Category: Events

By Scott Steward

It was more than a coincidence that California's Attorney General announced that the State is suing the big 5 oil companies this past Saturday.  Oil companies are being sued for "impairment and destruction" and for a remedy of preventing further misleading statements about the contribution of fossil fuel combustion to climate change." 

Newsom timed the announcement for his appearance at the International Summit on Climate Change in New York going on this week ahead of protests.  The pressure from the climate labor coalition is definitely on.

Sacramento "End the Fossil Fuel Era" banner drop on the Tower Bridge – Photo by Peg Hunter

It is our own and our regions own climate justice advocates, made of youth, educators, racial justice and indigenous, immigrant, blue and white collar labor – the works – that have joined together to make a fearsome coalition locally and nationally. 

Davis Fridays for Future, and allies, take to the streets this past Friday.  Picture by Johan Vernick

The climate strikes and labor strikes coincide and are complementary as the UAW is fighting for fair wages as capital sees ICE (internal combustion engines) demise written on the wall (EV's hit price parity with ICE vehicles).  Labor is finding harmony with climate action as we watch the necessary acceleration away from the fossil fuel economy (and fossil fuel electoral power).

 Sacramento "End the Fossil Fuel Era" Labor Network for Sustainability – Photo by Peg Hunter

Locally, September has been a better month for climate justice and the world is going to need our resilience because climate tragedies, like the one in Libya, and other parts of the world are unrelenting.  It is very clear…. hay hay ho ho Fossil Fuel has got go!  The path forward is locally made, fair wages, locally distributed, locally clothed, soil to skin, locally fed, farm to fork and locally entertained.

By Alan Hirsch

We are now in a (not so slow moving) crisis of civilization brought on by climate change.  It trumps all other issues as the earth is the stage all other human endeavors play out on.  Marches, protests gatherings for other issue will fall by the wayside due to heat waves, brown outs, hurricanes, wildfire & smoke. Even the infrastructures that support the food security, housing construction and access to health care is threatened.

It also clear many good people- even  in Davis — are in denial of the crisis: not in theirs word but their actions that signal climate change is a secondary consideration in their decisions. 

Planet Upstander gently question all these nice people– friends and local politicians — who mouth words and even pass crisis resolutions, but continue to doing the same old things that are killing our planet: Elected bodies in Yolo county and California are filled with business democrats- the Herbert Hoovers of our era when we need FDR’s and a Green New Deal.

Consider the case of a Davis Democratic Party leader who proudly posted to her hundreds of Facebook she flew to Antarctica and from there took a cruise.   Upstander might post the gentle question: “Did you buy carbon offsets?”  Or a friend or family member who admires a low MPG car?  You could raise a concerning for them question about cost of gasoline  (and BTW GHG) due to  low mileage?  Or at least roll your eyes.   Or how do to you respond to friend who drives to school to when it is  only 1 mile from their home? You might ask what type of bike they own?

The Davis Climate March-part of the international climate strike movement –   a chance to show you are one of the growing number of Upstanders for the Planet, It includes march this weekend  In Sacramento and SF this weekend of you can’t make the Davis event.

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By Alan Hirsch

1. The Return of the Urban Firestorm

 What happened in Colorado was something much scarier than a wildfire.

By David Wallace-Wells LIFE AFTER WARMING  https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/01/colorado-saw-the-return-of-the-urban-firestorm.html

2. 244 People died heat related causes in Phoenix: Lose your AC, lose your life? And what about homeless?

https://www.newyorker.com/science/elements/life-and-death-in-americas-hottest-city#:~:text=Phoenix%20is%20the%20fifth%2Dlargest,by%203.8%20degrees%20since%201970.

3. Heat threatens Children: a fall on blacktop playground on can mean severe burns. Forget about walking your dog.
Pavement surfaces 140-160^o when air temperature over hundred

4. Farming Deadly to workers as Heat Index Reaches 120 plus in corn fields.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/22/2188793/-Heat-index-of-150F-in-the-shade-from-Heat-Doom-and-corn-sweat-Climate-crisis-seemingly-everywhere

“….120 degree heat index in Iowa? Yes, because corn sweats in the heat, just like humans do. A single acre of corn can pull 4,000 gallons of water each day out of the ground and release it into the air, making Iowa feel like Bangkok.” https://t.co/ep1mcWFBLj

5. Air Quality August 2023: Continent spanning smoke from wildfires again

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Thank you for joining with Davis Fridays for Future End the Fossil Fuel Era march and rally.

Those that come to add their voices are joining a movement where it is up to them to make more of it than the protest they attend on Friday.

The September 15th End the Fossil Fuel Era Davis Fridays For Future March and Rally

Gather at 14th and B at 12:00 noon (in front of Veterans Memorial)

Student leaders will be organizing intake and ask that adult allies gather as well and have some fun practicing chants around the theme “End the Fossil Fuel Era”.  This is a family friendly event.

At about 12:20 the youth will lead us along B street to Central Park Social Justice Stage for a short rally. Those that can't walk should meet the marchers at Central Park.  The rally will likely start just before, or at, 1:00. At the rally you will hear from 3 of the Davis Fridays for Future members and perhaps one additional speaker. Speakers will be asking you to register your support with an End the Fossil Fuel Era petition (a QR code will be provided) and to participate in a group skit – demonstrating the impact of climate change.

The goals of the Davis climate action is to see and be seen in support of the Global Climate Strike to End the Fossil Fuel Era.  You will be part of thousands of protests worldwide. This sends a message (bring your cell phone to conduct your personal social media campaign).

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(From press release) On Friday the locally produced Yellow Skies launched a YouTube music video from the Fridays for Future noon time Davis 5th and B location.  "We are starting from a shoestring and the viewership is growing steadily. We have several hundred views and some really enthusiastic reviews."
 
@eliotlarson7422
So powerful! Thank you ❤
@sarahnovick3168
So moving!!
@geraldineclemens5150
Heartfelt song she does beautiful job. Thanks

Watch here:

 Yellow Skies asks you to join in the work and to declare a climate emergency, a national climate emergency. It is not an emergency to run around in chaos. It is an emergency called to calmly stop using fossil fuels and go into hyperdrive on local food, locally sourced just-about-everything and to produce lots of renewable energy – and to do it quickly. 
 
The Yellow Skies music video is built around a song. "The song aims to make an enjoyable and meaningful listening experience about what our youth are experiencing, what we are all experiencing." Yellow Skies starts and finishes with clips of youth climate activists speaking out for all of us to take action and points to a few of the many organizations leading the way and demanding change to policies that protect fossil fuel use.

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