THE “BLACK FRIDAY” CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT IS DEVASTATING
While Trump mocked climate change on Twitter last week, his regime tried to hide an ominous new government climate study by releasing it on the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday.
The report says:
- The climate is changing faster now than at any time in human history.
- Much of our built environment is not suited for the chaos ahead.
- Yields of major food crops — including corn, wheat and soybeans – will plunge.
- If unchecked, the cost to the economy will be hundreds of billions a year and thousands of Americans will die from new climate impacts.
Responding to the threat, a few House Democrats are pushing for a “green new deal.” It would pair reductions in fossil fuel use with labor programs supporting the clean power industry. Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer is one of a dozen lawmakers calling for a special committee to study it and propose legislation.
We need to act fast, but as the UN observed last week . . .
The “window of opportunity is almost closed.”
Trump’s response was nominating former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to head the EPA. Block Wheeler’s appointment and build support for a Green New Deal.
ACT NOW!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because the new climate report means we have just a few years to address climate change. We must immediately address this global threat. I urge you to do all you can to stop the appointment of Andrew Wheeler as the EPA administrator. Please also look at the proposal for a House select committee on a new green deal. This problem is so interwoven into our lives that a select committee would have the broadest view, see the tradeoffs and hold hearings to build popular support. Please do everything you can to address this crisis. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
“My name is [-]. I am a constituent and I live in [town/city], ZIP code [number]. I am calling to ask Greg Walden to put the planet before party and join with Representative Blumenauer in supporting a call for a select committee on a green new deal. The purpose of such a new deal is to cut fossil fuel use while supporting disadvantaged communities. As you saw in the election, this is the theory behind an initiative in Portland, passed in the midterm but on a much smaller scale. The government’s climate change status report published last week may be our last-chance wake-up call! It’s time for Mr. Walden to step up and do all he can to stall or mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: READ “INDIVISIBLE ON OFFENSE”**
The Democratic majority in the House can now determine which bills get votes. Read Indivisible’s new strategy for how progressives can exercise their power to go on legislative offense in 2019 and 2020 utilizing “messaging” bills and “must-pass” bills. Then get ready to make sure the newly-elected House uses its power wisely.
HELP US KEEP THE RESISTANCE GOING!
SOURCES:
- Complete Report of the Fourth National Climate Assessment and Chapter 24 Northwest
- The Atlantic, November 23, 2018: A Grave Climate Warning, Buried on Black Friday
- Alexandria Ocasio Cortez website: “Select Committee for a Green New Deal”
- Fortune, Nov. 16, 2018: Trump Plans to Nominate a Former Coal Lobbyist as His EPA Director. Who is Andrew Wheeler?