Four reminders from some of the organizers in the Occupy Boston CASEJ (Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice) working group:
- Research now indicates climate change is the key culprit behind several of the most devastating droughts and heat waves we have already experienced.
“we can state, with a high degree of confidence, that the extreme anomalies such as those in Texas and Oklahoma in 2011 and Moscow in 2010 were a consequence of global warming…”
~ Hansen J., Sato M, Ruedy R. 2012. Perception of Climate Change. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
- We are giving at least $11 BILLION in tax subsidies to fossil fuel companies, some of the wealthiest in the world, as we are simultaneously loosing our own homes.
- According to Mass DEP: Vehicle emissions account for about 40 percent of the pollutants that produce ground level ozone, a lung irritant and main ingredient in smog. Children are amongst the most vulnerable, with one out of every three school absences now attributed to asthma. Asthma is now the number one reason children are admitted to the hospital.
- Several viable and underutilized clean energy alternatives now exist, and in Massachusetts, clean energy sector jobs grew by 11.2 percent between July 2011 and July 2012. (It now generates over 70,000 local jobs.)
People are asking whether Occupy is “alive” or “dead” or “still happening”. Individuals are still organizing around the clock to strengthen our community. They will continue to no matter the name. The extent to which new people take it upon themselves to do so as well, and the extent to which we can work together, will directly determine wether the most critical issues of our time are dealt with in a prudent manner. Here is to “the radicals”. Happy Birthday Occupy Boston!
To get on the CASEJ mailing list please go to:
https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/climate-action
Sources:
- Hansen J., Sato M, Ruedy R. 2012. Perception of Climate Change. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/07/30/1205276109.full.pdf+html - Environmental Law Institute:
http://www.eli.org/Program_Areas/innovation_governance_energy.cfm - Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection:
http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/community/airhealt.htm - Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs
http://www.mass.gov/eea/pr-2012/120816-pr-clean-energy-job-growth.html
