greenpeace--2020-07-28--Intern Spotlight: Tess Ngochi

Intern Spotlight: Tess Ngochi

Everything is connected .
I had to start looking at 1920s Detroit to look at why everything progressed to where it is today .
Discovering the systemic racism is what has been really interesting .
This summer , as Greenpeace ’ s offices move remote temporarily , Media and Communications intern Tess Ngochi still has lots to do .
She is working on two new projects at the intersection of environment and race .
One is a compelling research blog and the other , a video series featuring Latinx millennials discussing activism .
In speaking with Tess , I hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on projects as a Greenpeace intern .
Anna Hogarth : Describe the communications team that you work with .
What is its role ?
Tess Ngochi : The communications team works alongside the democracy , forest , plastics , oceans , and Fire Drill Friday campaigns to make sure what they are working on is getting out to the public , informing the public , and pressuring different companies .
They are the bridge between the campaigns team and getting the work to the public and different news organizations so that everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are good at gathering media hits , which is a process I am going to learn soon .
They go through major media sources and are good at tracking how words travel through the internet and how things are discussed .
As a member of the communications team , Tess is currently working on a self assigned blog post about the oil industry in Detroit , Michigan ’ s 48217 ZIP code .
This area is heavily polluted , home to a large oil refinery called Marathon , and the population is majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing about environmental regulation after learning about unregulated carcinogens in makeup products in school .
She chose to write about oil companies polluting air and water because it would be in line with and promote Greenpeace ’ s campaigns .
AH : How would you describe your blog post ?
TN : I wanted to write about how different industries are polluting our air and water and how the wider world hasn ’ t truly woken up to it .
I read a newspaper article about how , because of all the oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who live there have higher rates of respiratory illnesses .
Marathon bought out houses in the northern side of the ZIP code , but those are mostly white people .
They didn ’ t buy it out for the Black people .
Due to the low property values , nobody wants to buy their houses .
Marathon has turned a blind eye .
My hope for when this article releases is that the conversation surrounding this community intensifies .
I really hope that the people living in that community will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their property value drastically decreased .
I would really like for these companies to be held accountable , that Marathon should be looking for more ways to improve their communities .
This is my first blog post , and I ’ m not much of a writer , so I ’ m really working with my supervisor to make sure it has the right vocabulary and comes across to positively impact people to inform their congress people and have more conversations .
I am hoping to write at least one or two more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How did you find the resources to research for it ?
TN : My supervisor will send me articles , and I will read over them .
I ’ ve used a lot of resources from Instagram .
It ’ s been really helpful to learn statistics because of all of the posts people are making right now to talk about environmental racism .
It ’ s been really interesting for me to see intersections .
I couldn ’ t just look at what ’ s going on today .
I actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everything is connected .
I had to start looking at 1920s Detroit to look at why everything progressed to where it is today .
Discovering the systemic racism is what has been really interesting .
AH : What skills do you hope to gain after completing this project ?
TN : I am studying environmental engineering , but I realized this past year in school that I don ’ t want to be an engineer .
I would rather work as a campaigner .
Some of the meetings I ’ ve been having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is super interesting .
I ’ m learning about communication as well .
I didn ’ t have a good picture of what it was , so the team has been showing me all of the different things that they do .
I want to improve my communication skills so that I am more marketable and have a wider list of things I can do .
I am trying to learn communications right now so I can apply it when I go into the job field .
In addition to working directly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media outlets to promote these issues .
She has recently taken to TikTok to post videos about environmental justice .
For her next post , she hopes to connect a quote from the Bee Movie with the current pollution problem in Detroit .
Just like how the bees were never asked for their permission to be smoked out of their hives so humans can collect their honey , Tess says , “ This predominantly black community has never been asked ‘ smoking or nonsmoking ’ .
People advocated so hard for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same energy for Marathon.
” AH : What are some other projects that you are working on ?
TN : There is a new series coming out called Planeta G. It ’ s basically a video series platform for Latinx Millennials and Gen Z ’ ers to discuss environmental activism and the Latinx identity .
I ’ ve been making their editorial calendar , so that they know the topics they can talk about , what the content should be about , who to reach out to , and different sources they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m also their note taker/researcher , and I am lining up the future show so that it is easier for them once they start recording .
It ’ s important to showcase different identities .
I like that they are specifically making a platform for Latinx people .
I ’ ve been looking at different influencers and different social media platforms that have been known to really promote Latinx conversations and different identities .
It ’ s been a lot of fun .
It ’ s going to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you think will be the next big opportunity or change for media and communications ?
TN : I was just thinking about this this morning .
I don ’ t usually watch the news .
I usually get a lot of my news from twitter .
Watching the news , you don ’ t know how credible it is because you don ’ t know what version they are trying to tell .
I think in the coming years our generation especially will move away from a lot of these news sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change in order to stay relevant because people want their news faster .
Tess Ngochi is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame , where she is majoring in environmental engineering and minoring in musical theater .
This summer , she is the Communications Intern at Greenpeace USA .
Learn more about internships at Greenpeace .

Everything is connected. I had to start looking at 1920s Detroit to look at why everything progressed to where it is today. Discovering the systemic racism is what has been really interesting.
by Anna Hogarth
This summer, as Greenpeace’s offices move remote temporarily, Media and Communications intern Tess Ngochi still has lots to do. She is working on two new projects at the intersection of environment and race. One is a compelling research blog and the other, a video series featuring Latinx millennials discussing activism.
In speaking with Tess, I hope to shed some light on her experiences working on projects as a Greenpeace intern.
Anna Hogarth: Describe the communications team that you work with. What is its role?
Tess Ngochi: The communications team works alongside the democracy, forest, plastics, oceans, and Fire Drill Friday campaigns to make sure what they are working on is getting out to the public, informing the public, and pressuring different companies. They are the bridge between the campaigns team and getting the work to the public and different news organizations so that everybody knows what is going on.
They are good at gathering media hits, which is a process I am going to learn soon. They go through major media sources and are good at tracking how words travel through the internet and how things are discussed.
As a member of the communications team, Tess is currently working on a self assigned blog post about the oil industry in Detroit, Michigan’s 48217 ZIP code. This area is heavily polluted, home to a large oil refinery called Marathon, and the population is majority Black.
She initially became interested in writing about environmental regulation after learning about unregulated carcinogens in makeup products in school. She chose to write about oil companies polluting air and water because it would be in line with and promote Greenpeace’s campaigns.
AH: How would you describe your blog post?
TN: I wanted to write about how different industries are polluting our air and water and how the wider world hasn’t truly woken up to it.
I read a newspaper article about how, because of all the oil industries in the 48217 zip code, people who live there have higher rates of respiratory illnesses. Marathon bought out houses in the northern side of the ZIP code, but those are mostly white people. They didn’t buy it out for the Black people. Due to the low property values, nobody wants to buy their houses. Marathon has turned a blind eye.
My hope for when this article releases is that the conversation surrounding this community intensifies. I really hope that the people living in that community will be able to move out and get paid because their property value drastically decreased. I would really like for these companies to be held accountable, that Marathon should be looking for more ways to improve their communities.
This is my first blog post, and I’m not much of a writer, so I’m really working with my supervisor to make sure it has the right vocabulary and comes across to positively impact people to inform their congress people and have more conversations. I am hoping to write at least one or two more blog posts after this one.
AH: How did you find the resources to research for it?
TN: My supervisor will send me articles, and I will read over them. I’ve used a lot of resources from Instagram. It’s been really helpful to learn statistics because of all of the posts people are making right now to talk about environmental racism.
It’s been really interesting for me to see intersections. I couldn’t just look at what’s going on today. I actually had to look ten years ago. Everything is connected. I had to start looking at 1920s Detroit to look at why everything progressed to where it is today. Discovering the systemic racism is what has been really interesting.
AH: What skills do you hope to gain after completing this project?
TN: I am studying environmental engineering, but I realized this past year in school that I don’t want to be an engineer. I would rather work as a campaigner. Some of the meetings I’ve been having are with campaigners, and their work is super interesting.
I’m learning about communication as well. I didn’t have a good picture of what it was, so the team has been showing me all of the different things that they do. I want to improve my communication skills so that I am more marketable and have a wider list of things I can do. I am trying to learn communications right now so I can apply it when I go into the job field.
In addition to working directly with media sources, Tess uses her own social media outlets to promote these issues. She has recently taken to TikTok to post videos about environmental justice.
For her next post, she hopes to connect a quote from the Bee Movie with the current pollution problem in Detroit. Just like how the bees were never asked for their permission to be smoked out of their hives so humans can collect their honey, Tess says, “This predominantly black community has never been asked ‘smoking or nonsmoking’. People advocated so hard for the bees and I just wanted to see the same energy for Marathon.”
AH: What are some other projects that you are working on?
TN: There is a new series coming out called Planeta G. It’s basically a video series platform for Latinx Millennials and Gen Z’ers to discuss environmental activism and the Latinx identity.
I’ve been making their editorial calendar, so that they know the topics they can talk about, what the content should be about, who to reach out to, and different sources they can refer to when crafting the script. I’m also their note taker/researcher, and I am lining up the future show so that it is easier for them once they start recording.
It’s important to showcase different identities. I like that they are specifically making a platform for Latinx people. I’ve been looking at different influencers and different social media platforms that have been known to really promote Latinx conversations and different identities.
It’s been a lot of fun. It’s going to be a really great show.
AH: What do you think will be the next big opportunity or change for media and communications?
TN: I was just thinking about this this morning. I don’t usually watch the news. I usually get a lot of my news from twitter. Watching the news, you don’t know how credible it is because you don’t know what version they are trying to tell. I think in the coming years our generation especially will move away from a lot of these news sources, like newspapers. They will have to change in order to stay relevant because people want their news faster.
Tess Ngochi is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame, where she is majoring in environmental engineering and minoring in musical theater. This summer, she is the Communications Intern at Greenpeace USA.
Learn more about internships at Greenpeace.


greenpeace--2020-07-29--Racist Housing Practices Linked To Hotter Neighborhoods

Coverage of climate impacts often focuses on disasters like wildfires and hurricanes , but more frequent and severe heat waves are one of the most deadly results of climate change .
Climate change and social injustice are joined at the hip — and the sooner our leaders and representatives understand this , the better .
It ’ s long been apparent that the impacts of climate change and fossil fuel pollution disproportionately hurt Black , Brown , Indigenous , and low-income communities .
Now , research from earlier this year shows specific links between past racist policies and increased risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the history .
“ Redlining ” is the notorious term for the racist housing policies that pushed Black , Brown , and other minority communities into specific neighborhoods , all while excluding them from access to insurance , financing , and more .
These racist housing policies remained in place all the way into the 1960s .
Even though the U.S. passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 , systematic oppression like this doesn ’ t exist within just a specific period of time .
It has lasting impacts over generations because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society functions .
And in this case , oppression dictated how the physical infrastructure of our cities developed .
There ’ s an enduring legacy in communities that were redlined as a result , including health disparities , school funding , and now , climate protection .
Research shows that there are enormous heat disparities in areas that were previously redlined .
On average , summer surface temperatures were five degrees hotter ; in some cases , they reached 20 degrees .
That ’ s the difference between wealthy neighborhoods experiencing hot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while communities of color see life-threatening triple digit temperatures .
Coverage of climate impacts often focuses on disasters like wildfires and hurricanes , but more frequent and severe heat waves are one of the most deadly results of climate change—especially for young or elderly people , disabled people , those with existing health problems , or people without housing or access to air conditioning .
This is just one example of how racism still plays out in the U.S. Research like this underscores why we can ’ t simply react to the climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a price on carbon or subsidies for electric vehicles or renewable energy .
We need to recognize that climate change both intersects with and exacerbates long-standing racial and economic injustices—and we must confront them together .
We need frameworks like the Green New Deal that recognize that we can ’ t mobilize our economy to stop the climate crisis without providing jobs and healthcare for everyone and putting the most impacted communities first .
We need a responsible phaseout of fossil fuel production with a just transition for workers , to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue suffering from fracking fluid spills or toxic air pollution from the refinery next door , while others get cleaner and safer .
Greenpeace ’ s vision is for a more just , equitable , green , and peaceful world for everybody .
And that means putting the needs of the communities that have been the targets of racial , economic , and now climate discrimination for too long at the center of the discussion around solutions .
For more reading , head here : • Minority groups more likely to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finds , Washington Post • ‘ Heat islands ’ : racist housing policies in US linked to deadly heatwave exposure , The Guardian Originally published on January 31 , 2020 ; last updated on July 29 , 2020 .

Coverage of climate impacts often focuses on disasters like wildfires and hurricanes, but more frequent and severe heat waves are one of the most deadly results of climate change.
Climate change and social injustice are joined at the hip — and the sooner our leaders and representatives understand this, the better.
According to a new report, minority groups are three times less likely to have proper access to green spaces in the United States https://t.co/cLGeUvCGva — Unearthed (@UE) July 22, 2020
It’s long been apparent that the impacts of climate change and fossil fuel pollution disproportionately hurt Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities. Now, research from earlier this year shows specific links between past racist policies and increased risk and harm from climate change.
Let’s dig in.
First, the history. “Redlining” is the notorious term for the racist housing policies that pushed Black, Brown, and other minority communities into specific neighborhoods, all while excluding them from access to insurance, financing, and more. These racist housing policies remained in place all the way into the 1960s.
If the neighborhoods you subconsciously or consciously mark as "sketchy" are always predominantly Black, you are anti – Black. Now, go read about redlining and undo that lie you were taught. — Ericka Hart (She/ They) (@iHartEricka) July 23, 2020
Even though the U.S. passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, systematic oppression like this doesn’t exist within just a specific period of time. It has lasting impacts over generations because it gets so deeply embedded into how society functions. And in this case, oppression dictated how the physical infrastructure of our cities developed. There’s an enduring legacy in communities that were redlined as a result, including health disparities, school funding, and now, climate protection.
Research shows that there are enormous heat disparities in areas that were previously redlined. On average, summer surface temperatures were five degrees hotter; in some cases, they reached 20 degrees. That’s the difference between wealthy neighborhoods experiencing hot, but not dangerous 85 degree temperatures, while communities of color see life-threatening triple digit temperatures.
BIG news: new Museum-led study links extreme heat & historical housing policy. Research showed formerly redlined neighborhoods are hotter than their non-redlined neighbors in 94% of 108 cities studied: https://t.co/i9F6KlWcIO #rva #va #STEM #UrbanHeatIsland #Redlining pic.twitter.com/uT5d8RhWdh — Science Museum of Virginia (@ScienceMusofVA) January 30, 2020
Coverage of climate impacts often focuses on disasters like wildfires and hurricanes, but more frequent and severe heat waves are one of the most deadly results of climate change—especially for young or elderly people, disabled people, those with existing health problems, or people without housing or access to air conditioning.
This is just one example of how racism still plays out in the U.S.
Research like this underscores why we can’t simply react to the climate crisis with so-called “neutral” policies like a price on carbon or subsidies for electric vehicles or renewable energy. We need to recognize that climate change both intersects with and exacerbates long-standing racial and economic injustices—and we must confront them together. We need frameworks like the Green New Deal that recognize that we can’t mobilize our economy to stop the climate crisis without providing jobs and healthcare for everyone and putting the most impacted communities first.
We need a responsible phaseout of fossil fuel production with a just transition for workers, to ensure that some communities are not left behind to continue suffering from fracking fluid spills or toxic air pollution from the refinery next door, while others get cleaner and safer.
Greenpeace’s vision is for a more just, equitable, green, and peaceful world for everybody. And that means putting the needs of the communities that have been the targets of racial, economic, and now climate discrimination for too long at the center of the discussion around solutions.
For more reading, head here:
Originally published on January 31, 2020; last updated on July 29, 2020.


greenpeace--2020-07-31--2020’s Global Wildfire Season is Here

2020’s Global Wildfire Season is Here

As we enter the second half of 2020 and begin what could be a record-breaking fire season , we are bracing for what fires around the world will bring us .
Every year , the summer ’ s warmer , drier months bring along fire season .
As we enter the second half of the year , we are bracing for what fires around the world will bring us in 2020 .
Last year , the record-breaking fires in the Amazon dominated global headlines .
In 2018 , the Camp fire took 85+ lives and thousands of structures as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Australia ’ s summer brought such horrific , record-breaking fires that it is now known as the Black Summer .
At this very moment , Siberian fires have already consumed an area larger than the size of Greece .
Tropical rainforests in Indonesia , stretches of savanna in Central Africa , and boreal forests in Canada all endure fire seasons as well .
While fire itself is a constant , fires around the world vary greatly .
They can be hard to categorize with their own mix of geographical , ecological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and root causes .
While some fires are intentionally set to clear land , others start naturally and are healthy to fire-dependent locations , while others are even happening in remote , rarely burned places , driven by climate change .
While these fires are all different , there is one common thread : the public health crisis that smoke brings to population centers around the globe .
This crisis will be particularly alarming this year , as the world faces a pandemic that will be exacerbated by the lung damage from smoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire pollution are proven to disproportionately harm Black , Brown , Indigenous , and low-income communities .
Fires in the Amazon , like the ones that captivated global attention last year , are not natural ; rather , they are set deliberately to clear cut forest and other vegetation .
These cleared areas are primarily used for the expansion of cattle pasture .
Similarly , the forests and grasslands in the climate-critical Cerrado biome are also burned to make way for cattle production or animal feed .
The smoke these fires release is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with precarious access to health services .
This past June recorded the highest number of fires on record , despite a ban on fires in some parts of the Brazilian Amazon .
Since then , Jair Bolsonaro , the President of Brazil , has continued to lead the charge to further dismantle environmental protections and law enforcement .
Experts are warning that fires in 2020 could be as bad as or even worse than 2019 .
Leading Amazon experts also warn that if nothing changes , the Amazon could lose enough forest that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and fail as an ecosystem .
A similar story is playing out in Southeast Asia , where in 2019 alone 1.6 million hectares of tropical forests and peatlands in Indonesia burned , in many cases to make way for pulp/paper and palm oil plantations .
The cheapest and easiest way to clear land is to set it ablaze .
The risk of these fires is greater under the combination of the climate crisis and the continuous expansion of the plantation sector on forests and peatlands .
The draining of peat canals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain as they ignite deep peat soil which emits tremendous amounts of carbon into the atmosphere .
The smog and haze from Indonesia ’ s forest fires have become an annual public health crisis across Southeast Asian cities .
In 2015 , the haze from one of the worst fires there contributed to the premature death of 100,000 people .
With the COVID-19 pandemic , that impact on human health this year could undoubtedly be staggering .
A very different story emerges every summer in the forests and wildlands of California .
Fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this fire-dependent ecosystem .
Several key forest species , including the iconic giant sequoia trees , require fire in order to release seeds and foster new growth .
However , when fires occur near population centers , these fires can have devastating direct human and property impacts , as well as wider public health impacts from smoke .
Climate change is increasing the occurrence of hotter and drier weather , which are ripe conditions for these wildfires .
For almost a century , public lands crews have focused on suppressing wildfire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts they bring .
However we have learned that despite what public officials typically say during a wildfire , logging and ‘ thinning ’ to remove ‘ fuel ’ actually put communities at higher risk for catastrophic fire .
Leaders like Gavin Newsom should instead focus on climate healthy policies , like phasing out fossil fuels ( instead of issuing fracking permits during a global pandemic ) and dedicate state resources toward the proven ways to safeguard homes , to prepare residents , and to minimize how wildfire and smoke directly impact lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and further into areas of the globe not typically burned .
Vast areas of Siberia are currently burning , while Greenland and Alaska have both experienced years of record breaking fires .
Rising temperatures linked to the climate crisis are fueling these fires as the arctic is warming more quickly than the rest of the planet .
These fires are also exacerbating the climate crisis .
In addition to the direct carbon they emit into the atmosphere , they are also a source of black carbon , which , when it settles on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun ’ s energy instead of reflecting it .

2020’s Global Wildfire Season is Here
As we enter the second half of 2020 and begin what could be a record-breaking fire season, we are bracing for what fires around the world will bring us.
Every year, the summer’s warmer, drier months bring along fire season. As we enter the second half of the year, we are bracing for what fires around the world will bring us in 2020.
Last year, the record-breaking fires in the Amazon dominated global headlines. In 2018, the Camp fire took 85+ lives and thousands of structures as it rolled through Northern California. Earlier this year, Australia’s summer brought such horrific, record-breaking fires that it is now known as the Black Summer. At this very moment, Siberian fires have already consumed an area larger than the size of Greece. Tropical rainforests in Indonesia, stretches of savanna in Central Africa, and boreal forests in Canada all endure fire seasons as well.
While fire itself is a constant, fires around the world vary greatly. They can be hard to categorize with their own mix of geographical, ecological, political, and economic forces, and root causes. While some fires are intentionally set to clear land, others start naturally and are healthy to fire-dependent locations, while others are even happening in remote, rarely burned places, driven by climate change.
While these fires are all different, there is one common thread: the public health crisis that smoke brings to population centers around the globe. This crisis will be particularly alarming this year, as the world faces a pandemic that will be exacerbated by the lung damage from smoke inhalation. Both the pandemic and this fire pollution are proven to disproportionately harm Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities.
The Amazon & Cerrado of Brazil
Fires in the Amazon, like the ones that captivated global attention last year, are not natural; rather, they are set deliberately to clear cut forest and other vegetation. These cleared areas are primarily used for the expansion of cattle pasture. Similarly, the forests and grasslands in the climate-critical Cerrado biome are also burned to make way for cattle production or animal feed. The smoke these fires release is a public health catastrophe in a region with precarious access to health services.
This past June recorded the highest number of fires on record, despite a ban on fires in some parts of the Brazilian Amazon. Since then, Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil, has continued to lead the charge to further dismantle environmental protections and law enforcement. Experts are warning that fires in 2020 could be as bad as or even worse than 2019.
Leading Amazon experts also warn that if nothing changes, the Amazon could lose enough forest that it could reach a “tipping point” and fail as an ecosystem.
Indonesia
A similar story is playing out in Southeast Asia, where in 2019 alone 1.6 million hectares of tropical forests and peatlands in Indonesia burned, in many cases to make way for pulp/paper and palm oil plantations. The cheapest and easiest way to clear land is to set it ablaze. The risk of these fires is greater under the combination of the climate crisis and the continuous expansion of the plantation sector on forests and peatlands. The draining of peat canals and increased drought makes these fires difficult to contain as they ignite deep peat soil which emits tremendous amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The smog and haze from Indonesia’s forest fires have become an annual public health crisis across Southeast Asian cities. In 2015, the haze from one of the worst fires there contributed to the premature death of 100,000 people. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that impact on human health this year could undoubtedly be staggering.
California
A very different story emerges every summer in the forests and wildlands of California. Fires here are an expected and natural force in this fire-dependent ecosystem. Several key forest species, including the iconic giant sequoia trees, require fire in order to release seeds and foster new growth. However, when fires occur near population centers, these fires can have devastating direct human and property impacts, as well as wider public health impacts from smoke. Climate change is increasing the occurrence of hotter and drier weather, which are ripe conditions for these wildfires.
For almost a century, public lands crews have focused on suppressing wildfire in California because of the economic and human impacts they bring. However we have learned that despite what public officials typically say during a wildfire, logging and ‘thinning’ to remove ‘fuel’ actually put communities at higher risk for catastrophic fire. Leaders like Gavin Newsom should instead focus on climate healthy policies, like phasing out fossil fuels (instead of issuing fracking permits during a global pandemic) and dedicate state resources toward the proven ways to safeguard homes, to prepare residents, and to minimize how wildfire and smoke directly impact lives and property.
Arctic
Wildfires are reaching further and further into areas of the globe not typically burned. Vast areas of Siberia are currently burning, while Greenland and Alaska have both experienced years of record breaking fires. Rising temperatures linked to the climate crisis are fueling these fires as the arctic is warming more quickly than the rest of the planet. These fires are also exacerbating the climate crisis. In addition to the direct carbon they emit into the atmosphere, they are also a source of black carbon, which, when it settles on white ice, absorbs more of the sun’s energy instead of reflecting it.


greenpeace--2020-07-31--Trump’s Attack on the Postal Service is an Attack on Democracy

Trump ’ s Attack on the Postal Service is an Attack on Democracy No one should have to choose between voting and risking their lives .
Without a viable mail-in voting option , that will be the choice for many people .
A customer goes through a US Postal Service drop off location .
US Postal Service ( USPS ) workers have been declared essential employees to keep mail and packages moving during the coronavirus .
Reports that people tested positive for Covid-19 after waiting hours in line to vote during this year ’ s primaries is one reason why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely vote by mail this November .
But time is running short , and the Postal Service ( USPS ) needs additional funds to facilitate the process resources that so far have been refused by the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
The USPS has requested $ 75 billion from Congress to continue operating during the pandemic , including at least $ 2 billion to ensure a safe and fair election by expanding its capacity to handle a significant expansion of mail-in voting .
Both McConnell and Trump have repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of Americans support additional funding for USPS in the next coronavirus bill .
It ’ s not just stinginess—it ’ s part of a deliberate strategy The president seems intent on killing the post office and attacking American ’ s right to vote by repeating bogus claims that voting by mail will corrupt the election and lead to massive election fraud .
The Washington Post estimates that Trump has publicly cast doubt on the security of mail-in ballots at least 50 times this year .
Like most of his other 20,000 lies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roundly debunked .
But that won ’ t stop Trump from continuing to claim that elections can be rigged by mail-in voting , even though he and many of his staff and family have voted by mail in previous elections and despite the fact that voting by mail is voting by mail is popular among Republicans .
Trump opposes voting by mail and other proposed election reforms because , in his words , “ you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again.
” In addition to withholding funds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaken the USPS from within that he used to trash the EPA and other regulatory agencies : He appointed a political crony to head up the service who is hostile to its core mission .
Just a few months after Louis DeJoy became Trump ’ s new Postmaster General .
DeJoy has been imposing new rules that have begun to slow down mail delivery , which will only stoke public dissatisfaction .
DeJoy , a big contributor to Trump ’ s campaign and other Republican campaign committees , is the former CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the USPS for over a decade .
So he ’ s either an incompetent hack who knows little about the inner workings of the USPS , or he knows exactly what he is doing .
The attack on the USPS has actually been going on for many years .
A recent investigation by True North Research describes how corporations and conservative anti-government ideologues like Charles Koch have plotted to privatize the USPS—the most popular agency in the federal government for decades .
One reason conservatives like Koch don ’ t like the USPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t conform to the same short-term , cut-throat principles that drive many corporations .
Founded by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 , the USPS has successfully and consistently bound the country together ever since , providing the same service at the same rates to communities across the country .
The USPS has endured decades of attack because people see it as a part of their community , regardless of their political views As Christopher W. Shaw , author of Preserving The People ’ s Post Office put it in the American Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize that not only is the Postal Service enshrined in the Constitution , this government agency supports national security , sustains local communities , assists small businesses , and fosters national unity.
” There could hardly be anything more important to a nation that strives to remain a democratic republic than ensuring everyone who wants to can participate in the upcoming election .
People shouldn ’ t have to choose between casting their vote and risking their lives , but for many people that will be the choice they have to make if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in voting option .
In essence , mail-in voting is the Personal Protective Equipment for millions of voters in November .
There are a few things we can all do to address the artificial crisis that Trump is concocting right now : • None to fork over the additional $ 3.6 billion that states need to put in place the necessary infrastructure for a safe and fair election in November and the $ 25 billion the USPS needs to continue to serve Americans and deliver the basic tools of democracy—election ballots .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered to vote ( and learn how to register if you are not ) , and learn the rules in your state for voting by mail this November , should you choose to do so .
• None Finally , to learn more about of funds and privatize mail delivery , check out the “ .

Trump’s Attack on the Postal Service is an Attack on Democracy
No one should have to choose between voting and risking their lives. Without a viable mail-in voting option, that will be the choice for many people.
A customer goes through a US Postal Service drop off location. US Postal Service (USPS) workers have been declared essential employees to keep mail and packages moving during the coronavirus.
Reports that people tested positive for Covid-19 after waiting hours in line to vote during this year’s primaries is one reason why 70% of Americans may want to safely vote by mail this November. But time is running short, and the Postal Service (USPS) needs additional funds to facilitate the process–resources that so far have been refused by the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The USPS has requested $75 billion from Congress to continue operating during the pandemic, including at least $ 2 billion to ensure a safe and fair election by expanding its capacity to handle a significant expansion of mail-in voting. Both McConnell and Trump have repeatedly rejected this, even though a two-thirds majority of Americans support additional funding for USPS in the next coronavirus bill.
It’s not just stinginess—it’s part of a deliberate strategy
The president seems intent on killing the post office and attacking Americans’ right to vote by repeating bogus claims that voting by mail will corrupt the election and lead to massive election fraud. The Washington Post estimates that Trump has publicly cast doubt on the security of mail-in ballots at least 50 times this year.
Like most of his other 20,000 lies, Trump’s assertion has been roundly debunked. But that won’t stop Trump from continuing to claim that elections can be rigged by mail-in voting, even though he and many of his staff and family have voted by mail in previous elections and despite the fact that voting by mail is popular among Republicans. Trump opposes voting by mail and other proposed election reforms because, in his words, “you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”
In addition to withholding funds, Trump is using the same playbook to weaken the USPS from within that he used to trash the EPA and other regulatory agencies: He appointed a political crony to head up the service who is hostile to its core mission. Just a few months after Louis DeJoy became Trump’s new Postmaster General, DeJoy has been imposing new rules that have begun to slow down mail delivery, which will only stoke public dissatisfaction.
DeJoy, a big contributor to Trump’s campaign and other Republican campaign committees, is the former CEO of a logistics company that provided services to the USPS for over a decade. So he’s either an incompetent hack who knows little about the inner workings of the USPS, or he knows exactly what he is doing.
The attack on the USPS has actually been going on for many years. A recent investigation by True North Research and In The Public Interest describes how corporations and conservative anti-government ideologues like Charles Koch have plotted to privatize the USPS—the most popular agency in the federal government for decades.
One reason conservatives like Koch don’t like the USPS is because its traditional mission doesn’t conform to the same short-term, cut-throat principles that drive many corporations. Founded by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, the USPS has successfully and consistently bound the country together ever since, providing the same service at the same rates to communities across the country.
The USPS has endured decades of attack because people see it as a part of their community, regardless of their political views
As Christopher W. Shaw, author of Preserving The People’s Post Office put it in the American Conservative magazine, “conservative opponents of privatization recognize that not only is the Postal Service enshrined in the Constitution, this government agency supports national security, sustains local communities, assists small businesses, and fosters national unity.”
There could hardly be anything more important to a nation that strives to remain a democratic republic than ensuring everyone who wants to can participate in the upcoming election. People shouldn’t have to choose between casting their vote and risking their lives, but for many people that will be the choice they have to make if they don’t have a viable mail-in voting option. In essence, mail-in voting is the Personal Protective Equipment for millions of voters in November.
There are a few things we can all do to address the artificial crisis that Trump is concocting right now:
First, tell Congress to fork over the additional $3.6 billion that states need to put in place the necessary infrastructure for a safe and fair election in November and the $25 billion the USPS needs to continue to serve Americans and deliver the basic tools of democracy—election ballots.
Second, go to Vote.org to find out if you are registered to vote (and learn how to register if you are not), and learn the rules in your state for voting by mail this November, should you choose to do so.
Finally, to learn more about attempts to starve the USPS of funds and privatize mail delivery, check out the “ grand alliance” to save the USPS .
Get your postcard today


greenpeace--2020-08-06--Hiroshima 75 years later: Fading memories of the atomic bombing

This is the memory seared into the mind of Hiroshi Harada ( 81 ) who was exposed to the atomic bomb in Asaminami ward of Hiroshima City , 75 years ago .
On the morning of 6 August , 1945 , Harada , six years old at the time , was standing with his parents on the platform at Hiroshima station , 2 kilometers from the hypocenter , waiting to be evacuated from Hiroshima City to the countryside .
The train was about to arrive , when suddenly , Harada and his family were enveloped in a flash of light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He remembers seeing the walls and ceiling of the building fall towards him .
When he managed to crawl out of the rubble and look around , he saw a darkened and murky sky , and only the ruins of the station building standing alone in the colorless rubble .
Luckily he had been protected by the sturdy structure of the station building .
“ I didn ’ t have any serious injuries thanks to my father , who had held me to protect me from the explosion .
But we had lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erupting everywhere , and the fire was spreading fast .
Harada ’ s father had suffered injuries on his back , but he led the young Harada as they tried to escape .
It wasn ’ t until three days later that Harada was reunited with his mother , he recalls .
“ Being chased by fire .
Even now , I ’ m unable to forget the terror I felt then.
” Mr. Harada closed his eyes slightly , retracing his memory as he talked to me .
Communicating to the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the war , Harada graduated from university and became a Hiroshima city official .
In 1993 he was appointed director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum .
“ I had had no experience of peace related work until then .
I was uncertain whether I would be able to properly fulfill the role.
” Soon after his appointment , the Director of the American National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute ( Washington , D.C. ) visited the museum to request the loan of materials about the atomic bombing for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , to commemorate 50 years since the end of the war .
The belief that the atomic bombs helped to speed up the end of the war is deeply rooted in America .
Public opinion in Hiroshima was deeply divided on whether or not to loan the materials .
Some believed the materials “ could end up being a demonstration of the power of the atomic bomb , ” while others felt that “ even if that were the case , people should know about what happened on the ground.
” During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ there might not be another chance to tell people outside of Japan about what happened here during the war , or to tell them what using an atomic bomb means.
” Sensing sincerity in the museum ’ s request , whose representative made a second visit to Hiroshima , the city agreed to the loan .
In the end , the atomic bomb exhibition had to be canceled due to resistance within America .
Mr. Harada recalls how this made him acutely aware of the gulf that still existed , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the war .
In 1996 , work to get the Genbaku Dome registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site had reached a critical moment .
Harada was in charge of international and peace affairs for Hiroshima City at the time , and he was in charge of the registration process .
America and China had been opposed to the application .
“ I thought that our application was just going to be blocked again.
” Harada experienced first-hand the hurdles that existed when trying to disseminate information internationally .
Ultimately , America dissociated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared that it would not take a position .
The Genbaku Dome was officially registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December of the same year .
Through experiencing the challenges associated with communicating a message internationally , Harada became more conscious of what must be passed onto future generations—and of his role and the role of Hiroshima City in telling people about what happened in Hiroshima that day .
Memories of the atomic bombing are fading Since then up until the present day , Harada has continued to recount his memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that by the end of December 1945 , approximately 140,000 people had died .
Those who survived not only suffered the acute symptoms of radiation exposure , such as fevers and nausea , but also continued to suffer from the numerous long term effects .
Harada continues to tell his story so that people will know what really happened on the ground in Hiroshima , rather than simply seeing it as a dot on a map .
Not everyone who survived talks about their experiences as Harada does .
Especially , few of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area ( within the 2 kilometer radius of the hypocenter ) talk about what they experienced .
“ I think it would be less than 1 % of those survivors , ” says Harada .
“ If I ’ m honest , I ’ d also rather not talk about it , if possible .
Because when I talk about it , whether I want to or not , I am forced to relive what I saw that day .
You need courage and resolve to talk about your experiences as a survivor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to.
” The number of atomic bomb survivors is fast dwindling , and their memories of the bombings will fade along with them .
According to the Ministry of Health , Labour and Welfare , the number of people in Japan with an Atomic Bomb Survivor ’ s Handbook was highest at the end of 1980 , at 372,364 people , and has been declining ever since .
The number was 136,682 as of the end of 2019 , the lowest number since the Handbooks were first issued in 1957 , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest it ’ s ever been at 83.31 years old .
“ I was 6 years old when I was exposed to the bomb .
The generation after mine will not have their own direct experience of the bomb to talk about .
And of those who were older than me , only a few are still able to share their stories .
There are still many memories alive today , but in 3 years time , so many of these will be completely lost , ” says Harada with urgency .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dots To date , many survivors have spoken about their experiences , and places such as Hiroshima City have been recording their testimonies .
There are also many other initiatives aimed at preserving the human experience of the atomic bomb , such as the promotion of “ peace tourism ” that visits buildings and other sights that were bombed or the training of “ memory keepers.
” Harada points out that , “ there is something that we must do urgently before all that .
Most of the records of peoples ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ dots.
’ If we can join the dots to draw a picture , this could reveal a new story.
” If we can connect individual memories , for example , by bringing together the stories of people who were in the same area at the time of the bombing , we may be able to reveal things that even they weren ’ t previously aware of .
This will aid us in recording the reality of that day .
That is why it is so urgent that we locate and uncover peoples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the bombing , some of the survivors who have told their stories may have felt a sense of purpose in bearing witness to what happened , while others may have remained silent for many years , out of sadness for what happened that day .
One thing that they all do share is the unwavering belief that the horrors of an atomic bomb must never be repeated .
An atomic bomb does not care where you come from , it does not care if you are a soldier or a civilian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will obliterate the futures of countless people in an instant .
For those who survive , their lives will be irreparably altered by the scars left on their bodies and minds .
“ I am probably part of the last generation who can bear witness to the bombing .
Before everything is lost , I want to somehow ensure that our sentiments will resonate into the future.
” The black murky sky he saw over the ravaged station building , the flames that chased him , the sensation of walking over human bodies—Harada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still with him today , vividly engraved into his consciousness .
Harada will continue to tell his story of that day , motivated and resolute in the knowledge that humanity must never allow nuclear weapons to be used again .

—
This is the memory seared into the mind of Hiroshi Harada (81) who was exposed to the atomic bomb in Asaminami ward of Hiroshima City, 75 years ago.
On the morning of 6 August, 1945, Harada, six years old at the time, was standing with his parents on the platform at Hiroshima station, 2 kilometers from the hypocenter, waiting to be evacuated from Hiroshima City to the countryside. The train was about to arrive, when suddenly, Harada and his family were enveloped in a flash of light and an intense blast of air. He remembers seeing the walls and ceiling of the building fall towards him.
When he managed to crawl out of the rubble and look around, he saw a darkened and murky sky, and only the ruins of the station building standing alone in the colorless rubble. Luckily he had been protected by the sturdy structure of the station building. “I didn’t have any serious injuries thanks to my father, who had held me to protect me from the explosion. But we had lost sight of my mother.” Flames were erupting everywhere, and the fire was spreading fast.
Harada’s father had suffered injuries on his back, but he led the young Harada as they tried to escape. It wasn’t until three days later that Harada was reunited with his mother, he recalls.
“Being chased by fire. Even now, I’m unable to forget the terror I felt then.”
Mr. Harada closed his eyes slightly, retracing his memory as he talked to me.
“If I’m honest, I’d rather not talk about it. Because when I talk about it, whether I want to or not, I am forced to relive what I saw that day. You need courage and resolve to talk about your experiences as a survivor. This is why many survivors choose not to.”
Communicating to the world, and facing a harsh reality
After the war, Harada graduated from university and became a Hiroshima city official. In 1993 he was appointed director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
“I had had no experience of peace related work until then. I was uncertain whether I would be able to properly fulfill the role.”
Soon after his appointment, the Director of the American National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute (Washington, D.C.) visited the museum to request the loan of materials about the atomic bombing for an exhibition that was to be held in America, to commemorate 50 years since the end of the war.
The belief that the atomic bombs helped to speed up the end of the war is deeply rooted in America. Public opinion in Hiroshima was deeply divided on whether or not to loan the materials. Some believed the materials “could end up being a demonstration of the power of the atomic bomb,” while others felt that “even if that were the case, people should know about what happened on the ground.”
During the negotiations, Harada reaffirmed his sense that “there might not be another chance to tell people outside of Japan about what happened here during the war, or to tell them what using an atomic bomb means.” Sensing sincerity in the museum’s request, whose representative made a second visit to Hiroshima, the city agreed to the loan.
In the end, the atomic bomb exhibition had to be canceled due to resistance within America. Mr. Harada recalls how this made him acutely aware of the gulf that still existed, even half a century after the end of the war.
In 1996, work to get the Genbaku Dome registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site had reached a critical moment. Harada was in charge of international and peace affairs for Hiroshima City at the time, and he was in charge of the registration process. America and China had been opposed to the application.
“I thought that our application was just going to be blocked again.”
Harada experienced first-hand the hurdles that existed when trying to disseminate information internationally. Ultimately, America dissociated itself from the decision, and China declared that it would not take a position. The Genbaku Dome was officially registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December of the same year.
Through experiencing the challenges associated with communicating a message internationally, Harada became more conscious of what must be passed onto future generations—and of his role and the role of Hiroshima City in telling people about what happened in Hiroshima that day.
Memories of the atomic bombing are fading
Since then up until the present day, Harada has continued to recount his memory of that day.
Hiroshima City estimates that by the end of December 1945, approximately 140,000 people had died. Those who survived not only suffered the acute symptoms of radiation exposure, such as fevers and nausea, but also continued to suffer from the numerous long term effects. Harada continues to tell his story so that people will know what really happened on the ground in Hiroshima, rather than simply seeing it as a dot on a map.
Not everyone who survived talks about their experiences as Harada does. Especially, few of those who were in the worst affected area (within the 2 kilometer radius of the hypocenter) talk about what they experienced. “I think it would be less than 1% of those survivors,” says Harada.
“If I’m honest, I’d also rather not talk about it, if possible. Because when I talk about it, whether I want to or not, I am forced to relive what I saw that day. You need courage and resolve to talk about your experiences as a survivor. This is why many survivors choose not to.”
The number of atomic bomb survivors is fast dwindling, and their memories of the bombings will fade along with them. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of people in Japan with an Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Handbook was highest at the end of 1980, at 372,364 people, and has been declining ever since. The number was 136,682 as of the end of 2019, the lowest number since the Handbooks were first issued in 1957, while the average age of survivors is the highest it’s ever been at 83.31 years old.
“I was 6 years old when I was exposed to the bomb. The generation after mine will not have their own direct experience of the bomb to talk about. And of those who were older than me, only a few are still able to share their stories. There are still many memories alive today, but in 3 years time, so many of these will be completely lost,” says Harada with urgency.
The urgent task of uncovering memories and connecting the dots
To date, many survivors have spoken about their experiences, and places such as Hiroshima City have been recording their testimonies. There are also many other initiatives aimed at preserving the human experience of the atomic bomb, such as the promotion of “peace tourism” that visits buildings and other sights that were bombed or the training of “memory keepers.”
Harada points out that, “there is something that we must do urgently before all that. Most of the records of peoples’ experiences of the bombing are still only ‘dots.’ If we can join the dots to draw a picture, this could reveal a new story.”
If we can connect individual memories, for example, by bringing together the stories of people who were in the same area at the time of the bombing, we may be able to reveal things that even they weren’t previously aware of. This will aid us in recording the reality of that day. That is why it is so urgent that we locate and uncover peoples’ experiences.
In the 75 years since the bombing, some of the survivors who have told their stories may have felt a sense of purpose in bearing witness to what happened, while others may have remained silent for many years, out of sadness for what happened that day.
One thing that they all do share is the unwavering belief that the horrors of an atomic bomb must never be repeated. An atomic bomb does not care where you come from, it does not care if you are a soldier or a civilian, an adult or a child – it will obliterate the futures of countless people in an instant. For those who survive, their lives will be irreparably altered by the scars left on their bodies and minds.
“I am probably part of the last generation who can bear witness to the bombing. Before everything is lost, I want to somehow ensure that our sentiments will resonate into the future.”
The black murky sky he saw over the ravaged station building, the flames that chased him, the sensation of walking over human bodies—Harada explains to me these memories are all still with him today, vividly engraved into his consciousness. Harada will continue to tell his story of that day, motivated and resolute in the knowledge that humanity must never allow nuclear weapons to be used again.
Mitsuhisa Kawase is Communications Officer at Greenpeace Japan


greenpeace--2020-08-08--Trump is trying to steal the November election. Here’s how we stop him.

Trump is trying to steal the November election .
Here ’ s how we stop him .
The story of white supremacy , voter suppression in the U.S. , and how people power will beat the odds for the November presidential elections .
Last week marked the 55th anniversary since the Voting Rights Act was passed prohibiting racial discrimination in voting .
The Voting Rights Act is one of the most far-reaching and hard fought pieces of civil rights legislation this country has seen .
It removed local and state-based legal barriers that intentionally prevented Black people from exercising their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act was not only a victory for Civil Rights activists fighting for policy change , but a deep cultural victory against white supremacy and the violent tyranny of the KKK .
Since then , anti-democratic forces have chewed away at voting rights in order to manipulate political outcomes , expand their party ’ s power , and preserve white hegemony .
Most notably in 2013 , the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder by striking down a key piece of the legislation so that states with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to prove their voting laws do not discriminate .
Over the past seven years , voter suppression tactics have run rampant in some states including discriminatory voter ID requirements , voter registration restrictions , felony disenfranchisement , voter roll purges , lack of language access , racial gerrymandering , mass closure of polling places in Black and Brown communities , and more .
These tactics are meant to diminish and deny political power to BIPOC people .
Now with the thundering rise of white supremacy to mainstream politics once again mixed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 , things are getting extremely dangerous for democracy in the U.S. Because of the perpetual shroud of controversy surrounding him and his electability , efforts to dismantle the US Postal Service ( USPS ) , discredit mail-in voting , and use COVID-19 as a weapon against his opponents have become core tactics for the Trump administration to steal the November presidential election .
For months now , the Trump administration and media outlets like Fox News have seeded and perpetuated misinformation about the real danger of contracting COVID-19 and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote-by-mail balloting is a recipe for fraud without any evidence to support the claims .
Trump has also openly advocated for dismantling the US Postal Service ( USPS ) — an American institution that employs more than 600,000 workers , is the largest employer in some states , and is a vital source of connection for the country ’ s most marginalized people .
It ’ s not a coincidence that Trump wants to destroy the USPS at a time when the country is calling out for alternatives to in-person voting .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a tried and true plan that intentionally drives down voter turnout and disenfranchises Black and Brown , young , elderly , and disabled voters .
And , his election was a result of the growing political corruption and stratification of white power that ’ s been happening in the U.S. in recent decades .
The predatory and unjust nature of US politics has become so apparent with the election of Trump .
He has held up a mirror to the social and economic state of the U.S. and , for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reflected back an image so callous that it ’ s impossible for politicians and people to look away from what they previously refused to see .
As we celebrate the passing of the Voting Rights Act this week , we need to double down on ensuring everyone has access to vote and that those votes are accurately counted .
This is how we honor the legacy of activists like MLK , Rosa Parks , John Lewis , Malcolm X , Maya Angelou , and the many other civil rights champions who fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barbaric Jim Crow laws , and socioeconomic inequality .
Here are some ways to take action now .
• Universal vote-by-mail , extended early in-person voting , and no excuse absentee ballots with prepaid postage must become a permanent feature of our electoral process at local , state , and federal levels .
And , for expanded vote-by-mail to work , Congress must also adequately fund the U.S .
Postal Service .
The House-passed HEROES Act includes $ 25 billion for the USPS and funding for states to put in place the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( including vote-by-mail ) .
Tell your Senator to follow the House ’ s lead now .
• Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act by writing or calling your Senator to vote for it .
The bill would restore , repair , and strengthen the 1965 Voting Rights Act !
• Do your research and donate to Black-led groups and organizations who are fighting against voter suppression where you live .
• Register to vote right NOW with Vote America !

Trump is trying to steal the November election. Here’s how we stop him.
The story of white supremacy, voter suppression, and how people power will beat the odds for the November presidential elections in the U.S.
Last week marked the 55th anniversary since the Voting Rights Act was passed prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
The Voting Rights Act is one of the most far-reaching and hard fought pieces of civil rights legislation this country has seen. It removed local and state-based legal barriers that intentionally prevented Black people from exercising their right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act was not only a victory for Civil Rights activists fighting for policy change, but a deep cultural victory against white supremacy and the violent tyranny of the KKK.
Since then, anti-democratic forces have chewed away at voting rights in order to manipulate political outcomes, expand their party’s power, and preserve white hegemony.
Most notably in 2013, the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder by striking down a key piece of the legislation so that states with a history of racial discrimination no longer had to prove their voting laws do not discriminate.
We need states to offer online & same-day registration, to offer at least 15 days of early in-person voting, and to make vote-by-mail available & accessible to ALL with postage paid by government – & we need lawmakers to provide the funds to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/t6MFGzDF4z — Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) August 6, 2020
Over the past seven years, voter suppression tactics have run rampant in some states including discriminatory voter ID requirements, voter registration restrictions, felony disenfranchisement, voter roll purges, lack of language access, racial gerrymandering, mass closure of polling places in Black and Brown communities, and more. These tactics are meant to diminish and deny political power to BIPOC people.
Now with the thundering rise of white supremacy to mainstream politics once again mixed in with Trump’s racism and the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, things are getting extremely dangerous for democracy in the U.S.
Enter Trump, COVID-19, and the November presidential election.
Because of the perpetual shroud of controversy surrounding him and his electability, efforts to dismantle the US Postal Service (USPS), discredit mail-in voting, and use COVID-19 as a weapon against his opponents have become core tactics for the Trump administration to steal the November presidential election.
For months now, the Trump administration and media outlets like Fox News have seeded and perpetuated misinformation about the real danger of contracting COVID-19 and have married themselves to the false argument that vote-by-mail balloting is a recipe for fraud without any evidence to support the claims. Trump has also openly advocated for dismantling the US Postal Service (USPS) — an American institution that employs more than 600,000 workers, is the largest employer in some states, and is a vital source of connection for the country’s most marginalized people.
It’s not a coincidence that Trump wants to destroy the USPS at a time when the country is calling out for alternatives to in-person voting. Trump’s current attacks on vote-by-mail are part of a tried and true plan that intentionally drives down voter turnout and disenfranchises Black and Brown, young, elderly, and disabled voters. And, his election was a result of the growing political corruption and stratification of white power that’s been happening in the U.S. in recent decades.
The predatory and unjust nature of US politics has become so apparent with the election of Trump. He has held up a mirror to the social and economic state of the U.S. and, for the first time in a long time, has reflected back an image so callous that it’s impossible for politicians and people to look away from what they previously refused to see.
Here’s how we stop Trump’s voter suppression agenda.
As we celebrate the passing of the Voting Rights Act this week, we need to double down on ensuring everyone has access to vote and that those votes are accurately counted.
This is how we honor the legacy of activists like MLK, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, and the many other civil rights champions who fought so hard against racism, segregation, barbaric Jim Crow laws, and socioeconomic inequality.
Here are some ways to take action now.


greenpeace--2020-08-09--Celebrating Indigenous Resistance and Protectors Around the Nation

Celebrating Indigenous Resistance and Protectors Around the Nation Today , on International Day of the World 's Indigenous People , and every day , it is crucial to work in solidarity with Indigenous protectors .
Climate , water , and justice depend on it .
My peoples are native to the lands that make up present-day Mexico and the border region of Arizona .
They are some of the last in North America to maintain their pre-Columbian cultural traditions .
But with every year that passes , my people lose more and more of themselves and the culture they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lands they have stewarded .
Our legacies on our lands are being swept away as the Mexican government develops on them and builds new highways , and as the American government desecrates them by building a racist “ border wall.
” This is not a unique story , but a tragically common experience with Indigenous Peoples in every corner of the earth .
Nature is found at the intersection of most Indigenous Peoples ’ identity , religion , culture , and community .
We are therefore compelled to protect it .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as sacred ; plants , animals , water , land , rain , wind , the seas .
Indigenous roots have always and will always run deep in the lands that colonialism has stolen .
The land is our culture and a vital piece of our legacy .
Indigenous resistance is a key component in the environmental movement here in the US .
Indigenous People are on the frontlines of the climate crisis , protecting some of the most endangered lands , as well as the water , animals , and people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years ago , the nation watched as Indigenous water protectors took on Energy Transfer Partners ’ Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock .
Last year , the world watched as Indigenous Hawaiians are protecting their most sacred mountain , Mauna Kea , from the scientific imperialism in the form of the Thirty Meter Telescope .
And now we watch as the Kumeyaay resist against the construction of the border wall on their lands .
All across the nation and the world — Indigenous resistance and protection of what is rightfully theirs is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no small feat .
At Greenpeace , we know that climate justice means Indigenous sovereignty .
Traditional Indigenous territories encompass approximately 22 % of the world ’ s land surface , yet they hold 80 % of the world ’ s biodiversity .
This biodiversity is under threat from mining , fossil fuel extraction , agriculture , deforestation , and climate change .
Maintaining the covenant between humans and the natural world is essential to our survival , and it begins with protecting and affirming the collective and individual rights of Indigenous Peoples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indigenous Peoples and other communities is essential to achieve solutions to the climate breakdown and other massive environmental problems .
Greenpeace is in solidarity with our Indigenous allies in this movement .
Let ’ s join in celebrating the brave activists and defenders who are on the frontlines of environmental protection .
Indigenous Peoples Power Project in the United States , who work to offer non-violent direct action training , action support , and network building for Native activists that is customized to fit the traditions of Indigenous communities .
Indigenous Environmental Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacredness of Earth Mother from contamination and exploitation by strengthening , maintaining and respecting Indigenous teachings and natural laws .
Honor the Earth , whose mission is to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities by using music , the arts , the media , and Indigenous wisdom .
Native Renewables is working to empower Native American families to achieve energy independence by growing renewable energy capacity and affordable access to off-grid power .
Idle No More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans and allies working together to create positive change concerning Indigenous rights , the rights of Mother Earth , and the rights of the coming generations to a sustainable and healthy environment .
The International Indigenous Youth Council is rooted in the protection of the elements and has been brought together and continue to be guided by the prayer for the water .
They are bringing together young individuals to build bridges of solidarity and become leaders of their communities .
The Kumeyaay Defense Against the Wall is a small Indigenous initiative that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands and people against the construction of the border wall .
The Gidimt ’ en Checkpoint and the Wet ’ suwet ’ en people , who have been resisting the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline from being built on their lands .
On this International Day of the World ’ s Indigenous People , we carry the same global message : Environmental justice and social justice are one .
Originally published on August 9 , 2019 ; last updated on August 9 , 2020 .

Celebrating Indigenous Resistance and Protectors Around the Nation
Today, on International Day of the World's Indigenous People, and every day, it is crucial to work in solidarity with Indigenous protectors. Climate, water, and justice depend on it.
My peoples are native to the lands that make up present-day Mexico and the border region of Arizona. They are some of the last in North America to maintain their pre-Columbian cultural traditions. But with every year that passes, my people lose more and more of themselves and the culture they have protected for millennia, as well as the lands they have stewarded.
Our legacies on our lands are being swept away as the Mexican government develops on them and builds new highways, and as the American government desecrates them by building a racist “border wall.” This is not a unique story, but a tragically common experience with Indigenous Peoples in every corner of the earth.
Nature is found at the intersection of most Indigenous Peoples’ identity, religion, culture, and community. We are therefore compelled to protect it. We hold many elements of the natural world as sacred; plants, animals, water, land, rain, wind, the seas. Indigenous roots have always and will always run deep in the lands that colonialism has stolen.
The land is our culture and a vital piece of our legacy.
Indigenous resistance is a key component in the environmental movement here in the US. Indigenous People are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, protecting some of the most endangered lands, as well as the water, animals, and people to which they provide a home.
Nearly four years ago, the nation watched as Indigenous water protectors took on Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock. Last year, the world watched as Indigenous Hawaiians are protecting their most sacred mountain, Mauna Kea, from the scientific imperialism in the form of the Thirty Meter Telescope. And now we watch as the Kumeyaay resist against the construction of the border wall on their lands. All across the nation and the world — Indigenous resistance and protection of what is rightfully theirs is not new, and it’s no small feat.
At Greenpeace, we know that climate justice means Indigenous sovereignty. Traditional Indigenous territories encompass approximately 22% of the world’s land surface, yet they hold 80% of the world’s biodiversity. This biodiversity is under threat from mining, fossil fuel extraction, agriculture, deforestation, and climate change.
Maintaining the covenant between humans and the natural world is essential to our survival, and it begins with protecting and affirming the collective and individual rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This protection of fundamental rights of Indigenous Peoples and other communities is essential to achieve solutions to the climate breakdown and other massive environmental problems.
Greenpeace is in solidarity with our Indigenous allies in this movement. Let’s join in celebrating the brave activists and defenders who are on the frontlines of environmental protection.
Indigenous Peoples Power Project in the United States, who work to offer non-violent direct action training, action support, and network building for Native activists that is customized to fit the traditions of Indigenous communities.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by IP3 (@ip3action) on Aug 20, 2018 at 6:11pm PDT
Indigenous Environmental Network is an alliance working to protect the sacredness of Earth Mother from contamination and exploitation by strengthening, maintaining and respecting Indigenous teachings and natural laws.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Indigenous Rising (@indigenousrising) on Jun 7, 2020 at 1:39pm PDT
Honor the Earth, whose mission is to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities by using music, the arts, the media, and Indigenous wisdom.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Honor the Earth (@honortheearth) on Feb 16, 2020 at 4:00pm PST
Native Renewables is working to empower Native American families to achieve energy independence by growing renewable energy capacity and affordable access to off-grid power.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Native Renewables (@nativerenewables) on Feb 11, 2020 at 6:41am PST
Idle No More San Francisco is a group of Native Americans and allies working together to create positive change concerning Indigenous rights, the rights of Mother Earth, and the rights of the coming generations to a sustainable and healthy environment.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Idle No More SF Bay (@idlenomoresf) on Feb 26, 2018 at 9:17pm PST
The International Indigenous Youth Council is rooted in the protection of the elements and has been brought together and continue to be guided by the prayer for the water. They are bringing together young individuals to build bridges of solidarity and become leaders of their communities.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Int’l Indigenous Youth Council (@iiycfamily) on Mar 27, 2018 at 12:23pm PDT
The Kumeyaay Defense Against the Wall is a small Indigenous initiative that is rooted in prayer to defend Kumeyaay lands and people against the construction of the border wall.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sin Hwaa (@kumeyaaydefenseagainstthewall) on Jul 23, 2020 at 11:19pm PDT
The Gidimt’en Checkpoint and the Wet’suwet’en people, who have been resisting the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline from being built on their lands.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gidimt’en Checkpoint (@gidimten_checkpoint) on Jan 12, 2020 at 1:04pm PST
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, we carry the same global message: Environmental justice and social justice are one.
The future is Indigenous.
Originally published on August 9, 2019; last updated on August 9, 2020.


greenpeace--2020-08-11--Kamala Harris and the Climate: Everything Thing You Need to Know for November

Here 's everything Kamala Harris has ever done for environmental and climate justice .
The long-awaited moment is here .
The Democratic ticket is locked in for November .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden just picked Senator Kamala Harris of California to be his Vice Presidential running mate to take on Trump .
Here ’ s what you need to know about her record on climate : She finished with a “ B+ ” ( 77/100 ) on the Greenpeace # Climate2020 presidential scorecard when she was running for the top spot .
She had especially strong marks on polluter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly ahead of Biden who is currently at a steady “ B+ ” ( 75.5/100 ) .
She has introduced or co-sponsored the following environmental and climate legislation : • None The Environmental Justice for All Act • None opposing Trump ’ s efforts to withdraw the U.S. from the historic Paris Agreement ( 2017 ) She ’ s signed the NoKXL Pledge and No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge .
She supported a novel idea for a new global “ managed decline ” treaty to manage the worldwide phaseout of fossil fuel production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel polluters accountable for their role in the climate crisis by filing a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to hold Big Oil responsible for blocking action in Congress on climate change .
She ’ s voted in favor of many climate forward policies like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Act .
Both Joe Biden and Kamala will need to increase ambition particularly on fossil fuel supply , environmental justice , and just transition policies , but Harris ’ s advocacy of a global treaty to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel production ” shows that she ’ s moving in the right direction .
She plans to propose a meeting of major global emitters in early 2021 , focusing on climate change and the global economy .
The meeting will focus on renewed commitments to fossil-fuel subsidy phase-out and the first-ever global negotiation of the cooperative managed decline of fossil fuel production .
**It ’ s ALSO important to note that Kamala is the only Black woman in the Senate and is also known for her intense grilling of the Trump administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ action from day one to advance a Green New Deal and end the era of fossil fuels .
The baseline for ambitious climate action has shifted dramatically for Biden and Democrats over the past year — it ’ ll be up to Senator Harris to keep pushing for solutions that tackle social , environmental , and economic injustice at their roots .
This is all in stark contrast to what ’ s happening with the current administration .
Trump ’ s climate policies are a raging dumpster fire .
Communities across the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic .
But instead of taking action to prevent further suffering , Trump and his cabinet are bending over backward to bail out fossil fuel CEOs .
During her presidential run , Senator Harris showed she understands that climate denial is not a victimless crime .
Now , we hope to see her continue this pursuit of climate justice for vulnerable communities as a vice presidential nominee by doubling down on ending fossil fuel production in the United States and making sure that major polluters like Exxon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held responsible for decades of climate denial and delay .
It ’ ll be up to us to keep the pressure from now to Election Day ( November 3 !
! )
and beyond so that , if elected , Biden and Harris will prioritize climate and environmental justice , put working families and vulnerable communities first , and work to end the era of fossil fuels for good .
For more on where Joe Biden and Trump are at on climate , check out the Greenpeace # Climate2020 presidential scorecard .

Here's everything Kamala Harris has ever done for environmental and climate justice.
The long-awaited moment is here. The Democratic ticket is locked in for November.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden just picked Senator Kamala Harris of California to be his Vice Presidential running mate to take on Trump.
.@JoeBiden can unify the American people because he's spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he'll build an America that lives up to our ideals. I'm honored to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2020
Here’s what you need to know about her record on climate:
She finished with a “B+” (77/100) on the Greenpeace #Climate2020 presidential scorecard when she was running for the top spot. She had especially strong marks on polluter accountability and her climate prowess was actually slightly ahead of Biden who is currently at a steady “B+” (75.5/100).
She has introduced or co-sponsored the following environmental and climate legislation:
Climate change is an imminent threat to our planet unless we correct course. It’s within our power to do so. Now is the time. pic.twitter.com/q1mToVv6GE — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 18, 2019
She’s signed the NoKXL Pledge and No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge.
Communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis must be at the forefront of the solutions that we put forward. #ClimateTownHallpic.twitter.com/wGO6NAT96E — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 4, 2019
She supported a novel idea for a new global “managed decline” treaty to manage the worldwide phaseout of fossil fuel production.
She has supported efforts to hold fossil fuel polluters accountable for their role in the climate crisis by filing a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to hold Big Oil responsible for blocking action in Congress on climate change.
Big oil companies have spent millions of dollars to block action on climate change. Right now, San Francisco & Oakland are suing to hold them accountable for their role in polluting our environment. I've joined a legal brief to support these California cities in their fight. — Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) March 24, 2019
She’s voted in favor of many climate forward policies like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Act.
Both Joe Biden and Kamala will need to increase ambition particularly on fossil fuel supply, environmental justice, and just transition policies, but Harris’s advocacy of a global treaty to achieve a “cooperative managed decline of fossil fuel production” shows that she’s moving in the right direction. She plans to propose a meeting of major global emitters in early 2021, focusing on climate change and the global economy. The meeting will focus on renewed commitments to fossil-fuel subsidy phase-out and the first-ever global negotiation of the cooperative managed decline of fossil fuel production.
**It’s ALSO important to note that Kamala is the only Black woman in the Senate and is also known for her intense grilling of the Trump administration.**
via GIPHY
The next administration must take transformative action from day one to advance a Green New Deal and end the era of fossil fuels.
The baseline for ambitious climate action has shifted dramatically for Biden and Democrats over the past year — it’ll be up to Senator Harris to keep pushing for solutions that tackle social, environmental, and economic injustice at their roots.
This is all in stark contrast to what’s happening with the current administration. Trump’s climate policies are a raging dumpster fire.
Communities across the United States are reeling from the compounding crises of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of taking action to prevent further suffering, Trump and his cabinet are bending over backward to bail out fossil fuel CEOs.
During her presidential run, Senator Harris showed she understands that climate denial is not a victimless crime. Now, we hope to see her continue this pursuit of climate justice for vulnerable communities as a vice presidential nominee by doubling down on ending fossil fuel production in the United States and making sure that major polluters like Exxon, Shell, BP, and Chevron are held responsible for decades of climate denial and delay.
It’ll be up to us to keep the pressure from now to Election Day (November 3!!) and beyond so that, if elected, Biden and Harris will prioritize climate and environmental justice, put working families and vulnerable communities first, and work to end the era of fossil fuels for good.
For more on where Joe Biden and Trump are at on climate, check out the Greenpeace #Climate2020 presidential scorecard.


greenpeace--2020-08-11--We can either all win or we all lose

We can either all win or we all lose

In a world shaken by COVID-19 , we are being faced with one of the biggest dilemmas of our times : The demand for infinite growth is clashing full-front with the climate crisis .
The economy can no longer grow without crashing the ecosystems that sustain humanity .
At the center of this clash is the Amazon rainforest .
The Amazon is the crossroads that connects everything in our world : from criminal fires to rare minerals , from monocultures supply chains to eco-farming frontier .
From freshwater to huge dams .
From indigenous historical struggles to neo-colonial NYSE interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat in the US , Europe , and Asia comes from places that were once forests .
If it ’ s not meat , it ’ s soy .
If it ’ s not soy , it ’ s palm oil .
All choices we make in the supermarket , whether we want it or not , are based on this chaotic , out-of-control commodity system .
Everyone is a part of this .
We are often told that our individual choices are very important , but this responsibility shouldn ’ t fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change if brands and governments do not step up to their responsibility of creating a better system , a system that has justice at its core .
We can recycle all plastic straws we want but if corporations keep selling thousands of disposable bottles per second , our oceans will continue to be polluted with plastic .
The Amazon is not just a Brazilian issue .
Every global citizen is tied to the forest ’ s destiny .
If we don ’ t solve this , we won ’ t solve anything .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to solve .
Keeping the Amazon standing is the biggest battle of our lifetimes .
If we can protect the Amazon , we can solve huge global challenges on how to produce real food , provide clean energy and restore climate hope , nourishing a new modern society for all of us .
But if we lose the Amazon for profit , we lose everything .
It is time to focus our strength in the global south .
It is time to turn the climate crisis as an opportunity to stand for equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen to the real unheard voices from deep within the forest .
They are the ones protecting the future for us .
They are the future .
The time has come to step up and stand for our future .
We can either all win or we all lose .

In a world shaken by COVID-19, we are being faced with one of the biggest dilemmas of our times: The demand for infinite growth is clashing full-front with the climate crisis. The economy can no longer grow without crashing the ecosystems that sustain humanity. At the center of this clash is the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon is the crossroads that connects everything in our world: from criminal fires to rare minerals, from monocultures supply chains to eco-farming frontier. From freshwater to huge dams. From indigenous historical struggles to neo-colonial NYSE interests.
The majority of the food people eat in the US, Europe, and Asia comes from places that were once forests. If it’s not meat, it’s soy. If it’s not soy, it’s palm oil. All choices we make in the supermarket, whether we want it or not, are based on this chaotic, out-of-control commodity system. Everyone is a part of this.
We are often told that our individual choices are very important, but this responsibility shouldn’t fall only on us. Nothing will really change if brands and governments do not step up to their responsibility of creating a better system, a system that has justice at its core. We can recycle all plastic straws we want but if corporations keep selling thousands of disposable bottles per second, our oceans will continue to be polluted with plastic.
The Amazon is not just a Brazilian issue. Every global citizen is tied to the forest’s destiny. If we don’t solve this, we won’t solve anything. There won’t be anything left to solve. Keeping the Amazon standing is the biggest battle of our lifetimes.
If we can protect the Amazon, we can solve huge global challenges on how to produce real food, provide clean energy and restore climate hope, nourishing a new modern society for all of us. But if we lose the Amazon for profit, we lose everything. It is time to focus our strength in the global south.
It is time to turn the climate crisis as an opportunity to stand for equality and justice. It is time to listen to the real unheard voices from deep within the forest. They are the ones protecting the future for us. They are the future. The time has come to step up and stand for our future. We can either all win or we all lose.
Watch the series:


greenpeace--2020-08-11--Kamala Harris and the Climate: Everything You Need to Know for November