GRANDMOTHERS TO GRANDMOTHERS
Welcome to 1000 Grandmothers for Future Generations'
Newsletter #4 - February 2022
In this issue (Sections are color coded to match this list's colors, so you can focus on what's most interesting to
Welcome to 1000 Grandmothers for Future Generations'
Newsletter #4 - February 2022
In this issue (Sections are color coded to match this list's colors, so you can focus on what's most interesting to
- ACTION ALERTS
- 1000 GRANDMOTHERS KEEP ON SHOWIN
- "HAVE YOU HEARD" - Climate News Highlights
- GRANDMA SAYS
- OUR ORGANIZATIONAL WORK - inside story
- ACTION ALERTS
- 1. Demand Full Cleanup at Hunters Point, February 12 Join Bayview Hunters Point Mothers and Fathers Committee, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Youth Vs. Apocalypse and other allies to demand a full cleanup of all contamination at the Hunters Point Shipyard Superfund Site and adjacent areas. Masks and distancing required.
Saturday, February 12, 12 PM Meet at 3rd and Evans, San Francisco (no RSVP, just show up)
2. Send a Postcard to Gavin Newsom. The Last Chance Alliance has launched a campaign to send postcards telling Gov. Newsom that to truly be a climate hero, his number one priority needs to be to end new permitting on fossil fuel projects and accelerate the timeline to phase out all drilling, with an equitable transition for workers and communities. Follow this link to choose a postcard, then the campaign will deliver all our postcards to Newsom.
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/send-a-postcard-to-gavin-newsom-no-more-fossil-fuels-in-2022
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/send-a-postcard-to-gavin-newsom-no-more-fossil-fuels-in-2022
3. Tell CalSTRS to divest from fossil fuel Thursday, February 9, 4 – 6:30 PM
After last month’s protests by Youth vs Apocalypse, Fossil Free California, 1000 Grandmothers, and more, the California State Teachers Retirement System is going to hold a public forum on whether it should divest from fossil fuel. Tune in and speak up! https://csus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dVxeLV_8Rsuvktjl4Wq4ew
After last month’s protests by Youth vs Apocalypse, Fossil Free California, 1000 Grandmothers, and more, the California State Teachers Retirement System is going to hold a public forum on whether it should divest from fossil fuel. Tune in and speak up! https://csus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dVxeLV_8Rsuvktjl4Wq4ew
4. Tell the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Stop Line 5
(by March 4)
Line 5 is an Enbridge pipeline in current operation since 1953. It runs through Bad River and the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge is proposing to run a new 41-mile long pipeline around the Bad River Nation since the company's On Reservation Right of Way permits expired in 2013. The tribe did not renew these rights. Enbridge’s proposed re-route would cross approximately 185 waterways that flow into Red River Nation and into Lake Superior. An Environmental Impact Statement, which is in draft form now and accepting comments, does not compel a particular decision by the permitting agency, nor prevent the agency from concluding that other values outweigh the environmental consequences of a proposed action or project. The Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources is accepting comments to help inform their environmental assessment writing process of the Draft EIS. Coordination amongst tribal nations and earth protectors is strong, informed by the lapses that occurred during Line 3 construction. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa FB page has a very helpful post on January 28 with 8 slides. Find them at https://www.facebook.com/RedCliffTribe. We encourage grandmothers to provide written comments to the DNR … no later than March 4, 2022, which can be emailed to DNROEEACOMMENTS@WI.GOV.”
(by March 4)
Line 5 is an Enbridge pipeline in current operation since 1953. It runs through Bad River and the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge is proposing to run a new 41-mile long pipeline around the Bad River Nation since the company's On Reservation Right of Way permits expired in 2013. The tribe did not renew these rights. Enbridge’s proposed re-route would cross approximately 185 waterways that flow into Red River Nation and into Lake Superior. An Environmental Impact Statement, which is in draft form now and accepting comments, does not compel a particular decision by the permitting agency, nor prevent the agency from concluding that other values outweigh the environmental consequences of a proposed action or project. The Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources is accepting comments to help inform their environmental assessment writing process of the Draft EIS. Coordination amongst tribal nations and earth protectors is strong, informed by the lapses that occurred during Line 3 construction. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa FB page has a very helpful post on January 28 with 8 slides. Find them at https://www.facebook.com/RedCliffTribe. We encourage grandmothers to provide written comments to the DNR … no later than March 4, 2022, which can be emailed to DNROEEACOMMENTS@WI.GOV.”
5. Tell your California Assemblymember to support SB 260, the Climate Corporate Accountability Act. This bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the Assembly. It would require corporations with total annual revenues over a billion dollars that do business in California to report the greenhouse gas emissions from their operations.
6. Video Interview of Madonna Thunder Hawk by Mary Kim Titla. Many of you have met Madonna Thunderhawk, Lakota Grandmother from our sister grandmothers group in South Dakota. Viewing it will inspire you.
≈https://womensenews.org/2022/01/indigenous-women-leaders-podcast-an-interview-with-lakota-elder-madonna-thunder-hawk/
≈https://womensenews.org/2022/01/indigenous-women-leaders-podcast-an-interview-with-lakota-elder-madonna-thunder-hawk/
7. This Black History Month, take advantage of the opportunity to hear from leading Black intellectuals sharing their insights on the current reckoning with race in America. This three-part course (past, present and future), is available all month free for streaming online
Angela Davis, Cornel West, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Sherrilyn Ifill, Jelani Cobb, and John McWhorter will present this program on MasterClass.com/bhm
and IMDb TV. It will also be available to all U.S. Prime members on Amazon Prime Video."
Class Length: 54 video lessons (10 hrs 47 min)
Angela Davis, Cornel West, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Sherrilyn Ifill, Jelani Cobb, and John McWhorter will present this program on MasterClass.com/bhm
and IMDb TV. It will also be available to all U.S. Prime members on Amazon Prime Video."
Class Length: 54 video lessons (10 hrs 47 min)
Looking ahead: Big Actions in March
Youth March and Rally Against Drilling in Contra Costa, March 12, .
High schools students are taking the lead in organizing a march and rally to demand that Contra Costa adopt a ban on oil and gas drilling in its new general plan. 1000 Grandmothers is one of the sponsors of the march. Pass this on to the young people you know. And come to support them. Details to follow.
Global Climate Strike # People Not Profit, March 25
https://fridaysforfutureusa.org/march-25/
“The catastrophic climate scenario that we are living in is the result of centuries of exploitation and oppression through colonialism, extractivism and capitalism, an essentially flawed socio-economic model which urgently needs to be replaced. A system where rich nations are responsible for 92% of global emissions, and the richest 1% of the world population are responsible for double the pollution produced by the poorest 50%. Guided by historical struggles and lived experiences, led by the most affected people and areas (MAPA), we are demanding climate reparations. Not as charity, but as a transformative justice process in which political power will return to the people.”
Youth March and Rally Against Drilling in Contra Costa, March 12, .
High schools students are taking the lead in organizing a march and rally to demand that Contra Costa adopt a ban on oil and gas drilling in its new general plan. 1000 Grandmothers is one of the sponsors of the march. Pass this on to the young people you know. And come to support them. Details to follow.
Global Climate Strike # People Not Profit, March 25
https://fridaysforfutureusa.org/march-25/
“The catastrophic climate scenario that we are living in is the result of centuries of exploitation and oppression through colonialism, extractivism and capitalism, an essentially flawed socio-economic model which urgently needs to be replaced. A system where rich nations are responsible for 92% of global emissions, and the richest 1% of the world population are responsible for double the pollution produced by the poorest 50%. Guided by historical struggles and lived experiences, led by the most affected people and areas (MAPA), we are demanding climate reparations. Not as charity, but as a transformative justice process in which political power will return to the people.”
This month started with three big victories!
February 1, a court revoked key permits for the Mountain Valley fracked gas pipeline, blocking its route and further delaying the construction of this climate-wrecking boondoggle
"Federal court again yanks two Mountain Valley Pipeline approvals," Virginia Mercury, 01-25-22.
February 2, the city council of Los Angeles voted unanimously to ban new oil and gas wells, and to phase out all existing drilling within five years.
"Los Angeles city council moves to phase out oil and gas drilling," Los Angeles Times, 01-26-22.
February 3, a judge invalidated 80 million acres of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, finding — correctly — that the federal government had failed to properly account for their climate impact
"Federal judge cancel oil and gas leases in Gulf of Mexico citing climate crisis," CNN, 01-28-22
In other good news:
California:
Boiling Point, a weekly newsletter published by the L.A. Times, explores climate change, energy and the environment. This week it reports on…
…. Newson’s plans to spend $37 billion fighting climate change by helping California ditch gasoline with more electric vehicles, private and public, high-speed rail, and walking & bike paths. Other items include phasing out natural gas in buildings, making a more durable electric grid, and offering companies working on climate a tax credit. Most importantly, the editor is asking for your input on Newsom’s plans. https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2022-01-13/heres-how-california-plans-to-spend-22-billion-fighting-climate-change-boiling-point
A lot of these proposals sound good, but we also know that Newsom has a history of sounding good and not always walking the talk. So your voice is important.
Europe: Let’s hear it for our grandmother sisters in Europe who are taking on the Far Right!
https://www.jta.org/2022/01/05/global/in-germany-and-austria-a-movement-of-grandmothers-is-taking-on-the-far-right
February 1, a court revoked key permits for the Mountain Valley fracked gas pipeline, blocking its route and further delaying the construction of this climate-wrecking boondoggle
"Federal court again yanks two Mountain Valley Pipeline approvals," Virginia Mercury, 01-25-22.
February 2, the city council of Los Angeles voted unanimously to ban new oil and gas wells, and to phase out all existing drilling within five years.
"Los Angeles city council moves to phase out oil and gas drilling," Los Angeles Times, 01-26-22.
February 3, a judge invalidated 80 million acres of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, finding — correctly — that the federal government had failed to properly account for their climate impact
"Federal judge cancel oil and gas leases in Gulf of Mexico citing climate crisis," CNN, 01-28-22
In other good news:
California:
Boiling Point, a weekly newsletter published by the L.A. Times, explores climate change, energy and the environment. This week it reports on…
…. Newson’s plans to spend $37 billion fighting climate change by helping California ditch gasoline with more electric vehicles, private and public, high-speed rail, and walking & bike paths. Other items include phasing out natural gas in buildings, making a more durable electric grid, and offering companies working on climate a tax credit. Most importantly, the editor is asking for your input on Newsom’s plans. https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2022-01-13/heres-how-california-plans-to-spend-22-billion-fighting-climate-change-boiling-point
A lot of these proposals sound good, but we also know that Newsom has a history of sounding good and not always walking the talk. So your voice is important.
Europe: Let’s hear it for our grandmother sisters in Europe who are taking on the Far Right!
https://www.jta.org/2022/01/05/global/in-germany-and-austria-a-movement-of-grandmothers-is-taking-on-the-far-right
The World:
More than 50 Nobel laureates and presidents of major science academies urge countries to put military defense money into use for planetary emergencies. This Global Peace Dividend calls on all countries to jointly reduce military spending by 2% each year and instead contribute to a global fund to tackle climate change, pandemics and extreme poverty. Grandmothers and others can sign the petition here: peace-dividend.org
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00096-5?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=091f2a7576-briefing-dy-20220118&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-091f2a7576-
More than 50 Nobel laureates and presidents of major science academies urge countries to put military defense money into use for planetary emergencies. This Global Peace Dividend calls on all countries to jointly reduce military spending by 2% each year and instead contribute to a global fund to tackle climate change, pandemics and extreme poverty. Grandmothers and others can sign the petition here: peace-dividend.org
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00096-5?utm_source=Nature+Briefing&utm_campaign=091f2a7576-briefing-dy-20220118&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c9dfd39373-091f2a7576-
What do you know about climate change?
It has been really bad right now.
It’s going to kill many species, and we’re going to have severe floods and deserts. The ice caps are melting and the water will rise more and more. According to history, it’s getting hotter and hotter. The problem is getting bad faster and faster. . .
I don’t really know what we can do about it. We need to install solar panels and other things…We can ride bikes, and give money to climate change organizations. I give my tzedahkah to Rainforest Action because they are trying to stop people from cutting trees. If we cut down the trees and it keeps getting hotter, we are going to just be deserts and everything is going to die.
Why isn’t more being done to fix the problem?
Because it’s expensive and hard and it’s a lot of work.
Noah’s dad replied:
One way to look at why we’re not solving this problem is that it’s hard and expensive, but it’s also about power and control. The cost argument is something you can see more easily, But there are bigger things that control what happens that you can’t see easily, like who makes the rules, and who they listen to and don’t listen to. That’s really about power and control and influence. There are some things people, like scientists, can do to make it less expensive to help us stop climate change from getting worse. but there are also things like changing who has power, and who they listen to. To change that, people need to get together and organize and protest and make their voices heard.
Why does climate change matter to you?
I want to save my life. I wouldn’t want plants to die, because animals won’t be able to eat the plants
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want my parents and everything else to die.
Signed,
A nine-year-old from Berkeley, in California, in the United States, on the planet, in this galaxy.
Dear Noah,
I was impressed with how much you know and care about the climate crisis. The main cause of this crisis is taking coal, oil, and natural gas from inside the ground and burning it (in houses, cars and factories), That releases gasses that trap heat, so the planet gets warmer. That causes all the weather changes that you talked about, making the hots hotter, the wets wetter, and the drys drier.
I’m so glad you are thinking and talking about this. I really admire your commitment to doing something about it - like giving tzedakah. It’s hard to know how to solve such a big problem, so many people stop thinking about it. They feel like nothing they do will make a difference. You’re taking the most important first step: paying attention and not hiding from the problem. When more of us are willing to keep paying attention to the problem, we can create the solutions we need.
Love,
Grandma
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL WORK - inside story
The NVDA (Non Violent Direct Action) Work Group meets monthly on the third Tuesday of the month. Next meeting is Tuesday, February 15, 5:30 pm - 7 pm. If you are interested in this group and aren't already on the mailing list, please contact nvdagrandma@gmail.com
The Legislative Working Group has been following federal issues, including the effort to pass pieces of the Build Back Better Act as separate bills – hopefully then bundled into a package that can be passed through Budget Reconciliation, avoiding the filibuster. We will also be opposing the inclusion of Carbon Capture and Storage provisions.
We will be setting up a meeting on climate issues with Jared Huffman, whose Congressional District spans north from Marin to the Oregon border. Grandmothers who live in his district – also Garamendi’s and DeSaulnier’s – PLEASE send your addresses and phone numbers so we can have a good turnout of grandmothers for this meeting.
Also Bay Area Rep. Ro Khanna will chair a hearing in early March on what the oil companies need to do to comply with the Paris Agreement, along with their misinformation that makes it look as if they are doing more than they are.
https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairs-maloney-khanna-demand-big-oil-board-members-testify-at-march-hearing
We will be following this closely.
The Legislative Working Group needs the mailing addresses and phone numbers of all our members so we can contact Grandmothers in legislative districts, particularly those of you who live outside the Bay Area, to work with environmental groups, take actions and meet with their legislators. If you haven’t already provided this information or need to update, please e-mail your full address and phone number to susanpennerbybay@gmail.com with “Grandmothers” in the subject heading. We hope you will join us in advocacy. Thanks!
Book group - The Book Group will be finishing discussion of All About Love, by bell hook at our next meeting. "Our discussions are both from the heart and look closely at passages from the book." The next book will be decided at the next meeting: March 3, 2 - 3:30. All Grandmothers are welcome to join the book group. If you are interested in joining , contact at gracehisaye@gmail.com
Transitional Coordinating Committee:
The two subcommittees of our Coordinating Committee (the Engagement work group and the Communications work group) are continuing to bring new energy and ideas to our organization. The Communications Committee has put out this, our fourth Newsletter, and is in the middle of changing our platforms for our mailing list and our website. If anyone knows someone who would like to be hired to provide tech assistance for a few hours/month, we would VERY much appreciate knowing about him/her.
The Engagement work group has been working out how to make new circles and workgroups more accessible to grandmothers who may want to join our network in that way. They are also looking at what initial contacts and orientations might look like. It's exciting work they're doing.
We will be starting up a new 'election' work group, to begin to get together (on zoom for now) to write postcards and letters and texts. Grandmothers enjoyed doing this together during the last election cycle, and we were able to get thousands of cards out. (it was one of our election groups that actually ended up raising $190k for the Georgia elections of Ossoff and Warnock!!)
***The Coordinating Committee will also be convening us all again. Yes, grandmothers, let's all get together on zoom, on Saturday April 2, 1:00 p.m. ZOOM link invite TO FOLLOW.
Contribute to the newsletter!
If your group has something to announce or suggest or complain about, email jeantepper@gmail.com. And if you go to an action with a group of grandmothers, take pictures and send them in!
It has been really bad right now.
It’s going to kill many species, and we’re going to have severe floods and deserts. The ice caps are melting and the water will rise more and more. According to history, it’s getting hotter and hotter. The problem is getting bad faster and faster. . .
I don’t really know what we can do about it. We need to install solar panels and other things…We can ride bikes, and give money to climate change organizations. I give my tzedahkah to Rainforest Action because they are trying to stop people from cutting trees. If we cut down the trees and it keeps getting hotter, we are going to just be deserts and everything is going to die.
Why isn’t more being done to fix the problem?
Because it’s expensive and hard and it’s a lot of work.
Noah’s dad replied:
One way to look at why we’re not solving this problem is that it’s hard and expensive, but it’s also about power and control. The cost argument is something you can see more easily, But there are bigger things that control what happens that you can’t see easily, like who makes the rules, and who they listen to and don’t listen to. That’s really about power and control and influence. There are some things people, like scientists, can do to make it less expensive to help us stop climate change from getting worse. but there are also things like changing who has power, and who they listen to. To change that, people need to get together and organize and protest and make their voices heard.
Why does climate change matter to you?
I want to save my life. I wouldn’t want plants to die, because animals won’t be able to eat the plants
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want my parents and everything else to die.
Signed,
A nine-year-old from Berkeley, in California, in the United States, on the planet, in this galaxy.
Dear Noah,
I was impressed with how much you know and care about the climate crisis. The main cause of this crisis is taking coal, oil, and natural gas from inside the ground and burning it (in houses, cars and factories), That releases gasses that trap heat, so the planet gets warmer. That causes all the weather changes that you talked about, making the hots hotter, the wets wetter, and the drys drier.
I’m so glad you are thinking and talking about this. I really admire your commitment to doing something about it - like giving tzedakah. It’s hard to know how to solve such a big problem, so many people stop thinking about it. They feel like nothing they do will make a difference. You’re taking the most important first step: paying attention and not hiding from the problem. When more of us are willing to keep paying attention to the problem, we can create the solutions we need.
Love,
Grandma
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL WORK - inside story
The NVDA (Non Violent Direct Action) Work Group meets monthly on the third Tuesday of the month. Next meeting is Tuesday, February 15, 5:30 pm - 7 pm. If you are interested in this group and aren't already on the mailing list, please contact nvdagrandma@gmail.com
The Legislative Working Group has been following federal issues, including the effort to pass pieces of the Build Back Better Act as separate bills – hopefully then bundled into a package that can be passed through Budget Reconciliation, avoiding the filibuster. We will also be opposing the inclusion of Carbon Capture and Storage provisions.
We will be setting up a meeting on climate issues with Jared Huffman, whose Congressional District spans north from Marin to the Oregon border. Grandmothers who live in his district – also Garamendi’s and DeSaulnier’s – PLEASE send your addresses and phone numbers so we can have a good turnout of grandmothers for this meeting.
Also Bay Area Rep. Ro Khanna will chair a hearing in early March on what the oil companies need to do to comply with the Paris Agreement, along with their misinformation that makes it look as if they are doing more than they are.
https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairs-maloney-khanna-demand-big-oil-board-members-testify-at-march-hearing
We will be following this closely.
The Legislative Working Group needs the mailing addresses and phone numbers of all our members so we can contact Grandmothers in legislative districts, particularly those of you who live outside the Bay Area, to work with environmental groups, take actions and meet with their legislators. If you haven’t already provided this information or need to update, please e-mail your full address and phone number to susanpennerbybay@gmail.com with “Grandmothers” in the subject heading. We hope you will join us in advocacy. Thanks!
Book group - The Book Group will be finishing discussion of All About Love, by bell hook at our next meeting. "Our discussions are both from the heart and look closely at passages from the book." The next book will be decided at the next meeting: March 3, 2 - 3:30. All Grandmothers are welcome to join the book group. If you are interested in joining , contact at gracehisaye@gmail.com
Transitional Coordinating Committee:
The two subcommittees of our Coordinating Committee (the Engagement work group and the Communications work group) are continuing to bring new energy and ideas to our organization. The Communications Committee has put out this, our fourth Newsletter, and is in the middle of changing our platforms for our mailing list and our website. If anyone knows someone who would like to be hired to provide tech assistance for a few hours/month, we would VERY much appreciate knowing about him/her.
The Engagement work group has been working out how to make new circles and workgroups more accessible to grandmothers who may want to join our network in that way. They are also looking at what initial contacts and orientations might look like. It's exciting work they're doing.
We will be starting up a new 'election' work group, to begin to get together (on zoom for now) to write postcards and letters and texts. Grandmothers enjoyed doing this together during the last election cycle, and we were able to get thousands of cards out. (it was one of our election groups that actually ended up raising $190k for the Georgia elections of Ossoff and Warnock!!)
***The Coordinating Committee will also be convening us all again. Yes, grandmothers, let's all get together on zoom, on Saturday April 2, 1:00 p.m. ZOOM link invite TO FOLLOW.
Contribute to the newsletter!
If your group has something to announce or suggest or complain about, email jeantepper@gmail.com. And if you go to an action with a group of grandmothers, take pictures and send them in!
