing the climate crisis, not less. We want President Biden’s clean energy and climate programs expanded, not gutted, and I want to see the Congressmember fighting vocally and tirelessly to make addressing climate change a top priority. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Banks like Citi continue to pour money into the fossil fuel industry and have a huge part in fueling this crisis. Citi is responsible for more than $330 billion in funding to fossil fuel companies in the last seven years. 

Let’s call John Dugan, Board Chair of Citibank, to demand Citi stop financing fossil fuels! 202-662-6000

Script:

Hi, my name is ____ and I’m calling from _____. I have a message for John Dugan. As Board Chairman of Citibank, he has a responsibility to halt Citi’s investments in the climate crisis. Citi must stop financing fossil fuels—especially fossil fuel expansion—and help turn the tide to a more just and livable future. [Insert personal feelings about the climate crisis here]. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

Indivisible South Bay LA Welcomes Ruben Gallego in Conversation with Ted Lieu

Wednesday, August 16 from 7:30 – 9pm PDT

Join Indivisible South Bay LA for a lively conversation between the five-term progressive congressman seeking the Democratic Senate nomination to replace Kyrsten Sinema and Congressman Ted Lieu, CA-36.

Congressman Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran, a son of Hispanic immigrants, and the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard University. His legislative focus has been national security, armed services, and environmental and indigenous peoples’ issues.

Congressman Lieu is serving in his fifth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee; Foreign Affairs Committee; and Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Register here!

Chop Wood, Save the Planet! 🔥

Each year, children travel more than 4 billion miles on diesel buses that harm their health and the climate. But many vehicles in the nation’s fleet of nearly 500,000 buses will be converted to run on batteries and alternative fuels, thanks to $5 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law. 

But the clock is ticking: School districts must apply for this money before the grant deadline on Aug. 22. How can you act? Many mayors and other officials don’t know the opportunity exists, says Climate Changemakers, a group dedicated to bringing people together for a weekly “Hour of Action.” It put together a packet for anyone who wants to prompt their school district and city to get on board. Please use it, or share with those who might! [H/T Climate Coach]

Win Races! 🗳

Big news! There is a Special Election in New Hampshire on September 19th for a State House seat. If the Democratic candidate, Hal Rafter, wins, it’ll bring the NH State House to a tied number, and end MAGA majority and extremism in the NH State House.  So a REALLY important one.

Hal Rafter will be on a Zoom with NYC groups this morning at 11am ET if anyone wants to get on! Zoom link here. Meeting ID: 817 1117 9878 Passcode: 805230  

The Granite State Giving Circle is raising to support Hal’s election right now, and the match is still going through Monday for any contribution up to $1,000 per individual!!!! Please give if you can!

Also, Swing Blue Alliance is hosting phone banks for Hal every Tuesday evening from 5pm-7pm ET. To register go here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[to your Senators] [H/T Just Majority] [Quick send text SIGN PPJUWF to 50409 ]

ProPublica is out with new reporting revealing that Justice Clarence Thomas, once again, took lavish gifts from billionaires and failed to disclose them. So I’m writing to say, once again, how utterly distressed and disgusted I am by the lack of a code of ethics for our Supreme Court justices.

It is no wonder that Americans have lost faith in a Court that allows billionaire mega donors to buy access, then turns around and gives more rights to the rich and the powerful at the expense of everyone else. We need comprehensive reforms to the Supreme Court to root out the culture of corruption and change the composition of the Court to make sure we all, not just the rich and the powerful, get a fair hearing. Fix this court now, or its legitimacy will be a thing of the past. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess