greenpeace--2020-11-23--What We Need Now: Episode 3—Non-Violent Direct Action

What We Need Now : Episode 3—Non-Violent Direct Action Here at Greenpeace , it ’ s no secret that we use NVDA to fight for people and the planet and face the sheer violence of the fossil fuel industry and other bad actors with a non-violent strategy of peace and justice .
On this month ’ s episode , we speak with Brianna Gibson , a member of BYP 100 and the Director of Action , Strategy and Training for The BlackOUT Collective .
Brianna works with organizations across racial , social , environmental and climate justice movements to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns through : rapid response , reform , rebellion , and resilience .
In this episode , we ’ ll talk through our understanding of what non-violent direct action is – a strategy and tool that works to peacefully confront oppressive powers .
“ When I began practicing direct action on a regular basis , it struck a chord with me because it allowed me to say no with my body , and with my comrades , with my community in a way that I never felt empowered to say ‘ No ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” – Brianna Gibson Hit that play button to be inspired by the people doing the work , and hear how direct action stops injustice by shifting the balance of power to the hands of the people .
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“ There ’ s a spot for everybody in the movement and in liberation work in general .
We need folks , we just need folks to hold particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit in.
” – Brianna Gibson In an ideal world , we could cast our ballots and it would be like waking up from a bad dream…Covid-19 would be banished from these lands and corporate dollars would be ousted from our democracy .
Climate change would be halted and the effects of hurricanes and wildfires would be reversed .
Venues , bars and small businesses could safely reopen and millions of people would be back to work with healthcare and a living wage .
And we would no longer be worried about descending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Reality is a bit messier .
The reality of the situation is that voting will not immediately yield results and change is never a given even when a new administration is elected .
Last episode we talked about voting as a crucial first step towards achieving the change we need to see .
So now that we have a somewhat clearer picture of what our politics will look like in 2021 let ’ s talk about what we need now .
Oh and by the way , my name is LAUREN RICO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAUREN : and welcome to the What We Need Now podcast by Greenpeace USA .
This month we ’ re talking about the next step after voting ( because all of that is over now ) .
We ’ re talking about non-violent direct action and how it is and has been a critical part of pushing our movements forward .
RICO : We ’ ve all seen the images of police dragging Black bodies away from segregated lunch counters .
We ’ ve seen the simple act of joining hands to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batons , and dogs .
We ’ ve seen flowers brandished in front of military grade tanks .
We ’ ve seen the enormous amounts of courage people have summoned to peacefully resist oppressive forces .
Those images of nonviolent resistance stick with us , they make it into the history books , but do they actually work ?
LAUREN : Well as always the answer is quite complicated .
But let ’ s look at what nonviolence is and how it can help lead to wins .
And let ’ s start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nonviolence , as a movement definition , is a Strategy and tool that peacefully confronts oppressive power .
RICO : I think a lot of people might be surprised to hear nonviolence referred to as a strategy rather than a philosophy .
Could we unpack that a little more ?
LAUREN : Sure , lem me break it down and use a home-base example : For us at Greenpeace , nonviolence as a strategy looks like our campaign work to fight for people and the planet .
We know that the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for environmental justice don ’ t really have much of a conscious ( thee shade ) ….and that is why through NVDA , and our campaigns , we aim to face the sheer violence of the fossil fuel industry and other bad actors with the nonviolent strategy of peace and justice .
But in general , Direct Action is an umbrella term for any collective action that stops injustice directly ( as opposed to through politics or the courts – system ) and shifts the balance of power from one system to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does that actually look like ?
RICO : For Greenpeace that looks like Banner Hangs .
It ’ s looked like aerial blockades in Houston and Portland and over 40 years of other creative forms of resistance all over the globe .
But Greenpeace is not alone in this fight .
All across the so-called US and around the world individuals and organizations use nonviolent direct action to fight for what they believe in .
Folks like the Climate Justice alliance using nonviolent mass mobilizations to raise awareness about our fragile planet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the nation to rally and fight for Black lives , Land Defenders doing nonviolent blockades to stop pipelines from destroying the land and our communities .
It ’ s all connected .
LAUREN : I feel that and it would be very remiss of us if we didn ’ t mention the variances in how NVDA ( that ’ s non-violent direct action ) is applied .
The variances come about because everyone ’ s understanding of what violence is difers .
For some violence starts at the harming of people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property .
RICO : Also the perception of whether or not a group is “ violent ” ( air quotes ) can be very different depending on who is protesting LAUREN : From Ferguson to Kenosha , we ’ ve all seen examples of how the media focuses on random items like the trash can on fire or a gas station with a broken window ( with no one in it ) , rather than the police brutalizing peaceful protestors .
RICO : That ’ s right LAUREN and because of the wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , In in-person NVDA trainings we often use a tool called the spectogram , basically a coordinate grid with a line in the middle that goes from violence to non-violence and another perpendicular one that goes from non-effective to effective .
The facilitator will read different tactics and participants move through different LAUREN : Interesting so full transparency I have yet to attend a NVDA training and geometry was not my strong suit in high school , so what ’ s the goal behind this activity and what am I as a participant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me about what folks would get out of that exercise ?
RICO : The facilitator will read different tactics and participants move through different.The purpose of the exercise is to give folks agency to decide for themselves what strategy to take and to make sure that groups reach agreement .
LAUREN : Right , and since there is such a wide spectrum of what people consider “ violence ” , there can ’ t be any one standardized way of enacting NVDA .
But it is necessary to name the factors that inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence vs nonviolence .
Alot of these perspectives are based on lived experience and we want to make clear that people should choose what ’ s right for them annnnddddd that we are not here to police each other ( yall know we have enough of that in the world ) .
RICO : And that ’ s why it ’ s super important for groups to decide before an action what the parameters and boundaries are for that action .
Which brings us to this month ’ s guest LAUREN : Yessss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Training for The BlackOUT Collective .
Blackout Collective is an org that believes that Black people should engage in direct action to affect change .
RICO : Brianna works with organizations across the movement to help them effectively employ Direct Action in their campaigns .
LAUREN : As Rico and I mentioned before , NVDA is a strategy that has a multitude… a swath im tryna think of some other terms , com ’ on help me out Rico LAUREN : Just myriad ways it can be applied y ’ all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ four distinct ways : Rapid Response , Reform , Rebellion and Resilience .
And Rico spoke with Brianna about the successes they have had using these strategies as well as how NVDA has shaped their outlook and views of what it means to be an activist .
RICO : But first we have a break .
In moments of crisis you may turn to the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King .
His quotes go a long way in the comment section of a Reddit thread , but sometimes they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLK may force you down the rabbit hole of injustice in society , diet MLK is great for when you just want to win that comment battle on your niece ’ s facebook !
Here ’ s some samples of what we have to offer : Did your daughter ’ s boyfriend just say Black Lives Matter ?
Try this quote , “ I look to a day when police officers will be judged not by the content of their character , but by the color of their uniform.
” Are people saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Use this MLK comeback “ A riot is the language of the unheard unless we frame them as thugs and looters.
” Here ’ s a few of our favorites Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere except here… Hate can not drive out hate ; only a newly painted Black Lives Matters Plaza can do that .
In the end , we will remember not the words of our enemies , but the hashtags that they shared .
I have a dream that one day we will walk hand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end Black and Brown lives .
There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe , nor politic , nor popular , but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right .
Luckily that time has not come .
With Diet MLK , you ’ ll be seen as the most progressive person in your circle .
RICO : Welcome back to the show .
Our guest today is the amazing activist organizer trainer .
Educator Brianna Gibson .
Brianna , how are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election ?
BRIANNA : You know ?
We ’ re watching and waiting .
Feel like everyone ’ s do–we know what ’ s gon na happen ?
No .
Does it feel more serious than ever before ?
Yeah , a little bit .
RICO : Before we get into it can you share your name , pronouns and a little about the land that you ’ re on ?
BRIANNA : Sure , yeah .
So hey y ’ all , my name is Brianna .
And I am recently back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C area .
So I ’ m in Southeast Washington , D.C right now in Ward 8 , Southeast D.C ’ s historically super black area of the city , even though D.C was and some at some point will begin being again “ Chocolate City ” .
We ’ re working on it .
We ’ re working on it , I have a plan , but I can ’ t tell ya .
BRIANNA : But Southeast D.C actually like particularly , you know .
Frederick Douglass lived here- a bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get us where we are today and set us up for some shit in the future- so that ’ s always a constant reminder being out here .
Especially in an area where people still like- see high rates of oppression , repression and suppression and where like people just generally don ’ t care about black folks .
I ’ m living on a block right now where the water Department for the city is responsible for a broken pipe that goes to a whole block , and so I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is part of reason why we ’ re moving , you know who have sewage consistently flooding in their basement and it ’ s not a priority to folks because this is where black folx live .
RICO : Yeah , and that ’ s unfortunately definitely not uncommon anyplace black folks live .
BRIANNA : Yeah , they ’ re like “ F*** y ’ all.
” RICO : And we ’ re talking about how we take power , how we transform our communities through direct action .
You mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other people have informed your understanding of direct action ?
BRIANNA : Yeah , sure .
So when I think about direct action , yes , sure there ’ s like Frederick Douglass , there ’ s Harriet ’ s Tubman who , OG… OG on the direct action .
There are a bunch of ancestors whose names we don ’ t know .
Then there are the folks that we do know right ?
So there ’ s A. Philip Randolph , there ’ s Bayard Rustin , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the homies at SNCC… RICO : Wait , hold on a second , I got ta shout out SNCC .
That ’ s the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee .
They were a really dope youth-led organization , encouraged by Ella Baker to organize themselves .
They were a huge part of the Civil Rights era .
And if you ’ re hearing names that Brianna ’ s shouting out that you don ’ t know , definitely check out our website , where we ’ ll have links to all of these amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convo .
BRIANNA : We have the black power era .
We got the Black Panthers with like very particular forms of direct action right ?
And then even like , through the 90s right ?
There were other forms of direct action when people were coordinating things on a mass scale so it ’ s a lot to pull from , but some of the things that are still most important to me to remember are the everyday forms of resistance and direct action that our ancestors took on this land in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that brought them here and held them here against their will .
So you know , that ’ s like work stoppages of a certain kind .
You know , as enslaved people you ’ re breaking something ; you ’ re doing other things to slow down the process , right ?
That ’ s escaping slavery , helping homies get out of slavery .
That ’ s also like acts of resistance like jumping off the ship rather than being taken to a foreign land where you don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , right ?
And you already have been treated terribly , so I like to remind myself of all of those things .
Draw inspiration from our cousins over Haiti who really did the damn thing .
All the way up into revolution .
Particularly our folks here who led rebellions and all forms of resistance and ran away and created communities .
And like prefigured the lives that they wanted their descendents to have and that that is a form of direct action and other stuff .
So yeah .
RICO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So now , moving into the present , what is Blackout Collective ?
BRIANNA : Blackout Collective is a black direct action training service organization .
We train folks in direct action .
We support folks in thinking through their direct action strategy , incorporating direct action in their campaigns in planning just very specific direct actions or sequences , or like escalation theories .
And then sometimes we offer people actions support , tech support before , during and after with those things as well .
We talk about direct action and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective and it ’ s important for us to always remember that black folks have always engaged in direct action and it ’ s not something that ’ s foreign to us .
RICO : And what is the advantage to talking about direct action through a black lens and specifically from a black perspective ?
BRIANNA : Yeah , so one , I definitely believe– I ’ m a person who believes that once black people are liberated , all people will be liberated and so paying attention to the tactics that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart of that , right ?
So , often we ’ re using direct actions to get a little bit more free , little bit more free , and get us much closer , that much closer to liberation .
And so if we ’ re talking about Black liberation must happen in order for anyone else to actually truly be liberated , then understanding Black direct action as a tactic and a tactic tactic that moves things , forces the hand of decision makers , forces some other things , creates more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand and learn from .
RICO : And how did you get started ?
BRIANNA : 2014 you know .
Things were popping off and there were , among the many calls that came out of Ferguson after Mike Brown was murdered , there was one for October .
Third of October , and so there were a group of about four black folks who came down .
They had put out a call for direct action practitioners and when they got there , they realized there weren ’ t a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they , you know , bonded with each other very quickly because it ’ s very small group of them and decided to talk through some things and decided , like hey , I think actually we should form a collective because there ’ s a need in our community to have more folks who are skilled up in direct action who are black .
That can in turn train other others and that ’ s a very particular experience and lineage to come from , especially in comparison to..for instance , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were there as direct action trainers were white people right ?
And that is , in the sense of even physically in your body , confronting state power , confronting the police , a very different experience .
So that ’ s how Blackout Collective was born .
It was five .
Not four , but five black folks who went to Ferguson , Mo .
Some of them knew each other , some didn ’ t .
Met up .
All had skills in direct action and were like , “ you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The initial goal was to train 10,000 black folks in direct action .
We ’ re past that now , so I think .
I don ’ t .
I don ’ t know that we ever set another goal , but yeah .
So it start off like that .
That group of five people .
And then the next year in 2015 they added on to the crew .
I was part of the 2015 crew .
It was very just , you know a lot of folks have been throwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very intense year .
And we ’ ve been trying to grow , develop , get sharper , sharpen our folks ever since .
RICO : Word , and I mean you ’ re not just a strategist or a theorist , or even just a trainer , but you are also someone who has taken direct action .
Do you feel like that has transformed you or changed your perspective ?
BRIANNA : Absolutely .
Growing up , you know my sister , when I went to visit her… my sister ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So when I would go visit her , and she ’ s driving around the city , whatever , I would have a book always .
And so at some point she started just like basically confiscating my books when I was with her because she ’ s like , “ you ’ re not going to read while you ’ re with me while we ’ re supposed to be having this time , but I was super into historical fiction .
And obviously history is just , for the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of theories of dumpster fires that tell you how you got to where you are now .
Which is…one way I like it , one reason why I like it .
Are there other things ?
Yes , I know everyone , it ’ s not just dumpster fires womp womp womp .
In reading those things and then trying to talk to adults in my life or others .
It felt kind of like people were a little matter of fact , right ?
It ’ s like , ‘ Damn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened.
’ And like , ‘ what can we do around the impact of those things today ?
What could people have done then ?
What did people do ?
’ And I felt like a lot of the answers I got were around like , ‘ Well , yeah , that just is how it was ’ or like , ‘ That just is how it is ’ and/or ‘ There are like very particular ways to change those things that are going to take a long time and whatever whatever… ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the root of the issue .
And as an adult , when I began practicing direct action on a regular basis , it struck a chord with me because it allowed me to say no with my body , with my comrades , with my community in a way that I never felt empowered to say no directly to power before in my life .
I didn ’ t even know it was possible .
Like ‘ Oh yeah , you can go to a City Council meeting and just disrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonsense , ’ Did not even have that as an understanding as a kid .
But stepping outside of that gave me a fuller sense of my own power and the power of my community and also , like , really put you on a roll .
Like ‘ Oh yeah , we can shift some stuff , because we have it and we don ’ t have to be confined to the rules and regulations , the boxes , the forms of taking actions that people in power tell us that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course they tell us that those are the options because they want to keep their power .
But yeah , so it ’ s been transformative for me in that way and really healing , and I think has opened my mind to all the many creative possibilities we have when we conceptualize the new world that we want to live in and that we want to build for the future .
RICO : So in the time that is Covid , you know , global pandemic meets election season -extended : defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to police killings RICO : How have you all adjusted to this time ?
BRIANNA : Yeah this time has required us to just really pull on a lot of the learnings that we have pulled from the past , what ’ s that almost six years ?
Wow , that ’ s crazy because all of those things have been times where people used direct action in order to get certain needs met , in order to confront power in ways that they needed to be confronted .
That would actively save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19- from making sure that folks were able to stay in their homes , making sure that people were actually receiving the sort of protection equipment that they needed , as well as the sort of healthcare they needed to a host of other things .
Right ?
Addressing ways in which communities of color , particularly Black and Brown communities , were more heavily policed .
Folks are using direct action to turn up against those things , and then , and it wakes up the uprisings .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all 50 states and DC , and our homies are out there in the colonies , or some say territories , but they ’ re colonies , were turning up and using direct action in order to confront the power of the state and the power of law enforcement .
The police state has a hand in destroying our community , taking people ’ s lives , withdrawing people and taking them out of our communities , both by killing them physically and then like the other forms of killing that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in our communities and put them in prisons and jails and other kinds of cells , including the detention centers and everything else .
So that was another time .
And then , you know , people are also turning up around the election and preparing to turn up if and when necessary , especially around defending their rights and defending their bodies , their homes , their communities if needed .
We know that a lot of really wild stuff has already been going on ?
For example , in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spraying people who were just going to the polls .
It ’ s been a very wild year .
BRIANNA : Yeah , so for me it ’ s been about how do you take all these lessons and go into turbo time trying to implement all those things and we ’ re constantly learning .
Doing things virtually has been interesting because I feel like we have 50 versions of like Direct Action 101 training , but it ’ s because if you are running one but then you think “ Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ” so that ’ s another version and then you tweak it again and it keeps going .
At some point we ’ re going to have to reconcile them and put them into one version .
It ’ s also important , like I said , to keep growing , keep sharpening , to not stay stagnant because we are in an ever changing landscape in an ever changing world so we got ta adjust , shift , and make sure that you are actually connecting with folks because you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them in a way that it is real , effective and actually useful .
So just that you know no big deal .
This episode of What We Need Now brought to you in part by recipes for disaster the new show on the funky food network .
LAUREN : This week ’ s recipe for disaster is Dumpster Flambe .
This seasonal recipe goes great with losing an election .
It ’ s very easy to make and you can find these ingredients pretty much anywhere you look .
Lets get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll have yourself a nice ol flambe .
• None Start by preheating your environment by 1 degree celsius each year .
• None While that heats up , you will want to elect a politician that ignores all climate scientists • None Open up your cabinet and then you ’ re gon na wan na fire everyone in there .
• None And then you ’ re going to very finely chop up your voter protections , dice pandemic response team , and then mince the epa , NASA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whatever else you ’ d like to add for taste .
• None Throw in a global pandemic , but do not season it .
best to just ignore it .
• None Next , your gon na take a steel potato masher to voter confidence–really smash it — and pour in some disinformation .
Don ’ t be coy , really pour it in there .
• None MIx in some white supremacists and put the rest on standby , you will definitely need them later • None Gather as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and fold those into the mix .
Repeat until you are impeached , and then add even more .
• None IMPORTANT : While you ’ re stirring the swamp you may notice theres some smoke and maybe even wildfire coming from the pan .
Do not turn down the heat at that point .
• None Make sure you separate children from their families….a lot of folks use cage free children , but not us .
• None If you cant find any news or facts that you like , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minute • None And don ’ t shy away from saying you wont leave office , we love a little spice because that ’ s our business .
• None Bring it all to a boil on election day and you will have a nice lil recipe for losing an election .
Remember this recipe only serves the wealthy 1 % , so you may need to increase the yield .
Tune in next week for our bourgeioceaser salad .
Rico : So Brianna the other thing we ’ re talking about in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nonviolence , how different individuals , different communities , in different organizations , view violence differently .
And as Greenpeace , we have a specific stance of nonviolence , and what that means to us .
But since you all work with so many different groups and communities , I want to hear a little bit about how you navigate that ?
What it means to you , and how you make those kinds of decisions for campaigns ?
BRIANNA : So we don ’ t make those decisions for other folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy , a tactic , so for example in the Civil rights movement non-violence was a tactic used .
Then for some people non-violence is a philosophy acting as one tool out of a very large toolkit .
Sometimes non-violence is going to be the thing that is most strategic in getting you to your goals .
But we don ’ t prescribe that for any group that we work for or work with .
We also don ’ t determine that we ’ d rather ask “ what do you want do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not our decision , especially in terms of being a capacity building organization .
Yes we are Black people being impacted by a lot of the things that the folks we are working with are impacted by .
But we more so are acting within our communities when making decisions around non-violence .
And then when we ’ re there to offer capacity and support in whatever ways we can for other organizations in different places , it is up to that community to make a decision because they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most impacted by any of the results or consequences of that action .
So we don ’ t make that decision for folks .
And when you ’ re in a blackout training , you ’ ll hear us just talk about direct action and where you take things from there .
Rico : I want to talk about two narratives that come up a lot , and definitely were prevalent this summer during the uprisings .
Narrative a ) anything protesters are doing the streets , especially if it ’ s Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , will call that violent .
They will critique it .
They got something to say .
And then narrative b ) on the far other extreme , anything that does pop off at a protest or during an uprising if it falls outside of someone ’ s understanding of nonviolence .
Then they assume it ’ s provocateurs , it ’ s agents .
It ’ s a cop dressed up in in plain clothes and it doesn ’ t leave room for the nuance of maybe that ’ s how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or maybe that ’ s what this Community felt they needed to do in order to have their needs met .
All of those .
Yes , to all of those things .
One of the things that I , or a couple of things last year , was posed a lot around the conversation around violence and nonviolence .
There are a couple of different clips .
One , Angela Davis speaking about violence while she ’ s incarcerated .
And another one , Stokely speaking a little bit about violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar place like they ’ re not like necessarily in landing places like oh So what are we talking about right now ?
Angela Davis talked about growing up in Birmingham and you know , her mother was a school teacher for one of the little Black Girls who died and the church bombing and like also talking about oh among your first experiences with guns being black folks in the South protecting their homes , protecting each other , protecting their communities from white vigilantes from the KKK .
Other white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on a regular basis , and so it ’ s like , yeah , in that context it like this .
Nuances complicates everything .
What is , what is violence even people talking about people breaking into stores and like stealing things .
But again , you know .
Let ’ s contextualize if people are breaking into stores they ’ re stealing food .
Like yeah , there ’ s a lot of violence inherent in how the state purposely withholds resources from some of the folks who live here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks happen to most often be folks who are black and Brown and or that poor people in general don ’ t have access to the things that they need in order to live a full life , and one that will allow them to move beyond just the state of survival , right ?
So that actually is a form of violence .
So then again , it ’ s like yeah , what are we talking about , right ?
Or that you know , people think property destruction is violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills in their state legislatures that say that you can absolutely hit protesters with your car if they are just in the way right ?
So again , what are we talking about , right ?
RICO : Or like ?
What was the officer who fired into Brianna Taylor ’ s home ?
Was he actually charged with hitting a wall ?
Right ?
BRIANNA : Yeah ?
And then there ’ s also the layer , especially as like a black direct action organization , of black bodies are inherently considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is violent .
Black bodies are read as inherently violent , inherently full of , like , so much potential for violence .
And you know , I think separate from all of that , if we were really to go down the rabbit hole of conversation , there ’ s always the conversation around values that get weighted on to the words “ violent ” and “ nonviolent ” .
And that ’ s just a whole another thing .
But you know , there ’ s a lot there and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Understanding our training is usually actually trying to get folks to start teasing some of that out , and it ’ s really interesting what people come up with .
We ’ ll ask people , if certain actions are “ violent ” or “ non-violent ” , and then sometimes we ’ ll layer “ effective ” or “ not effective ” on top of it .
And it ’ s interesting .
RICO : I was trying to think how we could do a spectrogram in a podcast .
Like if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it because I would love to , for people who are , you know , kind of new to the idea of direct action or especially nonviolent direct action , to have the way to translate that experience to an audio podcast .
So if you have an idea let me know .
BRIANNA : I mean yeah , I mean we usually ask questions .
Folks to test it like in their minds sort of where they are .
Like –one of the questions that we usually start with like wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school is that violent nonviolent if you ’ re just going one way ; is it effective or not effective ?
Kind of like move [ to other examples ] from there .
Maybe to setting a police precinct on fire , destroying some cop cars , kids throwing rocks at soldiers right ?
And just see where people land .
And it ’ s interesting of course .
Also , the more complicated the situations get .
For instance kids throwing rocks at soldiers .
This is where people usually start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of like , well , throwing rocks at a person , but this person is a soldier , maybe even an occupying force .
It gets really interesting RICO : And just…shout out for blackout training .
Once again like I had so much fun at the one that y ’ all did here…I guess a year ago and that was my first time watching 90 Day Fiance actually .
BRIANNA : I know it was when I was just like so this is what we ’ re doing .
OK ?
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead and grab your lunch .
It ’ s a great show and there ’ s just so many versions of it that truly…shout out to that .
If you haven ’ t watched 90 day fiance and y ’ all are out there , if you haven ’ t watched Lovecraft and you ’ re out there .
Watch it .
RICO : Lovecraft is dope .
I ’ ve only seen a few episodes but I need to do a marathon of that .
So I have no segue at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question .
For people who are trying to get involved in direct action–maybe they voted and they want to know ‘ what can I do with this energy now ?
’ ‘ How can I get involved with direct action ?
‘ What are some of the on-ramps ?
BRIANNA : Yeah , if there ’ s a march or a rally you can always go to that .
But you can also just get linked up with any groups around you , folks around you who are doing different stuff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People still post Flyers there are a bunch of Flyers , so that ’ s still a thing .
People find different things on Facebook .
But also you know you can always get your own crew of people and decide that you are like- not with this thing or you are with this thing , and you want to do something about it and throw down together .
I mean , I feel like a lot of actions that I ’ ve been a part of were kind of like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yeah , the mayor of Oakland is spending the whole first couple of days of her tenure just talking to the Oakland police and most of them don ’ t even live in Oakland .
We ’ re like let ’ s just give her a people ‘ s inauguration or people ’ s wake up call .
Yeah , and you know we did it .
So yeah , I mean I think it ’ s a little bit of “ both and ” right ?
Keep your eye out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your area .
Do you see the same folks talking about things like this thing ?
Do you see folks who are constantly flyering ?
Or do you know people who even work at service organizations sometimes who are constantly trying to get you to come out for this thing or that .
See what folx are about and then also , like don ’ t be afraid to–obviously within reason , grab your crew and do a thing .
Which reminds me of , shout out the homies in Chicago who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defund the Chicago Police Department , which has been really interesting to witness just in terms of them doing mass training and then empowering folks , after they go through training , to plan their own actions .
Yeah , it ’ s been a very , very cool thing to watch because most campaigns like that are not that decentralized where some folks come to maybe 3 trainings and then you go to some mass organizing meetings , right ?
And then you ’ re planning actions with your crew in service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been dope to watch .
You can always do something like that .
You know ?
BRIANNA : Yeah over 1000 people in the first weekend .
RICO : And when you were talking about the resilience framework .
The first thing I thought of course was the Homan Square occupation on the Westside of Chicago .
BRIANNA : Yeah , yeah .
You want to talk about that ?
RICO : Fa sho , fa sho .
So Homan Square was a black site used by the Chicago Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects to interrogate them and torture them .
In fact , one of the police officers from Homan Square went to Guantanamo and then came back .
Basically I guess to trade tricks of the trade .
But activists took that space and occupied and it was super inspiring .
You could probably say more about what they actually did .
BRIANNA : Yeah , the Homan Square Occupation , they called it Freedom Square .
They didn ’ t even plan for it to be an occupation , right ?
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and BYP 100 Chicago chapter had planned to do a shutdown of Homan Square , block off the entrance .
And a couple of folks , Damon and Jennifer .
Kristiana from the Let Us Breathe Collective , at the same time wanted to provide a space to imagine what life could be if folks in that community actually had all of the resources and loving care that they deserve and need .
And so [ they ] took over that space .
I think the first night though , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , “ Yo , can we sleep out here ?
” and they were like , “ Yeah , sure.
” And then it became a thing .
And more folks came by and it was a really necessary space .
So yeah , shout out to that .
I actually did the..they had the four year anniversary party of it this past summer , which was also part of the activities around the defund CPD campaign .
So , pretty dope .
Shout out to the homies out there RICO : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to shout out Chicago , so thank you for the plug .
Thank you for the opportunity .
Right , so last question I have for you is what do we need now to take action in these times and to win liberation for our people .
I know you said this is the Desus and Mero .
“ What do you want your rainbow to say ” question ?
BRIANNA : There ’ s a spot for everybody in like the movement and in liberation work in general .
We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold particular space , so get in where you fit in , G. RICO : Our guest today was Brianna Gibson of Blackout Collective .
You can find them on Facebook at Blackout Collective , on Twitter at BLK Direct Action , and on Instagram at Black Direct Action .
Now we want all of y ’ all to take action .
The first thing imma ask you to do , which is the easiest way to do all the other things : text “ What We Need Now ” to 877-877.. That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things we referenced on the show .
You can follow Blackout Collective and you can get updates on what ’ s going on with us .
Also make sure that wherever you listen to this that you like it .
Subscribe and if you can , comment .
I prefer comments that don ’ t make any sense out of context so that people have to listen .
It ’ s a great , it ’ s a great tool .
Please do that .
And I ’ m really excited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be bringing the people behind the scenes in front of the mic .
This month you got to hear from Lauren Wiggins who ’ s been producing the podcast behind the scenes and next month you ’ re going to have Jonathan Butler , Jasmine Conwelll , Ish Herod and the whole podcast team and we ’ re all going to be sharing the space a little bit so I ’ m excited about that .
And that ’ s it for now .
I hope that you get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will see you next time on What We Need No


greenpeace--2020-12-07--How to talk about climate change with climate deniers

How to talk about climate change with climate deniers Actress , Entertainer , Writer and Greenpeace Activist Jane Fonda participates in the youth-led climate strike .
People in Los Angeles and across the U.S. left their homes , workplaces , and schools for a youth-led Global Climate Strike .
They marched and rallied to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis , and called on leaders to choose to side with young people , not fossil fuel executives polluting the planet for profit .
The September 20-27 global week of action is the beginning of a reckoning for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing movement of millions of people through the 2020 election toward a more just , green , and peaceful future for all .
I know it ’ s not easy to listen to the dire warnings coming from climate scientists to then be called a liar , a fraud , or part of a doomsday cult when you tell people the facts .
But we must not let that stop us from talking about climate change at every chance we get .
If you don ’ t talk about it , why would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t care , why would you ever act ?
Keep in mind that the deniers are in the minority .
73 percent of Americans believe in climate change .
But 42 percent don ’ t think it will affect them in their lifetimes .
In other words , we have an opening to talk , but we need to help people understand the urgency of the crisis .
That process starts by having these important conversations .
We must talk about the real-time damage that climate change is doing to the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why Greenpeace and I teamed up to create this guide .
We wanted to make sure you had the information and resources needed to talk to friends , family , and even strangers about climate change .
I hope it helps .
You never know whose life you might change .
Take a look around , the evidence is everywhere .
Extreme weather events exacerbated by global warming , such as hurricanes and forests fires , have been intensifying over recent years at unprecedented rates .
97 percent of climate scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act quickly to cut fossil fuel emissions , the climate crisis will continue to worsen .
Myth 2 : Even if it ’ s real , humans didn ’ t cause it .
The science is very clear and has been for the last 40 years .
Humans are responsible for burning fossil fuels and causing our current climate emergency .
Myth 3 : You ’ re just trying to take our jobs away .
A top priority of the climate movement needs to be making sure workers and communities are better off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unfortunately , 13 million people are currently unemployed in the U.S. right now .
That ’ s why we need to enact a green and just economic recovery in line with a Green New Deal that will put these 13 million people and more back to work — with millions employed directly in building clean infrastructure and renewable energy .
The good news is , the solutions to the climate crisis are very job-intensive and include transitioning to electric transportation , installing charging stations and retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build and install solar panels and wind turbines and make electric cars , batteries , buses and trains and so many other things that will be essential not only for the future but for now !
Our stance is that as we ’ re fighting for these new jobs , we need to fight equally hard to make sure workers have the ability to form a union to be sure as many of these jobs as possible are good family-sustaining jobs .
We also can think broadly about what our communities need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households are struggling to get water that ’ s safe to drink because our water and sanitation infrastructure is so decrepit ?
As we phase out fossil fuels over time , why not mobilize massive public and private investment to replace these pipes and other infrastructure , creating good union jobs while we protect people ’ s health at the same time !
For workers who don ’ t find a new high paying job in the transition off fossil fuels , pushing for a Green New Deal means advocating for a pension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance , health benefits and free job training to act as a bridge to a new career .
The oil and coal industry have laid off thousands of workers in the past couple years having nothing to do with climate change policy .
It ’ s time for workers everywhere to work together for long-term economic recovery that creates millions of unions jobs and can protect the climate and environmental justice communities at the same time !
That ’ s what the billionaires from the fossil fuel industry want us to think .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars on campaigns and think tanks aimed at sowing doubt .
It ’ s the same thing the tobacco industry did back in the day when they made us believe the science on smoking causing cancer was flawed .
Their old mantra was , “ if we can just get people to doubt , we win.
” As I have said in the past , scientists who aren ’ t being paid by the fossil fuel industry are in agreement about where they stand on the climate crisis .
Myth 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just build solar panels everywhere !
Here ’ s the thing : The longer we wait to jump into action on the climate emergency , the more expensive it will become .
In comparison , the Green New Deal is a real bargain .
We can afford $ 20 billion in direct annual subsidies and billions more in bailouts to fossil fuel companies .
We can afford spending $ 719 billion per year on a military budget that ’ s currently bigger than the military budgets from China , Russia , Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invest in the renewable energy and clean , modern infrastructure we need to transition away from fossil fuels .
Plus , investing in a future beyond fossil fuels with a Green New Deal will create good-paying jobs , healthier communities , and stronger infrastructure that will benefit our society many times over .
Myth 6 : The economy won ’ t be able to handle all the lost fossil fuel jobs .
The process of transition isn ’ t an overnight thing .
What we ’ re demanding is an end to expansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a gradual transition off fossil fuels until we end our reliance on fossil fuels as soon as possible , well before 2050 .
The new energy sector will provide far more jobs per dollar spent than the fossil fuel industry , and the jobs will be cleaner , safer and better for everyone ’ s health .
Myth 7 : The earth ’ s climate has always changed/fluctuated over centuries .
Yes , the climate has fluctuated in the past , but we are causing the current changes .
Things can have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s important to listen to the science .
Scientists have proven that the carbon emissions created from the burning of fossil fuels is causing global warming .
There is no controversy there at all .
We need to stop the use of fossil fuels to save the planet from climate catastrophe .
Myth 8 : Renewable energy only works when it ’ s not cloudy or windy .
An important part of building out a new clean energy sector of solar and wind power means building the storage batteries where that energy can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no sun or wind .
Not only are solar and wind generators great for the planet but they are less expensive to build than coal-powered plants and the cost of energy storage is also falling rapidly .
Myth 9 : China is the real culprit for causing climate change .
All countries need to work together to decarbonize , and China and other developing nations will be crucial to that effort .
But the US has a unique responsibility to lead on this issue due to our historical carbon emissions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everything we can do to help other nations shift their economy will benefit Americans .
What ’ s more , ending fossil fuel use here in the US will have immediate health benefits for Americans ( through reduced air pollution ) and will help reverse the legacy of environmental racism in our country .
Yes , they need to step up their efforts but as the country that has produced 20 percent of the carbon emissions through 2014 , the United States must take the lead on this , show China and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must help provide the technical assistance and some funding for less developed countries to be able to move directly to a clean , renewable economy , without becoming totally reliant on fossil fuels .
This is a global crisis and we are a country that has the capital and the technology to show the world how to transform our way of life to one that ’ s healthy and sustainable for all .
It ’ s possible , however no technological fix has been created that won ’ t still require us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of time to come up with such technological fixes and even more time to prove they don ’ t cause more harm than good .
Scientists say by 2030 , we must cut our carbon emissions in half so time is of the essence .
We can ’ t waste time hoping that some silver bullet solution like geoengineering is going to save us .
Myth 11 : Why bother with a Green New Deal when carbon pricing will get the job done instead ?
A price on carbon is fine as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate policy , and is probably a decent idea .
But it can ’ t solve the problem all by itself .
It ’ s not a magic bullet .
Studies have shown a carbon price could be a good mechanism for driving out coal and decarbonizing the electricity sector , but it is pretty ineffective for other sectors such as transportation , buildings , and industrial emissions .
Those sectors will require a more comprehensive approach to decarbonization .
There is also the issue of speed .
A politically feasible carbon price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we just don ’ t have time for that anymore .
We ’ re in a climate emergency and we need policies that can deploy renewable solutions over the next decade .
Myth 12 : Climate change is just a way for Greenpeace to fundraise .
You think Greenpeace has bribed all the climate scientists to issue their dire warnings ?
Greenpeace is powerful , but not that powerful .
Myth 13 : Won ’ t species just have to adapt like they always have ?
How is it different ?
Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a very lengthy process and the science is clear , if we don ’ t cut carbon emissions in the next 10 years entire ecosystems will begin to unravel beyond our control .
The ecosystem that is likely to feel climate change “ first ” is the Arctic , and it is happening now .
Although , the sea-level rise is more likely a big end of century impact , in the U.S. it will first happen in the coastal regions where rising sea levels will make those areas uninhabitable and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will expand due to rising temperatures and lower precipitation .
Myth 14 : Isn ’ t climate change just an excuse for people like AOC and Bernie to start a socialist takeover ?
Folks may assume this because the solutions to the climate crisis require a strong federal government providing resources to the states .
If that ’ s the assumption , then they must worry a lot about our taxpayers subsidies going to big corporations like the fossil fuel industry and to agrobusiness , to name just a few .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve learned with the pandemic , solutions to broad economic and health emergencies must have the strategic and financial backing of the federal government .
No other institution , certainly not the states on their own , have the capacity to address these emergencies .
Where to ?
That would only exacerbate climate migration and it takes money and resources to pack up and move and not everyone has the means to relocate at a moment ’ s notice .
This would also mean abandoning many of the major cities around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t nuclear power a solution to the climate crisis you also oppose ?
It takes many , many years to build a nuclear power plant and there are always enormous cost overruns .
We don ’ t have that kind of time before it ’ s too late .
Nuclear fission emits far less carbon dioxide than oil and gas-driven energy , but the uranium mining , processing and transport involved in a nuclear plant are all carbon intensive .
Additionally , we ’ ve never figured out how to dispose safely of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most unforgiving technology and its waste is a serious issue .
An American nuclear plant needs between 19 million and 1.4 billion gallons of water a day just for cooling purposes .
Because of this , the plants need to be built near major water sources .
This at a time when clean water is increasingly becoming scarce .
Flood risks and droughts have caused plant shutdowns .
Last year , Bloomberg Businessweek identified 19 U.S. nuclear power plants under threat from rising seas .
Myth 17 : It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxing us more to pay for social programs for people who don ’ t want to work .
When it comes to the Green New Deal , corporate America and the 1 percent billionaires will need to pay up .
There has been such disparity for so long in this country that social programs are essential to helping people get on their feet .
The vast majority of people want to work as it gives meaning to their lives .
When people have good jobs and social programs that help them get back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire country safer and stronger .
Myth 18 : Remember when it was “ Global Warming ?
” They had to change it , because the lie was obvious – where I live it was the coldest winter on record .
There is no contradiction between the terms “ global warming ” and “ climate change ” and both are used by scientists .
“ Climate change ” is often used to refer to the wide range of impacts that come with a changing climate , while “ global warming ” more narrowly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual temperatures across the globe .
Under global warming , the planet will still experience seasons , and even occasional extreme cold weather .
But on average , temperatures are increasing around the world .
Myth 19 : Don ’ t you fly / drive / eat cows / use plastic / own a phone ?
Hypocrites !
Climate activists and other concerned individuals are trying to lower their carbon footprints by cutting back on all those things .
However , the fact is even if we all made the necessary lifestyle changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scale fast enough to get us where the scientists say we need to be in time .
The fossil fuel industry loves to focus people ’ s attention on what kind of straw they use or whether they eat hamburgers .
It ’ s a great way to make us feel we ’ re at fault for the climate emergency when they are the ones to blame.We need strong government action because the market is not providing us with sustainable choices or options .
Myth 20 : The climate has always changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s climate has changed greatly over the millions of years of Earth ’ s history , but our current climate crisis is due to changes that humans have made to our atmosphere over the past century .
Just because your house ’ s temperature changes due to natural cycles doesn ’ t mean it ’ s a good idea to set it on fire .
In the short term , Earth ’ s temperatures can change because of factors like oceanic cycles like the El Nino Southern Oscillation ( ENSO ) or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cycles operate on long time periods , human activities are 100 percent changing the climate very rapidly right now .
Science doesn ’ t lie .
According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information , the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.13°F per decade since 1880 ( the beginning of the industrial revolution ) and over twice that rate +0.32°F since 1981 .
In 2019 , the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.71°F above the twentieth-century average of 57.0°F , making it the @ @ @ @ @

Jane Fonda on how to talk about climate change with climate deniers
Actress, Entertainer, Writer and Greenpeace Activist Jane Fonda participates in the youth-led climate strike. People in Los Angeles and across the U.S. left their homes, workplaces, and schools for a youth-led Global Climate Strike. They marched and rallied to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis, and called on leaders to choose to side with young people, not fossil fuel executives polluting the planet for profit. The September 20-27 global week of action is the beginning of a reckoning for the fossil fuel industry that will launch a growing movement of millions of people through the 2020 election toward a more just, green, and peaceful future for all.
I know it’s not easy to listen to the dire warnings coming from climate scientists to then be called a liar, a fraud, or part of a doomsday cult when you tell people the facts. But we must not let that stop us from talking about climate change at every chance we get. If you don’t talk about it, why would you care? And if you don’t care, why would you ever act?
Keep in mind that the deniers are in the minority. 73 percent of Americans believe in climate change. But 42 percent don’t think it will affect them in their lifetimes. In other words, we have an opening to talk, but we need to help people understand the urgency of the crisis. That process starts by having these important conversations.
We must talk about the real-time damage that climate change is doing to the things we care about right now. That’s why Greenpeace and I teamed up to create this guide. We wanted to make sure you had the information and resources needed to talk to friends, family, and even strangers about climate change.
I hope it helps. You never know whose life you might change.
Climate Change Myths
Myth 1: Climate change is fake news! What’s your evidence?
Take a look around, the evidence is everywhere. Extreme weather events exacerbated by global warming, such as hurricanes and forests fires, have been intensifying over recent years at unprecedented rates. 97 percent of climate scientists agree that if we don’t act quickly to cut fossil fuel emissions, the climate crisis will continue to worsen.
Myth 2: Even if it’s real, humans didn’t cause it.
The science is very clear and has been for the last 40 years. Humans are responsible for burning fossil fuels and causing our current climate emergency.
Myth 3: You’re just trying to take our jobs away.
A top priority of the climate movement needs to be making sure workers and communities are better off in the transition to a climate-safe economy. Unfortunately, 13 million people are currently unemployed in the U.S. right now. That’s why we need to enact a green and just economic recovery in line with a Green New Deal that will put these 13 million people and more back to work — with millions employed directly in building clean infrastructure and renewable energy.
The good news is, the solutions to the climate crisis are very job-intensive and include transitioning to electric transportation, installing charging stations and retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient and resilient. We’ll need to build and install solar panels and wind turbines and make electric cars, batteries, buses and trains and so many other things that will be essential not only for the future but for now! Our stance is that as we’re fighting for these new jobs, we need to fight equally hard to make sure workers have the ability to form a union to be sure as many of these jobs as possible are good family-sustaining jobs.
We also can think broadly about what our communities need. Did you know that 14 million households are struggling to get water that’s safe to drink because our water and sanitation infrastructure is so decrepit? As we phase out fossil fuels over time, why not mobilize massive public and private investment to replace these pipes and other infrastructure, creating good union jobs while we protect people’s health at the same time!
For workers who don’t find a new high paying job in the transition off fossil fuels, pushing for a Green New Deal means advocating for a pension guarantee or a safety net of wage insurance, health benefits and free job training to act as a bridge to a new career. The oil and coal industry have laid off thousands of workers in the past couple years having nothing to do with climate change policy. It’s time for workers everywhere to work together for long-term economic recovery that creates millions of unions jobs and can protect the climate and environmental justice communities at the same time!
Myth 4: Scientists are divided.
That’s what the billionaires from the fossil fuel industry want us to think. For decades they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on campaigns and think tanks aimed at sowing doubt. It’s the same thing the tobacco industry did back in the day when they made us believe the science on smoking causing cancer was flawed. Their old mantra was,“if we can just get people to doubt, we win.” As I have said in the past, scientists who aren’t being paid by the fossil fuel industry are in agreement about where they stand on the climate crisis.
Myth 5: We can’t afford to just build solar panels everywhere!
Here’s the thing: The longer we wait to jump into action on the climate emergency, the more expensive it will become. In comparison, the Green New Deal is a real bargain. We can afford $20 billion in direct annual subsidies and billions more in bailouts to fossil fuel companies. We can afford spending $719 billion per year on a military budget that’s currently bigger than the military budgets from China, Russia, Saudi Arabia combined.
We can certainly afford to invest in the renewable energy and clean, modern infrastructure we need to transition away from fossil fuels. Plus, investing in a future beyond fossil fuels with a Green New Deal will create good-paying jobs, healthier communities, and stronger infrastructure that will benefit our society many times over.
Myth 6: The economy won’t be able to handle all the lost fossil fuel jobs.
The process of transition isn’t an overnight thing. What we’re demanding is an end to expansion of fossil fuel production and the beginning of a gradual transition off fossil fuels until we end our reliance on fossil fuels as soon as possible, well before 2050. The new energy sector will provide far more jobs per dollar spent than the fossil fuel industry, and the jobs will be cleaner, safer and better for everyone’s health.
Myth 7: The earth’s climate has always changed/fluctuated over centuries.
Yes, the climate has fluctuated in the past, but we are causing the current changes. Things can have more than one cause and it’s important to listen to the science. Scientists have proven that the carbon emissions created from the burning of fossil fuels is causing global warming. There is no controversy there at all. We need to stop the use of fossil fuels to save the planet from climate catastrophe.
Myth 8: Renewable energy only works when it’s not cloudy or windy.
An important part of building out a new clean energy sector of solar and wind power means building the storage batteries where that energy can be stored for those times when there’s no sun or wind. Not only are solar and wind generators great for the planet but they are less expensive to build than coal-powered plants and the cost of energy storage is also falling rapidly.
Myth 9: China is the real culprit for causing climate change.
All countries need to work together to decarbonize, and China and other developing nations will be crucial to that effort. But the US has a unique responsibility to lead on this issue due to our historical carbon emissions and our current high per capita emissions. Everything we can do to help other nations shift their economy will benefit Americans. What’s more, ending fossil fuel use here in the US will have immediate health benefits for Americans (through reduced air pollution) and will help reverse the legacy of environmental racism in our country.
Yes, they need to step up their efforts but as the country that has produced 20 percent of the carbon emissions through 2014, the United States must take the lead on this, show China and other countries what can be done.
We must help provide the technical assistance and some funding for less developed countries to be able to move directly to a clean, renewable economy, without becoming totally reliant on fossil fuels. This is a global crisis and we are a country that has the capital and the technology to show the world how to transform our way of life to one that’s healthy and sustainable for all.
Myth 10: Don’t you think they’ll eventually find a technological fix?
It’s possible, however no technological fix has been created that won’t still require us to transform our economy. It takes a lot of time to come up with such technological fixes and even more time to prove they don’t cause more harm than good. Scientists say by 2030, we must cut our carbon emissions in half so time is of the essence. We can’t waste time hoping that some silver bullet solution like geoengineering is going to save us.
Myth 11: Why bother with a Green New Deal when carbon pricing will get the job done instead?
A price on carbon is fine as part of a larger, more comprehensive climate policy, and is probably a decent idea. But it can’t solve the problem all by itself. It’s not a magic bullet. Studies have shown a carbon price could be a good mechanism for driving out coal and decarbonizing the electricity sector, but it is pretty ineffective for other sectors such as transportation, buildings, and industrial emissions. Those sectors will require a more comprehensive approach to decarbonization.
There is also the issue of speed. A politically feasible carbon price would start low and rise steadily — and we just don’t have time for that anymore. We’re in a climate emergency and we need policies that can deploy renewable solutions over the next decade.
Myth 12: Climate change is just a way for Greenpeace to fundraise.
You think Greenpeace has bribed all the climate scientists to issue their dire warnings? Greenpeace is powerful, but not that powerful.
Myth 13: Won’t species just have to adapt like they always have? How is it different?
Global warming is happening so fast. Evolution/adaptation is a very lengthy process and the science is clear, if we don’t cut carbon emissions in the next 10 years entire ecosystems will begin to unravel beyond our control. The ecosystem that is likely to feel climate change “first” is the Arctic, and it is happening now.
Although, the sea-level rise is more likely a big end of century impact, in the U.S. it will first happen in the coastal regions where rising sea levels will make those areas uninhabitable and in the Mid and Southwest, desert areas will expand due to rising temperatures and lower precipitation.
Myth 14: Isn’t climate change just an excuse for people like AOC and Bernie to start a socialist takeover?
Folks may assume this because the solutions to the climate crisis require a strong federal government providing resources to the states. If that’s the assumption, then they must worry a lot about our taxpayers subsidies going to big corporations like the fossil fuel industry and to agrobusiness, to name just a few. That’s socialism too—corporate socialism.
As we’ve learned with the pandemic, solutions to broad economic and health emergencies must have the strategic and financial backing of the federal government. No other institution, certainly not the states on their own, have the capacity to address these emergencies.
Myth 15: Can’t people just move if sea levels rise?
Where to? That would only exacerbate climate migration and it takes money and resources to pack up and move and not everyone has the means to relocate at a moment’s notice. This would also mean abandoning many of the major cities around the world.
Myth 16: Isn’t nuclear power a solution to the climate crisis you also oppose?
It takes many, many years to build a nuclear power plant and there are always enormous cost overruns. We don’t have that kind of time before it’s too late.
Nuclear fission emits far less carbon dioxide than oil and gas-driven energy, but the uranium mining, processing and transport involved in a nuclear plant are all carbon intensive. Additionally, we’ve never figured out how to dispose safely of the waste. This is the world’s most unforgiving technology and its waste is a serious issue.
An American nuclear plant needs between 19 million and 1.4 billion gallons of water a day just for cooling purposes. Because of this, the plants need to be built near major water sources. This at a time when clean water is increasingly becoming scarce. Flood risks and droughts have caused plant shutdowns. Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek identified 19 U.S. nuclear power plants under threat from rising seas.
Myth 17: It’s a myth from the Democrats to justify taxing us more to pay for social programs for people who don’t want to work.
When it comes to the Green New Deal, corporate America and the 1 percent billionaires will need to pay up. There has been such disparity for so long in this country that social programs are essential to helping people get on their feet. The vast majority of people want to work as it gives meaning to their lives. When people have good jobs and social programs that help them get back on their feet, it makes the entire country safer and stronger.
Myth 18: Remember when it was “Global Warming?” They had to change it, because the lie was obvious – where I live it was the coldest winter on record.
There is no contradiction between the terms “global warming” and “climate change” and both are used by scientists. “Climate change” is often used to refer to the wide range of impacts that come with a changing climate, while “global warming” more narrowly refers to the observed increase in average annual temperatures across the globe.
Under global warming, the planet will still experience seasons, and even occasional extreme cold weather. But on average, temperatures are increasing around the world.
Myth 19: Don’t you fly / drive / eat cows / use plastic / own a phone? Hypocrites!
Climate activists and other concerned individuals are trying to lower their carbon footprints by cutting back on all those things. However, the fact is even if we all made the necessary lifestyle changes, they can’t be brought to scale fast enough to get us where the scientists say we need to be in time. The fossil fuel industry loves to focus people’s attention on what kind of straw they use or whether they eat hamburgers. It’s a great way to make us feel we’re at fault for the climate emergency when they are the ones to blame.We need strong government action because the market is not providing us with sustainable choices or options.
Myth 20: The climate has always changed.
It is true that the Earth’s climate has changed greatly over the millions of years of Earth’s history, but our current climate crisis is due to changes that humans have made to our atmosphere over the past century. Just because your house’s temperature changes due to natural cycles doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to set it on fire.
In the short term, Earth’s temperatures can change because of factors like oceanic cycles like the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) or the 11-year solar cycle. However, those cycles operate on long time periods, human activities are 100 percent changing the climate very rapidly right now.
Myth 21: Global average temperatures haven’t changed in 15…18…20 years
Science doesn’t lie. According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.13°F per decade since 1880 (the beginning of the industrial revolution) and over twice that rate +0.32°F since 1981. In 2019, the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.71°F above the twentieth-century average of 57.0°F, making it the second-warmest year on record.


greenpeace--2020-12-07--Jane Fonda on how to talk about climate change with climate deniers

Jane Fonds on how to talk about climate change with climate deniers Actress , Entertainer , Writer and Greenpeace Activist Jane Fonda participates in the youth-led climate strike .
People in Los Angeles and across the U.S. left their homes , workplaces , and schools for a youth-led Global Climate Strike .
They marched and rallied to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis , and called on leaders to choose to side with young people , not fossil fuel executives polluting the planet for profit .
The September 20-27 global week of action is the beginning of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will launch a growing movement of millions of people through the 2020 election toward a more just , green , and peaceful future for all .
I know it ’ s not easy to listen to the dire warnings coming from climate scientists to then be called a liar , a fraud , or part of a doomsday cult when you tell people the facts .
But we must not let that stop us from talking about climate change at every chance we get .
If you don ’ t talk about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you don ’ t care , why would you ever act ?
Keep in mind that the deniers are in the minority .
73 percent of Americans believe in climate change .
But 42 percent don ’ t think it will affect them in their lifetimes .
In other words , we have an opening to talk , but we need to help people understand the urgency of the crisis .
That process starts by having these important conversations .
We must talk about the real-time damage that climate change is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
That ’ s why Greenpeace and I teamed up to create this guide .
We wanted to make sure you had the information and resources needed to talk to friends , family , and even strangers about climate change .
I hope it helps .
You never know whose life you might change .
Take a look around , the evidence is everywhere .
Extreme weather events exacerbated by global warming , such as hurricanes and forests fires , have been intensifying over recent years at unprecedented rates .
97 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t act quickly to cut fossil fuel emissions , the climate crisis will continue to worsen .
Myth 2 : Even if it ’ s real , humans didn ’ t cause it .
The science is very clear and has been for the last 40 years .
Humans are responsible for burning fossil fuels and causing our current climate emergency .
Myth 3 : You ’ re just trying to take our jobs away .
A top priority of the climate movement needs to be making sure workers and communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a climate-safe economy .
Unfortunately , 13 million people are currently unemployed in the U.S. right now .
That ’ s why we need to enact a green and just economic recovery in line with a Green New Deal that will put these 13 million people and more back to work — with millions employed directly in building clean infrastructure and renewable energy .
The good news is , the solutions to the climate crisis are very job-intensive and include transitioning to electric transportation , installing charging stations and retrofitting buildings to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll need to build and install solar panels and wind turbines and make electric cars , batteries , buses and trains and so many other things that will be essential not only for the future but for now !
Our stance is that as we ’ re fighting for these new jobs , we need to fight equally hard to make sure workers have the ability to form a union to be sure as many of these jobs as possible are good family-sustaining jobs .
We also can think broadly about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 14 million households are struggling to get water that ’ s safe to drink because our water and sanitation infrastructure is so decrepit ?
As we phase out fossil fuels over time , why not mobilize massive public and private investment to replace these pipes and other infrastructure , creating good union jobs while we protect people ’ s health at the same time !
For workers who don ’ t find a new high paying job in the transition off fossil fuels , pushing for a Green New Deal means advocating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net of wage insurance , health benefits and free job training to act as a bridge to a new career .
The oil and coal industry have laid off thousands of workers in the past couple years having nothing to do with climate change policy .
It ’ s time for workers everywhere to work together for long-term economic recovery that creates millions of unions jobs and can protect the climate and environmental justice communities at the same time !
That ’ s what the billionaires from the fossil fuel industry want us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent hundreds of millions of dollars on campaigns and think tanks aimed at sowing doubt .
It ’ s the same thing the tobacco industry did back in the day when they made us believe the science on smoking causing cancer was flawed .
Their old mantra was , “ if we can just get people to doubt , we win.
” As I have said in the past , scientists who aren ’ t being paid by the fossil fuel industry are in agreement about where they stand on the climate crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t afford to just build solar panels everywhere !
Here ’ s the thing : The longer we wait to jump into action on the climate emergency , the more expensive it will become .
In comparison , the Green New Deal is a real bargain .
We can afford $ 20 billion in direct annual subsidies and billions more in bailouts to fossil fuel companies .
We can afford spending $ 719 billion per year on a military budget that ’ s currently bigger than the military budgets from China , Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly afford to invest in the renewable energy and clean , modern infrastructure we need to transition away from fossil fuels .
Plus , investing in a future beyond fossil fuels with a Green New Deal will create good-paying jobs , healthier communities , and stronger infrastructure that will benefit our society many times over .
Myth 6 : The economy won ’ t be able to handle all the lost fossil fuel jobs .
The process of transition isn ’ t an overnight thing .
What we ’ re demanding is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the beginning of a gradual transition off fossil fuels until we end our reliance on fossil fuels as soon as possible , well before 2050 .
The new energy sector will provide far more jobs per dollar spent than the fossil fuel industry , and the jobs will be cleaner , safer and better for everyone ’ s health .
Myth 7 : The earth ’ s climate has always changed/fluctuated over centuries .
Yes , the climate has fluctuated in the past , but we are causing the current changes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s important to listen to the science .
Scientists have proven that the carbon emissions created from the burning of fossil fuels is causing global warming .
There is no controversy there at all .
We need to stop the use of fossil fuels to save the planet from climate catastrophe .
Myth 8 : Renewable energy only works when it ’ s not cloudy or windy .
An important part of building out a new clean energy sector of solar and wind power means building the storage batteries where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times when there ’ s no sun or wind .
Not only are solar and wind generators great for the planet but they are less expensive to build than coal-powered plants and the cost of energy storage is also falling rapidly .
Myth 9 : China is the real culprit for causing climate change .
All countries need to work together to decarbonize , and China and other developing nations will be crucial to that effort .
But the US has a unique responsibility to lead on this issue due to our historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita emissions .
Everything we can do to help other nations shift their economy will benefit Americans .
What ’ s more , ending fossil fuel use here in the US will have immediate health benefits for Americans ( through reduced air pollution ) and will help reverse the legacy of environmental racism in our country .
Yes , they need to step up their efforts but as the country that has produced 20 percent of the carbon emissions through 2014 , the United States must take the lead on this , show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done .
We must help provide the technical assistance and some funding for less developed countries to be able to move directly to a clean , renewable economy , without becoming totally reliant on fossil fuels .
This is a global crisis and we are a country that has the capital and the technology to show the world how to transform our way of life to one that ’ s healthy and sustainable for all .
It ’ s possible , however no technological fix has been created that won ’ t still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It takes a lot of time to come up with such technological fixes and even more time to prove they don ’ t cause more harm than good .
Scientists say by 2030 , we must cut our carbon emissions in half so time is of the essence .
We can ’ t waste time hoping that some silver bullet solution like geoengineering is going to save us .
Myth 11 : Why bother with a Green New Deal when carbon pricing will get the job done instead ?
A price on carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more comprehensive climate policy , and is probably a decent idea .
But it can ’ t solve the problem all by itself .
It ’ s not a magic bullet .
Studies have shown a carbon price could be a good mechanism for driving out coal and decarbonizing the electricity sector , but it is pretty ineffective for other sectors such as transportation , buildings , and industrial emissions .
Those sectors will require a more comprehensive approach to decarbonization .
There is also the issue of speed .
A politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise steadily — and we just don ’ t have time for that anymore .
We ’ re in a climate emergency and we need policies that can deploy renewable solutions over the next decade .
Myth 12 : Climate change is just a way for Greenpeace to fundraise .
You think Greenpeace has bribed all the climate scientists to issue their dire warnings ?
Greenpeace is powerful , but not that powerful .
Myth 13 : Won ’ t species just have to adapt like they always have ?
How is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast .
Evolution/adaptation is a very lengthy process and the science is clear , if we don ’ t cut carbon emissions in the next 10 years entire ecosystems will begin to unravel beyond our control .
The ecosystem that is likely to feel climate change “ first ” is the Arctic , and it is happening now .
Although , the sea-level rise is more likely a big end of century impact , in the U.S. it will first happen in the coastal regions where rising sea levels will make those areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , desert areas will expand due to rising temperatures and lower precipitation .
Myth 14 : Isn ’ t climate change just an excuse for people like AOC and Bernie to start a socialist takeover ?
Folks may assume this because the solutions to the climate crisis require a strong federal government providing resources to the states .
If that ’ s the assumption , then they must worry a lot about our taxpayers subsidies going to big corporations like the fossil fuel industry and to agrobusiness , to name just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As we ’ ve learned with the pandemic , solutions to broad economic and health emergencies must have the strategic and financial backing of the federal government .
No other institution , certainly not the states on their own , have the capacity to address these emergencies .
Where to ?
That would only exacerbate climate migration and it takes money and resources to pack up and move and not everyone has the means to relocate at a moment ’ s notice .
This would also mean abandoning many of the major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Isn ’ t nuclear power a solution to the climate crisis you also oppose ?
It takes many , many years to build a nuclear power plant and there are always enormous cost overruns .
We don ’ t have that kind of time before it ’ s too late .
Nuclear fission emits far less carbon dioxide than oil and gas-driven energy , but the uranium mining , processing and transport involved in a nuclear plant are all carbon intensive .
Additionally , we ’ ve never figured out how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the world ’ s most unforgiving technology and its waste is a serious issue .
An American nuclear plant needs between 19 million and 1.4 billion gallons of water a day just for cooling purposes .
Because of this , the plants need to be built near major water sources .
This at a time when clean water is increasingly becoming scarce .
Flood risks and droughts have caused plant shutdowns .
Last year , Bloomberg Businessweek identified 19 U.S. nuclear power plants under threat from rising seas .
Myth 17 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats to justify taxing us more to pay for social programs for people who don ’ t want to work .
When it comes to the Green New Deal , corporate America and the 1 percent billionaires will need to pay up .
There has been such disparity for so long in this country that social programs are essential to helping people get on their feet .
The vast majority of people want to work as it gives meaning to their lives .
When people have good jobs and social programs that help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it makes the entire country safer and stronger .
Myth 18 : Remember when it was “ Global Warming ?
” They had to change it , because the lie was obvious – where I live it was the coldest winter on record .
There is no contradiction between the terms “ global warming ” and “ climate change ” and both are used by scientists .
“ Climate change ” is often used to refer to the wide range of impacts that come with a changing climate , while “ global warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in average annual temperatures across the globe .
Under global warming , the planet will still experience seasons , and even occasional extreme cold weather .
But on average , temperatures are increasing around the world .
Myth 19 : Don ’ t you fly / drive / eat cows / use plastic / own a phone ?
Hypocrites !
Climate activists and other concerned individuals are trying to lower their carbon footprints by cutting back on all those things .
However , the fact is even if we all made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be brought to scale fast enough to get us where the scientists say we need to be in time .
The fossil fuel industry loves to focus people ’ s attention on what kind of straw they use or whether they eat hamburgers .
It ’ s a great way to make us feel we ’ re at fault for the climate emergency when they are the ones to blame.We need strong government action because the market is not providing us with sustainable choices or options .
Myth 20 : The climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Earth ’ s climate has changed greatly over the millions of years of Earth ’ s history , but our current climate crisis is due to changes that humans have made to our atmosphere over the past century .
Just because your house ’ s temperature changes due to natural cycles doesn ’ t mean it ’ s a good idea to set it on fire .
In the short term , Earth ’ s temperatures can change because of factors like oceanic cycles like the El Nino Southern Oscillation ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , those cycles operate on long time periods , human activities are 100 percent changing the climate very rapidly right now .
Science doesn ’ t lie .
According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information , the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.13°F per decade since 1880 ( the beginning of the industrial revolution ) and over twice that rate +0.32°F since 1981 .
In 2019 , the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.71°F above the twentieth-century average of 57.0°F , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


greenpeace--2020-12-14--Walmart is misleading us on plastics

Walmart is misleading us on plastics

The holiday season is here and Walmart is still using misleading recyclability labels on its disposable plastic products and packaging .
The holiday season is here and Walmart is still using misleading recyclability labels on its disposable plastic products and packaging .
This spring , a shocking Greenpeace investigative report revealed that many common plastics labeled “ recyclable ” by Walmart and other major plastic polluting companies are actually not recyclable .
This means that the majority of single-use plastics you dutifully “ recycle ” during the holidays and year-round are likely to be incinerated , landfilled , or wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart would be shocked too…but we were wrong .
Even after being informed months ago , Walmart is still misleading consumers about the recyclability of its throwaway plastic products and packaging .
Because of these false recycling claims , Greenpeace is taking things to the next level by suing Walmart for misleading its customers .
The lawsuit demands that Walmart immediately stop using false and misleading recyclability labels on disposable plastic products and packaging sold under Walmart ’ s private labels .
Companies can ’ t keep customers in the dark especially when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line .
According to Walmart , the megastore is committed to 100 percent recyclable , reusable , or industrially-compostable packaging in its in-house private brand label by 2025 .
That commitment is meaningless until Walmart removes false recycling labels from its single-use plastic products and packaging .
Add your voice today to demand Walmart strip false recycling labels from its store brand plastic packaging .
This rampant greenwashing by powerful corporations is why Greenpeace filed a lawsuit against Walmart calling for it to immediately correct this plastic recycling cover-up by removing these false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have more power than ever to call out Walmart for misleading us about its plastic products .
This is a monumental campaign .
Walmart is the largest U.S. retailer , and a winning suit will set a powerful precedent for other corporations to follow suit in removing their false plastic recycling labels .
Amp up our work today by adding your name to demand Walmart remove false recycling labels from its plastic packaging .

The holiday season is here and Walmart is still using misleading recyclability labels on its disposable plastic products and packaging.
The holiday season is here and Walmart is still using misleading recyclability labels on its disposable plastic products and packaging.
This spring, a shocking Greenpeace investigative report revealed that many common plastics labeled “recyclable” by Walmart and other major plastic polluting companies are actually not recyclable. This means that the majority of single-use plastics you dutifully “recycle” during the holidays and year-round are likely to be incinerated, landfilled, or wind up in the environment.
Greenpeace thought Walmart would be shocked too…but we were wrong. Even after being informed months ago, Walmart is still misleading consumers about the recyclability of its throwaway plastic products and packaging.
Because of these false recycling claims, Greenpeace is taking things to the next level by suing Walmart for misleading its customers. The lawsuit demands that Walmart immediately stop using false and misleading recyclability labels on disposable plastic products and packaging sold under Walmart’s private labels.
Companies can’t keep customers in the dark especially when our communities and planet are on the line.
Add your voice
According to Walmart, the megastore is committed to 100 percent recyclable, reusable, or industrially-compostable packaging in its in-house private brand label by 2025. That commitment is meaningless until Walmart removes false recycling labels from its single-use plastic products and packaging.
Add your voice today to demand Walmart strip false recycling labels from its store brand plastic packaging.
Add your voice
This rampant greenwashing by powerful corporations is why Greenpeace filed a lawsuit against Walmart calling for it to immediately correct this plastic recycling cover-up by removing these false labels. And as customers, we have more power than ever to call out Walmart for misleading us about its plastic products.
This is a monumental campaign. Walmart is the largest U.S. retailer, and a winning suit will set a powerful precedent for other corporations to follow suit in removing their false plastic recycling labels.
Amp up our work today by adding your name to demand Walmart remove false recycling labels from its plastic packaging.
Add your voice