April 20, 2020 – Earth Day has been an institution and tradition to demonstrate collective power on April 22 for 50 years! This year, the celebration will last 3 days –April 22-23-24, plus a bonus event on April 25. The difference is that we will not be able to hit the streets and enjoy each other as usual, but we will write, write, write instead, and be together on a 72 hour live online mobilization, which can be equally powerful.
The local highlight of Earth Day is a very special locally produced event that will be a Facebook Live Premier at 4pm on April 22 – Covid-19 and Climate Change: Two Sides of the Same Coin featuring Dr. Tom Suchanek, well-known Climate Researcher and Speaker and Dana Nuccitelli, Yale Climate Connections. This presentation offers is a concise and clear understanding of the current situation of both and how they are similar in cause and effect. Click this link https://TomSuchanek.net/covid at the appointed time to join the presentation. One may then access the presentation any time after that on Facebook or the link will lead you to a NCMedia YouTube video.
Earth Day Live will take place from April 22-24. This is an exciting virtual event hosting a three-day live stream focused on climate action featuring teach-ins, musical performances, divestment, and more. https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/ It is best to go to this link and RSVP for the Live Stream. At this writing, it seems the closest live stream is Sunrise Bay Area out of Berkeley https://actionnetwork.org/events/sunrise-bay-area-earth-week-calling-for-change-support-a-peoples-bailout-for-covid-19-recovery . Even if we are stuck at home, we can still change the world to one that is not only safe and sustainable, but flourishes for generations to come.
The focus with Earth Day Live is to mobilize to get out the green vote. The three-day activities are all focused around WRITING to request buy-in and ACTION:
April 22 – STRIKE – Heads up! Focus will be on amplifying the voice of the indigenous leaders and youth climate activists who are leading the movement to halt the climate crisis. Show up online! Speak up! In lieu of hitting the streets, our local Nevada County Sunrise Movement Hub has started a letter writing campaign to send to our local and state representatives. We are requesting they back the Green New Deal as it is the greatest economic vision for the 21st century that includes climate justice, racial justice and high wage jobs. Find a link to that petition here https://actionnetwork.org/letters/we-want-a-green-new-deal?source=direct_link&
April 23 – DIVEST – Get going! Led by the Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, doing this day of action, we are calling for a global economic reset by focusing on the role of money in driving the climate crisis. The intent is to reprogram the economy so that it works for people and the planet by reducing fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy sources. This action will encourage people to remove money from banks, organizations, funds, and investment companies who have large holdings in fossil fuel producers. In addition, people should write to those companies to ask that they redirect money into the new renewable industries. Letter writing day! These letters DO WORK so it is worth half an hour or more to send a few to CEOs and Board members. Case in point – Thanks to 40,000 emails to Kellogg’s CEO, the company made a commitment to address deforestation and human rights abuses for palm oil.
April 24 – VOTE – Get serious! The people need to show up at the polls this year and vote for the future of the planet by voting for leaders who will address this existential threat. Youth voter registration day! This is another opportunity to write to elect officials and government leaders about any number of bills waiting to be adopted, like those to control single-use plastic usage and the CCL HR763 Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. David Whitehead of CCL says, “Perhaps the most available and powerful action volunteers can take nowand during the next few months would be to call and email, tweet and post, to our congressional representatives. Most important is for Doug LaMalfa to hear from all of us. Next, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris need to hear from us.”
Sierra Club is setting the stage for a decade of transformative change. For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, it is heeding the call of youth climate leaders and millions around the world for a Global Climate Strike — and then we’ll march on to the ballot box in November. “We are asking the world to make a transition. But as a movement, are WE willing to change?” In the words of Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr, “Young people are creating new momentum by following the science, organizing, and speaking out—doing everything they can to fight for their existence. They are willing to have the tough conversations in order to break down the silos and desegregate the environmental movement. They are calling for immediate and bold solutions to create a sustainable future that works for all—including forward-thinking policies like the Green New Deal. We can ignite the passion of the original Earth Day and turn it into the political power necessary to solve the climate crisis before it is too late. If we do this, we have a fighting chance to prevent climate meltdown and leave future generations with a world grounded in justice and love—a world worth living in and fighting for.” https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2019/09/join-climate-strike-september-20
Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is hosting a FREE virtual event on Zoom called UNITING FROM HOME Saturday April 25 from 10am to 1pm PDT. This event features Dr, Katharine Hayhoe, well known climate scientist and much appreciated speaker. Find out more and register here https://climatechallenge.ca/events-campaign/uniting-from-home-a-virtual-ccl-event-with-dr-katharine-hayhoe/
Join the excitement this Earth Day and play a part in making our voices heard for the good of our Earth, and the good of all who share the privilege and joy of living on it, for centuries to come.
The Nevada County chapter for the Elders Action Network which addresses the Climate Crisis, Social and Environmental Justice and Sustainability. https://eldersaction.org/ As Elders, we really care about the future for our grandchildren and all children so they have a beautiful abundant world to support their lives for a long time. We also have time and some life experience to offer to the younger generations as allies working together on what we all care about. EAN has a lot of resources to offer for conversations, information, workshops and actions. The climate section has many actions and possibilities to become engaged with others in a positive outcome for our Earth and all that it supports. Consciousness, connection, and an outlet for action is what our local Action Circle offers.