October Meeting: Labor and the Climate Movement: Challenges and Opportunities
Thursday, October 14, 7:30 pm EDT
How can the climate movement build stronger ties with labor? What are the obstacles to unionizing in the solar sector? Who loses in the transition to clean, green energy, and how can climate activists help? Where do key unions stand in the fight for climate legislation? Our October meeting’s speakers will help us to better understand the critical worker-climate connection.
Register in advance to attend this meeting on Zoom.
Just Nine Days to Go!
(Until 350Brooklyn’s Fall Fundraiser!)
Thursday, September 30, 7–9:30 pm EDT (Rain date: Oct. 1)
We are so excited! 350Brooklynites are pooling their talents to bring you a great evening in the garden of St. John’s Church at 139 St. John’s Place. Our Henry Youlianos will DJ for us while Kristen Cleghorn wields her charcuterie talents and Emma Miller concocts a delightful wine cooler and a mocktail. Sarah Edkins and Lindsay Ackroyd will adorn the garden with seasonal beauty, and Carolyn Egervary and Martha Sickles will lay out our enticing Silent Auction items. (Did we mention the gift certificate from Community Bookstore or the wonderful handknit baby sweater by Mimi Bluestone?) Threes Brewing Company is sending over some of its fine beer for the festivities, and Trader Joe’s is supporting us with some delectable comestibles. Susan Augenbraun and Sari Carel get our thanks for helping to dream up this event. And there will be fairy lights everywhere! So, come! Buy your tickets now!
Hour of Phone-Banking Power: Rikers Edition
Wednesday, September 22, noon EDT
For almost two years the City Action committee has worked closely with a broad coalition of social justice groups to pass the Renewable Rikers Act which will turn Rikers into a hub for renewable energy and wastewater treatment. Now that the extent of the human rights abuses at Rikers has worsened, City Action is working with our coalition to accelerate the closure of Rikers and to call for immediate reforms. Please join us on Wednesday for a special edition of the Hour of Phone-banking Power so that together we can call on the City Council to:
- Amend and pass Intro 2173, legislation to end the barbarity of solitary confinement
- CLOSE Rikers ASAP in order to end the abuse and speed the island’s transition to a Renewable energy hub
Can’t join the call, but free to tweet? Here’s a sample: “Rikers is a human rights disaster built on toxic waste. Our electeds must act ASAP to close Rikers, end solitary confinement of >4 hours & create independent oversight that includes detainees! @GovKathyHochul @NYCMayor @VinSchiraldi @KeithPowersNYC @JeffLewisNY #CLOSERikers”
Electric Week: Join City Action for an Electric School Bus Rally & Learn More about Electrifying NYC's Buildings
Thursday, 9/23 at noon: Join us and partners at NYCC and WeACT for a rally in support of Intro 2317, which would require new NYC developments to protect our air and help us meet climate goals by building with all-electric, renewable energy. Location: City Hall Park fountain @ Broadway & Park Row. Register Here.
Friday, 9/24 at 10 am: City Action and our Clean School Bus Coalition members will host a rally at the Tweed Courthouse to urge a vote on a bill mandating Electric School Buses, Intro 455. Many folks have signed the petition or filled out the questionnaire — now we are asking you to show up and stand with us during Climate Week as we demand a vote on this critical bill. Sign up for the rally here!
Take Action!
SHOW UP IN SOLIDARITY with UPROSE in a march for Climate Justice in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Thursday, September 23, 2 pm. Meet at UPROSE, 462 36th St, Sunset Park. Sign up here.
MARCH FOR YOUTH in support of Fridays For Future’s Youth March. Friday, September 24, 3 pm. The march will begin at City Hall Park in Manhattan and end in Battery Park. Learn more here and register to help.
MAKE SOME SERIOUS FUN with Code Red’s Yarn Bomb installation highlighting the climate crisis and some of its solutions. Saturday, October 2, 10 am to 4 pm. Yarn art will be installed in the Washington Park fence along 4th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets. 350BK will be there with a table. See more from Arts Gowanus.
ZOOM IN FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE opposing the Gowanus Peaker Plant repowering. Tuesday, October 5, noon. Masses of people on the call will highlight the mass opposition to this local fossil fuel project. Register for the call here.
Introducing Climate Check—Our New Podcast!
Grab your earbuds for 350Brooklyn’s new podcast series, Climate Check: Stories and Solutions, making its debut today. Climate activists share the stories of how they got involved and what they’re doing to confront the crisis, pinpointing policies and local actions that make a difference, from fighting pipelines to working with nature, and everything in between. In Episode 1, “Patience, Perseverance, & People,” host Eva Dean interviews 350Brooklyn’s Sara Gronim, a pivotal organizer of the successful community-based effort to stop the Williams pipeline. Here’s a link for all things Climate Check, including the trailer and first episode.
Do You Have an iPhone 12+ Quality Phone Camera?
City Action is calling all aspiring filmmakers with iPhone 12-quality phones (or beyond!) and a desire to learn more about documenting events and digital storytelling! NO experience required! Just have some availability to come out and film 1-2x per month for various events, and the tenacity and willingness to learn your standard editing software.
Upcoming events include: Friday 9/24, 10 am: Electric School Bus Rally including possible interviews with teachers; 9/30, 6-6:30 pm: Eco-Tones’ (our house band!) sound-check inside an old church; ANYTIME: “Phone-banking is for Everyone” video (BONUS: includes draft script editing). Please contact Georgi if interested.
350Brooklyn Welcomes Governor Hochul
Last week 350Brooklyn sent our new governor a letter welcoming Governor Hochul to her position and laying out for her what we hope to see her accomplish. Whatever happens in Congress, New York State has wide-ranging responsibilities towards getting its own house in order. There is much to be done to shift the state to a fully renewable energy system, to lower our greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, including agriculture and transportation, and to do so in ways that promote social justice. The deaths and damage caused by Hurricane Ida just days after Hochul's inauguration certainly alerted her to the impacts of the climate crisis in our state. Going forward, we will work to ensure that effective, wide-ranging action is part of her responsibilities.
Get involved in one of our workgroups!
350Brooklyn is volunteer-powered. At the heart of these efforts are our campaigns and committees. Follow the links below for more information on how to join.
City Action Committee’s mission is to make Brooklyn and New York City leaders not only in climate policy but also in the long-term actions and engagement needed to make those policies effective. Current campaigns include The Renewable Rikers Act, Fighting Peaker Plants, Electric School Buses, and the Department of Sustainability and Climate Change. Use this google form to connect with City Action.
The Climate Idea Exchange works to deepen public understanding of the climate crisis, breaking it down into manageable topics and showing how to take action locally. We work both independently and in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library, and we're developing a podcast series. email [email protected].
350BK Families organizes activities that bring children, youth, and their adults together for the climate. Current projects include pushing for the creation of 529 college savings plans that are free of fossil fuel investments. email [email protected].
Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice is a diverse coalition focused on equity, inclusion, justice, and economic and environmental sustainability. 350Brooklyn is part of this coalition, which is working to ensure that the rezoning of the Gowanus area honors the needs of all community members. email [email protected].
Legislation focuses on federal and New York State climate legislation. Current campaigns are NY Renews (to pass the Climate Community Investment Act), the Green New Deal, and stopping the repowering of the Gowanus power plant (with 350BK's City Action). email [email protected].
The Media Committee is 350Brooklyn's all-around in-house media team. This group writes press releases and promotional copy, creates graphics, keeps tabs on 350BK's social media presence, and runs the new 350BK blog. email [email protected].
Stop the Money Pipeline plans and participates in direct actions that pressure financial institutions to stop funding deforestation and fossil fuel industries. We are part of a national movement targeting New York-based corporations, including Chase Bank and BlackRock Investment Management. email [email protected].
Plastic Free works to eliminate plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastic products. We meet via Zoom to work on a variety of projects including legislative lobbying efforts, campaigns promoting going plastic free, and neighborhood efforts to reduce waste. email [email protected].
No time but able to donate? While we are an affiliate of 350.org, we are programmatically independent and our financial support comes solely from our members. Can you offer financial support, at any level? Donate here.
