greenpeace--2020-05-19--New Research Shows Clean Energy Does Not Grow on Trees

New Research Shows Clean Energy Does Not Grow on Trees Pulp and paper companies also love to claim they are helping our climate because they similarly plant huge numbers of trees .
But as you can imagine , it is not quite that simple .
Many of the energy industries who have perpetuated climate denial would now love for you to believe that they have solved the problem .
Most often , trees are sold as the solution .
Sounds great !
We can all get behind planting more trees , right ?
Unfortunately , it is the cutting down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy that gets us into some trouble .
Biomass energy , as it is called , is often sold as a carbon neutral clean energy because more trees can be planted every time some are cut down .
Similarly , pulp and paper companies also love to claim they are helping our climate because they also plant huge numbers of trees .
But as you can imagine , it is not quite that simple .
Back in 2017 , we set out to better understand the climate impacts of clearcut logging ( removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in carbon rich ecosystems like Canada ’ s boreal forest .
We commissioned Dr. Jay Malcolm , a professor and scientist at the University of Toronto , to shine a light on this important topic .
The results are in , and published in the academic journal Climatic Change .
Here ’ s what you need to know : An old intact ( or “ primary ” ) forest holds a great diversity of trees , vegetation , and wildlife .
According to the research , these forests also contain more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logged .
So when we cut down these forests , we are emitting significant carbon .
Even when these forests are allowed to regrow either naturally or after the planting of trees , it takes many decades , even centuries to recover .
The effect of this harvesting over time means that less and less carbon is stored in the landscape , which is termed a ‘ carbon debt ’ .
Dr. Malcolm ’ s study found that paying off that debt takes more than 90 years , even under the best-case scenario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — logging will increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere for very long periods of time !
2 .
Burning wood to replace fossil fuels is a terrible idea for our climate Despite what the current administration and energy executives want you to believe , burning trees for electricity generation ( biomass energy ) to replace coal , oil , or natural gas , is not a useful climate mitigation strategy .
When wood pellets are used to replace coal , oil or natural gas , the carbon debt lasts for 155 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are in a climate crisis now ; we can not afford anything that emits more carbon for centuries .
3 .
Clearcutting intact forests makes the climate crisis worse , regardless of how the trees are used Currently , most logging in Canada is not for wood pellets , but rather for the production of timber and other products .
The research points out that clearcut logging of our natural forest ecosystems always results in a carbon debt , irrespective of the forest type or end product — energy , paper or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last for centuries — meaning these industries are making the climate crisis worse for future generations .
Our work at Greenpeace relies on the latest and best available science to shape our campaigns .
In the case of forests , this science is telling us that biomass energy is a false solution that is hurting our climate for long periods of time .
Instead we must slow down , keep forests standing , and let nature take care of us .

New Research Shows Clean Energy Does Not Grow on Trees
Pulp and paper companies also love to claim they are helping our climate because they similarly plant huge numbers of trees. But as you can imagine, it is not quite that simple.
Many of the energy industries who have perpetuated climate denial would now love for you to believe that they have solved the problem. Most often, trees are sold as the solution. Sounds great! We can all get behind planting more trees, right?
Unfortunately, it is the cutting down of the trees and burning them for energy that gets us into some trouble. Biomass energy, as it is called, is often sold as a carbon neutral clean energy because more trees can be planted every time some are cut down. Similarly, pulp and paper companies also love to claim they are helping our climate because they also plant huge numbers of trees. But as you can imagine, it is not quite that simple.
Back in 2017, we set out to better understand the climate impacts of clearcut logging (removing virtually every tree in an area), especially in carbon rich ecosystems like Canada’s boreal forest. We commissioned Dr. Jay Malcolm, a professor and scientist at the University of Toronto, to shine a light on this important topic. The results are in, and published in the academic journal Climatic Change. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Clearcutting intact forests creates a big carbon debt
An old intact (or “primary”) forest holds a great diversity of trees, vegetation, and wildlife. According to the research, these forests also contain more carbon than a forest that has been logged. So when we cut down these forests, we are emitting significant carbon. Even when these forests are allowed to regrow either naturally or after the planting of trees, it takes many decades, even centuries to recover. The effect of this harvesting over time means that less and less carbon is stored in the landscape, which is termed a ‘carbon debt’. Dr. Malcolm’s study found that paying off that debt takes more than 90 years, even under the best-case scenario. There is no way around it — logging will increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere for very long periods of time!
2. Burning wood to replace fossil fuels is a terrible idea for our climate
Despite what the current administration and energy executives want you to believe, burning trees for electricity generation (biomass energy) to replace coal, oil, or natural gas, is not a useful climate mitigation strategy. When wood pellets are used to replace coal, oil or natural gas, the carbon debt lasts for 155, 200, and 356 years respectively. We are in a climate crisis now; we cannot afford anything that emits more carbon for centuries.
3. Clearcutting intact forests makes the climate crisis worse, regardless of how the trees are used
Currently, most logging in Canada is not for wood pellets, but rather for the production of timber and other products. The research points out that clearcut logging of our natural forest ecosystems always results in a carbon debt, irrespective of the forest type or end product — energy, paper or construction materials. This carbon debt can last for centuries — meaning these industries are making the climate crisis worse for future generations.
Our work at Greenpeace relies on the latest and best available science to shape our campaigns. In the case of forests, this science is telling us that biomass energy is a false solution that is hurting our climate for long periods of time. Instead we must slow down, keep forests standing, and let nature take care of us.


greenpeace--2020-05-20--Help Save the US Postal Service

Help Save the US Postal Service

Help Save the US Postal Service Trump wants to destroy the USPS at a time when it is called upon to save our democracy with an expanded vote-by-mail in the upcoming election .
A sign outside a post office in Fairfax , Virginia .
US Postal Service ( USPS ) workers have been declared essential employees to keep mail and packages moving during the coronavirus .
The USPS is a source of liberation for the most marginalized , providing medications for neighbors , family and friends , as well as actively supporting mailing in tribal and rural communities .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , suggesting as far back as 2018 that it be replaced with a privatized system that could hike up prices , leave over half a million people jobless , and worsen our chances of having a more secure , just , and equitable democracy.1 Your relentless action has been a key driver of the bold legislation we have a chance to pass in the coming weeks , but as always , there ’ s pushback from Trump and his administration cronies .
Days ago , the House passed a monumental act for human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief during these trying times .
The HEROES Act is a legislative work that could improve working conditions for Essential Worker with personal protection equipment and paid sick leave ; provide needed economic relief for families ; and safeguard our right to a more healthy and functioning democracy by explicitly providing funding to save the USPS—ultimately paving the way for infrastructure like national vote-by-mail .
The HEROES Act provides the necessary funding to keep the USPS afloat during this crisis , providing a defense from Trump ’ s heartless agenda .
Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroy a vital American institution for his own selfish interests , fueled by deep-seated greed for monopolization and the hope of a disengaged public too tired to utilize our right to dissent .
For months now , Trump has openly expressed his disapproval of vote-by-mail expansion—knowing that more people will engage in electoral politics—and he has openly mentioned that we need to get rid of the US Postal Service , acting in favor of less accessible and more expensive corporate mailing systems.2 It is not a coincidence that Trump wants to destroy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called upon to save our democracy with an expanded vote-by-mail in the upcoming election .
Dismantling this nationally respected and historic institution would put more than half a million people at risk of losing their jobs during a time when job uncertainty is worse than the Great Depression .
Tell the Senate we need a full-fledged HEROES Act , with the proposed funding for the US Postal Service .
The USPS is a vital and indispensable source of social connection for the most marginalized , providing medications for neighbors , family and friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Black , Brown , tribal and rural communities .
Folks in isolated communities like the deep mountains of Colorado and Wyoming will suffer greatly if the USPS goes away .
What ’ s scary here is this : for-profit delivery corporations have no incentive to add those communities to their routes if mail is privatized , because sparsely populated rural routes are not profitable to them .
Trump and his henchmen didn ’ t hesitate to ignore the swath of public support for the ReWIND Act , and he continues to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the globe .
Not to mention , since he entered office , he has openly spoken out against unions—and the USPS is one of the nation ’ s largest unionized employers.3 It comes down to asking ourselves a crucial question from our own movement ’ s perspective : Which side of history do you want to be on ?
We have a strong chance at saving one of America ’ s most beloved institutions .
Some of you might ask why this is important to Greenpeace , and our response is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This global pandemic has proven that what we need is togetherness , not siloed asks for action .
They want to divide us .
Pollution , exclusion , and job insecurity are factions of current systemic powers aiming to exploit this pandemic crisis and dismantle essential public services , among other things .
There is no question that we are living in a real-time “ shock doctrine ” .
Despite the uncertainty and fatigue , you ’ ve tweeted , called , signed petitions , written letters , and maybe you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because of your activism , they heard you and made this crucial piece of legislation a large step in our movement ’ s momentum .
Keep the momentum .
Push the needle .
Demand the necessary funding to save the USPS .
While it ’ s very clear that we still have a long way to go in fighting the corporate and political leaders who play a role in fueling these unjust and unsustainable systems that plague the people and planet , this is the time to focus and get the HEROES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will create a more just and peaceful future for generations to come .

Help Save the US Postal Service
Trump wants to destroy the USPS at a time when it is called upon to save our democracy with an expanded vote-by-mail in the upcoming election.
A sign outside a post office in Fairfax, Virginia. US Postal Service (USPS) workers have been declared essential employees to keep mail and packages moving during the coronavirus. The USPS is a source of liberation for the most marginalized, providing medications for neighbors, family and friends, as well as actively supporting mailing in tribal and rural communities.
Trump has consistently attacked the US Postal Service, suggesting as far back as 2018 that it be replaced with a privatized system that could hike up prices, leave over half a million people jobless, and worsen our chances of having a more secure, just, and equitable democracy.1 Your relentless action has been a key driver of the bold legislation we have a chance to pass in the coming weeks, but as always, there’s pushback from Trump and his administration cronies.
Days ago, the House passed a monumental act for human rights, financial security, and well-earned relief during these trying times. The HEROES Act is a legislative work that could improve working conditions for Essential Worker with personal protection equipment and paid sick leave; provide needed economic relief for families; and safeguard our right to a more healthy and functioning democracy by explicitly providing funding to save the USPS—ultimately paving the way for infrastructure like national vote-by-mail.
The HEROES Act provides the necessary funding to keep the USPS afloat during this crisis, providing a defense from Trump’s heartless agenda.
Trump is using the pandemic as an opportunity to destroy a vital American institution for his own selfish interests, fueled by deep-seated greed for monopolization and the hope of a disengaged public too tired to utilize our right to dissent. For months now, Trump has openly expressed his disapproval of vote-by-mail expansion—knowing that more people will engage in electoral politics—and he has openly mentioned that we need to get rid of the US Postal Service, acting in favor of less accessible and more expensive corporate mailing systems.2
It is not a coincidence that Trump wants to destroy the USPS at a time when it is called upon to save our democracy with an expanded vote-by-mail in the upcoming election.
Dismantling this nationally respected and historic institution would put more than half a million people at risk of losing their jobs during a time when job uncertainty is worse than the Great Depression. Tell the Senate we need a full-fledged HEROES Act, with the proposed funding for the US Postal Service.
sign now
The USPS is a vital and indispensable source of social connection for the most marginalized, providing medications for neighbors, family and friends, as well as actively supporting mailing in Black, Brown, tribal and rural communities. Folks in isolated communities like the deep mountains of Colorado and Wyoming will suffer greatly if the USPS goes away. What’s scary here is this: for-profit delivery corporations have no incentive to add those communities to their routes if mail is privatized, because sparsely populated rural routes are not profitable to them.
Trump and his henchmen didn’t hesitate to ignore the swath of public support for the ReWIND Act, and he continues to provide sweetheart loans to the largest polluting industries across the globe. Not to mention, since he entered office, he has openly spoken out against unions—and the USPS is one of the nation’s largest unionized employers.3 It comes down to asking ourselves a crucial question from our own movement’s perspective: Which side of history do you want to be on?
The need for a strong postal service is directly tied to our ability to vote in a more fair election for the planet and the people.
We have a strong chance at saving one of America’s most beloved institutions. Some of you might ask why this is important to Greenpeace, and our response is that we are building solidarity across movements. This global pandemic has proven that what we need is togetherness, not siloed asks for action.
They want to divide us. Pollution, exclusion, and job insecurity are factions of current systemic powers aiming to exploit this pandemic crisis and dismantle essential public services, among other things. There is no question that we are living in a real-time “shock doctrine”.
Despite the uncertainty and fatigue, you’ve tweeted, called, signed petitions, written letters, and maybe you’ve even joined in a socially distanced protest. Because of your activism, they heard you and made this crucial piece of legislation a large step in our movement’s momentum.
Keep the momentum. Push the needle. Demand the necessary funding to save the USPS.
sign now
While it’s very clear that we still have a long way to go in fighting the corporate and political leaders who play a role in fueling these unjust and unsustainable systems that plague the people and planet, this is the time to focus and get the HEROES Act across the finish line.
Together, we will create a more just and peaceful future for generations to come.
[1] https://thehill.com/homenews/house/494571-pelosi-really-dangerous-to-privatize-the-post-office
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/postal-service-funding-crisis-could-harm-voting-by-mail-coronavirus-2020-4
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-administration-tells-agencies-to-restrict-unions-in-the-workplace/2019/10/07/39a0b3e8-e928-11e9-85c0-85a098e47b37_story.html


greenpeace--2020-05-20--10 Ways You Can Support Workers Right Now

10 Ways You Can Support Workers Right Now Beyond gratitude , workers need customers and employers to be better allies to help protect them as frontline workers who can not stay at home .
Here 's what we can all do to support them .
Right now , as “ stay at home ” orders mandate many people stay at home to protect society , essential workers are putting their safety at risk every day to make sure the rest of us are healthy and fed .
Beyond gratitude , workers need customers and employers to be better allies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not stay at home .
In solidarity and action , here are 10 important ways you can support and protect essential workers right now !
1 .
Call 1-888-907-6639 right now to demand your Senator supports an Essential Worker ’ s Bill of Rights .
You can tweet at them too !
2 .
Message your Senator right now and tell them to pass the Essential Worker Bill of Rights in the next stimulus package ( The HEROES Act ) .
Sign this petition demanding Congress pass an Essential Worker Bill of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local grocery store you support and commit to UFCW ’ s # ShopSmart pledge .
When you visit the grocery or any store — wear a mask both outside and inside the store , keep at least 6 feet between yourself and shoppers or workers , and never toss your gloves on the floor or ground .
4 .
Put yourself in the shoes of grocery workers and other workers on the frontlines .
Let them know you appreciate them .
Say hello , thank workers , comply with new policies , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store policies , including whether you can bring reusable bags in .
Bag your own groceries whenever possible to reduce contact .
If you prefer reusable bags , place groceries directly in the cart and bag them outside the store ( to reduce contact ) .
6 .
Tell Congress to pass “ no oil bailout ” legislation and stop sweetheart deals for the oil industry .
We need COVID-19 relief legislation that puts workers , families , and our planet first , not more bailouts for fossil fuel CEOs .
7 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sign this petition to Walmart and sign this petition to Amazon .
8 .
Support the Kern County Community Resiliency Fund to provide immediate support for impacted workers and residents in Kern County , CA , and to lay the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient economy .
9 .
As many struggle to pay rent , or watch loved ones put their own health at risk on the frontline — industries are exploiting this crisis to seize power and gut environmental protections for their own profits .
Sign this pledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to sell single-use plastics .
10 .
Demand brands and retailers respect the human rights of all workers in their seafood supply chains .
Tell Bumble Bee and the retailers that sell their tuna products to take these four steps to address modern slavery on the Taiwanese fishing vessels from which they source .

10 Ways You Can Support Workers Right Now
Beyond gratitude, workers need customers and employers to be better allies to help protect them as frontline workers who cannot stay at home. Here's what we can all do to support them.
Right now, as “stay at home” orders mandate many people stay at home to protect society, essential workers are putting their safety at risk every day to make sure the rest of us are healthy and fed.
Beyond gratitude, workers need customers and employers to be better allies to help protect them as frontline workers who cannot stay at home. In solidarity and action, here are 10 important ways you can support and protect essential workers right now!
1. Call 1-888-907-6639 right now to demand your Senator supports an Essential Worker’s Bill of Rights. You can tweet at them too!
2. Message your Senator right now and tell them to pass the Essential Worker Bill of Rights in the next stimulus package (The HEROES Act). Sign this petition demanding Congress pass an Essential Worker Bill of Rights now!
3. Tell your local grocery store you support and commit to UFCW’s #ShopSmart pledge. When you visit the grocery or any store — wear a mask both outside and inside the store, keep at least 6 feet between yourself and shoppers or workers, and never toss your gloves on the floor or ground.
4. Put yourself in the shoes of grocery workers and other workers on the frontlines. Let them know you appreciate them. Say hello, thank workers, comply with new policies, and be patient.
5. Comply with store policies, including whether you can bring reusable bags in. Bag your own groceries whenever possible to reduce contact. If you prefer reusable bags, place groceries directly in the cart and bag them outside the store (to reduce contact).
6. Tell Congress to pass “no oil bailout” legislation and stop sweetheart deals for the oil industry. We need COVID-19 relief legislation that puts workers, families, and our planet first, not more bailouts for fossil fuel CEOs.
8. Support the Kern County Community Resiliency Fund to provide immediate support for impacted workers and residents in Kern County, CA, and to lay the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient economy.
9. As many struggle to pay rent, or watch loved ones put their own health at risk on the frontline — industries are exploiting this crisis to seize power and gut environmental protections for their own profits. Sign this pledge to hold the plastic industry accountable for exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to sell single-use plastics.
10. Demand brands and retailers respect the human rights of all workers in their seafood supply chains. Tell Bumble Bee and the retailers that sell their tuna products to take these four steps to address modern slavery on the Taiwanese fishing vessels from which they source.


greenpeace--2020-05-22--Biodiversity and the Amazon Rainforest

Biodiversity and the Amazon Rainforest

As an ecosystem , the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth .
Over 3 million species live in the rainforest , and over 2,500 tree species ( or one-third of all tropical trees that exist on earth ) help to create and sustain this vibrant ecosystem .
Biodiversity describes the differences and variations that exist between all living beings — animals , plants , microscopic bacteria , funghi , and everything else you can imagine that is considered living .
Just like there ’ s major differences between the different types of life – like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person and mushroom — there ’ s also variation across similar beings — like an elm and a peach tree , or a beetle and a butterfly .
The balance between all the component parts of a biodiverse system helps to keep the ecosystem and its inhabitants ( including humans ! )
healthy .
These processes help purify water , make air breathable , control outbreaks of diseases and pests , support pollination , build fertile soils , and store carbon .
Biodiversity is , in a sense , what makes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy and beautiful .
Biodiversity also describes ecosystems or environments that contain a high degree of this variation — for example , the Amazon rainforest .
As an ecosystem , the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth .
Over 3 million species live in the rainforest , and over 2,500 tree species ( or one-third of all tropical trees that exist on earth ) help to create and sustain this vibrant ecosystem .
More and more , biodiversity is at risk .
Both in the Amazon and globally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and transformed by human activity .
This in turn impacts the biodiversity of an area and the types and quality of functions an environment can provide .
The extinction of species is happening at rates never seen before — up to a thousand times faster than what would happen naturally .
According to a recent report by IPBES ( The “ Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ) , an estimated 1 million species are currently facing extinction .
This rate has largely picked up in the last 40 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxa .
In the Amazon , species are threatened as human activity expands deeper into the rainforest .
From August 2018 to July 2019 , the Amazon lost over 3,800 sq .
miles of forest — an area equivalent to over 1.8 million football fields — which signified the highest rate of deforestation in the decade .
Biodiversity loss from habitat destruction is often driven by land grabbing and industrialized agricultural expansion , mining , logging , and large-scale infrastructure development , usually through deforestation .
Even worse , deforestation in Indigenous lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
Industrial agriculture expansion , including for large industrialized crops such as soy and cattle , often requires the clearing of forested areas and a more permanent land use change into agricultural use .
Industrialized agricultural systems , such as those based on plantations , have very little biodiversity , and the application of pesticides can also affect nearby ecosystems and human communities as runoff infects the broader habitat .
Mining operations go deeper into the forest and drive the demand to build infrastructure ( like roads ) and deforest crucial habitats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small-scale and large-scale — represent a great risk to water and soil given the risk of toxic leaks .
Mining also spreads into protected areas , such as Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units , and vast wildlife refuge locations .
Logging can also harm biodiversity .
Greenpeace has long investigated how logging supply chains — including for high-value wood like Ipê — can be rife with fraud , corruption , and illegally laundered timber that originates from protected areas and Indigenous reserves .
In addition , a large-scale industrial timber plantation that replaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less biodiversity , and is the equivalent of an agricultural “ monocrop.
” Infrastructure includes roads , power , transport networks , and other large-scale projects .
BR 163 is a highway in the state of Pará ( PA ) that cuts into endangered species´ habitats and has made the surrounding area subject to deforestation and habitat destruction .
Other infrastructure , like hydropower dams , can deeply disrupt habitats and affect the environment , people , and biodiversity in their surroundings by isolating species and contaminating the water .
The loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the resources it provides — out of balance , and can even threaten its ability to sustain itself .
One concerning example of this is the growing likelihood of massive-scale deforestation causing the Amazon rainforest to reach a “ tipping point.
” This means that the hydrological cycle would be disrupted to the point that it triggers a massive forest “ die-back ” that could turn vast areas of the rainforest into a savannah , and with it lose immeasurable amounts of biodiversity .
Furthermore , there are additional risks to destroying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of zoonotic disease .
Deforestation may increase the risk for disease outbreaks and can introduce new ways for zoonotic diseases to reach human communities and amplify their ability to jump across species .
The Amazon rainforest has been identified as a region with a high likelihood for future zoonotic disease emergence .
The Hyacinth Macaw exists naturally in the Amazon , Cerrado , and Caatinga biomes ; however agricultural expansion , illegal logging , and the advancement of cities have drastically reduced their habitat .
Today it exists only in small areas of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) .
In the Amazon , there are still sightings in central Pará , the epicenter of deforestation in the biome .
In 2019 , the area of deforestation reached 203,460 ha in this region What ’ s being done to protect biodiversity globally and in the Brazilian Amazon ?
Some of the most important things we can do to protect biodiversity are : • Protect Indigenous people and their rights and enforce existing protections .
Nearly one million Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home .
Indigenous communities have a right to their livelihoods in their territories , and it is our global responsibility to push back when their protections and livelihoods are put at risk and violated .
There ’ s been a steady rollback of environmental protections and enforcement under the Bolsonaro government that is harming Indigenous communities , which has only continued under COVID-19 and leading deforestation and habitat destruction .
• Promote greater science , research , and understanding on biodiversity , especially for Brazilians .
In the last four years there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of plants and animals discovered in the Amazon .
Too often , these species are discovered after their habitats have been encroached upon , when they are already at risk .
We need to invest more in scientific research programs — like the Tatiana de Carvalho Program , a Greenpeace Brazil scholarship program for students researching the Amazon .
Without proper study , we can ’ t know how or what we ’ re losing or risking when we introduce radical shifts into the environment .
• Rethink how we interact with biodiversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by our current systems .
In the US , this will mean re-thinking if what we consume or produce is based on sourcing practices that are often detrimental to delicate ecosystems .
Destroyed forests and fragmented habitats can be restored , and there are alternatives to the industrialized food systems that are harming biodiversity , local communities , workers , and consumers .
By protecting biodiversity , we can also have positive effects on forests , the climate , and communities around the globe .
First catalogued in 2014 , this primate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Roosevelt and Aripuanã rivers in the states of Mato Grosso and Amazonas , Brazil .
From January to September 2019 , 204 fire hotspots were recorded within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from where the species lives .
Over the past year , the region has lost 3,130 hectares of forest – because it lives exclusively in the treetops , the loss of forest cover is fatal for this species .
Its main threats are fires and forest degradation .
2020 was set to be a big year for nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diversity ( CBD ) was set to reset their 10-year priorities for protecting nature and biodiversity .
Unfortunately , many of the Aichi Targets fell short — including Target 11 to bring more terrestrial , inland water , and marine areas into protected or conservation status .
This means we need even bigger and bolder action to protect nature .
While there have been some promising steps for corporate actions and government policy signals for forests and the climate — such as zero-deforestation commitments , moratoriums , streamlining climate into trading agreements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservation — many commitments have not yet translated to effective action , and the successes are under threat or only partially implemented .
Our current path is not sustainable .
We need to follow through on our commitments , and reconsider our relationship to biodiversity and nature .
It ’ s becoming more and more clear that if we fail to protect nature , we ’ ll only further compromise nature ’ s ability to provide for us and our collective well-being .

Biodiversity and the Amazon Rainforest
As an ecosystem, the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Over 3 million species live in the rainforest, and over 2,500 tree species (or one-third of all tropical trees that exist on earth) help to create and sustain this vibrant ecosystem.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity describes the differences and variations that exist between all living beings: animals, plants, microscopic bacteria, funghi, and everything else you can imagine that is considered living. Just like there’s major differences between the different types of life, like a goldfish and a house cat, or a person and mushroom — there’s also variation across similar beings, like an elm and a peach tree, or a beetle and a butterfly.
The balance between all the component parts of a biodiverse system helps to keep the ecosystem and its inhabitants (including humans!) healthy. These processes help purify water, make air breathable, control outbreaks of diseases and pests, support pollination, build fertile soils, and store carbon. Biodiversity is, in a sense, what makes a place breathe, live, and stay healthy and beautiful.
The Amazon Rainforest and Biodiversity
Biodiversity also describes ecosystems or environments that contain a high degree of this variation — for example, the Amazon rainforest. As an ecosystem, the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Over 3 million species live in the rainforest, and over 2,500 tree species (or one-third of all tropical trees that exist on earth) help to create and sustain this vibrant ecosystem.
More and more, biodiversity is at risk. Both in the Amazon and globally, ecosystems are being encroached upon, altered, and transformed by human activity. This in turn impacts the biodiversity of an area and the types and quality of functions an environment can provide.
Drivers of Biodiversity Loss
The extinction of species is happening at rates never seen before — up to a thousand times faster than what would happen naturally. According to a recent report by IPBES (The “Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), an estimated 1 million species are currently facing extinction. This rate has largely picked up in the last 40 years, with threatened and vulnerable species across taxa.
In the Amazon, species are threatened as human activity expands deeper into the rainforest. From August 2018 to July 2019, the Amazon lost over 3,800 sq. miles of forest — an area equivalent to over 1.8 million football fields — which signified the highest rate of deforestation in the decade. Biodiversity loss from habitat destruction is often driven by land grabbing and industrialized agricultural expansion, mining, logging, and large-scale infrastructure development, usually through deforestation. Even worse, deforestation in Indigenous lands and protected areas has skyrocketed in recent years.
Industrial agriculture expansion, including for large industrialized crops such as soy and cattle, often requires the clearing of forested areas and a more permanent land use change into agricultural use. Industrialized agricultural systems, such as those based on plantations, have very little biodiversity, and the application of pesticides can also affect nearby ecosystems and human communities as runoff infects the broader habitat.
Mining operations go deeper into the forest and drive the demand to build infrastructure (like roads) and deforest crucial habitats. Mining projects — on both the small-scale and large-scale — represent a great risk to water and soil given the risk of toxic leaks. Mining also spreads into protected areas, such as Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units, and vast wildlife refuge locations.
Logging can also harm biodiversity. Greenpeace has long investigated how logging supply chains — including for high-value wood like Ipê — can be rife with fraud, corruption, and illegally laundered timber that originates from protected areas and Indigenous reserves. In addition, a large-scale industrial timber plantation that replaces a natural forest area will have much less biodiversity, and is the equivalent of an agricultural “monocrop.”
Infrastructure includes roads, power, transport networks, and other large-scale projects. BR 163 is a highway in the state of Pará (PA) that cuts into endangered species´ habitats and has made the surrounding area subject to deforestation and habitat destruction. Other infrastructure, like hydropower dams, can deeply disrupt habitats and affect the environment, people, and biodiversity in their surroundings by isolating species and contaminating the water.
Risks and Tipping Points
The loss of biodiversity can throw an entire ecosystem — and the resources it provides — out of balance. It can even threaten its ability to sustain itself. One concerning example of this is the growing likelihood of massive-scale deforestation causing the Amazon rainforest to reach a “tipping point.” This means that the hydrological cycle would be disrupted to the point that it triggers a massive forest “die-back” that could turn vast areas of the rainforest into a savannah, and with it lose immeasurable amounts of biodiversity.
Furthermore, there are additional risks to destroying habitats, such as the increasing prevalence of zoonotic disease. Deforestation may increase the risk for disease outbreaks and can introduce new ways for zoonotic diseases to reach human communities and amplify their ability to jump across species. The Amazon rainforest has been identified as a region with a high likelihood for future zoonotic disease emergence.
Spotlight: Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
The Hyacinth Macaw exists naturally in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes; however agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and the advancement of cities have drastically reduced their habitat. Today it exists only in small areas of these biomes, and the species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). In the Amazon, there are still sightings in central Pará, the epicenter of deforestation in the biome. In 2019, the area of deforestation reached 203,460 hectares in this region.
What’s being done to protect biodiversity globally and in the Brazilian Amazon?
Some of the most important things we can do to protect biodiversity are:
Protect Indigenous people and their rights and enforce existing protections. Nearly one million Indigenous people in Brazil call the Amazon rainforest their home. Indigenous communities have a right to their livelihoods in their territories, and it is our global responsibility to push back when their protections and livelihoods are put at risk and violated. There’s been a steady rollback of environmental protections and enforcement under the Bolsonaro government that is harming Indigenous communities, which has only continued under COVID-19 and leading deforestation and habitat destruction. Promote greater science, research, and understanding on biodiversity, especially for Brazilians. In the last four years there’s been over 600 new species of plants and animals discovered in the Amazon. Too often, these species are discovered after their habitats have been encroached upon, when they are already at risk. We need to invest more in scientific research programs — like the Tatiana de Carvalho Program, a Greenpeace Brazil scholarship program for students researching the Amazon. Without proper study, we can’t know how or what we’re losing or risking when we introduce radical shifts into the environment. Rethink how we interact with biodiversity and nature and address the harm already caused by our current systems. In the US, this will mean re-thinking if what we consume or produce is based on sourcing practices that are often detrimental to delicate ecosystems. Destroyed forests and fragmented habitats can be restored, and there are alternatives to the industrialized food systems that are harming biodiversity, local communities, workers, and consumers. By protecting biodiversity, we can also have positive effects on forests, the climate, and communities around the globe.
Spotlight: Milton’s Titi (Plecturocebus miltoni)
First catalogued in 2014, this primate species only exists at the intersection of the Roosevelt and Aripuanã rivers in the states of Mato Grosso and Amazonas, Brazil. From January to September 2019, 204 fire hotspots were recorded within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from where the species lives. Over the past year, the region has lost 3,130 hectares of forest. Because it lives exclusively in the treetops, the loss of forest cover is fatal for this species. Its main threats are fires and forest degradation.
Conclusion
2020 was set to be a big year for nature and biodiversity. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was set to reset their 10-year priorities for protecting nature and biodiversity. Unfortunately, many of the Aichi Targets fell short — including Target 11 to bring more terrestrial, inland water, and marine areas into protected or conservation status. This means we need even bigger and bolder action to protect nature.
While there have been some promising steps for corporate actions and government policy signals for forests and the climate — such as zero-deforestation commitments, moratoriums, streamlining climate into trading agreements, and increasing the area under protection and conservation — many commitments have not yet translated to effective action, and the successes are under threat or only partially implemented.
Our current path is not sustainable. We need to follow through on our commitments, and reconsider our relationship to biodiversity and nature. It’s becoming more and more clear that if we fail to protect nature, we’ll only further compromise nature’s ability to provide for us and our collective well-being.


greenpeace--2020-05-22--Protecting nature means protecting ourselves

What supports a healthy life ?
As COVID-19 disrupts our lives across the world , we wake up each day wondering how to get the support we need to get through this crisis .
From standing in queues or walking long distances for food , to grandparents trying Zoom for the first time and to neighbors checking in on each other – we are building and strengthening our own support networks .
But we also need different support systems so that all of us can cope better : clean and accessible water to be able to stay healthy and protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support systems , such as healthcare and welfare , that protect us when times get tough ; a food system that nourishes us , rather than leaving us fighting over empty shelves .
We need to consider the bigger life support systems that a healthy environment provides us .
With so much information available and breaking news alerts every hour , it ’ s hard to keep up .
So here ’ s our go-to guide on how a healthy environment can protect us from pandemics .
What does nature have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially intact ecosystems such as forests and other wilderness areas , provides a shield against dangerous new diseases emerging and spreading to humans .
By contrast , exploiting nature creates the conditions for diseases similar to COVID-19 to emerge and spread .
Just as the health of our societies is only as strong as the wellbeing of the most vulnerable , our health as humans is fundamentally interconnected with the wellbeing of whole ecosystems .
In other words , “ there is not animal health and human health – not any more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health ” .
How does the destruction of nature cause pandemics ?
When we pressure the planet by destroying wild forests and disrupting nature to produce more and more feed , meat and other commodities , we increase our vulnerability to diseases from wildlife that are similar to COVID-19 .
Human encroachment into ecosystems takes many forms .
This includes deforestation and mining or clearing land for intensive farming .
These activities can force wildlife into closer contact with humans , which increases the risk of exposure to pathogens , disease-causing microorganisms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatening global public health .
While the COVID-19 pandemic might feel like a unique event right now , it is not a one-off – it is just the latest of many zoonotic diseases that have crossed from animals to humans , from SARS to H1N1 ( swine flu ) , avian flu to Ebola .
Does factory farming have anything to do with this ?
The industrial production of meat and dairy in massive factory farms where high numbers of animals are crammed together increases the risk of diseases emerging and spreading .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak of COVID-19 is directly linked to intensive farming , industrial animal farming has contributed to the spread of other zoonotic diseases such as avian flu .
Cramped and sometimes unsanitary conditions for workers in industrial food production can also increase the risk of disease transmission .
Although climatic conditions don ’ t appear to play a direct role in the spread of COVID-19 , failing to tackle the climate emergency could nonetheless increase our exposure to other infectious diseases .
The unprecedented strain on the natural world from extractive and polluting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps both humans and our environment healthy .
It ’ s a risk we simply can not afford to keep taking .
What happens if we protect nature ?
Intact ecosystems provide natural barriers to these deadly new diseases emerging and spreading , so protecting nature means protecting ourselves .
Scientists are also highlighting how the deep sea offers vital clues for medical research to better understand new viruses and potential cures .
Protecting the oceans from pollution and new industries like deep sea mining can help preserve the largest ecosystem on Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More generally , a healthy environment provides other life support systems : healthy forests and oceans thriving with life provide us with clean air to breathe and help protect us against the worst impacts of climate change .
So what should we do about it ?
Tackling the COVID-19 crisis and recovering stronger means taking action to limit what makes us vulnerable and ensuring the conditions that will help keep us safe .
As some governments make rapid , sweeping changes in response to a crisis that would have seemed unthinkable at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer , fairer , cleaner world is possible .
Out of this crisis , we can choose to protect ourselves through a recovery that protects humans , and the environment we rely on .
As a priority , public money should not be poured into bailouts for destructive industries that make us more vulnerable to crises by driving nature loss and the climate emergency .
Instead , government support should enable transitions for workers and communities into good green jobs and livelihoods that make us all safer and provide us with what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food corporations are even using this crisis to try to remove safety rules .
By exploiting workers and planetary boundaries , the industrial food system exposes us to more risk .
Factory farms are a toxic recipe for future pandemics .
A safe recovery means embracing local , sustainable and resilient food producers who nourish both us and the health of our planet .
Banning the trade in wildlife would greatly reduce the risks of outbreaks of zoonotic diseases .
But as a stand alone measure it would certainly not be enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our current crisis , we need ambitious political action built on valuing our responsibility to protect each other and the life support systems in thriving forests and oceans that can keep us healthy .
Human health , the health of our societies and the health of our environment are indivisible .
Grounded in collective benefit rather than corporate profit , let ’ s put people and nature at the heart of how we rebuild .

Protecting nature means protecting ourselves
What supports a healthy life? As COVID-19 disrupts our lives across the world, we wake up each day wondering how to get the support we need to get through this crisis.
From standing in queues or walking long distances for food, to grandparents trying Zoom for the first time and to neighbors checking in on each other – we are building and strengthening our own support networks.
But we also need different support systems so that all of us can cope better: clean and accessible water to be able to stay healthy and protect ourselves by washing our hands; social support systems, such as healthcare and welfare, that protect us when times get tough; a food system that nourishes us, rather than leaving us fighting over empty shelves.
We need to consider the bigger life support systems that a healthy environment provides us. With so much information available and breaking news alerts every hour, it’s hard to keep up.
So here’s our go-to guide on how a healthy environment can protect us from pandemics.
What does nature have to do with COVID-19?
Healthy and undisturbed nature, especially intact ecosystems such as forests and other wilderness areas, provides a shield against dangerous new diseases emerging and spreading to humans. By contrast, exploiting nature creates the conditions for diseases similar to COVID-19 to emerge and spread.
Just as the health of our societies is only as strong as the wellbeing of the most vulnerable, our health as humans is fundamentally interconnected with the wellbeing of whole ecosystems. In other words,“there is not animal health and human health – not any more than there is Korean health and French health”.
How does the destruction of nature cause pandemics?
When we pressure the planet by destroying wild forests and disrupting nature to produce more and more feed, meat and other commodities, we increase our vulnerability to diseases from wildlife that are similar to COVID-19.
Human encroachment into ecosystems takes many forms. This includes deforestation and mining or clearing land for intensive farming. These activities can force wildlife into closer contact with humans, which increases the risk of exposure to pathogens, disease-causing microorganisms, crossing from animals to humans, ultimately threatening global public health.
While the COVID-19 pandemic might feel like a unique event right now, it is not a one-off – it is just the latest of many zoonotic diseases that have crossed from animals to humans, from SARS to H1N1 (swine flu), avian flu to Ebola.
Does factory farming have anything to do with this?
The industrial production of meat and dairy in massive factory farms where high numbers of animals are crammed together increases the risk of diseases emerging and spreading. While there is currently no evidence that the outbreak of COVID-19 is directly linked to intensive farming, industrial animal farming has contributed to the spread of other zoonotic diseases such as avian flu. Cramped and sometimes unsanitary conditions for workers in industrial food production can also increase the risk of disease transmission.
Could climate change make things worse?
Although climatic conditions don’t appear to play a direct role in the spread of COVID-19, failing to tackle the climate emergency could nonetheless increase our exposure to other infectious diseases. The unprecedented strain on the natural world from extractive and polluting industries is disturbing the delicate balance that keeps both humans and our environment healthy. It’s a risk we simply cannot afford to keep taking.
What happens if we protect nature?
Intact ecosystems provide natural barriers to these deadly new diseases emerging and spreading, so protecting nature means protecting ourselves.
Scientists are also highlighting how the deep sea offers vital clues for medical research to better understand new viruses and potential cures. Protecting the oceans from pollution and new industries like deep sea mining can help preserve the largest ecosystem on Earth for scientific study to help us all.
More generally, a healthy environment provides other life support systems: healthy forests and oceans thriving with life provide us with clean air to breathe and help protect us against the worst impacts of climate change.
So what should we do about it?
Tackling the COVID-19 crisis and recovering stronger means taking action to limit what makes us vulnerable and ensuring the conditions that will help keep us safe.
As some governments make rapid, sweeping changes in response to a crisis that would have seemed unthinkable at the start of this year, a safer, fairer, cleaner world is possible. Out of this crisis, we can choose to protect ourselves through a recovery that protects humans, and the environment we rely on.
As a priority, public money should not be poured into bailouts for destructive industries that make us more vulnerable to crises by driving nature loss and the climate emergency. Instead, government support should enable transitions for workers and communities into good green jobs and livelihoods that make us all safer and provide us with what we need for healthy lives.
Some industrial food corporations are even using this crisis to try to remove safety rules. By exploiting workers and planetary boundaries, the industrial food system exposes us to more risk. Factory farms are a toxic recipe for future pandemics. A safe recovery means embracing local, sustainable and resilient food producers who nourish both us and the health of our planet.
Banning the trade in wildlife would greatly reduce the risks of outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. But as a stand alone measure it would certainly not be enough to prevent a new health crisis. Out of our current crisis, we need ambitious political action built on valuing our responsibility to protect each other and the life support systems in thriving forests and oceans that can keep us healthy.
Human health, the health of our societies and the health of our environment are indivisible. Grounded in collective benefit rather than corporate profit, let’s put people and nature at the heart of how we rebuild.


greenpeace--2020-05-28--How Greenpeace AAPI Staff are Shaping the Climate Movement

How Greenpeace AAPI Staff are Shaping the Climate Movement Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander ( AAPI ) Heritage Month !
This special month celebrates and pays tribute to the many contributions that generations of AAPI individuals have made to our society and culture .
We want to recognize the drive and power that this community brings to our movement for climate justice .
In their own words , here are a few stories and perspectives of AAPI Greenpeacers on the intersections of identity and the climate movement .
I remember how difficult it was to shape my identity growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserved when I began grade school , always just a cultural barrier away from speaking up in the classroom .
Luckily my neighborhood had extensive ponds and wooded areas , where I spent most of my childhood .
It wasn ’ t much , but looking back at it , the forts I built and the frogs I chased helped me carve out a personal identity in direct relation with the natural environment .
I found solace and confidence in the natural world , and whenever I began feeling too distant or reserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ console me .
Today I know how privileged I was to have access to those green spaces .
The destruction that climate change causes to peoples ’ homes in distant corners of the globe is also creating more environmental refugees .
Much like my parents and my grandparents before them , people all over the world emigrate to escape hard times .
Sometimes they don ’ t even have the option of staying .
So , in an ever-moving world , and an increasingly accelerating one at that , I am in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world can have the same opportunities growing up that I did .
Zero waste living is the latest lifestyle trend for Instagram influencers , but for frugal immigrant households , it ’ s long been our way of life .
My 엄마 and 아빠 , immigrants from South Korea , born during the Korean war and raised in difficult times of post-war shortages , can not bear to be wasteful .
We ’ ve always reused plastic containers , ziploc bags , straws , paper towel sheets , recycled aluminum cans ( hello @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduced food waste ( overripe kimchi makes better kimchi stew ! )
Why throw something away when you can reuse it ?
Why create unnecessary waste ?
While their efforts were more an attempt to save money than to save the environment , my parents ’ practice of frugality taught me the importance of conservation when I was able to see the benefit to the environment as well .
I proudly credit my immigrant parents and their conscientious lifestyle as the foundation for my environmentalist values .
Though the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polluters , everyday people are doing their part to help the environment .
I ’ m inspired by these everyday activists taking action with Greenpeace and being part of the environmental movement .
We ’ re all working together to channel the power of our diverse backgrounds and perspectives and seek a more equitable , just , and free world for all .
In 1985 , Greenpeace made a bold move by sending the Rainbow Warrior to the Micronesian island of Rongelap to relocate the people who were Indigenous to the island .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the military had detonated 66 hydrogen bombs on their homeland .
Knowing that the food systems were still severely poisoned by radiation , Greenpeace took direct action and moved the people to another island within the Marshall Island archipelago .
As a fellow Micronesian — Chamorro , the son of the native people of Guam — I was grateful and impressed that Greenpeace had the compassion , audacity , and capacity to execute this feat .
Since then , I have had a profound respect for the organization , recognizing its tremendous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also environmental justice .
Greenpeace is an organization that captures peoples ’ imagination .
It is why so many people bring their talent , creativity , and energy to the organization .
Over the past years , I ’ ve been proud to serve as a member of the Greenpeace Board of Directors .
My paternal great grandfather immigrated to California from the Philippines via Hong Kong in the mid-1920s .
He became a farmworker in the same fields my maternal grandparents would later labor in after immigrating from Mexico .
The communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of health , safety , and economic injustice — and they still do generations later .
As a multigenerational mixed-race individual ( meaning both of my parents , and even some of my grandparents , are mixed race ) , I ’ ve faced a lifetime of identity crisis after identity crisis .
As I ’ ve aged into adulthood , I ’ ve come to realize more and more how the different racial identities within me have shaped me as an activist in this movement .
And as I ’ ve grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to see how many different issues coincide with the threats facing our lands , waters , and earth .
The dangers posed by extractive industries such as mining and oil drilling threaten not just our chances for a livable climate or pristine lands , but also the bodies and lives of Indigenous women and girls .
The pesticides we fight against because they decimate bird and pollinator species also poison the people who labor in the crop fields to put food on our tables — people who are predominantly Black and Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice without racial justice , or without gender justice , or without social justice .
Early on during my time here at Greenpeace , I attended a training where our facilitators taught us a special unity clap .
We start together slowly — clap clap clap — the rhythm builds .
When it is at a frenzied rate of unsynchronized applause , we pause , hold our hand wide apart and yell , “ Isang bagsak !
” on the final clap .
A phrase in Tagalog that means “ one down ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this meaning to remind us that , figuratively , we rise and fall together .
This clap was commonly used to unify the Filipinx and Latinx farmworkers who were separated by a language barrier .
I feel echoes of my grandfather ’ s legacy whenever I do it .
And I love that all these years later , across movements , we use this as a reminder that we are stronger together .
Together is how we will achieve justice .
Together is how we get free .

How Greenpeace AAPI Staff are Shaping the Climate Movement
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! This special month celebrates and pays tribute to the many contributions that generations of AAPI individuals have made to our society and culture.
We want to recognize the drive and power that this community brings to our movement for climate justice. In their own words, here are a few stories and perspectives of AAPI Greenpeacers on the intersections of identity and the climate movement.
Calvin Tran
My name is Calvin and I am Greenpeace USA’s Development Operations Assistant based in Washington, D.C. I am a second-generation Vietnamese-American and a first-generation college graduate in my family. My grandparents emigrated from Guangzhou, China, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where my parents were born. My parents later emigrated to the United States, where I was born in Northern Virginia’s suburbs and have lived ever since. I am so proud of my background and upbringing, for it has made my involvement in this climate fight so much more personal and meaningful.
I remember how difficult it was to shape my identity growing up. I was so distant and reserved when I began grade school, always just a cultural barrier away from speaking up in the classroom. Luckily my neighborhood had extensive ponds and wooded areas, where I spent most of my childhood. It wasn’t much, but looking back at it, the forts I built and the frogs I chased helped me carve out a personal identity in direct relation with the natural environment. I found solace and confidence in the natural world, and whenever I began feeling too distant or reserved again, I always had nature to console me. Today I know how privileged I was to have access to those green spaces. The destruction that climate change causes to peoples’ homes in distant corners of the globe is also creating more environmental refugees. Much like my parents and my grandparents before them, people all over the world emigrate to escape hard times. Sometimes they don’t even have the option of staying. So, in an ever-moving world, and an increasingly accelerating one at that, I am in this climate fight so that children around the world can have the same opportunities growing up that I did.
Irene Kim
Zero waste living is the latest lifestyle trend for Instagram influencers, but for frugal immigrant households, it’s long been our way of life. My 엄마 and 아빠, immigrants from South Korea, born during the Korean war and raised in difficult times of post-war shortages, cannot bear to be wasteful. We’ve always reused plastic containers, ziploc bags, straws, paper towel sheets, recycled aluminum cans (hello, 5¢ deposit return!), and reduced food waste (overripe kimchi makes better kimchi stew!) Why throw something away when you can reuse it? Why create unnecessary waste?
While their efforts were more an attempt to save money than to save the environment, my parents’ practice of frugality taught me the importance of conservation when I was able to see the benefit to the environment as well. I proudly credit my immigrant parents and their conscientious lifestyle as the foundation for my environmentalist values.
Though the vast majority of climate change has been driven by corporate polluters, everyday people are doing their part to help the environment. I’m inspired by these everyday activists taking action with Greenpeace and being part of the environmental movement. We’re all working together to channel the power of our diverse backgrounds and perspectives and seek a more equitable, just, and free world for all.
Michael Leon Guerrero
In 1985, Greenpeace made a bold move by sending the Rainbow Warrior to the Micronesian island of Rongelap to relocate the people who were Indigenous to the island. The Rongelapese were returned home 30 years after the military had detonated 66 hydrogen bombs on their homeland. Knowing that the food systems were still severely poisoned by radiation, Greenpeace took direct action and moved the people to another island within the Marshall Island archipelago.
As a fellow Micronesian — Chamorro, the son of the native people of Guam — I was grateful and impressed that Greenpeace had the compassion, audacity, and capacity to execute this feat. Since then, I have had a profound respect for the organization, recognizing its tremendous influence in not only environmental protection but also environmental justice. Greenpeace is an organization that captures peoples’ imagination. It is why so many people bring their talent, creativity, and energy to the organization. Over the past years, I’ve been proud to serve as a member of the Greenpeace Board of Directors.
Kaitlin Grable
My paternal great grandfather immigrated to California from the Philippines via Hong Kong in the mid-1920s. He became a farmworker in the same fields my maternal grandparents would later labor in after immigrating from Mexico. The communities in which they labored faced major issues of health, safety, and economic injustice — and they still do generations later.
As a multigenerational mixed-race individual (meaning both of my parents, and even some of my grandparents, are mixed race), I’ve faced a lifetime of identity crisis after identity crisis. As I’ve aged into adulthood, I’ve come to realize more and more how the different racial identities within me have shaped me as an activist in this movement. And as I’ve grown in this movement, I’ve come to see how many different issues coincide with the threats facing our lands, waters, and earth. The dangers posed by extractive industries such as mining and oil drilling threaten not just our chances for a livable climate or pristine lands, but also the bodies and lives of Indigenous women and girls. The pesticides we fight against because they decimate bird and pollinator species also poison the people who labor in the crop fields to put food on our tables — people who are predominantly Black and Brown. We can’t have climate justice without racial justice, or without gender justice, or without social justice.
Early on during my time here at Greenpeace, I attended a training where our facilitators taught us a special unity clap. We start together slowly — clap clap clap — the rhythm builds. When it is at a frenzied rate of unsynchronized applause, we pause, hold our hand wide apart and yell, “Isang bagsak!” on the final clap. A phrase in Tagalog that means “one down” or “one fall.” We carry this meaning to remind us that, figuratively, we rise and fall together. This clap was commonly used to unify the Filipinx and Latinx farmworkers who were separated by a language barrier. I feel echoes of my grandfather’s legacy whenever I do it. And I love that all these years later, across movements, we use this as a reminder that we are stronger together. Together is how we will achieve justice. Together is how we get free.
Isang bagsak.


greenpeace--2020-06-04--Why We Must Divest from Police and Invest in Black Communities

Why We Must Divest from Police and Invest in Black Communities Greenpeace is heeding the call of the Movement for Black Lives .
We ’ re joining a huge coalition demanding an end to the war on Black people .
Our collective heartache , rage , and the outpouring of people-power is beginning to create real change .
Uprisings are surging around the country and the world in response to the horrific police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor — just two of many heinous police killings of Black people .
This resistance is forcing political elites to choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent police departments .
Now , the remaining three officers involved in the killing of George Floyd have been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting his murder .
But as of the moment this email was sent , Breonna Taylor ’ s killers have not .
This outbursting of people-power shows we can and must go further , we must seek deep , systemic change to put an end to carceral , state-sanctioned violence at the hands of the police .
That ’ s why Greenpeace is heeding the call of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re joining a huge coalition demanding an end to the war on Black people .
I need you with us on this one .
If millions of people of conscience show up , if people like you speak out , 2020 could be a massive tipping point in the long arc towards racial justice .
The U.S. now spends close to $ 200 billion per year on police and mass incarceration that continues to devastate Black communities .
At the same time , Black communities have faced chronic disinvestment and racist policies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial wealth and health gap , leaving Black families behind .
And the crises keep piling up .
Due to years of economic injustice and environmental racism –– from polluting power plants and freeways , Black people are now up to six times more likely to die from the coronavirus than white people .
Clearly , our country has failed Black people .
It ’ s time to radically reimagine what will actually keep people safe .
It ’ s time for transformative change .
Sign now to demand an end to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr. William J. Barber II reminds us : To truly achieve justice , we must focus both on “ who ” and “ what ” oppresses and kills Black people in this country .
Although our racist president is fanning the flames and inciting fascism , we won ’ t solve our problems by removing him alone .
Violent anti-Black racism has been built into our country since its founding .
Initially formed as slave patrols , police have always existed to maintain control over our communities rather than safety or justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too clearly right now , as militarized police forces use expensive equipment and weapons to terrorize protesters across the country , exemplifying the lawlessness and impunity that only police can get away with .
Meanwhile , cities are setting curfews that instill fear and criminalize our constitutional right to protest .
All to maintain the unjust status quo and delay justice .
Could there be a clearer demonstration that this system is rotten at its core ?
We must listen to and uplift the voices of Black people .
We support and endorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Movement For Black Lives earlier this week for leaders in our cities , states , and federal government : • We demand an end to the war against Black people .
We demand an end to the criminalization , incarceration , and killing of Black people .
We call for not just individual accountability of officers after a murder , but entire police departments .
• We demand a divestment from the police and investment in Black communities .
We call on localities and elected officials across the country to divest resources away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those resources to the healthcare , housing , and education our people deserve .
More officers , guns , jails , and prisons are not a solution to longstanding problems of racial disparities , injustice , and police violence .
• We demand local schools , colleges , universities , and all public institutions cut ties with the police .
We demand police-free schools across the country and an end to the use of police officers in public universities .
All public institutions designed to serve the people must cut ties with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• We demand repair for past and continuing harms .
State actors like the police , immigration agents , and corporations that have caused harm to Black communities must repair the harm done .
Police departments must acknowledge the harm their institution has caused Black families , make an apology , and commit resources to families and communities who have been forced to suffer .
• We demand immediate relief for our communities .
We demand the federal government provide direct cash payments , rent cancellation , mortgage cancellation , a moratorium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cancellation of student , medical , and other forms of debt .
We demand long-term economic solutions like a Universal Basic Income in order to address the immediate crisis and pave the way for a just recovery that doesn ’ t prioritize corporations and leave our communities behind .
• We demand economic justice for all our people .
From Minneapolis to Louisville , our communities continue to be exploited by this economy from generation to generation .
At this moment of economic crisis , we need to seize the opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that serves the needs of the people and the planet , not the corporations and the wealthy .
• We demand the rights of protestors be respected .
We demand that no harm come to protestors .
Violations of property should never be equated with the violation of human life .
We demand that local and state officials ensure that there are no abuses of power and no use of lethal force on protestors .
• We demand community control .
The most impacted in our communities need to control the laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to serve us — from our schools to our local budgets , economies , and police department .
Add your name to these demands : It ’ s time to shrink police power and budgets and instead invest in community-led health and safety solutions , as well as resources for Black people to survive and thrive .
Finally , if you ’ ve gotten this far you may be wondering “ why Greenpeace ?
Why me ?
, ” The answer is to be silent in the face of injustice is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece of the murderous , polluting system that goes with it .
As the Rev .
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in a similar time of great moral crisis for our nation , “ In the end , we will remember not the words of our enemies , but the silence of our friends.
” Greenpeace will not be silent or complicit .
We will never stop fighting for a green and peaceful future .
We will speak up and say , “ Black Lives Matter .
”

Why We Must Divest from Police and Invest in Black Communities
Greenpeace is heeding the call of the Movement for Black Lives. We’re joining a huge coalition demanding an end to the war on Black people.
Our collective heartache, rage, and the outpouring of people-power is beginning to create real change.
Uprisings are surging around the country and the world in response to the horrific police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor — just two of many heinous police killings of Black people. This resistance is forcing political elites to choose between justice and their constituents or backing violent police departments.
Now, the remaining three officers involved in the killing of George Floyd have been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting his murder. But as of the moment this email was sent, Breonna Taylor’s killers have not. This outbursting of people-power shows we can and must go further, we must seek deep, systemic change to put an end to carceral, state-sanctioned violence at the hands of the police.
That’s why Greenpeace is heeding the call of the Movement for Black Lives. We’re joining a huge coalition demanding an end to the war on Black people. I need you with us on this one. If millions of people of conscience show up, if people like you speak out, 2020 could be a massive tipping point in the long arc towards racial justice.
The U.S. now spends close to $200 billion per year on police and mass incarceration that continues to devastate Black communities. At the same time, Black communities have faced chronic disinvestment and racist policies, which have only served to widen the racial wealth and health gap, leaving Black families behind. And the crises keep piling up. Due to years of economic injustice and environmental racism –– from polluting power plants and freeways, Black people are now up to six times more likely to die from the coronavirus than white people.
Clearly, our country has failed Black people. It’s time to radically reimagine what will actually keep people safe. It’s time for transformative change. It’s time to demand an end to the war on Black people.
Sign now
As Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II reminds us: To truly achieve justice, we must focus both on “who” and “what” oppresses and kills Black people in this country.
Although our racist president is fanning the flames and inciting fascism, we won’t solve our problems by removing him alone. Violent anti-Black racism has been built into our country since its founding. Initially formed as slave patrols, police have always existed to maintain control over our communities rather than safety or justice.
We’re seeing that all too clearly right now, as militarized police forces use expensive equipment and weapons to terrorize protesters across the country, exemplifying the lawlessness and impunity that only police can get away with. Meanwhile, cities are setting curfews that instill fear and criminalize our constitutional right to protest. All to maintain the unjust status quo and delay justice. Could there be a clearer demonstration that this system is rotten at its core?
We must listen to and uplift the voices of Black people. We support and endorse the set of demands released by the Movement For Black Lives earlier this week for leaders in our cities, states, and federal government:
We demand an end to the war against Black people . We demand an end to the criminalization, incarceration, and killing of Black people. We call for not just individual accountability of officers after a murder, but entire police departments.
. We demand an end to the criminalization, incarceration, and killing of Black people. We call for not just individual accountability of officers after a murder, but entire police departments. We demand a divestment from the police and investment in Black communities . We call on localities and elected officials across the country to divest resources away from policing in local budgets and reallocate those resources to the healthcare, housing, and education our people deserve. More officers, guns, jails, and prisons are not a solution to longstanding problems of racial disparities, injustice, and police violence.
. We call on localities and elected officials across the country to divest resources away from policing in local budgets and reallocate those resources to the healthcare, housing, and education our people deserve. More officers, guns, jails, and prisons are not a solution to longstanding problems of racial disparities, injustice, and police violence. We demand local schools, colleges, universities, and all public institutions cut ties with the police . We demand police-free schools across the country and an end to the use of police officers in public universities. All public institutions designed to serve the people must cut ties with the police in the interest of public safety.
. We demand police-free schools across the country and an end to the use of police officers in public universities. All public institutions designed to serve the people must cut ties with the police in the interest of public safety. We demand repair for past and continuing harms . State actors like the police, immigration agents, and corporations that have caused harm to Black communities must repair the harm done. Police departments must acknowledge the harm their institution has caused Black families, make an apology, and commit resources to families and communities who have been forced to suffer.
. State actors like the police, immigration agents, and corporations that have caused harm to Black communities must repair the harm done. Police departments must acknowledge the harm their institution has caused Black families, make an apology, and commit resources to families and communities who have been forced to suffer. We demand immediate relief for our communities . We demand the federal government provide direct cash payments, rent cancellation, mortgage cancellation, a moratorium on utility and water shutoffs, and a cancellation of student, medical, and other forms of debt. We demand long-term economic solutions like a Universal Basic Income in order to address the immediate crisis and pave the way for a just recovery that doesn’t prioritize corporations and leave our communities behind.
. We demand the federal government provide direct cash payments, rent cancellation, mortgage cancellation, a moratorium on utility and water shutoffs, and a cancellation of student, medical, and other forms of debt. We demand long-term economic solutions like a Universal Basic Income in order to address the immediate crisis and pave the way for a just recovery that doesn’t prioritize corporations and leave our communities behind. We demand economic justice for all our people. From Minneapolis to Louisville, our communities continue to be exploited by this economy from generation to generation. At this moment of economic crisis, we need to seize the opportunity to rethink the economy and move it toward one that serves the needs of the people and the planet, not the corporations and the wealthy.
for all our people. From Minneapolis to Louisville, our communities continue to be exploited by this economy from generation to generation. At this moment of economic crisis, we need to seize the opportunity to rethink the economy and move it toward one that serves the needs of the people and the planet, not the corporations and the wealthy. We demand the rights of protestors be respected . We demand that no harm come to protestors. Violations of property should never be equated with the violation of human life. We demand that local and state officials ensure that there are no abuses of power and no use of lethal force on protestors.
. We demand that no harm come to protestors. Violations of property should never be equated with the violation of human life. We demand that local and state officials ensure that there are no abuses of power and no use of lethal force on protestors. We demand community control. The most impacted in our communities need to control the laws, institutions, and policies that are meant to serve us — from our schools to our local budgets, economies, and police department.
Add your name to these demands: It’s time to shrink police power and budgets and instead invest in community-led health and safety solutions, as well as resources for Black people to survive and thrive.
sign now
Finally, if you’ve gotten this far you may be wondering “why Greenpeace? Why me?” The answer is this: to be silent in the face of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice and every piece of the murderous, polluting system that goes with it. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in a similar time of great moral crisis for our nation, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Greenpeace will not be silent or complicit. We will never stop fighting for a green and peaceful future. We will speak up and say, “Black Lives Matter.”


greenpeace--2020-06-11--Stop the war on Black lives

Stop the war on Black lives

We need to dismantle the systems that exploit people and planet , and a core part of that is the fight for justice every single day We are in a crisis .
The brutal police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , the murder of Ahmaud Arbery , and the militarized police escalation across the country show us once again that people in this country are not free .
Our response must be urgent and meaningful .
Many of you reading this right now may have been involved in the struggle for racial justice for years , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why you ’ re hearing from me , from Greenpeace , from the “ save the whales ” group on a day like today .
I hope you ’ ll let me explain .
At the root of all of the work that we as a community do , whether it ’ s for the environment , whether it ’ s for democracy , whether it ’ s to change a racist system where Black folks are targeted for violence , the unifying thread is this : we need to dismantle the systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a core part of that is the fight for justice every single day .
We simply can never create a green and peaceful future if systems of white supremacy , colonialism , and privilege continue to destroy the environment and strip Black communities of their dignity — and too often , their lives .
Since 2015 , police have shot and killed roughly twice as many Black people as white people , despite the fact that there are about six times more white people than Black people in the United States.1 Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be killed by the police .
Black parents , spouses , children , and neighborhoods lose members of their family far too frequently .
This violence and murder needs to stop .
These are people ’ s lives — not just numbers .
The country is in outrage , and so am I .
We need to demand justice and support the fight now .
Not just today , which is especially important , but next week , next month , after the next election , after the cameras and news crews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that police kill or commit violence against unarmed Black men almost every day , not just those times when it is caught on camera and is covered in the news .
In all of 2019 , there were only 27 days where police did not kill someone.2 We must be unified as a movement for justice — racial justice , environmental justice , economic justice , social justice — everywhere , for as long as it takes .
As a white person who strives to be an ally to the Movement for Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look away , that I have to engage .
I hope you will as well , it takes all of us .
If you are like me and my family , you may be wondering how to help in this crisis .
Taking leadership from Black-led activists , here are a few ways to channel your feelings of grief and outrage into action .
• None Join the week of action for Black lives • None Donate to Support Bail Funds for Protesters of Police Violence • None Donate to Organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None Sign this petition by the Movement For Black Lives to # DefundThePolice • None Take action with Color of Change • None Read and share the resources in our anti-racism toolkit Taking action , donating , and supporting this movement today shouldn ’ t be the end of our activism—it should be the start .
The resources here are national , and in your community , there are likely local groups working to address police violence , to steer your tax dollars into critical services instead of militarizing the police , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand that even a few hundred votes can turn an election for or against them , and they need to hear from us now .
I encourage us all to take time to do our own research on how to support Black organizers and community members in our city or town .
Then let our elected officials know what we want to end violent policing and prioritize programs and policies that make our communities more safe , more inclusive , and more just .
In the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are disproportionately affected .
It is Essential Workers , many of whom are people of color , who are risking their lives providing the essential services that we all rely on .
Essential Workers deserve protection , but instead of PPE and government support , they ’ re being pushed aside while powerful corporations loot millions in taxpayer dollars and the Senate stalls on further relief .
From higher asthma rates due to fossil fuel companies polluting Black communities to unjust laws that allow police and vigilantes to walk free after brutally killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for justice has never been more clear , pressing , or urgent .
The time for solidarity , for action , with our brothers , sisters , and siblings in the Black community is now .

Stop the War on Black Lives
We need to dismantle the systems that exploit people and planet, and a core part of that is the fight for justice every single day.
Greenpeace US activists walk a large Black Lives Matter banner down 16th NW toward the White House. Activists on the streets adopted the banner chanting "Make Way For The Flag" as they moved it through the massive crowds to the fence in front of Lafayette Square near the White House. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. During an arrest, Derek Chauvin, a white American police officer, kept his knee on the side of Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down. During the last three minutes, Floyd was motionless. After Floyd's death, demonstrations and protests against racism and police brutality were held across the US and the world, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the movement and gathering restrictions put in place by governments to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
We are in a crisis. The brutal police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, the shooting of Jacob Blake, the slaying of Trayford Pelleri—and the militarized police escalation across the country show us once again that people in this country are not free. Our response must be urgent and meaningful.
Many of you reading this right now may have been involved in the struggle for racial justice for years, but I also know some folks may be wondering why Greenpeace, the “save the whales” group is speaking up to say Black Lives Matter.
At the root of all of the work that we as a community do—whether it’s for the environment, whether it’s for democracy, whether it’s to change a racist system where Black folks are targeted for violence—the unifying thread is this: we must dismantle the systems that exploit people and planet, and a core part of that is the fight for justice every single day. We simply can never create a green and peaceful future if systems of white supremacy, colonialism, and privilege continue to destroy the environment and strip Black communities of their dignity—and too often, their lives.
We all know that Black and Brown communities disproportionately suffer health impacts from pollution, which is why demanding Environmental Justice has long been a core principle in all our environmental work. But we need to do more.
Since 2015, police have shot and killed roughly twice as many Black people as white people, despite the fact that there are about six times more white people than Black people in the United States.1 Black people are 2.5 times more likely than white to be killed by the police. Black parents, spouses, children, and neighborhoods lose members of their family far too frequently. This violence and murder needs to stop. These are people’s lives — not just numbers. The country is in outrage, and so am I.
We need to demand justice and support the fight now. Not just today, which is especially important, but next week, next month, after the next election, after the cameras and news crews have left. The sad truth is that police kill or commit violence against unarmed Black men almost every day, not just those times when it is caught on camera and is covered in the news. In all of 2019, there were only 27 days where police did not kill someone.2 We must be unified as a movement for justice—racial justice, environmental justice, economic justice, social justice—everywhere, for as long as it takes.
As a white person who strives to be an ally to the Movement for Black Lives, I know that I can’t look away, that I have to engage. I hope you will as well, it takes all of us. If you are like me and my family, you may be wondering how to help in this crisis. Taking leadership from Black-led activists, here are a few ways to channel your feelings of grief and outrage into action.
Taking action, donating, and supporting this movement today shouldn’t be the end of our activism—it should be the start. The resources here are national, and in your community, there are likely local groups working to address police violence, to steer your tax dollars into critical services instead of militarizing the police, to reform your community government. Local officials understand that even a few hundred votes can turn an election for or against them, and they need to hear from us now. I encourage us all to take time to do our own research on how to support Black organizers and community members in our city or town. Then let our elected officials know what we want to end violent policing and prioritize programs and policies that make our communities more safe, more inclusive, and more just.
In the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis, it is Black and Brown people who are disproportionately affected. It is Essential Workers, many of whom are people of color, who are risking their lives providing the essential services that we all rely on. Essential Workers deserve protection, but instead of PPE and government support, they’re being pushed aside while powerful corporations loot millions in taxpayer dollars and the Senate stalls on further relief.
From higher asthma rates due to fossil fuel companies polluting Black communities to unjust laws that allow police and vigilantes to walk free after brutally killing innocent people in the street, the need for justice has never been more clear, pressing, or urgent.
The time for solidarity, for action, with our brothers, sisters, and siblings in the Black community is now.
No justice, no peace. #BlackLivesMatter
Annie Leonard
Executive Director, Greenpeace USA
[1] https://www.washingtonpost. com/opinions/2020/05/29/heres- why-we-dont-see-protests-when- police-unjustly-kill-white- people/
[2] https:// mappingpoliceviolence.org/
Originally published June 11, 2020.