Job creator? One stop shop to push us over the climate edge? With all Americans in mind? Single fossil fuel interest?
Many differing perspectives surround the Keystone XL Pipeline project, but one thing is clear: it is taking on more significance than the pipeline itself. We are at a crossroads in our energy infrastructure and the “to build or not to build” question of Keystone is at the heart of it. Keystone is the physical and symbolic battleground for constructing our energy future.
But what exactly does this project entail? Why does President Obama need to approve the project? Below you will find the basics of the project, so that whether you will join 350.org, the Sierra Club, and the Hip Hop Caucus at the #ForwardOnClimate rally at DC on February 17th or are taking part in discussions at your work, home or elsewhere, you know the key points for Keystone. Continue reading Xplaining the Keystone XL pipeline battle
The biggest environmental rally EVER is happening in D.C. on President’s Day weekend. You definitely want to be there. Even though this kind of thing is physically exhausting, it’s inspiring and way-past-due. Travel and transportation are definitely big carbon guzzlers, but this is Important. So we decided to do some math to help you figure out what’s your best option for getting to the biggest, most important single event of the year. Here goes:
Drive yourself: About $120 in gas and 895 pounds carbon (see picture below and multiple by 2 for round trip)
This is assuming you drive a Ford Fiesta by yourself. Cost of boredom not included!
350.org has toured around the country spreading the message about terrifying math associated with fossil fuel reserves ready and waiting to be extracted and billowed into our fragile atmosphere. Climate change has an enemy, and that enemy is the fossil fuel industry. This enemy goes by several names, including but not limited to: Exxon-Mobil, Shell, BP, Lukoil Holdings, Gazprom OAO, Chevron Corp, Peabody Coal, Severstal JSC, Anglo American PLC, BHP Billiton, Shanxi Coking Co, and Exxaro Resources.
Hurricane Sandy brought surprising destruction to millions on our northeast coast, and it is an unmistakable sign of climate change. However, followers of scientists and activists in the climate movement are hardly surprised. This summer, Bill McKibben proposed in an article in Rolling Stone that math also has something to do with our increase in natural disasters.
350 Do the Math. Sold out in Seattle, WA.
Now, McKibben and 350.org are hitting the road, bringing their show to cities around the country–Columbus and Chicago in our neck of the woods–and it’s all about math! Doesn’t that sound exciting? Well, maybe you’re not a big fan of math, but it’s actually just about a few big numbers regarding climate change. Continue reading Connecting Nationally: 350 Do the Math Tour
Bill McKibben at SNRE Dana Building 9-14. Photo by: Dave Brenner, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment
Last Friday Sept. 14, Bill McKibben, climate activist and founder of 350.org, gave a big speech in the Rackham Auditorium that lots of people heard about and attended. The Univ of Michigan’s Erb Institute sponsored event nearly filled the auditorium’s 1,100 seats.
A handful of volunteers left Ann Arbor at 3 yesterday to help get the word out about climate change, our alarming CO2 levels, and the movement that is 350.org.
This is a slideshow of images sent into 350.org from around the world of people just like you and me, connecting the dots on climate change. Here’s a message from 350.org co-founder, Bill McKibben:
We’re going to need you soon to fight the political battles that will make use of these images, but for the next day or two just relax, and enjoy the feeling of solidarity that comes from knowing there are millions of people thinking the same way, harboring the same fears and, more importantly, the same hopes.
Our goal is to assemble a representative set of how many people care about our climate crisis as well as why (how it impacts us). On 5/5/2012, we’ll be at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market with “dots” — including blank ones — asking farmers what their thoughts are. You can join us then.
BUT you can also join us before that, but taking these 4 easy steps:
The most important step: ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. We have construction paper, some ideas, and access to volunteers. We’re happy to help and would be sad to know you didn’t participate because something fixable stood in your way.
Step 1: Pick a location or idea that illustrates how climate change impacts us locally (e.g., Dexter/tornado after-effects)
Step 2: Make a climate “dot” — take a piece of paper, cut it into a circle, write why you picked the site
Step 3: Take a photo of yourself or someone else holding up the dot at the site you’ve chosen.
Step 4: Send your photo to annarbor350@ecocenter.org OR to poses39first@photos.flickr.com
The action for 350.org’s Moving Planet Day in our community happened on Sunday, September 25th at Liberty Plaza. Over 70 of us gathered together to share our vision of how to move our area away from fossil fuels.
Here’s a look at our vision and proposed action items by issue area (feel free to contribute in the Comments section below):
Overarching questions
What is our vision for the future of our region re issue area?
What progress is already happening?
What steps can we take to achieve our vision?
What is one thing we can ask our leaders over the coming year?
Policy: protect water & soul as part of healthy ecosystem (include this as a filter for any decision)
Allow chicken coops in neighborhoods
Require them to be safe from dogs, raccoons, etc.
Buy and eat locally grown food when possible
Education
Vision: an education system that nurtures community and reaches all levels/types of students and closes the education gap
Needs:
Investment in schools/teachers
Mechanisms for community to support schools + vice versa
Walking & bicycling “bus” system
Plus other ways for community members to aid students and get both outdoors
School gardens, teaching kids about healthy foods, seeing, tasting, and producing the differences
Water
Vision: Clean drinking water for al in county, ability to swim/recreate in all parts of Huron river
Needs:
Invest in WATER ACCESS research
Build passive irrigation systems
Ban use of drinking water for toilets, landscaping, etc.
Invest in water technology research
Stop the use of herbicides and pesticides that contaminate our water supply.
more water fountains
to test our water regularly, find what healing property of the water we have like minerals and also testing level of radiation, what bacteria are there
Minerals in water can be healing (sulfur), or can make one sick (lead)
Chemical level, chemical in H2O are linked to Cancer (i.e. lymphoma)
Energy
Vision: reduced use/reliance on fossil fuels + clean air, less light pollution (see Milky Way from A2)
Needs:
Phase out 2-stroke engines (leaf blowers)
Energy-focused building code (residential and commercial)
Tax credits/Low interest loans for EE/RE Upgrades
Local power co-ops
Neighborhood-scale re-installations
Increase use of heat pumps — For heating and cooling
Geothermal — is this the same thing?
NG Service Stations for larger vehicles
Transportation = HUGE
Mass transit w/ community input, land use planning
Weatherization
For rental housing programs
Updating building code to reflect today’s circs (e.g. 2×6 walls)
*carbon tax- other levelers of playing field
Strong Dist/Gen, net metering policies
Promote solar currents at residential scale
Community adv. to neighborhood scale installment, energy co-ops
Communicate EE the way we do bond return (% savings per year)
Buses: investigate technologies
Assess county land for solar capacity
Invest in energy storage infrastructure
Hydro? Is it a low hanging fruit?
Wiring regs. in building code – examine these for efficiency
Solar hot water was not cost effective for 7 bldg. condo last year
How to make it so?
Create opportunities for large scale residential or muni-owned installations/improvements
Our goal is to assemble a representative set of how many people care about our climate crisis as well as why (how it impacts us). On 5/5/2012, we’ll be at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market with “dots” — including blank ones — asking farmers what their thoughts are. You can join us then.
