Howdy!
The two week holiday break went by way too fast! Hope you had time to rest. Things are already starting to pick up in the new year.
January 7, GGJ Venezuela Briefing with VZ & International Social Movements
4 pm, online
Hosted by Grassroots Global Justice Alliance. Please join this urgent political briefing on the context, implications and calls to action in response to the US illegal occupation of Venezuela and military kidnapping of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Hear from leaders from some of the largest social movements from Venezuela, the Caribbean and across the Americas alongside our own grassroots leaders here inside the US as we coordinate our collective response in defense of democracy, national sovereignty and self determination. Register here.
January 8, AI Data Centers: Local Perspectives and Community Impacts
6-8 pm, online
Hear from community leaders about the effects of data centers on their communities and how local residents are fighting to be involved in critical decisions about their community’s future.
Panelists include:
Khalil Shahyd, Natural Resources Defense Council
Sharon Lewis, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
Dr. Rania Masri, North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
KeShaun Pearson, Memphis Community Against Pollution
Register here.
January 8, Climate Cafe
6:30-8 pm, 910 Broad Street, Durham
Hosted every month on the second Thursday. A climate cafe is a 90-minute facilitated conversation in which participants share feelings and reflections about the climate crisis. As people listen, connect, and notice commonalities and differences, they feel less alone. Climate cafes do not focus on action or strategy, though people often feel more able to act after processing their emotions and connecting with others. We recognize that the climate crisis is not impacting all equally and welcome all to attend free of charge. Facilitators Miriam Brodersen, LCSW, and Allison Zirkel, LCSW. Contact Miriam for more info at [email protected]. Register here.
January 13, Advocating With Compassion
7-8:15 pm, online
Join Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle for a webinar that equips people of faith with the tools, confidence, and spiritual grounding needed to connect with elected representatives on caring for creation and advocating for a fair and affordable energy system. Rev. Susannah Tuttle, Director of the NCCC Eco-Justice Connection, will offer the training. More info and register here.
January 26, Policy Workshop: Understanding & Moving Beyond “Dillon’s Rule” in the NC General Assembly
6:30 pm, online
Did you know that NC is a “Dillon’s Rule” state? Join 7 Directions of Service for a policy workshop on the implications of Dillon’s Rule, which limits local governments to act only in ways that the NC General Assembly has specifically authorized. Let’s envision a North Carolina beyond the restrictions imposed by Dillon’s Rule! Register here.
January 29, Greenpeace USA Panel on Report – Bad Neighbor: Energy Transfer’s Pattern of Pollution and Violations
8-9 pm, online
Greenpeace USA has released a damning new report that exposes a years-long pattern of environmental destruction, safety violations, and corporate impunity by oil and gas polluter Energy Transfer (ET). Learn from the co-authors, activists, and impacted individuals about the details in this report. Register here.
Save-the-dates!
Early voting for NC March 3rd primary is Feb 12-Feb 28. More info, including sample ballots, registration, and photo ID now required here.
February 11-14, March from Wilson to Raleigh — This is Our Selma
February 14, Mass Moral March on Raleigh, It’s Time to Love Forward
Check the Repairers of the Breach link for updates here.
February 28, Communities Over Corporate Profits: How We Win!
Probably in Durham. More details next month!
Updates on MVP Southgate and SSEP
North Carolinians want cleaner energy, not dirty, dangerous pipelines by Dr. Crystal Cavalier and Jeff Robbins here.
FERC Approves MVP Southgate Amendment press release here.
“FERC got it wrong, and Southgate will harm Virginia and North Carolina waterways and communities.“ ~ Jessica Sims
“NCDEQ’s decision to grant SSEP’s air and water permits ignores widespread public opposition and concern for health and safety. We’ll keep raising our voices against SSEP, and the dangerous policies that put corporate profit over community wellbeing.” ~ Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck
.
“Granting of these permits shows a refusal to believe the science that shows the continued burning of fossil fuels is the primary reason for stronger, more frequent, rain, floods and other impacts associated with the increase in global warming. Science should not be denied for corporate gain or political hoaxes.” ~ Buck Purgason
ACTIONS
Defend the Ocean From Offshore Drilling here.
No more delays – time to force power plants to finally clean up their toxic waste here.
ARTICLES and VIDEOS
Check out NC WARN’s movie The True Cost Of Power: Duke Energy’s Climate Deception here.
Duke Energy’s Punishing Rate Hike Spiral by Theo Nollert here.
Oil Change International (OCI) response to U.S. military strikes in Venezuela: a fossil-fueled act of war here. OCI Climate Movement Messaging Guide: Venezuela + Oil here.
NC Environmental Justice Network designed this new flyer Hidden Costs of Data Centers
In North Carolina here.
North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit: State and Local Policy Interventions to Stop Rampant AI Data Center Expansion here.
Data center moratorium approved by Cal Bryant here.
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very by Robin Buller here.
Scientists Say the Forever Chemical TFA Could Cause Irreversible Harm. In Eastern North Carolina, It’s Everywhere. By Lisa Sorg here.
Thanks for reading and for taking action!
Peace and love for our beautiful Earth, Karen