The End Is Near...
... but before January 20, 2021, what environmental rules will Trump try to erase? The Midnight Watch Project will warn us
... but before January 20, 2021, what environmental rules will Trump try to erase? The Midnight Watch Project will warn us
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals + emperors so that, in glory + triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds." Carl Sagan. With thanks to Wordsmith.org
If what gets measured gets managed, the the Sabin Center NYC Environmental Law Tracker is a necessary tool for concerned citizens
Less than 1% of people in India live in an area that meets international air quality standards. Kolkata faces some of the worst conditions. Our fellow @amaruthfrancis published a report on measures the city could take to advance clean air. #ClimateAction https://t.co/aa5zNfXzPb pic.twitter.com/JUZfPp9zjl
— Sabin Center (@ColumbiaClimate) November 10, 2020
Citizen monitoring can be a powerful tool for advancing environmental compliance at the local scale, but a deeper understanding of differences in water quality + air quality monitoring is needed
Contrary to the interpretations of some Democrats, in the 2020 Congressional race Green New Deal + Medicare for All supporters got re-elected not ousted from office
BuildBackBetter November 8, 2020
Energy efficient + Passive House construction, from 24 unit apartment buildings to the giant NYCHA, NYC + other urban leaders are making climate friendly affordable housing a reality
While record numbers of voters express concerns about the climate crisis, it's not a deciding issue for them, according to one recent exit poll
California extends requirements for insurers to cover homes in fire-prone areas, but just for one more year
The world's food system + our eating habits must change in order to starve the climate crisis
Climate attribution science, which makes connections between weird weather episodes + climate change causes, gets a new searchable data based at Columbia Law School's Sabin Center
Dining out doors could become a permanent feature of NYC, expect more changes than where to put your plate
In case you were wondering what the public gets to enjoy at the NY State Donald J. Trump Park + what kind of tax benefit Trump enjoys, now you'll know
Nope, We STILL Don’t Get to Give Up. Reposted from Hot Take
By Mary Annaïse Heglar
Back in January, when we got to go places and do things, I moderated a climate justice panel with impressive women of color to a very fancy crowd in downtown Manhattan. It was one of those events with wine and snacks and even lots of art. I could tell that lots of the ladies, and it was mostly ladies, in the crowd were those that “lunched” and “summered.” I even got a very fancy vintage dress out of the whole ordeal.
Anyway, it all fell apart when an old white man took advantage of the question and answer period to lecture us all on how everything we were doing about climate change was wrong (after admitting that he himself had done it all wrong for 30 years). That, somehow, led to a white woman responding to him to announce that unless Trump is removed from office, it was all hopeless and we might as well give up. While I agreed with her that removing Trump was of paramount importance, I reject the idea that “giving up” is ever an option. She stormed out and I moved the panel on.
I regret nothing.
I bring this story up now because it’s truer now that it’s ever been: we do not get to give up. No matter who wins which election. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. It might get harder, costlier, scarier. It doesn’t matter.
Regardless of who the next president is, the work is just getting started. Rest if you need to, but then roll up your sleeves. Do what you can and then go do something else. In between, take care of yourself and take care of each other. We’re in this and we’re in it together.