greenpeace--2020-10-23--Joe Biden Marks the Beginning of the End for the Oil Industry

On the biggest stage of the presidential campaign , Biden is showing that he understands the central challenge of the climate crisis — the need to fundamentally and completely transition our economy away from dirty fossil energy that is poisoning our communities .
Last night in the final presidential debate , Joe Biden said something huge about climate change and environmental justice .
When Donald Trump accused him of wanting to “ close down the oil industry , ” Biden didn ’ t back down .
He said he wanted to “ transition from the oil industry ” and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewable energy over time.
” We agree !
Even more importantly , Biden connected this to the need to protect “ fenceline ” communities from “ chemical plants and oil plants and refineries that pollute.
” Some pundits think this will hurt Biden with working class voters .
This is simply not true .
People all over the country want to live in safe , healthy , and resilient communities and they want good , union jobs that will provide economic security for their families for generations to come .
The recent crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEOs ran away with million-dollar bonuses while skirting promises to their workers — shows just how unjust and chaotic an unmanaged transition would be .
Biden is arguing that we need a managed phase out of polluting industries that leaves everyone better off .
On the biggest stage of the presidential campaign , Biden is showing that he understands the central challenge of the climate crisis — the need to fundamentally and completely transition our economy away from dirty fossil energy that is poisoning our communities .
For too long , politicians have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and gas industry can continue unchanged — with maybe a few tweaks or adjustments around the edges .
That stance may allow oil investors and executives to squeeze out a few more profitable years , but it is dangerous snake oil for workers and communities .
What Joe said is what scientists and economists have been saying for years : the end of oil is inevitable .
The only question left is how fast can we put in place the policies to win the managed phaseout that workers , communities and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response shows that he understands that “ normal was a crisis ” and the only way forward is to build a new economy that puts the needs of people first , not polluters .
Although Joe Biden didn ’ t land at the very top of our 2020 Presidential Scorecard , his climate plan is still the “ most ambitious and far-reaching climate platform of any presidential nominee for a major party in history.
” Last night , Joe reiterated some of the strong policies in that plan .
Biden again pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidies that go to support fossil fuel production .
If he ’ s elected president , Greenpeace will hold him and the next Congress accountable to this commitment .
It is unconscionable that the United States is still handing out $ 20 billion in direct subsidies and allowing over $ 600 billion in indirect subsidies to coal , oil , and gas companies every year .
Redirecting those public funds would be a down payment on the investments we need to make to build a new economy .
While Biden didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he did reiterate his opposition to fracking and oil development on federal lands .
Biden ’ s climate plan calls for an end to new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters .
Greenpeace will push Biden to keep this promise and sign an Executive Order on day one ending new fossil fuel leases on public lands and waters , while also supporting fossil fuel workers and communities during the transition .
Biden also showed he understands , on a personal level , the burdens of pollution on low-income and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downstream from fossil fuel facilities : “ I used to live near that when I was growing up in Claymont , Delaware and there are more oil refineries in Marcus Hook and the Delaware River than there is any place , including in Houston at the time .
When my mom [ got ] in the car and when there [ was the ] first frost to drive me to school , turning the windshield wiper [ on ] , there ’ d be an oil slick on the window .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state were dying and getting cancer .
The fact is those frontline communities , it ’ s not a matter of what you ’ re paying them .
It matters how you keep them safe.
” Of course , Biden ’ s climate plan isn ’ t perfect .
Last night he again mentioned carbon capture as a means of reducing carbon emissions .
This is a risky false solution that could serve to prop up the fossil fuel industry — and leave communities at risk — rather than phase it out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to hold the line against false solutions and keep Biden focused on doing what science and justice demand .
The pandemic has laid bare the ugly legacy of systemic racism in America , the weakness of our healthcare system , and the lunacy of an energy system built on pollution .
We won ’ t go back to how things were , and together we can push for a Just Recovery that shows the way to a truly justice-centered and renewable economy .
As Joe Biden said last night , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to breathe.
” We know that the upcoming election will be critical to making this future a reality .
Join Greenpeace ’ s 2020 Volunteer Team today !

On the biggest stage of the presidential campaign, Biden is showing that he understands the central challenge of the climate crisis — the need to fundamentally and completely transition our economy away from dirty fossil energy that is poisoning our communities.
Last night in the final presidential debate, Joe Biden said something huge about climate change and environmental justice.
When Donald Trump accused him of wanting to “close down the oil industry,” Biden didn’t back down. He said he wanted to “transition from the oil industry” and that it “has to be replaced by renewable energy over time.” We agree! Even more importantly, Biden connected this to the need to protect “fenceline” communities from “chemical plants and oil plants and refineries that pollute.”
Some pundits think this will hurt Biden with working class voters. This is simply not true. People all over the country want to live in safe, healthy, and resilient communities and they want good, union jobs that will provide economic security for their families for generations to come. The recent crash in the coal industry — in which CEOs ran away with million-dollar bonuses while skirting promises to their workers — shows just how unjust and chaotic an unmanaged transition would be. Biden is arguing that we need a managed phase out of polluting industries that leaves everyone better off.
On the biggest stage of the presidential campaign, Biden is showing that he understands the central challenge of the climate crisis — the need to fundamentally and completely transition our economy away from dirty fossil energy that is poisoning our communities. For too long, politicians have peddled the public relations lie that the oil and gas industry can continue unchanged — with maybe a few tweaks or adjustments around the edges. That stance may allow oil investors and executives to squeeze out a few more profitable years, but it is dangerous snake oil for workers and communities.
What Joe said is what scientists and economists have been saying for years: the end of oil is inevitable. The only question left is how fast can we put in place the policies to win the managed phaseout that workers, communities and the climate truly need.
Biden’s response shows that he understands that “normal was a crisis” and the only way forward is to build a new economy that puts the needs of people first, not polluters.
From Words to Actions
Although Joe Biden didn’t land at the very top of our 2020 Presidential Scorecard, his climate plan is still the “most ambitious and far-reaching climate platform of any presidential nominee for a major party in history.” Last night, Joe reiterated some of the strong policies in that plan.
Biden again pledged to end the billions of dollars in federal subsidies that go to support fossil fuel production. If he’s elected president, Greenpeace will hold him and the next Congress accountable to this commitment. It is unconscionable that the United States is still handing out $20 billion in direct subsidies and allowing over $600 billion in indirect subsidies to coal, oil, and gas companies every year. Redirecting those public funds would be a down payment on the investments we need to make to build a new economy.
While Biden didn’t call for a full ban on fracking, he did reiterate his opposition to fracking and oil development on federal lands. Biden’s climate plan calls for an end to new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. Greenpeace will push Biden to keep this promise and sign an Executive Order on day one ending new fossil fuel leases on public lands and waters, while also supporting fossil fuel workers and communities during the transition.
Biden also showed he understands, on a personal level, the burdens of pollution on low-income and communities of color who live downwind and downstream from fossil fuel facilities:
“I used to live near that when I was growing up in Claymont, Delaware and there are more oil refineries in Marcus Hook and the Delaware River than there is any place, including in Houston at the time. When my mom [got] in the car and when there [was the] first frost to drive me to school, turning the windshield wiper [on], there’d be an oil slick on the window. That’s why so many people in my state were dying and getting cancer. The fact is those frontline communities, it’s not a matter of what you’re paying them. It matters how you keep them safe.”
Of course, Biden’s climate plan isn’t perfect. Last night he again mentioned carbon capture as a means of reducing carbon emissions. This is a risky false solution that could serve to prop up the fossil fuel industry — and leave communities at risk — rather than phase it out. If Biden is elected, our movement will have to hold the line against false solutions and keep Biden focused on doing what science and justice demand.
Build Back Better
The pandemic has laid bare the ugly legacy of systemic racism in America, the weakness of our healthcare system, and the lunacy of an energy system built on pollution. We won’t go back to how things were, and together we can push for a Just Recovery that shows the way to a truly justice-centered and renewable economy. As Joe Biden said last night, “The future lies in us being able to breathe.”
We know that the upcoming election will be critical to making this future a reality. Join Greenpeace’s 2020 Volunteer Team today!


greenpeace--2020-10-26--What’s at Stake in 2020: Our Public Lands

What ’ s at Stake in 2020 : Our Public Lands Since day one of his administration , Donald Trump has pursued what he calls his “ Energy Dominance ” agenda .
It ’ s a fancy , deceptive way of saying that his friends at all the big energy companies need even MORE taxpayer subsidies , no matter how much destruction is left in their wake .
Target number one ?
Our shared public lands .
So far , their plan has worked .
In the last four years , the Trump administration has removed ( or is attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which represent our country ’ s unique and irreplaceable ecological and cultural heritage .
Public lands create access for communities to experience the natural world , they draw down carbon and are crucial to the fight against climate change , and they include traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land for generations .
Handing these lands over to extractive industries is an unmitigated disaster , and a second term would be even worse .
That ’ s why Greenpeace has launched a massive volunteer program to contact millions of voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote with protecting these precious places in mind .
And we want to make sure that YOU have the tools and resources you need to vote for the environment too .
Make your plan to vote — whether it ’ s by mail , voting early in person , or voting on Election Day — using our ballot tool .
And once you ’ ve made a plan to vote , share it with at least FIVE people you know and get them to fill it out too .
make a plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible picture of why we can ’ t afford four more years under this administration .
Here are just a few examples of what ’ s already happening under Trump .
We can expect more of the same ( or worse ) if his policies live on : • None In 2017 , Trump reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument — 1.3 million acres of historic land in Utah — by 85 % for more oil and gas drilling .
He did so despite fierce opposition by Navajo , Hopi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Uintah Ouray Ute communities who have been leading the fight to protect Bears Ears and its ecological and cultural heritage for decades .
• None That same year , he reduced the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — nearly 1.9 million acres of protected land in Utah — by 47 % for coal mining .
• None Since 2019 , he ’ s been trying to open up American coastlines to expanded offshore drilling .
While coalition groups have been able to block his plans so far , there ’ s no guarantee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice .
• None In 2020 , Trump finalized plans to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing .
That ’ s an existential threat to the Gwich ’ in community which has relied on the Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou Herd for thousands of years .
• None Just a few months ago , Trump opened up the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument — nearly 5,000 square miles in the Atlantic — to industrial fishing .
Four more years of the current status quo won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rollbacks remain in place .
It will ensure that even worse ones get added to it .
We can ’ t let that happen .
make a plan to vote The science is clear : we need our policymakers — from the White House to the halls of Congress — to begin a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry IMMEDIATELY .
And we ’ re doing the critical work — alongside thousands of volunteers — to make that happen .
I hope you ’ ll join us .

What’s at Stake in 2020: Our Public Lands
Since day one of his administration, Donald Trump has pursued what he calls his “Energy Dominance” agenda. It’s a fancy, deceptive way of saying that his friends at all the big energy companies need even MORE taxpayer subsidies, no matter how much destruction is left in their wake. Target number one? Our shared public lands.
So far, their plan has worked. In the last four years, the Trump administration has removed—or is attempting to remove—protections from public lands that represent our country’s unique, irreplaceable ecological and cultural heritage. Public lands create access for communities to experience the natural world. They draw down carbon. They are crucial to the fight against climate change. And they include traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land for generations.
Handing public lands over to extractive industries is an unmitigated disaster. A second term of this administration would make things even worse.
That’s why Greenpeace has launched a massive volunteer program to contact millions of voters around the country and encourage them to vote with protecting these precious places in mind. We want to make sure that you have the tools and resources you need to vote for the environment, too.
Make your plan to vote — whether it’s by mail, voting early in person, or voting on Election Day — using our ballot tool. Once you’ve made a plan to vote, share it with at least FIVE people you know and get them to fill it out too.
make a plan to vote
I want to paint the clearest possible picture of why we can’t afford four more years under this administration. Here are just a few examples of what’s already happening under Trump. We can expect more of the same (or worse) if his policies live on:
In 2017, Trump reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument — 1.3 million acres of historic land in Utah — by 85% for more oil and gas drilling. He did so despite fierce opposition by Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, & Uintah Ouray Ute communities who have been leading the fight to protect Bears Ears and its ecological and cultural heritage for decades. That same year, he reduced the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — nearly 1.9 million acres of protected land in Utah — by 47% for coal mining. Since 2019, he’s been trying to open up American coastlines to expanded offshore drilling. While coalition groups have been able to block his plans so far, there’s no guarantee we’ll win the same battle twice. In 2020, Trump finalized plans to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing. That’s an existential threat to the Gwich’in community which has relied on the Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou Herd for thousands of years. Just a few months ago, Trump opened up the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument — nearly 5,000 square miles in the Atlantic — to industrial fishing.
Four more years of the current status quo won’t just ensure that the above rollbacks remain in place—it will ensure that even worse policies are enacted. We can’t let that happen.
make a plan to vote
The science is clear: we need our policymakers, from the White House to the halls of Congress, to begin a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry IMMEDIATELY. And we’re doing the critical work, alongside thousands of volunteers, to make that happen. I hope you’ll join us.
As the deadline for voting approaches, we’re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you, your friends, family, neighbors, and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close. Our “What’s at Stake” series highlights a key issue that’s on the ballot. If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time. If people in your circle are on the fence, please share this post or have a conversation with them today.


greenpeace--2020-10-26--What My Octopus Teacher Has to Teach Us

What My Octopus Teacher Has to Teach Us

What My Octopus Teacher Has to Teach Us If a few hours in a submarine can teach us this much about an ecosystem , imagine what can be learned by spending a year getting to know one octopus ?
Most of what we know about the ocean comes from what we have killed – pulled up in nets , caught on hooks , or dredged up from the bottom .
If we can ’ t kill it and count it , some argue , is it really even science at all ?
This approach might be useful to figure out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and still leave enough so we ’ ll have fish to catch next year , but it doesn ’ t teach us how ecosystems function .
How do species interact with each other ?
Where do they breed , where do they seek shelter , how do their behaviors change throughout their lives ?
Compare that to My Octopus Teacher , the documentary currently winning over audiences on Netflix with its intimate portrait of a common octopus , filmed on daily visits to its kelp forest home over the course of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South African filmmaker , the relationship between man and mollusc might be the love story we all need right now .
My firm belief that , just as with this octopus , we only really understand an animal when we see it within its natural environment is what brought me to in situ research .
Using SCUBA , snorkeling , and submersibles are all ways to take this in situ approach to studying life in the ocean , as is the freediving favored by Craig Foster in My Octopus Teacher .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic , and every dive was a revelation .
Back in 2008 , I traveled to Seattle to meet with government scientists studying Alaskan fisheries .
Greenpeace had just finished the first ever research sub dives in two of the world ’ s largest underwater canyons , and I was eager to share our findings .
It was my first big expedition involving submersibles , and every dive was magical .
A pair of Dall ’ s porpoises followed us down into the depths on one dive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documented bright pink rockfish nestled up against delicate corals and sponges , some of which have been around longer than the United States .
I even had my own octopus moment with a beautiful purple giant Pacific octopus so close I could literally see it contemplating what to do with this strange visitor to its home 1400 feet below the surface of the Bering Sea .
What a gift .
We had hundreds of hours of scientific footage , covering miles of seafloor habitat .
I showed a short clip to their lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a team dominated by fisheries biologists whose primary purpose was to serve the commercial fishing industry .
He reacted just as I ’ d hoped , saying that the footage would change their understanding of how the whole ecosystem works .
One short clip made him see things differently , he said , and he was eager to collaborate – this could change their whole approach .
I was still naive enough at the time to believe it would happen .
There are some truly great people doing fisheries science , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research that the fishing industry doesn ’ t like .
Four separate scientists used the phrase “ career suicide ” to describe what it would mean even to ask questions that might lead to unpopular answers .
It quickly became clear that in situ studies were seen as a threat to the fishing industry ’ s insistence that Alaska fisheries are the best managed in the world .
All that data we provided , which the scientists agreed would not just add to what we know but change the way we look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we worked with a team of Brazilian scientists to explore the Amazon Reef in situ for the first time .
They had just published a groundbreaking paper revealing the presence of an enormous reef stretching underneath the plume of the Amazon River mouth .
I brought down the lead scientist in a two person sub , and neither one of us knew what we ’ d find .
The images we captured ended up on the front pages of newspapers all over the world .
But most of all , I remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ship , and popped open the hatches of our sub .
The scientist was mobbed by his colleagues , eager to hear what we saw .
Thompson , with tears of joy in his eyes , blurted “ everything in our paper is now obsolete.
” We learned so much in one short dive that it gave him a completely new picture of the ecosystem .
If a few hours in a submarine can teach us this much about an ecosystem , imagine what can be learned by spending a year getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never fully understand the complexity of our oceans .
Pretending that we can see the whole picture from the scraps of data we get from killing and counting things we rip out of the water will continue to lead to collapsed fisheries , lost habitat , and species extinctions .
Expanding our view of science to incorporate more in situ research will help , but even that will never be enough to avoid the kinds of unintended consequences that can cause irreparable environmental and economic devastation .
We need to take a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our oceans .
The best tools we have are often the simplest .
To avoid damaging so much of our Blue Planet that it no longer serves as a safe home for ocean animals , or even for us , we need to leave some of it in peace .
Establishing a network of areas that are off-limits to fishing , mining , and drilling would be the ocean equivalent of creating national parks on land .
But unfortunately , this kind of common sense approach has so far been less than common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oceans are fully protected .
The United Nations is in the midst of negotiating a new Global Ocean Treaty .
If we get this right , it will enable us to scale up ocean sanctuaries for the first time .
If we get this right , we will be able to go from the less than 2 % currently protected to the 30 % by 2030 that most marine ecologists say is necessary .
You can help !
Join the call for a strong Global Ocean Treaty .

What My Octopus Teacher Has to Teach Us
If a few hours in a submarine can teach us this much about an ecosystem, imagine what can be learned by spending a year getting to know one octopus?
Most of what we know about the ocean comes from what we have killed – pulled up in nets, caught on hooks, or dredged up from the bottom. If we can’t kill it and count it, some argue, is it really even science at all? This approach might be useful to figure out how many fish we can catch this year and still leave enough so we’ll have fish to catch next year, but it doesn’t teach us how ecosystems function. How do species interact with each other? Where do they breed, where do they seek shelter, how do their behaviors change throughout their lives?
Compare that to My Octopus Teacher, the documentary currently winning over audiences on Netflix with its intimate portrait of a common octopus, filmed on daily visits to its kelp forest home over the course of a year. Told through the eyes of the South African filmmaker, the relationship between man and mollusc might be the love story we all need right now.
My firm belief that, just as with this octopus, we only really understand an animal when we see it within its natural environment is what brought me to in situ research. Using SCUBA, snorkeling, and submersibles are all ways to take this in situ approach to studying life in the ocean, as is the freediving favored by Craig Foster in My Octopus Teacher. I’ve used submersibles to study our ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and every dive was a revelation.
Back in 2008, I traveled to Seattle to meet with government scientists studying Alaskan fisheries. Greenpeace had just finished the first ever research sub dives in two of the world’s largest underwater canyons, and I was eager to share our findings. It was my first big expedition involving submersibles, and every dive was magical. A pair of Dall’s porpoises followed us down into the depths on one dive, just because they could. We documented bright pink rockfish nestled up against delicate corals and sponges, some of which have been around longer than the United States. I even had my own octopus moment with a beautiful purple giant Pacific octopus so close I could literally see it contemplating what to do with this strange visitor to its home 1400 feet below the surface of the Bering Sea. What a gift.
We had hundreds of hours of scientific footage, covering miles of seafloor habitat. I showed a short clip to their lead ecosystem guy, who was an outlier on a team dominated by fisheries biologists whose primary purpose was to serve the commercial fishing industry. He reacted just as I’d hoped, saying that the footage would change their understanding of how the whole ecosystem works. One short clip made him see things differently, he said, and he was eager to collaborate – this could change their whole approach. I was still naive enough at the time to believe it would happen.
There are some truly great people doing fisheries science, but it is a tough place to do research that the fishing industry doesn’t like. Four separate scientists used the phrase “career suicide” to describe what it would mean even to ask questions that might lead to unpopular answers. It quickly became clear that in situ studies were seen as a threat to the fishing industry’s insistence that Alaska fisheries are the best managed in the world. All that data we provided, which the scientists agreed would not just add to what we know but change the way we look at things, was ignored.
Years later, we worked with a team of Brazilian scientists to explore the Amazon Reef in situ for the first time. They had just published a groundbreaking paper revealing the presence of an enormous reef stretching underneath the plume of the Amazon River mouth. I brought down the lead scientist in a two person sub, and neither one of us knew what we’d find. The images we captured ended up on the front pages of newspapers all over the world. But most of all, I remember the scene when we got back to the ship, and popped open the hatches of our sub. The scientist was mobbed by his colleagues, eager to hear what we saw. Thompson, with tears of joy in his eyes, blurted “everything in our paper is now obsolete.” We learned so much in one short dive that it gave him a completely new picture of the ecosystem.
If a few hours in a submarine can teach us this much about an ecosystem, imagine what can be learned by spending a year getting to know one octopus?
We will never fully understand the complexity of our oceans. Pretending that we can see the whole picture from the scraps of data we get from killing and counting things we rip out of the water will continue to lead to collapsed fisheries, lost habitat, and species extinctions. Expanding our view of science to incorporate more in situ research will help, but even that will never be enough to avoid the kinds of unintended consequences that can cause irreparable environmental and economic devastation. We need to take a more holistic and precautionary approach to stewardship of our oceans.
The best tools we have are often the simplest. To avoid damaging so much of our Blue Planet that it no longer serves as a safe home for ocean animals, or even for us, we need to leave some of it in peace. Establishing a network of areas that are off-limits to fishing, mining, and drilling would be the ocean equivalent of creating national parks on land. But unfortunately, this kind of common sense approach has so far been less than common. Less than 2% of our oceans are fully protected.
The United Nations is in the midst of negotiating a new Global Ocean Treaty. If we get this right, it will enable us to scale up ocean sanctuaries for the first time. If we get this right, we will be able to go from the less than 2% currently protected to the 30% by 2030 that most marine ecologists say is necessary. You can help! Join the call for a strong Global Ocean Treaty.


greenpeace--2020-10-23--8 top places to visit in November (and why Trump needs to GTFO of office!)

8 top places to visit in November ( and why Trump needs to GTFO of office ! )
On the good , the bad , and why we need protections for our majestic public lands .
The good : For all you off the grinders and cold weather lovers out there , the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is an amazing spot .
There ’ s epic hiking , wildlife viewing , and camping but be prepared to be self-reliant .
There are no roads , established trails , or cell service !
The bad : In the last four years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is attempting to remove ) protections from public lands like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ( ANWR ) .
In 2020 , Trump finalized plans to open up the ANWR to oil and gas leasing .
That ’ s an existential threat to the Gwich ’ in community which has relied on the Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou Herd for thousands of years .
The good : Yosemite during the Fall is glorious .
With fewer crowds and milder weather , everything is more accessible .
Its granite walls are more than twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s truly one of the country ’ s most unique and irreplaceable ecological heritage sites because of glacial dynamics , weathering , and erosion spanning 30 million years .
The bad : Yosemite is part of Trump ’ s great dismantling of the U.S. national parks so that his administration can pursue what Trump calls his “ Energy Dominance ” agenda .
Trump ’ s “ Energy Dominance ” agenda is a fancy , deceptive way of saying that his friends at all the big energy companies need even MORE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction is left in their wake .
Target number one ?
Our shared public lands .
The good : The Tongass National Forest , at almost 17 million acres , is one of the largest undisturbed ecosystems in the U.S .
Covering much of the Alaskan panhandle in southeast Alaska , the Tongass is a land of old-growth forests , mountains , glaciers , and waterways home to Native Alaskans .
While it may be a bit chilly , fall is when its unique wildlife and beautiful landscapes really pop .
The bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open up the Tongass , the world ’ s largest intact temperate rainforest to clear-cuts and logging by removing the 2001 National Roadless Rule .
The rule is one of the most popular conservation measures of the last century .
Trump ’ s directive , which will go for a final decision in the coming weeks , would fully lift the ban on the development of logging roads .
This would open up the whole forest to clearcut logging on more than nine million acres of intact and old-growth trees .
The Tongass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Haida , and Tsimshian people from time immemorial .
Representatives from these nations have called out this proposal as “ ignoring the sovereign Tribal governments.
” We need our legislators to enact legislation so nothing and no one can threaten our last wild places again .
The good : Fall is the ideal season to explore Bears Ears National Monument because of the beautiful colors that emerge .
Its pair of distinctive , towering buttes “ Bears Ears ” stand against an amazing backdrop .
There are ancestral cliff dwellings and natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carefully explore .
The bad : In 2017 , Trump reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument — 1.3 million acres of historic land in Utah — by 85 % for more oil and gas drilling .
He did so despite fierce opposition by Navajo , Hopi , Zuni , Ute Mountain Ute , & Uintah Ouray Ute communities who have been leading the fight to protect Bears Ears and its ecological and cultural heritage for decades .
The good : The Grand Canyon is always so epic and visiting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cool and the crowds are thin .
Two billion years of geological history have been exposed by the Colorado River as it cascaded through over time .
The bad : The uranium industry is hoping Trump will use executive action to overturn Obama ’ s moratorium on new mining near the Grand Canyon .
This is a serious and immediate threat .
Decades of mining in the region has already polluted the groundwater , fauna , and flora .
The good : Holy bananas , if you thought Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see it in the fall .
The changing of leaf colors mean all-new levels of beauty .
It spans one million acres and has a spectacular Grand Staircase of cliffs and terraces .
It also has monoliths , slot canyons , natural bridges , and arches to check out !
The bad : In 2017 , Trump reduced the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — nearly 1.9 million acres of protected land in Utah — by 47 % for coal mining .
The good : Get ready to be dazzled .
Most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Park are a mossy green but in fall , everything is speckled with red , orange , and yellow leaves .
Over a million acres , it has a vast wilderness , distinct ecosystems with old-growth temperate rainforests , full-sky sunsets including glacier-capped mountains , and almost 100 miles of wild coastline .
The bad : Since 2019 , Trump has been trying to open up nearly every U.S. coastline to expanded offshore drilling .
While coalition groups have been able to block his plans so far , there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle twice .
The # 1 place to visit this November is your ballot box !
Public lands are traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land for generations and are crucial to fight climate change .
Under Trump , public lands and waters are under attack for fossil fuel development and environmental deregulation .
Handing these lands over to extractive industries is an unmitigated disaster , and a second term would be even worse .
We can ’ t afford four more years under this administration .

8 top places to visit in November (and why Trump needs to GTFO of office!)
On the good, the bad, and why we need protections for our majestic public lands.
8. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The good: For all you off the grinders and cold weather lovers out there, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is an amazing spot. There’s epic hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping but be prepared to be self-reliant. There are no roads, established trails, or cell service!
The bad: In the last four years, the Trump administration has removed (or is attempting to remove) protections from public lands like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In 2020, Trump finalized plans to open up the ANWR to oil and gas leasing. That’s an existential threat to the Gwich’in community which has relied on the Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou Herd for thousands of years.
7. Yosemite National Park
The good: Yosemite during the Fall is glorious. With fewer crowds and milder weather, everything is more accessible. Its granite walls are more than twice the height of the Empire State Building. It’s truly one of the country’s most unique and irreplaceable ecological heritage sites because of glacial dynamics, weathering, and erosion spanning 30 million years.
The bad: Yosemite is part of Trump’s great dismantling of the U.S. national parks so that his administration can pursue what Trump calls his “Energy Dominance” agenda.
Trump’s “Energy Dominance” agenda is a fancy, deceptive way of saying that his friends at all the big energy companies need even MORE taxpayer subsidies, no matter how much destruction is left in their wake. Target number one? Our shared public lands.
6. Tongass National Forest
The good: The Tongass National Forest, at almost 17 million acres, is one of the largest undisturbed ecosystems in the U.S. Covering much of the Alaskan panhandle in southeast Alaska, the Tongass is a land of old-growth forests, mountains, glaciers, and waterways home to Native Alaskans. While it may be a bit chilly, fall is when its unique wildlife and beautiful landscapes really pop.
The bad: Currently, Trump is trying to open up the Tongass, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest to clear-cuts and logging by removing the 2001 National Roadless Rule. The rule is one of the most popular conservation measures of the last century. Trump’s directive, which will go for a final decision in the coming weeks, would fully lift the ban on the development of logging roads. This would open up the whole forest to clearcut logging on more than nine million acres of intact and old-growth trees. The Tongass is the traditional homelands of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people from time immemorial. Representatives from these nations have called out this proposal as “ignoring the sovereign Tribal governments.”
We need our legislators to enact legislation so nothing and no one can threaten our last wild places again.
5. Bears Ears National Monument
The good: Fall is the ideal season to explore Bears Ears National Monument because of the beautiful colors that emerge. Its pair of distinctive, towering buttes “Bears Ears” stand against an amazing backdrop. There are ancestral cliff dwellings and natural bridges in the scaping desert ecosystem to carefully explore.
The bad: In 2017, Trump reduced the size of the Bears Ears National Monument — 1.3 million acres of historic land in Utah — by 85% for more oil and gas drilling. He did so despite fierce opposition by Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, & Uintah Ouray Ute communities who have been leading the fight to protect Bears Ears and its ecological and cultural heritage for decades.
4. Grand Canyon
The good: The Grand Canyon is always so epic and visiting in the fall means the daytime temperatures are cool and the crowds are thin. Two billion years of geological history have been exposed by the Colorado River as it cascaded through over time.
The bad: The uranium industry is hoping Trump will use executive action to overturn Obama’s moratorium on new mining near the Grand Canyon. This is a serious and immediate threat. Decades of mining in the region has already polluted the groundwater, fauna, and flora.
3. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The good: Holy bananas, if you thought Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument was already great — you need to see it in the fall. The changing of leaf colors mean all-new levels of beauty. It spans one million acres and has a spectacular Grand Staircase of cliffs and terraces. It also has monoliths, slot canyons, natural bridges, and arches to check out!
The bad: In 2017, Trump reduced the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument — nearly 1.9 million acres of protected land in Utah — by 47% for coal mining.
2. Olympic National Park
The good: Get ready to be dazzled. Most of the year, the trees in the Olympic National Park are a mossy green but in fall, everything is speckled with red, orange, and yellow leaves. Over a million acres, it has a vast wilderness, distinct ecosystems with old-growth temperate rainforests, full-sky sunsets including glacier-capped mountains, and almost 100 miles of wild coastline.
The bad: Since 2019, Trump has been trying to open up nearly every U.S. coastline to expanded offshore drilling. While coalition groups have been able to block his plans so far, there’s no guarantee we’ll win the same battle twice.
1. Your ballot box!
The #1 place to visit this November is your ballot box!
Public lands are traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded this land for generations and are crucial to fight climate change.
Under Trump, public lands and waters are under attack for fossil fuel development and environmental deregulation. Handing these lands over to extractive industries is an unmitigated disaster, and a second term would be even worse.
We can’t afford four more years under this administration.


greenpeace--2020-10-27--What’s at Stake in 2020: Clean Air and Water

What ’ s at Stake in 2020 : Clean Air and Water Clean air and water are on the ballot in 2020 .
The Trump Administration is willing to sacrifice Black , Brown , Indigenous , and low-income communities for the sake of corporate power and profit .
The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery is visible from the West Basin during a tour of the fossil fuel infrastructure in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to demonstrate the health and environmental justice impacts on local communities .
Co-hosted by Communities for a Better Environment , East Yard Communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Picture this : you walk outside of your home into a wall of acrid , hazardous fumes wafting towards you from the petrochemical plant a few miles down the road .
The smell fills your nostrils and your throat constricts .
Your chest heaves .
You struggle to breathe while you walk to your car .
Once inside , you desperately gasp to breathe in semi-fresh air .
You fumble for your inhaler .
Unbreathable air .
Toxic water .
Oil rigs and petrochemical refineries next to schools and day care centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
This is life in this country ’ s “ sacrifice zones ” — primarily low-income or Black , Brown , and Indigenous neighborhoods and towns where fossil fuel polluters operate with total disregard for public health , all to make a quick buck .
Sacrifice zones existed long before Donald Trump became president — but his administration has done pretty much everything they can to make these injustices worse .
Trump ’ s administration has spent the last four years rolling back key environmental regulations and issuing executive orders to loosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pro-corporate agenda aims to make it easier for fossil fuel companies and chemical manufacturers to operate without following health and safety regulations vital for protecting public health .
No more sacrifice zones .
Four more years of Trump ’ s pro-polluter agenda could decimate any remaining protections for communities living in the shadow of polluting facilities .
What ’ s worse : we won ’ t be able to enact new climate and environmental protections these communities desperately need unless we vote climate leaders into office .
Make sure you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to vote .
Grassroots groups and organizations such as Greenpeace have been fighting for decades to keep corporations from polluting the air we breathe , the water we drink , and the places we call home .
Our movement has won important victories : landmark environmental laws such as the National Environmental Protection Act .
Essential protection for public lands and waters .
Cleaner air in our major cities .
But we know our collective work is not done until every family and community can live a good life , with clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stable climate .
Our work is not done until we ’ ve eradicated the systemic racism that marks communities of color as disposable .
Our work is not done until there are no more sacrifice zones , whether here in the U.S. or in communities across the Global South .
We need leaders in office at all levels — in the White House , Congress , state houses , city councils — ready to do the work with us .
To enact and enforce protections necessary to safeguard everyone currently living among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have just over a week to cast your vote .
Take a moment to make sure you ’ re set to vote environmental leaders into office on or before Nov. 3rd .
Already voted ?
Share this email with your friends and family so they can vote for the environment as well .
Over the past few years we ’ ve seen corporate polluters amass more and more political power .
They ’ ll stop at nothing in pursuit of profits , even if it means poisoning communities of color and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to public health crises such as chronic respiratory illnesses and preterm birth defects .
Climate pollution is fueling a crisis that threatens the same communities dying from polluted air and poisoned water .
We need elected officials who will fight like hell to confront these corporate polluters head-on and defend Black , Brown , and Indigenous communities on the frontlines of pollution .
Regardless of the outcome of this election , we will continue to fight tirelessly for a world beyond toxic pollution and fossil fuel extraction .
We believe this world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — if we fight for it .
A bright future is on the horizon .
And right now , we have the opportunity to elect leaders who we can hold accountable to protect low-income communities of color on the frontlines of pollution , and put an end to sacrifice zones .
Don ’ t sit this election out .
Vote before Nov. 3rd to elect leaders who will defend our communities and the environment .
The fight doesn ’ t end on November 3 , and we ’ re joining progressive groups nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mass mobilization is needed to take to the streets to protect the election results and the integrity of our democracy , Greenpeace is ready .
Get prepared .
As the deadline for voting approaches , we ’ re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you , your friends , family , neighbors , and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close .
Our “ What ’ s at Stake ” series highlights a key issue that ’ s on the ballot .
If you haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
If people in your circle are on the fence , please share this post or have a conversation with them today .

What’s at Stake in 2020: Clean Air and Water
Clean air and water are on the ballot in 2020. The Trump Administration is willing to sacrifice Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities for the sake of corporate power and profit.
The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery is visible from the West Basin during a tour of the fossil fuel infrastructure in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to demonstrate the health and environmental justice impacts on local communities. Co-hosted by Communities for a Better Environment, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, and Greenpeace USA.
Picture this: you walk outside of your home into a wall of acrid, hazardous fumes wafting towards you from the petrochemical plant a few miles down the road. The smell fills your nostrils and your throat constricts. Your chest heaves. You struggle to breathe while you walk to your car. Once inside, you desperately gasp to breathe in semi-fresh air. You fumble for your inhaler.
Unbreathable air. Toxic water. Oil rigs and petrochemical refineries next to schools and day care centers. Cancer, lung disease, and COVID-19. This is life in this country’s “sacrifice zones” — primarily low-income or Black, Brown, and Indigenous neighborhoods and towns where fossil fuel polluters operate with total disregard for public health, all to make a quick buck.
Sacrifice zones existed long before Donald Trump became president — but his administration has done pretty much everything they can to make these injustices worse. Trump’s administration has spent the last four years rolling back key environmental regulations and issuing executive orders to loosen the reins on polluting industries. Trump’s pro-corporate agenda aims to make it easier for fossil fuel companies and chemical manufacturers to operate without following health and safety regulations vital for protecting public health.
The record is clear: The Trump Administration is willing to sacrifice Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities for the sake of corporate power and profit.
No more sacrifice zones. Four more years of Trump’s pro-polluter agenda could decimate any remaining protections for communities living in the shadow of polluting facilities. What’s worse: we won’t be able to enact new climate and environmental protections these communities desperately need unless we vote climate leaders into office. Make sure you, your family and friends have made a plan to vote.
Grassroots groups and organizations such as Greenpeace have been fighting for decades to keep corporations from polluting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the places we call home. Our movement has won important victories: landmark environmental laws such as the National Environmental Protection Act. Essential protection for public lands and waters. Cleaner air in our major cities.
But we know our collective work is not done until every family and community can live a good life, with clean air and water and the safety of a stable climate. Our work is not done until we’ve eradicated the systemic racism that marks communities of color as disposable. Our work is not done until there are no more sacrifice zones, whether here in the U.S. or in communities across the Global South.
We need leaders in office at all levels — in the White House, Congress, state houses, city councils — ready to do the work with us. To enact and enforce protections necessary to safeguard everyone currently living among petrochemical manufacturing or fossil fuel extraction.
You have just over a week to cast your vote. Take a moment to make sure you’re set to vote environmental leaders into office on or before Nov. 3rd. Already voted? Share this email with your friends and family so they can vote for the environment as well.
Over the past few years we’ve seen corporate polluters amass more and more political power. They’ll stop at nothing in pursuit of profits, even if it means poisoning communities of color and working class families. Toxic pollution has been linked to public health crises such as chronic respiratory illnesses and preterm birth defects. Climate pollution is fueling a crisis that threatens the same communities dying from polluted air and poisoned water.
We need elected officials who will fight like hell to confront these corporate polluters head-on and defend Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities on the frontlines of pollution.
Regardless of the outcome of this election, we will continue to fight tirelessly for a world beyond toxic pollution and fossil fuel extraction. We believe this world is not just possible, but inevitable — if we fight for it.
A bright future is on the horizon. And right now, we have the opportunity to elect leaders who we can hold accountable to protect low-income communities of color on the frontlines of pollution, and put an end to sacrifice zones. Don’t sit this election out. Vote before Nov. 3rd to elect leaders who will defend our communities and the environment.
make a plan to vote
The fight doesn’t end on November 3, and we’re joining progressive groups nationwide in preparing for all possibilities. If a mass mobilization is needed to take to the streets to protect the election results and the integrity of our democracy, Greenpeace is ready. Get prepared.
As the deadline for voting approaches, we’re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you, your friends, family, neighbors, and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close. Our “What’s at Stake” series highlights a key issue that’s on the ballot. If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time. If people in your circle are on the fence, please share this post or have a conversation with them today.


greenpeace--2020-10-28--What’s At Stake in 2020: A Plastic-Free Future

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act will continue to languish in McConnell ’ s graveyard until we elect environmental champs in the Senate and a POTUS who will sign this legislation into law .
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet and disproportionately impacting low-income and Black and Brown communities .
We must do everything in our power to shape a new future that isn ’ t crafted by these powerful multi-billion dollar fossil fuel industries .
During the pandemic , we have witnessed the plastic industry taking advantage of COVID-19 to scare people about the safety of reusables in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This rhetoric helped to temporarily repeal plastic-bans across the country and jeopardized our hard-fought progress with corporations to reduce single-use plastic .
This type of predatory behavior by Big Plastic hits home at the urgency to pass strong national legislation to tackle the plastic pollution crisis .
In this election , a plastic-free future is at stake .
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act is this strong legislation .
The pioneering federal legislation introduced earlier this year already exists and is a real comprehensive solution to the plastic crisis .
Yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s graveyard until we elect environmental champs in the Senate and a POTUS who will sign this legislation into law .
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet , killing treasured marine animals , and disproportionately impacting low-income and Black and Brown communities .
As the fossil fuel industry doubles down on plastic as the new frontier for petrochemical production , we must do everything in our power to shape a new future that isn ’ t crafted by these powerful multi-billion dollar industries .
We must work together to create a sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind .
A world free from plastic pollution will not exist without strong bedrock legislation , like The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act , that holds corporations and plastic producers accountable for the plastic pollution crisis .
The first step toward this vision is to VOTE OUT senators who benefit from Big Oil lobbying and the status quo of rampant single-use plastics .
And instead , VOTE IN pro-environment leaders that will champion new solutions for a plastic-free world and will use their political will to fight for this future : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy built on safe and sustainable sanitation systems to support reusable to-go containers and cups is safe to use even during times of a health crisis .
• A future where breaking free from plastic creates strong union jobs based in a new , resilient Green economy .
• A future where justice and the health of frontline communities living in petrochemical production zones are prioritized over pumping out plastic for profits .
More than ever before , this election determines the future of our planet .
Voting is the most important high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now to ensure that we have elected officials who will fight hard for a plastic-free world .
This won ’ t be possible without a strong pro-environment Senate and administration , and the stakes are too high to wait another term to fight back against plastic pollution on a national scale .
As the deadline for voting approaches , we ’ re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you , your friends , family , neighbors , and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” series highlights a key issue that ’ s on the ballot .
If you haven ’ t voted yet , now is the time .
If people in your circle are on the fence , please share this post or have a conversation with them today .

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act will continue to languish in McConnell’s graveyard until we elect environmental champs in the Senate and a POTUS who will sign this legislation into law.
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet and disproportionately impacting low-income and Black and Brown communities. We must do everything in our power to shape a new future that isn’t crafted by these powerful multi-billion dollar fossil fuel industries.
During the pandemic, we have witnessed the plastic industry taking advantage of COVID-19 to scare people about the safety of reusables in order to sell more single-use plastics. This rhetoric helped to temporarily repeal plastic-bans across the country and jeopardized our hard-fought progress with corporations to reduce single-use plastic. This type of predatory behavior by Big Plastic hits home at the urgency to pass strong national legislation to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. In this election, a plastic-free future is at stake.
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act is this strong legislation. The pioneering federal legislation introduced earlier this year already exists and is a real comprehensive solution to the plastic crisis. Yet, it will continue to languish in McConnell’s graveyard until we elect environmental champs in the Senate and a POTUS who will sign this legislation into law.
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet, killing treasured marine animals, and disproportionately impacting low-income and Black and Brown communities. As the fossil fuel industry doubles down on plastic as the new frontier for petrochemical production, we must do everything in our power to shape a new future that isn’t crafted by these powerful multi-billion dollar industries. We must work together to create a sustainable economy that doesn’t leave anybody behind.
And the only way to achieve this is WE must elect strong environmental leaders — that aren’t in bed with big polluting corporations — to support The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act to make this vision of tackling plastic pollution a reality.
make a plan to vote
A world free from plastic pollution will not exist without strong bedrock legislation, like The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, that holds corporations and plastic producers accountable for the plastic pollution crisis. The first step toward this vision is to VOTE OUT senators who benefit from Big Oil lobbying and the status quo of rampant single-use plastics. And instead, VOTE IN pro-environment leaders that will champion new solutions for a plastic-free world and will use their political will to fight for this future:
A future where a reuse and refill economy built on safe and sustainable sanitation systems to support reusable to-go containers and cups is safe to use even during times of a health crisis.
A future where breaking free from plastic creates strong union jobs based in a new, resilient Green economy.
A future where justice and the health of frontline communities living in petrochemical production zones are prioritized over pumping out plastic for profits.
More than ever before, this election determines the future of our planet. Voting is the most important high impact advocacy that Americans can take right now to ensure that we have elected officials who will fight hard for a plastic-free world. This won’t be possible without a strong pro-environment Senate and administration, and the stakes are too high to wait another term to fight back against plastic pollution on a national scale.
make a plan to vote
As the deadline for voting approaches, we’re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you, your friends, family, neighbors, and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close. Our “What’s at Stake” series highlights a key issue that’s on the ballot. If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time. If people in your circle are on the fence, please share this post or have a conversation with them today.


greenpeace--2020-10-29--What’s at Stake in 2020: Our National Forests

What ’ s at Stake in 2020 : Our National Forests We ’ ve witnessed two attacks on our most treasured natural lands in just a matter of several weeks , with too many more before them .
This needless , destructive policy-making paints a picture of what the Trump Administration has inflicted on our forests — and foretells what four more years of this leadership could mean .
Today , the Trump Administration finalized its repeal of one of our most popular conservation measures of the last century — the Roadless Rule .
This means that areas in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rainforest , the Tongass National Forest , as of today are open for logging and exploitation .
Before that , the Trump Administration issued a greenlight for new oil and gas drilling in national forests throughout the country , without so much as an environmental review .
This places more than 190 million acres of public land at risk while silencing voices of concerned citizens .
We can not afford any more threats like these to endangered species and our last great forests .
If you care about wildlife , then make your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bears , wolves , salmon , and countless other species call the Tongass National Forest home .
Imperiled wildlife like the Alexander Archipelago wolf , Queen Charlotte goshawk and marten may see their homes disappear under Trump ’ s rollback of the Roadless Rule .
If you care about climate change , then make your plan to vote now .
Logging and roadbuilding not only emit carbon dioxide , but they also harm forests ’ ability to sequester carbon in its trees and soils .
The Tongass National Forest currently holds more carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States but without the Roadless Rule , it is now in jeopardy .
And oil and gas drilling in national forests throughout the country not only harms our forests , but perpetuates the age of fossil fuels — the main culprit for the climate crisis we find ourselves in today .
If you care about Indigenous people , culture , and human rights , then make your plan to vote now .
The Tongass is essential to the livelihoods of Alaska Native communities who rely on it for hunting , fishing and wild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since time immemorial , the Tongass has been the traditional homelands of the Tlingit , Haida , and Tsimshian peoples .
Not only has the Trump Administration pushed forward with plans to open up these homelands , they did it while ignoring input from tribes .
If you care about wild places as a refuge to escape or a place to recreate , then make a plan to vote now .
More than 190 million acres of national forest land will now be open for logging and mining and drilling .
This means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may visit and love .
With a more steady and thoughtful hand in the White House , we can organize , lobby , and pressure a different administration to repair the damage inflicted on our bedrock environmental laws and our national treasured lands .
As a movement , we ’ ll fight to advance the vision of restoration where our national lands and wildlife are healthy , our climate is stable , and our Indigenous People are honored and respected .
Get everything you need to make your voice heard .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you , your friends , family , neighbors , and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close .
Our “ What ’ s at Stake ” series highlights a key issue that ’ s on the ballot .
If you haven ’ t voted yet , now is the time .
If people in your circle are on the fence , please share this post or have a conversation with them today .

What’s at Stake in 2020: Our National Forests
We’ve witnessed two attacks on our most treasured natural lands in just a matter of several weeks, with too many more before them. This needless, destructive policy-making paints a picture of what the Trump Administration has inflicted on our forests — and foretells what four more years of this leadership could mean.
Today, the Trump Administration finalized its repeal of one of our most popular conservation measures of the last century — the Roadless Rule. This means that areas in the world’s largest remaining intact temperate rainforest, the Tongass National Forest, as of today are open for logging and exploitation. Before that, the Trump Administration issued a greenlight for new oil and gas drilling in national forests throughout the country, without so much as an environmental review. This places more than 190 million acres of public land at risk while silencing voices of concerned citizens. We cannot afford any more threats like these to endangered species and our last great forests.
If you care about wildlife, then make your plan to vote now. Eagles, bears, wolves, salmon, and countless other species call the Tongass National Forest home. Imperiled wildlife like the Alexander Archipelago wolf, Queen Charlotte goshawk and marten may see their homes disappear under Trump’s rollback of the Roadless Rule.
If you care about climate change, then make your plan to vote now. Logging and roadbuilding not only emit carbon dioxide, but they also harm forests’ ability to sequester carbon in its trees and soils. The Tongass National Forest currently holds more carbon than any other forest in the United States but without the Roadless Rule, it is now in jeopardy. And oil and gas drilling in national forests throughout the country not only harms our forests, but perpetuates the age of fossil fuels — the main culprit for the climate crisis we find ourselves in today.
If you care about Indigenous people, culture, and human rights, then make your plan to vote now. The Tongass is essential to the livelihoods of Alaska Native communities who rely on it for hunting, fishing and wild harvest as a matter of survival. Since time immemorial, the Tongass has been the traditional homelands of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples. Not only has the Trump Administration pushed forward with plans to open up these homelands, they did it while ignoring input from tribes.
If you care about wild places as a refuge to escape or a place to recreate, then make a plan to vote now. More than 190 million acres of national forest land will now be open for logging and mining and drilling. This means real impacts on real places that you may visit and love.
With a more steady and thoughtful hand in the White House, we can organize, lobby, and pressure a different administration to repair the damage inflicted on our bedrock environmental laws and our national treasured lands. As a movement, we’ll fight to advance the vision of restoration where our national lands and wildlife are healthy, our climate is stable, and our Indigenous People are honored and respected.
Get everything you need to make your voice heard.
make a plan to vote
As the deadline for voting approaches, we’re pulling out all the stops to make sure that you, your friends, family, neighbors, and every environmental voter has their voice heard before the polls close. Our “What’s at Stake” series highlights a key issue that’s on the ballot. If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time. If people in your circle are on the fence, please share this post or have a conversation with them today.


greenpeace--2020-10-30--What’s a contested election? Five things to know for November 3rd.

What ’ s a contested election ?
Five things to know for November 3rd .
More people than ever before will be voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election — and it could significantly impact the 2020 election results .
In the 2016 US Presidential election , approximately 33 million ballots were cast by mail and made up about a quarter of all ballots .
As of today , 56 million people ( !
! )
have already mailed in their ballots for the 2020 election .
This means that unless one candidate wins by a landslide , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual to count all the votes and verify a winner because mail-in ballots take longer to collect and count .
It also means that the longer it takes to declare a winner , the likelihood of a contested election goes up .
And with Trump in the picture , we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted .
Here are 5 things to know for November 3rd : 1 .
Mail-in ballots are going to be front and center in this election — and WILL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mail-in ballots take longer to count because there are needed security measures to go through to verify their accuracy .
Some states can ’ t even start counting absentee ballots until after polls have closed on election night just as a general rule .
This is a good thing .
We want to be able to say that all the ballots that were counted were accurate and valid ( even though voter fraud is virtually non-existent ) .
It ’ s also particularly important to make sure mail-in ballot counting is done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one candidate appeared to have won their election based on election day counts , but as mail-in ballots were added , the other candidate slowly caught up to officially win .
We want the real winner to win !
In fact , during Senator Kamala Harris ’ s first California Attorney General race , her opponent had to rescind his election night victory speech because as all the votes were “ certified ” , Kamala slowly crept ahead of his lead to win .
It took 30 days to certify all the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will likely be a slog because of the sheer number of people dropping their votes in their mailbox .
And , with current polls showing Biden and Trump neck and neck in some key swing states , mail-in ballots could very well decide the 2020 election .
Presidential elections require an extensive process before , during , and after election day — and 2020 may be the first election in a long time where it ’ s going to be really messy… as in “ every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s a good thing .
It means that democracy is working and that the will of the people is being put first .
But it also means that patience is going to be a virtue this time around .
2 .
If the margins are really close , there might be a contested election and there are important rules and dates to follow .
A contested election is what happens when a candidate challenges the legality or validity of a result , and there are important rules to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically occur when the outcome is too close to call or if there ’ s a substantiated allegation of election fraud — and the rules are typically pretty clear : states determine how recounts work , the amount of time for recounts and legal challenges may be limited , and any specific legal challenge could potentially reach and be settled by the Supreme Court ( depending on whether they want to hear the case ) .
There ’ s even a procedure called a “ contingent election ” where Congress is tasked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes .
The last time this was used was in 1824 .
Here are some key dates to keep an eye on as the post-election outcome play out : • None Between November 3rd and December 14th : Popular vote plays out and certificates of ascertainments are filed • None December 8 : This is the Safe Harbor Date Deadline .
It ’ s when the state governor certifies the electors in the Electoral College who then can ’ t be challenged by the Congress after this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harbor Deadline , the newly elected Congress gains the ability to determine the state ’ s winner when lawmakers meet to count electoral votes on Jan. 6 .
• None January 6th : The joint Congress meets to count electors and declare an election winner .
3 .
Biden is running to defeat Trump .
Trump is running to defeat democracy .
Being such a weak candidate with a limited base of support , Trump knows he can ’ t win by himself , so he may try and take advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s a fear that the initial election night tallies will show Trump leading based solely on voters who cast their ballots in person , and that he ’ ll use the media and every legal mechanism in his power to pick and choose how votes will be counted at every step of the process .
Hypothetically , Trump could contest the election in every state and the media could make his misinformation campaign worse .
For example , if Trump ’ s ahead in counted ballots as of November 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contest ANY close contest or even try to use the courts to prevent state officials from counting all of the ballots — even though he has no legal recourse to do so since elections are run by state and local authorities .
If Trump is behind , he could cast as much doubt on the result as possible , spread disinformation through the media , and use the confusion to his advantage later .
If there ’ s a lengthy , disputed , or unfinished count because of narrow margins , Republican-controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a period of time and choose a slate of electors that will vote for Trump in the Electoral College despite the will of the people .
Most scenarios outlined here and by experts are typically unlikely and would be difficult to pursue legally but again , it ’ s 2020 and with Trump in the picture , we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted and that the media gets it right .
That ’ s why we need everyone to vote — and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure all their friends and family vote .
The only way to make sure Trump doesn ’ t get the chance to contest anything is to make sure he loses by a landslide .
Find early voting locations or drop off boxes here .
4 .
People power will win but we need to protect the results !
If Trump declares victory before all the votes are counted , makes unfounded claims that the election was “ stolen , ” or further acts to use intimidation , distraction , and disinformation to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help activate nationwide peaceful mobilizations to # ProtectTheResults and demand that all the votes are counted to ensure a peaceful transition of power .
If necessary , our volunteers , supporters , and allies will be ready to join the movement and take lawful action to protect the results — be it from their homes , organizing or attending a # ProtectTheResults event near you — after Election Day to prevent Trump from unlawfully seizing power .
Only we , the people , have the power to ensure that every vote is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or leader alone can ensure the legitimacy of this election .
Through showing up and bringing our friends , family , and neighbors into this fight , we can make sure the next president of the U.S. is democratically chosen by the people of this country and that public officials do everything in their power to ensure a fair outcome .
5 .
There ’ s no one institution on election night that can determine the election outcome .
The people will decide the outcome of this election and it will reflect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in the media or in either party has the authority to make any announcements about who has won the election until all the votes have been counted , even if that takes a week or longer to complete .
We need the media to prioritize coverage that informs the public , supports local news , combats misinformation , and protects the integrity of the election .
Every eligible voter should have their voice heard and their vote counted .
It ’ s going to take longer to count the votes and verify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election — and that ’ s okay .
When election officials take the time to count and verify every ballot , that ’ s a sign that our democracy is working .
We need to be patient and confident in our election processes so election officials can take the time to make sure every eligible vote is counted accurately and we need to take action if anything threatens that .

Contested elections and People Power: Five Things To Know
On how the will of the people will always prevail.
More people than ever before will be voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election — and it could significantly impact the 2020 election results.
In the 2016 US Presidential election, approximately 33 million ballots were cast by mail and made up about a quarter of all total ballots. As of today, 65 million people (!!) have already mailed in their ballots out of the 101 million votes that have already been cast for the 2020 election.
This means that unless one candidate wins by a landslide, it’s going to take longer than usual to count all the votes and verify a winner because mail-in ballots take longer to collect and count. It also means that the longer it takes to declare a winner, the likelihood of a contested election goes up. And with Trump in the picture, we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted.
Here are 5 things to know for November 3rd:
1. Mail-in ballots are going to be front and center in this election — and WILL take longer to count.
First off, mail-in ballots take longer to count because there are needed security measures to go through to verify their accuracy. Some states can’t even start counting absentee ballots until after polls have closed on election night just as a general rule. This is a good thing. We want to be able to say that all the ballots that were counted were accurate and valid (even though voter fraud is virtually non-existent).
It’s also particularly important to make sure mail-in ballot counting is done correctly because there have been cases where one candidate appeared to have won their election based on election day counts, but as mail-in ballots were added, the other candidate slowly caught up to officially win. We want the real winner to win!
In fact, during Senator Kamala Harris’s first California Attorney General race, her opponent had to rescind his election night victory speech because as all the votes were “certified”, Kamala slowly crept ahead of his lead to win. It took 30 days to certify all the votes.
Every eligible voter should have their voice heard & their vote counted. It's going to take longer to count the votes and verify a winner in this year’s election — and that’s okay. We need to be patient so election officials can take the time to make sure we #CountEveryVote. pic.twitter.com/DXIck40Z45 — Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) October 30, 2020
So, needless to say, the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will likely be a slog because of the sheer number of people dropping their votes in their mailbox. And, with current polls showing Biden and Trump neck and neck in some key swing states, mail-in ballots could very well decide the 2020 election.
Presidential elections require an extensive process before, during, and after election day — and 2020 may be the first election in a long time where it’s going to be really messy… as in “every state election could be contested” messy…. And that’s a good thing. It means that democracy is working and that the will of the people is being put first. But it also means that patience is going to be a virtue this time around.
2. If the margins are really close, there might be a contested election and there are important rules and dates to follow.
A contested election is what happens when a candidate challenges the legality or validity of a result, and there are important rules to follow.
In presidential races, contested elections typically occur when the outcome is too close to call or if there’s a substantiated allegation of election fraud — and the rules are typically pretty clear: states determine how recounts work, the amount of time for recounts and legal challenges may be limited, and any specific legal challenge could potentially reach and be settled by the Supreme Court (depending on whether they want to hear the case). There’s even a procedure called a “contingent election” where Congress is tasked to decide the result in the unlikely scenario that neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes. The last time this was used was in 1824.
Here are some key dates to keep an eye on as the post-election outcome play out:
Between November 3rd and December 14th: Popular vote plays out and certificates of ascertainments are filed
December 8: This is the Safe Harbor Date Deadline. It’s when the state governor certifies the electors in the Electoral College who then can’t be challenged by the Congress after this date. If states miss the Safe Harbor Deadline, the newly elected Congress gains the ability to determine the state’s winner when lawmakers meet to count electoral votes on Jan. 6.
January 6th: The joint Congress meets to count electors and declare an election winner.
3. Biden is running to defeat Trump. Trump is running to defeat democracy.
Being such a weak candidate with a limited base of support, Trump knows he can’t win by himself, so he may try and take advantage of the potentially lengthier vote-by-mail timeline.
In fact, there’s a fear that the initial election night tallies will show Trump leading based solely on voters who cast their ballots in person, and that he’ll use the media and every legal mechanism in his power to pick and choose how votes will be counted at every step of the process. Hypothetically, Trump could contest the election in every state and the media could make his misinformation campaign worse.
For example, if Trump’s ahead in counted ballots as of November 3 in a state, he could try to contest ANY close contest or even try to use the courts to prevent state officials from counting all of the ballots — even though he has no legal recourse to do so since elections are run by state and local authorities. If Trump is behind, he could cast as much doubt on the result as possible, spread disinformation through the media, and use the confusion to his advantage later. If there’s a lengthy, disputed, or unfinished count because of narrow margins, Republican-controlled legislatures in key states could intervene after a period of time and choose a slate of electors that will vote for Trump in the Electoral College despite the will of the people.
Most scenarios outlined here and by experts are typically unlikely and would be difficult to pursue legally but again, it’s 2020 and with Trump in the picture, we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted and that the media gets it right.
This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime, and every vote counts. Be a climate voter and make your plan to vote now! 🗳 👉 https://t.co/3uJPk7qasr 👈 🗳 image via @ClimatePower pic.twitter.com/oVPwIFHhb8 — Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) October 22, 2020
That’s why we need everyone to vote — and for everyone who has already voted to make sure all their friends and family vote. The only way to make sure Trump doesn’t get the chance to contest anything is to make sure he loses by a landslide. Find early voting locations or drop off boxes here.
4. People power will win but we need to protect the results!
If Trump declares victory before all the votes are counted, makes unfounded claims that the election was “stolen,” or further acts to use intimidation, distraction, and disinformation to prevent the legitimate counting of votes, Greenpeace will help activate nationwide peaceful mobilizations to #ProtectTheResults and demand that all the votes are counted to ensure a peaceful transition of power.
If necessary, our volunteers, supporters, and allies will be ready to join the movement and take lawful action to protect the results — be it from their homes, organizing or attending a #ProtectTheResults event near you — after Election Day to prevent Trump from unlawfully seizing power.
Only we, the people, have the power to ensure that every vote is counted. No one institution, party, or leader alone can ensure the legitimacy of this election. Through showing up and bringing our friends, family, and neighbors into this fight, we can make sure the next president of the U.S. is democratically chosen by the people of this country and that public officials do everything in their power to ensure a fair outcome.
Find a #ProtectTheResults event now.
If necessary, millions of people will lawfully mobilize in massive resistance to demand every vote is counted and #ProtectTheResults of this election. Find an event near you and be prepared because we may need all hands on deck virtually and in-person: https://t.co/di5ZaeBZ6l pic.twitter.com/7qM21oKHqv — Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) October 30, 2020
5. There’s no one institution on election night that can determine the election outcome.
The people will decide the outcome of this election and it will reflect the will of the people.
No one in the media or in either party has the authority to make any announcements about who has won the election until all the votes have been counted, even if that takes a week or longer to complete. We need the media to prioritize coverage that informs the public, supports local news, combats misinformation, and protects the integrity of the election.
Every eligible voter should have their voice heard and their vote counted. It’s going to take longer to count the votes and verify a winner in this year’s election — and that’s okay. When election officials take the time to count and verify every ballot, that’s a sign that our democracy is working.
We need to be patient and confident in our election processes so election officials can take the time to make sure every eligible vote is counted accurately and we need to take action if anything threatens that.
Democracy wins when “We, the People” decide.
Originally published October 30, 2020. Last updated November 3, 2020.


greenpeace--2020-10-30--What’s A Contested Election? Five Things To Know For November 3rd.

What ’ s A Contested Election ?
Five Things To Know For November 3rd .
More people than ever before will be voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election — and it could significantly impact the 2020 election results .
In the 2016 US Presidential election , approximately 33 million ballots were cast by mail and made up about a quarter of all total ballots .
As of today , 56 million people ( !
! )
have already mailed in their ballots out of the 88 million votes that have already been cast for the 2020 election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a landslide , it ’ s going to take longer than usual to count all the votes and verify a winner because mail-in ballots take longer to collect and count .
It also means that the longer it takes to declare a winner , the likelihood of a contested election goes up .
And with Trump in the picture , we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted .
Here are 5 things to know for November 3rd : 1 .
Mail-in ballots are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election — and WILL take longer to count .
First off , mail-in ballots take longer to count because there are needed security measures to go through to verify their accuracy .
Some states can ’ t even start counting absentee ballots until after polls have closed on election night just as a general rule .
This is a good thing .
We want to be able to say that all the ballots that were counted were accurate and valid ( even though voter fraud is virtually non-existent ) .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in ballot counting is done correctly because there have been cases where one candidate appeared to have won their election based on election day counts , but as mail-in ballots were added , the other candidate slowly caught up to officially win .
We want the real winner to win !
In fact , during Senator Kamala Harris ’ s first California Attorney General race , her opponent had to rescind his election night victory speech because as all the votes were “ certified ” , Kamala slowly crept ahead of his lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to certify all the votes .
So , needless to say , the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will likely be a slog because of the sheer number of people dropping their votes in their mailbox .
And , with current polls showing Biden and Trump neck and neck in some key swing states , mail-in ballots could very well decide the 2020 election .
Presidential elections require an extensive process before , during , and after election day — and 2020 may be the first election in a long time where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messy… as in “ every state election could be contested ” messy… .
And that ’ s a good thing .
It means that democracy is working and that the will of the people is being put first .
But it also means that patience is going to be a virtue this time around .
2 .
If the margins are really close , there might be a contested election and there are important rules and dates to follow .
A contested election is what happens when a candidate challenges the legality or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are important rules to follow .
In presidential races , contested elections typically occur when the outcome is too close to call or if there ’ s a substantiated allegation of election fraud — and the rules are typically pretty clear : states determine how recounts work , the amount of time for recounts and legal challenges may be limited , and any specific legal challenge could potentially reach and be settled by the Supreme Court ( depending on whether they want to hear the case ) .
There ’ s even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Congress is tasked to decide the result in the unlikely scenario that neither candidate reaches 270 electoral votes .
The last time this was used was in 1824 .
Here are some key dates to keep an eye on as the post-election outcome play out : • None Between November 3rd and December 14th : Popular vote plays out and certificates of ascertainments are filed • None December 8 : This is the Safe Harbor Date Deadline .
It ’ s when the state governor certifies the electors in the Electoral College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Congress after this date .
If states miss the Safe Harbor Deadline , the newly elected Congress gains the ability to determine the state ’ s winner when lawmakers meet to count electoral votes on Jan. 6 .
• None January 6th : The joint Congress meets to count electors and declare an election winner .
3 .
Biden is running to defeat Trump .
Trump is running to defeat democracy .
Being such a weak candidate with a limited base of support , Trump knows he can ’ t win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and take advantage of the potentially lengthier vote-by-mail timeline .
In fact , there ’ s a fear that the initial election night tallies will show Trump leading based solely on voters who cast their ballots in person , and that he ’ ll use the media and every legal mechanism in his power to pick and choose how votes will be counted at every step of the process .
Hypothetically , Trump could contest the election in every state and the media could make his misinformation campaign worse .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots as of November 3 in a state , he could try to contest ANY close contest or even try to use the courts to prevent state officials from counting all of the ballots — even though he has no legal recourse to do so since elections are run by state and local authorities .
If Trump is behind , he could cast as much doubt on the result as possible , spread disinformation through the media , and use the confusion to his advantage later .
If there ’ s a lengthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of narrow margins , Republican-controlled legislatures in key states could intervene after a period of time and choose a slate of electors that will vote for Trump in the Electoral College despite the will of the people .
Most scenarios outlined here and by experts are typically unlikely and would be difficult to pursue legally but again , it ’ s 2020 and with Trump in the picture , we have to be as vigilant as we can to make sure every vote is counted and that the media gets it right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote — and for everyone who has already voted to make sure all their friends and family vote .
The only way to make sure Trump doesn ’ t get the chance to contest anything is to make sure he loses by a landslide .
Find early voting locations or drop off boxes here .
4 .
People power will win but we need to protect the results !
If Trump declares victory before all the votes are counted , makes unfounded claims that the election was “ stolen , ” or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and disinformation to prevent the legitimate counting of votes , Greenpeace will help activate nationwide peaceful mobilizations to # ProtectTheResults and demand that all the votes are counted to ensure a peaceful transition of power .
If necessary , our volunteers , supporters , and allies will be ready to join the movement and take lawful action to protect the results — be it from their homes , organizing or attending a # ProtectTheResults event near you — after Election Day to prevent Trump from unlawfully seizing power .
Only we , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that every vote is counted .
No one institution , party , or leader alone can ensure the legitimacy of this election .
Through showing up and bringing our friends , family , and neighbors into this fight , we can make sure the next president of the U.S. is democratically chosen by the people of this country and that public officials do everything in their power to ensure a fair outcome .
5 .
There ’ s no one institution on election night that can determine the election outcome .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election and it will reflect the will of the people .
No one in the media or in either party has the authority to make any announcements about who has won the election until all the votes have been counted , even if that takes a week or longer to complete .
We need the media to prioritize coverage that informs the public , supports local news , combats misinformation , and protects the integrity of the election .
Every eligible voter should have their voice heard and their vote counted .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count the votes and verify a winner in this year ’ s election — and that ’ s okay .
When election officials take the time to count and verify every ballot , that ’ s a sign that our democracy is working .
We need to be patient and confident in our election processes so election officials can take the time to make sure every eligible vote is counted accurately and we need to take action if anything threatens that .