Too much heartbreak in the world as we begin a new decade, but people power is rising up. There are many ways to be involved and act that you will find below!
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Feb. 24 related to a key permit for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Impacted land owners and others will be attending. There will be a press conference before. Hopefully more details next month.
Some good news last week when the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Buckingham compressor station air permit in VA!
Last week at the last Fire Drill Fridays teach-in and rally in DC Bill McKibben and Eriel Derangerannounced the new Stop the Money Pipeline campaign, launched by a coalition of groups in the U.S. targeting the financial sector’s funding of the climate chaos. Bill and Rev. Yearwood wrote this article about the campaign.
January 16, NC Poor People’s Campaign, We Cried Power
6-7:30 pm, Raise Up NC Office, 205 S. Gregson St, Durham
Join the NC Poor People’s Campaign to watch a 45 minute preview and discuss the brand new documentary, We Cried Power, about the Poor People’s Campaign’s 40 Days of Moral Action in Summer 2018. We’ll also catch up on our canvassing plans for this year, get started on organizing for the Mass March and People’s Assembly in Washington DC on June 20, 2020, and enjoy snacks and being together. Contact for more info.
Duke Energy Carolinas Rate Hike Hearings
Duke Energy has filed a petition to raise our rates, again! There are several hearings across the state on the rate case this month. There will also be Duke Energy Progress hearings next month! We need to bring our power to the Utilities Commission and tell Duke: No rate-hikes for dirty energy! These rate hearings are our best opportunity to fight back against Duke Energy and voice our support for clean energy and affordable rates directly to the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Those speaking should plan on arriving 30 minutes early to sign up. More information here.
1/15/2020 7:00pm Macon County Courthouse, 5 West Main Street, Franklin
1/16/2020 7:00pm Burke County Courthouse, 201 South Green Street, Morganton
1/29/2020 7:00pm Alamance County Historic Courthouse, 1 SE Court Square, Graham (there will be a press conference before)
1/30/2020 7:00pm Mecklenburg C. Courthouse, 832 East 4th St. Courtroom 5350, Charlotte
3/23/2020 2:00pm Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 N Salisbury Street, Raleigh (Evidentiary hearing)
1/16/2020 7:00pm Burke County Courthouse, 201 South Green Street, Morganton
1/29/2020 7:00pm Alamance County Historic Courthouse, 1 SE Court Square, Graham (there will be a press conference before)
1/30/2020 7:00pm Mecklenburg C. Courthouse, 832 East 4th St. Courtroom 5350, Charlotte
3/23/2020 2:00pm Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 N Salisbury Street, Raleigh (Evidentiary hearing)
Can’t make it to a hearing? The public can also submit written comments to [email protected] by March 23rd. Include the Docket number: E-7 Sub 1214 in the subject line of your email.
Another important action to take!! Please read Lisa Sorg’s article Pipelines, roads and railways: This is why you should care about Trump’s rollback of NEPA, a key environmental law. From Lisa’s article, a few proposed changes explains the impact this could have:
— “A private company could use eminent domain to take private land before the final decision is made to authorize the project. This is pertinent in North Carolina because several landowners along the Atlantic Coast Pipeline route successfully petitioned the federal district court to prevent such a taking. Those landowners would be stripped of that right under the new NEPA.
— “At present, NEPA acknowledges the delicate interconnection of ecosystems. Destruction or damage, even temporary, in one place can inflict harm far from the original location. Deforestation can destroy wildlife habitats, disrupting migration patterns that start hundreds of miles away. Pipeline construction can harm waterways, not only at the point of work, but farther downstream. Those trickledown effects would no longer be considered.
— “No longer would agencies have to weigh the multiple environmental justice effects to one area – often Black and low-income neighborhoods – which are often targeted, even wiped out by road and energy projects.”
— “At present, NEPA acknowledges the delicate interconnection of ecosystems. Destruction or damage, even temporary, in one place can inflict harm far from the original location. Deforestation can destroy wildlife habitats, disrupting migration patterns that start hundreds of miles away. Pipeline construction can harm waterways, not only at the point of work, but farther downstream. Those trickledown effects would no longer be considered.
— “No longer would agencies have to weigh the multiple environmental justice effects to one area – often Black and low-income neighborhoods – which are often targeted, even wiped out by road and energy projects.”
From Southern Environmental Law Center’s article and video we also learn the proposed changes “seeks to exempt categories of major projects from meaningful public review, and limits public participation in decision-making. It also seeks to prevent any consideration of climate change when planning large projects.”
This has to be stopped! NEPA needs to be protected! Please send your comments here.
January 21, Reversing Global Warming: Introduction to Drawdown
7-9 pm, Highland United Methodist Church, 1901 Ridge Rd., Raleigh
Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle and Campaign Non-Violence invite you to learn about practical, current solutions to global warming. In this two-hour workshop by Pachamama Alliance – RTP, you’ll see both the possibility of reversing global warming and your important role in the process. It’s helped thousands of people move from fear and despair to hope and action on the most urgent challenge of our times. More information and register here.
January 21, Orange-Chatham Interfaith Solar Info Event
6:30-8:30 pm, United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill
Orange-Chatham Interfaith Care for Creation (OCICC) will host a special event offering information and inspiration to faith communities considering adding solar energy capacity to their buildings. Representatives from three houses of worship that have already installed solar panels will share their experiences, including planning, soliciting bids, fundraising and financing, construction and results. Solar vendors will have information tables starting at 6:30 pm, with presentations beginning at 7:00 pm. Information about solar grants will also be available. More info here.
Every Friday morning from 8-10 am, join Gary Richards and others for a protest to bring attention to the need to close down the coal burning plant on the campus of UNC-CH. Meet in front of the power plant at 501 W. Cameron Ave., Chapel Hill. For more information, contact Gary at [email protected].
Climate Destabilization gatherings on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month at the Oasis Cafe in Carrboro, 6:30-8:30 pm. Carr Mill Mall, 200 N. Greensboro Street. More info here.
Tuesdays with Tillis, join the awesome group of activists and speakers every Tuesday in Raleigh as different topics and actions are discussed, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, Federal Building, 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh. Follow their Facebook and Twitter page for updates.
January, 22, NC Climate Change Interagency Council meeting
1:30 pm, North Carolina Museum of History Auditorium, 5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh
An agenda hasn’t been announced yet. More info here.
January 26, Raleigh Woman’s March 2020
12:30-3 pm, Halifax Mall, 16 W. Jones St, Raleigh
Begun in response to the 2016 election, the Raleigh Women’s March allows us to stand up for the values and issues that matter to you. This year will be extra special, as we are facing the 2020 General Election and there is a lot at stake! More information here and here.
January 27, Pipeline Fighters: Film and potluck
Vegan potluck at 6:30 pm, film at 7 pm, Eno River UU Fellowship Hall. 4907 Garrett Rd. Durham
Sponsored by ERUUF Earth Justice team, “Pipeline Fighters” documents the creative and determined resistance to this dangerous and deadly threat to our land, water, climate and health, focusing on the two fracked gas pipelines in our backyard. More info here.
January 28, Don’t Waste Durham Community Meeting
11 am – 12:30 pm, Emily K Center, 904 Chapel Hill St, Durham
Join for great conversations about trash prevention in the Durham community and the surrounding Triangle area. All who are interested in reducing waste are welcome!
February 3, Duke Energy Progress Rate Hike Hearing
7 pm, Commission Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh
More information above and here with dates of more February hearings.
February 8, 14th Annual Moral March on Raleigh & HKonJ People’s Assembly
Opening rally begins at 9 am, corner of Wilmington and South Streets near Shaw University, Raleigh
The March begins at 10 am followed by the Rally/People’s Assembly. Join the NC NAACP and coalition partners for this year’s theme, “When We Vote, We WIN.” More info here or here. This needs to be a HUGE crowd this year!
Save these dates!
February 20, Faith in Action: Advocating for Effective Climate Policy
7-9 pm, Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, 4706 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh
Join Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle and Campaign Nonviolence to discover how people of faith can affect climate policy. The Creation Care Ministry Team of the United Methodist Church NC Conference Creation Team will discuss how an individual church can join together with other churches to influence policy. Then leaders of NC Policy Watch, 350 Triangle, and the NC Conservation Network will give an update on climate issues at the local level in the Triangle and at the state level. More information here and here.
March 27-28, Southeast Coal Ash Summit, Greensboro
April 22-24 , Earth Day Climate Strike
On April 22, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, people across the United States will rise up to demand climate action. Earth Day will launch three consecutive days of massive strikes, fulfilling our promise to take the climate strike movement beyond what we achieved on September 20. More information here and details soon for local events as actions are organized!
April 25, Missing Murdered Indigenous People’s March
10 am – 3 pm, NC State Capitol, 1 E Edenton St, Raleigh
Details and RSVP here.
June 20, Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington at the National Mall
On June 20, 2020 we will rise together as a powerful moral fusion movement in a Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington to demand the implementation of our Moral Agenda! The question isn’t how much it costs to address these moral issues, but what it costs us not to address 140 million Americans living in poverty and low-wealth. We are building power for an agenda that lifts all people by challenging the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism! For more information, including bus transportation and to RSVP, check out the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival’s website here
Thanks so much!
Peace and love for our beautiful Earth, Karen
350 Triangle Coordinator