350Brooklyn 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? Where do key unions stand in the fight for climate legislation? Who loses in the transition to clean, green energy, and how can climate activists help? Patrick Robbins of the New York Energy Democracy Alliance will lead a discussion with Avalon Hoek Spaans and Zach Cunningham of the Labor Leading on Climate Team at Cornell’s ILR School and organizer and IBEW electrician Chris Schroth. Register for the meeting using this link. We hope to see you there.
Stand with GNCJ at the Gowanus Rezoning City Council Hearing
Tuesday, October 12th, Beginning At 10:00 am EDT
The City Council hearing is a critical step in the rezoning process called Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Testimony will be heard by the City Council on October 12th beginning at 10:00 am EDT. As a member of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice (GNCJ), 350BK has been advocating for environmental justice in the rezoning. Email [email protected] to obtain talking points. Sign up to testify here.
Join The Bus To The People v. Fossil Fuel Actions In DC!
October 13th and 14th
People v. Fossil Fuel is a week-long demonstration in Washington DC to demand that President Biden stop approving and supporting fossil fuel projects, including the Line 3 pipeline. 350Brooklyn's allies New York Communities for Change and Food and Water Watch are booking a bus to travel to DC Wednesday, October 13th through Thursday, October 14th. They will attend the Wednesday action training at 6:00 pm EDT, and then participate in the actions on Thursday during the day, returning to New York City that evening. There is no lodging accommodation provided, though reasonably priced hostel rooms are available in DC. If you'd like to reserve one or more of the bus spots, sign up here.
Empire Clean Vehicle Festival
Thursday, October 14th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm EDT, Union Square North, New York, NY
Please join 350Brooklyn, 350NYC, Empire Clean Cities and our partners in a showcase of the latest innovations in clean transportation operating in our region. The festival will include displays of zero and near-zero emission vehicles of all sizes, charging infrastructure technology, and opportunities to hear more about local air quality improvement projects. Register for the Clean Vehicle Festival using this link, or email Georgi at [email protected].
Help Bring Climate Halloween To Life
Saturday, October 16th and 23rd, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm EDT, and Saturday, October 30th, 1:00 pm EDT
Calling all volunteers who might enjoy pitching in on an unusual project! Deforestation and climate change are pretty scary, so we're partnering with local organizations and a master puppet-maker to help put on a Halloween puppet pageant called A Neighborhood of Trees. Our job will be to help build and animate nine huge burning trees, as well as staffing a 350BK table at the event. Participants will enjoy working with master puppet-maker Theresa Linnehan, and 350Brooklyn will be able to recruit at the event, as well as keep some of the burning tree puppets to use at future actions. Art builds are on October 16th and 23rd from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT. The show will take place on Saturday, October 30th at 1:00 pm EDT. All activities are outdoors at the Old Stone House – 336 Third Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Find more information and sign up on 350Brooklyn's website.
“Welcome To The Big Apple, Governor Hochul!” Rally
Monday, October 18th, 5:45 pm EDT, Outside The Williamsburg Hotel, 96 Wythe Street, Brooklyn, NY
Governor Kathy Hochul has only been in office a little over a month, and we’re hearing some promising things from her. She recently announced that the state of New York is moving to “a cleaner, greener future.” We hope that means no new fossil fuel projects, including the Astoria NRG plant! Next week Governor Hochul will be in New York City. Join us for a rally outside her event to welcome her to New York City, and call on her to reject the NRG Astoria power plant - setting a precedent for other peaker permit rejections to come! Sign up here.
Support New York's Environmental Rights Amendment
Early voting starts October 23rd! On the ballot, you will see a proposed amendment to the New York State Constitution that would secure clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment as a right for every New Yorker for generations to come. Last month, 350Brooklyn’s Legislation Committee decided to support the Environmental Advocates of New York campaign to pass this amendment. You can find more information about the amendment here. Spread the word and remember to vote!
Climate Wednesdays Are Back With "Bringing Solar Home: A Town Hall for New Yorkers" On October 20th
In this third year of our “Climate Wednesdays” collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), we’re bringing in a new partner for three of the season’s four events: Solar One, a non-profit organization that promotes the development of solar energy. “Bringing Solar Home: A Town Hall for New Yorkers” features Solar One’s Michelle Chung and Bruno Estrada on how all Brooklynites—renters and homeowners alike—can reap the benefits of solar and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 350Brooklyn/BPLSolar One series continues on November 3rd with “Brooklyn’s Battery Breakthrough: How Four Branch Libraries are Charging Ahead,” and concludes November 17th with “Solar + Storage: Challenges to NYC’s Climate Goals.” Register at least an hour before the October 20th event to attend on Zoom or watch on YouTube. A fourth event, “Active Hope: Emotional Resilience in Facing the Climate Crisis,” will be a special two-hour workshop on nurturing our spirits as we acknowledge and confront climate anxiety.
Federal Climate Calls, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
The fight for a robust climate response at the federal level heated up immensely this week. Senator Joe Manchin is demanding very big (and very bad) cuts to the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. The most important thing you can do for federal climate legislation this year is make calls to constituents of key Senate committee leaders (including Manchin). Sign up to make calls with the Sunrise Movement Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm EDT. To make calls to Manchin constituents Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, sign up here. The purpose of these calls is to get constituents to leave messages, so it's a numbers game. You don't need to stay for the whole time! These calls target progressive constituents, so most of the people you'll speak with are kind and respectful.
Tell Governor Hochul: Stop PSC's Attacks On Solar Energy
New York State’s community solar program is set to expire in Con Edison's territory. The Public Service Commission doesn't plan to extend it, despite New York City's petition to keep the program going, and an outpouring of comments from New Yorkers. Worse yet, the PSC recently directed investor-owned utilities to charge a new solar tax on residential customers, effective January 1st, 2022. Governor Hochul says she wants to expand solar capacity in New York to ten gigawatts, but taxing the sun won't help us reach that goal. Call the Governor and tell her we need to extend the state's solar programs and rescind any new taxes on solar energy.
Stop-The-Money-Pipeline Actions!
Join us for TWO actions this month:
1. Customers for Climate Justice Campaign. Sign an open letter, send an email or text, and post to social media to your bank!
2. Remember Sandy Action on October 29th. Come join the protest in lower Manhattan as we march on the Federal Reserve and Citibank ahead of the Glasgow Climate talks.
Fundraising Thanks From All of Us
350BK put on a lovely party on September 30th and raised over two thousand dollars for our newest creative endeavors, our Climate Check podcast, our Parts Per Million e-magazine, and our Eco-Tones brass band! Our sincere thanks to St. John's Episcopal Church in Park Slope for the use of its garden, and Trader Joe's and Threes Brewing for their donated food and drink. We also had great silent auction items from Community Bookstore, Precision Organizing, Brooklyn Pup, Metal House Cider, Parklife Restaurant, artists Danica Novgorodoff, Fred Bendheim, and Matthew Bakkom, and 350Brooklyn members Mimi Bluestone and Ira Macner. Our deepest thanks to all of you!
NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS
Home Sustainability Fair
Saturday, October 16th, 11:00 am -5:00 pm EDT, The Old Stone House, 336 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY
For renters, homeowners, and building owners. These are presentations and exhibits that will help you lower your home's carbon footprint. They are taking place at the Old Stone House and Washington Park, 336 3rd Street in Brooklyn. Expert talks are held every hour. Learn more about the Sustainable Home Fair here. Come by! FREE!
Sunday Sit for Climate Justice
Sunday, October 17th, Bartel Pritchard Square (15th Street Prospect Park Entrance), Brooklyn, NY, 1:00 pm EDT
Join members of the Brooklyn Sangha to sit, speak, and listen in an effort to onboard community volunteers; and to inspire engagement, conversation, awareness, and mindfulness around local actions within the movement for Climate Justice.
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.
