Friends,

Can you help us collect signatures for the climate and democratic accountability?

I’m writing to ask you to get involved with an important and strategic initiative of 350 Mass: helping us collective ballot signatures for referendums of 100% renewable energy and transparency within the State House.

A lot of us were outraged at the end of the 2017-2018 legislative session when, after a campaign to increase the amount of renewable energy in our state by 3% per year until we reach 100% in 2048—a goal the State Senate embraced unanimously—the State House voted to increase it by only 2% per year until 2030 and then decrease it to 1% per year. This would land us at 100% renewables around 2095, almost 50 years later.

In response to this lackluster action, we got to work. Over the past many months, a team of volunteers worked to devise ballot questions that reflect the need for governmental reform and bold, equitable climate action. Our Statewide Steering Team approved them after thoughtful discourse. We engaged partners including pro-transparency organization Act on Mass and our climate allies in Mass Power Forward. We arrived at carefully crafted questions to send a powerful signal to our elected officials that

1. People in their district enthusiastically support a rapid and just transition to 100% renewable energy, and
2. People in their district support transparency within the State House.

We're asking you to join us in making phone calls to collect signatures in key districts around the state between now and July 1st. If we collect just 200 signatures per district for each of the questions, we can help channel the voice of the people and lift up the need for climate action and better governance in our Commonwealth.

You can join our efforts by signing up here.

Sincerely,

Craig S. Altemose
Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, 350 Massachusetts
Executive Director, Better Future Project

Support Emergency Paid Sick Time

The health of our communities and the climate crisis are inextricably intertwined. Legislation for Emergency Paid Sick Time (H.4700 / S.2701) has been cosponsored by a majority of our State Representatives and Senators, and there's a virtual hearing for this legislation with the Labor and Workforce Development Committee from today through Friday. Your legislators need to hear from you ASAP. Whether they've already cosponsored the legislation or are not official cosponsors, they can ask that members of leadership in their chamber prioritize it and take action to pass it. Contact them here.

An Intimate Conversation with Bill McKibben to Benefit 350 Mass

Join Bill McKibben for a conversation about this particular moment in the climate crisis, how we can build more power, and how we can enhance our organizing to defeat the vested interests that are preventing a robust climate agenda. This event will be held on zoom and capped at 25 computers, so space is very limited. We're asking for a minimum donation of $250 per person or $300 per two-person attendance on the same computer. Sign up here.

Other 350 Mass News

TODAY: Climate Reality Project Webinar—Rhode Island’s Journey to 100% Renewable Energy: Join the Boston and South Coast Nodes to hear from the teams partnering with Rhode Island to achieve the lofty goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. Discover how we can bring those techniques to Massachusetts! RSVP and register here. Tue, May 26, 7-8 pm.

Give Chase an F on Climate: Join Climate Courage, our Direct Action group, to leave reviews for Chase Bank on a number of platforms, calling out their outrageous financial support of the fossil fuel industry! We'll send you a reminder email with easy, step-by-step instructions (plus sample reviews) for a variety of platforms like Yelp and Google Maps. Sign up here.

Congratulations to Volunteer Fred Hewitt: Over a year ago, Letters to the Editor Team Volunteer Fred Hewitt wrote a piece for WBUR's Cognoscenti, What Happens To The Charles River If 100-Year Storms Are The New Normal? A video created to accompany the piece is a winner of the 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Sign a Petition to Build Back Better:  Support the 350 Mass North Shore and Greater Lowell nodes in their efforts to show their representatives that the people of Massachusetts demand action to address the climate crisis, reduce pollution, invest in infrastructure, and create good jobs. Sign here.

We Need Your Photos: Do you have any great pics or short videos of 350 Mass rallies, meetings, and other activities? We're looking for photos of our volunteers taking action, smiling, and having a great time! Please upload them here.

Write a Letter to the Editor: There has never been a better time to take part in 350 Mass' Letters to the Editor (LTE) team. Want to join? Email Alan Palm, Director of Organizing, to find out more! Our members have a great success rate in getting letters published!
Here are some recent letters:
Jonathan Quint in the MetroWest Daily News: Letter: Science must not take a 'back seat' 
And an opinion piece in the Globe by 350 Mass member Gaurab Basu: "A clean transportation system is the prescription my patients need"

Other Climate Movement News

Webinar—No War, No Warming—Moving from a culture of war to a culture of care: Attend a webinar with Lorah Steichen from the National Priorities Project and learn how militarism and the climate crisis are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Register here. Wed, May 27, 7 pm.

Tell BlackRock To Divest from Fossil Fuels: BlackRock is the world's leading investor in fossil fuels. Send a postcard urging CEO Larry Fink to be true to his words and "transform finance" in the face of the climate crisis.

Urge Liberty Mutual to Stop Funding the Climate Crisis: Liberty Mutual is a huge backer of the tar sands sector, which spells disaster for the climate and Indigenous rights. Are you a Liberty Mutual policyholder? You have a unique platform to voice concerns. Sign up here.

Solidarity Opportunities

COVID 19 Emergency Fund: Give to The First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist's COVID19 Emergency Fund and your donation will be doubled, thanks to two generous donors. They're nearly halfway towards their $50,000 goal. Here's how to donate.

Petition—Tell Governor Baker that Reopening Plan Must Protect Workers and Hard-hit Communities: Essential workers, communities of color, and nursing home residents are bearing the worst brunt of the COVID-19 epidemic. None of these groups are represented in Governor Baker's Advisory Board for reopening the Massachusetts economy. Sign a petition demanding a more equitable reopening.

Stand With the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the very tribe that welcomed the Pilgrims in the 1600s, is at risk of losing what is left of their homelands due to a determination made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Sign a petition to support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (HR.312).

About Better Future Project and 350 Mass