2019-06-23: News Headlines

Dan Bacher (2019-06-23). Oregon Governor Kate Brown Signs Five-Year Fracking Ban Bill. indybay.org "While we applaud Governor Brown for signing the fracking moratorium into law, she needs to do even more to stop dangerous fracked gas infrastructure in Oregon," said Food & Water Watch Regional Organizing Manager Thomas Meyer. "A new Food & Water Watch report makes it clear that in order to address the climate crisis, we need to stop all new fracked gas infrastructure, including the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and the Pacific Connector pipeline. Governor Brown should use her executive authority to stop dangerous fracked gas projects and transition Oregon to 100% clean, renewable energy now."

Speak Out now (2019-06-23). The Climate Emergency: The Future is in Our Hands. indybay.org Berkeley Public Library — South Branch | 1901 Russell St. (Near Ashby BART)…

William Boardman (2019-06-23). Fukushima's Three Nuclear Meltdowns Are "Under Control": That's a Lie. dissidentvoice.org The implementation of the safe decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station is a unique complex case and expected to span several decades: the IAEA Review Team considers that it will therefore require sustained engagement with stakeholders, proper knowledge management, and benefit from broad international cooperation. — Report by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Review …

Jonathan Cook (2019-06-23). Mark Field and the Danger of Getting Sidetracked. dissidentvoice.org I really do not wish to write about Mark Field, the British government minister who assaulted a climate change activist this week, grabbing her by the neck and violently marching her out of a City of London dinner while all the hundreds of other wealthy diners watched either impassively or approvingly. But whatever my wishes, …

Robert Hunziker (2019-06-22). Permafrost Collapses 70 Years Early. dissidentvoice.org Fasten your seat belt! Global warming is on a rampage. As a consequence, many ecosystems may be on the verge of total collapse. In fact, recent activity in the hinterlands surely looks that way. Over time, the backlash for civilized society, where people live in comfort, could be severe, meaning extreme discomfort. But still, nobody …

Dan Bacher (2019-06-22). Oregon Governor Kate Brown Signs Five-Year Fracking Ban Bill. indybay.org "While we applaud Governor Brown for signing the fracking moratorium into law, she needs to do even more to stop dangerous fracked gas infrastructure in Oregon," said Food & Water Watch Regional Organizing Manager Thomas Meyer. "A new Food & Water Watch report makes it clear that in order to address the climate crisis, we need to stop all new fracked gas infrastructure, including the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and the Pacific Connector pipeline. Governor Brown should use her executive authority to stop dangerous fracked gas projects and transition Oregon to 100% clean, renewable energy now."

NationofChange Staff (2019-06-22). Massive review of fracking science confirms the industry poses a serious threat to both environment and human health. nationofchange.org "All together, the data show that fracking impairs the health of people who live nearby, especially pregnant women, and swings a wrecking ball at the climate,"

John R. Platt (2019-06-22). The Extinction Deniers Are Here. commondreams.org Hundreds of activists and campaigners gather in London's Parliament Square for 'Extinction Rebellion' protest against the inaction of the British government in the face of climate change and ecological collapse. Protesters declared a non-violent rebellion and demanded urgent action on the ecological crisis to avoid the possibility of human extinction in the near future. October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/extinction_deniers_are_h

John Shafthauer (2019-06-22). Tories vow to eliminate climate change protesters by 2050. thecanary.co Unless we do something, manmade climate change could render the planet uninhabitable. We know this because of the scientists and activists who've spoken out. As a result, the Tories have decided to do something about the problem. Namely, they've decided to strangle anyone who speaks out. | Taking a firm grip: | The new minister for state violence said in a statement: We've been doing a lot of work to make it look like we're doing a lot of work on climate collapse. Surprisingly, we never thought about just throttling the people speaking out. It solves everything in the sense that it keeps the plebs quiet wh…

Staff (2019-06-22). Militia Threat Shuts Down Oregon Statehouse. truthdig.com SALEM, Ore.—The president of the Oregon Senate ordered the state Capitol to close on Saturday due to a " possible militia threat" from right-wing protesters as a walkout by Republican lawmakers over landmark climate change legislation dragged on. | Republican state senators fled the Legislature — and some, the state — earlier this week to deny the majority Democrats enough votes to take up the climate bill, which would dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions by 2050. It woul…

Fran Korten (2019-06-22). What's next for the youth climate lawsuit. nationofchange.org On June 4, Andrea Rodgers was in the front row of attorneys sitting before a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court. The court session, held in Portland, Oregon, was to determine whether the climate change lawsuit (Juliana v. United States) brought by 21 young plaintiffs should be dismissed, as requested by the U.S. government, or go on to trial. | It's the latest of many delays for the lawsuit, which was first filed in 2015 by the then-youth plaintiffs. The judges' decision on this most recent…

Staff (2019-06-22). In the Face of Climate Collapse, We Need the Wisdom of Elders. truthout.org I am steadily on the lookout for leveraging forces that can lift us out of heavy stuck loops, onto new ground. Often these are less obvious elements. One that has been underestimated is the presence of "elders," whose presence calls us back to a bedrock sense of self and right relationship to the Earth. | We are up against a systemic reality in the U.S. regarding older Americans as they are abandoned in policy and practice on a national scale. Attacks on Social Security, Medicare, etc. are attacks on elderly people. Turning our view of eldership on its end is a beginning place to shift this utter disregard.

Ruth Milka (2019-06-22). 'Dangerously irresponsible': New Trump clean energy rule is a sham says scientists. nationofchange.org "The Trump Affordable Clean Energy rule is a sham. It is dangerously irresponsible and completely at odds with the urgent need to address climate change."

Staff (2019-06-22). Beware of the "Easy" Way to Build Power. It Must Begin With Organizing. truthout.org This article was originally published at Labor Notes.The sad outcome of the United Auto Workers campaign at Volkswagen reminded me of when I entered the labor movement 15 years ago. | Back then the national leaders of the Service Employees (SEIU) had diagnosed labor's big problem: we weren't organizing fast enough. As the percentage of unionized workers in the U.S. slipped, so did unions' influence. | If only we could regain sufficient union density, these leaders said, we would have power. Then we could start winning gains for members and change the political climate.

Speak Out now (2019-06-22). The Climate Emergency: The Future is in Our Hands. indybay.org Berkeley Public Library — South Branch | 1901 Russell St. (Near Ashby BART)…

D Hunter (2019-06-22). 'We have chronic elitism and gross snobbery in our social movements. It has to stop'. thecanary.co The Canary is pleased to host this guest from D Hunter, author of Chav Solidarity. | In May, I wrote an article in the Independent, expressing frustration veering on disgust at the language Extinction Rebellion (XR) had used around arrest and imprisonment. I got some pats on the back and some grumpy emails about it. One of the…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2019-06-22). 'We Are Unstoppable, Another World Is Possible!': Hundreds Storm Police Lines to Shut Down Massive Coal Mine in Germany. commondreams.org Hundreds of climate activists stormed a massive open-pit coal mine in Germany on Saturday, entering a standoff with police inside the mine while thousands of others maintained separate blockades of the nation's coal infrastructure as part of a week-long series of actions designed to end Europe's dependency on fossil fuels. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/ende_galende.png

John Bellamy Foster (2019-06-22). Ecosocialism and a just transition. mronline.org The idea of a "just transition" is appearing everywhere these days, most notably in the preamble of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which refers to the need to take "into account the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance with nationally defined development […] | Source

Robert Hunziker (2019-06-21). Permafrost Collapses 70 Years Early. counterpunch.org Fasten your seat belt! Global warming is on a rampage. As a consequence, many ecosystems may be on the verge of total collapse. In fact, recent activity in the hinterlands surely looks that way. Over time, the backlash for civilized society, where people live in comfort, could be severe, meaning extreme discomfort. But still, nobody More

Staff (2019-06-21). "No Evidence" That Fracking Can Be Done Without Threatening Human Health. truthout.org A group of doctors and scientists have released a report highlighting that 84 percent of studies published from 2009-2015 on the health impacts of fracking conclude the industry causes harm to human health. | The report, published by two groups, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Concerned Health Professionals of New York, sites an earlier literature review that found 69 percent of studies on water quality durin…

RT (2019-06-21). 'Come heavily armed': Showdown in Oregon as governor sends police to round up Republican lawmakers. rt.com A Republican state senator in Oregon told police to show up ready for a fight if they moved to enforce Democrat Governor Kate Brown's order to compel attendance for a contentious vote on climate-change legislation.

Michelle Chen (2019-06-21). 'Hardhats vs. Hippies': How the Media Misrepresents the Debate Over the Green New Deal. commondreams.org There is no future in which workers are not on the frontline of climate-driven social transformation, either as survivors, or as agents of change. (Photo: By ZoranOrcik/shutterstock.com) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/hardhat.jpeg

Julie Hollar (2019-06-21). Previewing the democratic debates: Every flavor of NBC, trusting corporate media on climate. nationofchange.org The Democratic National Committee has announced the lineups for its first two presidential primary debates, which will be hosted by NBC on June 26 and 27. For many voters, it will be their first real chance to learn about and evaluate the candidates. But despite new nods to diversity, there is little evidence so far to suggest …

Robert Scheer (2019-06-21). Elon Musk Is Gaslighting America. truthdig.com Tesla, from the get-go, has sold itself as a green dream in our era of rapidly-worsening climate change. But there's a lot about the electric car company that's more nightmarish than many of its fans or even the California government, which heavily subsidizes Tesla's operations with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax exemptions and other incentives, would like to admit. | Will Evans, an award-winning journalist with the Center for Investigative Reporting, published a hard-hitting series about Tesla's flag…

AlexBainbridge (2019-06-21). 'We do not approve!' Stop Adani sit-in. greenleft.org.au Two thousand people took over a major roadway in Brisbane on a Friday night, standing and sitting in. The action is likely to be the prelude to future disruption in the city if approval for the Adani coal mine is not withdrawn. | The rally first heard from a range of speakers, including Wangan and Jagalingou spokesperson Adrian Burragubba; MUA Qld state secretary Bob Carnegie; and organisers with University Students for Climate Action, Front-Line Action on Coal and others. | Numerous community groups were visible in the rally, noticeably some bearing Extinction Rebellion signs announcing a day of disruption to be…

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2019-06-21). Because 'Another World Is Possible,' Tens of Thousands of Activists Stage Climate Mobilizations in Germany. commondreams.org With anti-coal Ende Gelände action in one city and Fridays for Future rally in another, activists demand urgent climate action | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/ende-gelande-coal-blockade-a.jpg

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2019-06-21). What the 'Fossil Fuel Economy Looks Like': Demands for Climate Justice After Explosion Rocks Philly Oil Refinery. commondreams.org "Unless we change course now and treat the crisis for what it is, we will continue to see more disasters like today." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/refinery-explosion-climate-philadelphia.jpg

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2019-06-21). After Oregon Republicans Scurry Off to Avoid Voting on Climate Bill, Governor Sends State Police to Bring Them Back. commondreams.org "It is absolutely unacceptable that the Senate Republicans would turn their backs on their constituents who they are honor-bound to represent here in this building." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/kate_brown__0.jpg

pip.hinman (2019-06-21). Union solidarity motion for September 20 climate strike. greenleft.org.au School Strike 4 Climate is encouraging unionists to move the following motion at meetings of their trade unions. | We, Positive Universe: Earth Protection Team | a. Recognise that climate change: | Presents an existential threat, being a "global emergency" according to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report; | Has already had negative impacts both internationally and in Australia, as evidenced by the breaking of heat records, prolonged and more aggressive bushfire seasons, bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef and increased droughts; | Is the product of corporate greed and profiting off the environment, with 70% o…

commondreams (2019-06-21). Trump Administration Guts Climate Change Reviews for Federal Actions. commondreams.org ______________________________…

pip.hinman (2019-06-21). Climate crisis: We are not all in this together. greenleft.org.au Long-time climate campaigner David Spratt and former fossil fuel company executive Ian Dunlop have issued a bold call for unlikely partners to work together to avoid climate catastrophe. | In particular, their policy paper, Existential climate-related security risk: A scenario approach appears to call on the national security sector to step in and save the day. | The 10-page paper put out by the climate-focused think tank Breakthrough is a succinct warning of the dire consequences of not acting on the climate science now and spells out possible scenarios…

The Canary (2019-06-21). Mark Field called for 'much firmer grip' on climate protests two months before he grabbed a protester. thecanary.co Mark Field, the Conservative minister facing criticism for grabbing an environmental protester, sent a letter in April urging police to "take a much firmer grip" on climate change demonstrations.In the letter to Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick, the MP for the Cities of London and Westminster — who is facing a party investigation over the incident — complained that constituents were "quite rightly fed up" with the travel disruption caused by Extinction Rebellion protests. | Activists brought parts of the city to a standstill throughout the month in a call for net carbon emissions to be reduced to…

David Coates (2019-06-21). Undocumented plant extinctions are a big problem — here's why they go unnoticed. nationofchange.org A recent survey on the world's plants found a shocking number have gone extinct — 571 since 1750. And this is likely to be a stark underestimate. Not all plants have been discovered, so it's likely other plants have gone extinct before researchers know they're at risk, or even know they exist. In Australia, the situation is …

pip.hinman (2019-06-21). Extinction Rebellion: 'Our movement must be global or it will fail'. greenleft.org.au Green Left Weekly's Rachel Evans and Jonathan Lockhart spoke to Extinction Rebellion Sydney spokesperson Caz Chattin to find out more about this growing international movement. | When did Extinction Rebellion come about and why? | Extinction Rebellion was established in mid-2018 after all previous attempts to enact systemic change failed. It is based on studies on effective protest movements and focuses on non-violent direct action or civil disobedience to put pressure on the media and government. | What is Extinction Rebellion's understanding about the cause, nature and extent of the environmental crisis?

By Bill de Blasio (2019-06-21). Your Vote Matters, As Democratic Legislature Delivers Big for New Yorkers — De Blasio. blackstarnews.com Mayor de Blasio. Photo: ABC screenshot | | When New Yorkers went to the polls in November, they voted for real Democrats in the State Senate and a new day in Albany. As we tally up the score card for the end of session, one thing is clear: New Yorkers have won big on a host of progressive legislation that will help make our state fairer. | | The legislature wasted no time passing key reforms we have spent years fighting for. With Mayoral Accountability, our students and parents can rest assured that we'll continue to build upon our progress and that responsibility for the quality of our school system is cent…

John Shafthauer (2019-06-21). The responses to a Tory minister's alleged assault of a protester sum up Britain in 2019. thecanary.co On 20 June, chancellor Philip Hammond spoke at Mansion House. Greenpeace interrupted the black-tie event to protest the government's handling of the climate emergency we all face. During the course of the protest, minister Mark Field grabbed a protester by the neck and then proceeded to shove her out of the building. | Field now faces accusations of assault, while the protester is receiving support from people all over the country. The responses t…

The Canary (2019-06-20). New shadow climate justice minister demands fracking ban. thecanary.co Labour's new climate justice minister has demanded a ban on fracking.Danielle Rowley, who has been appointed as shadow climate justice and green jobs minister, also wants to see more onshore wind turbines and free bus travel for under-25s.The Midlothian MP plans to meet climate justice activists, including the climate school strikers, to formulate Labour policy.Pushing for an 'immediate ban on fracking' and 'kickstarting a Green Industrial Revolution': Rowley said: As a campaigner I'm really excited that I'll be working more closely with the climate movement, including the inspiring youth climate strikers,…

Robert Hunziker (2019-06-20). The Dangerous Methane Mystery. counterpunch.org The East Siberian Arctic Shelf ("ESAS") is the epicenter of a methane-rich zone that could turn the world upside down. | Still, the ESAS is not on the radar of mainstream science, and not included in calculations by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and generally not well understood. It is one of the biggest mysteries of the world's climate puzzle, and it is highly controversial, which creates an enhanced level of uncertainty and casts shadows of doubt. More

Robert Hunziker (2019-06-20). The Dangerous Methane Mystery. dissidentvoice.org The East Siberian Arctic Shelf ("ESAS") is the epicenter of a methane-rich zone that could turn the world upside down. Still, the ESAS is not on the radar of mainstream science, and not included in calculations by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and generally not well understood. It is one of the biggest …

NationofChange Staff (2019-06-20). National week of action: Consumers demand an end to foods grown with bee-killing pesticides. nationofchange.org In honor of National Pollinator Week (June 17-June 23), thousands of people across the US are participating in a week of action to demand that the retail food giant Kroger eliminate pollinator-toxic pesticides from their food supply chain and increase their organic food offerings. | World insect decline has been rapidly increasing, with more than 40% of insect species declining and a third endangered. Bees are particularly affected. The main reasons for global bee-decline or the "bee apocalypse" is industrial agriculture, parasites/pathogens, and climate change. Loss of biodiversity, destruction of habitat, an…

teleSUR (2019-06-20). Europe Also Suffers From US Worldwide Sanctions: Putin. telesurenglish.net Russian President Vladimir Putin points out that United States sanctions against other world countries means that Europe suffers billions in lost trade. This follows news that some European countries are keen to end U.S. dollar-dominance in global trade, something Russia and China see as a priority to reshape international relations. | RELATED: | Russia: Putin Promises China-Friendly Investment Climate | On Thursday, during Putin's annual live "Direct Line Q&A" event, he laid out the…

Robert Hunziker (2019-06-20). The Dangerous Methane Mystery. counterpunch.org The East Siberian Arctic Shelf ("ESAS") is the epicenter of a methane-rich zone that could turn the world upside down. Still, the ESAS is not on the radar of mainstream science, and not included in calculations by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and generally not well understood. It is one of the biggest More

George Stacey (2019-06-20). A report on economic impacts of climate change by norvergence. nationofchange.org Scientists have been doing comprehensive research over the past decade about the impact of climate change on economies of different countries. Till now, what they found that climate change badly affects the growth rate of the global economy and the number of people will get poorer in the upcoming years. At the same time, due …

teleSUR (2019-06-20). US States, Industry Push Action on 'Green New Deal'. telesurenglish.net Individual states and industry groups are charting their own course towards achieving climate goals defined in the Green New Deal legislation introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives as Resolution 109 in February but which remains unresolved and stuck in House committees. | RELATED | AOC, Naomi Klein Predict the World's Future With Green New Deal | In one example of independent action by industry groups, The Architecture Lobby (TAL) recently issued a public memo providi…

The Canary (2019-06-20). Greenpeace activists halt Philip Hammond's speech at black tie event in London. thecanary.co Climate change protesters have disrupted chancellor Philip Hammond's Mansion House speech.Hammond had barely started his address when the activists interrupted the black tie event in the City of London.The activists were quickly escorted from Mansion House (Greenpeace/PA)The disruption lasted several minutes. Hammond got back to his feet at 9.05pm.Greenpeace later said 40 of its activists, some of whom wore red evening dresses with sashes that read "climate emergency", had interrupted the event, which was being broadcast live on television.In a statement, Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Areeba Hamid said: "This…

Ruth Milka (2019-06-20). Food companies are still selling products contaminated by Monsanto weedkiller. nationofchange.org Popular foods contaminated by glyphosate are still being sold by major companies in the United States. | New samples tested by the Environmental Working Group revealed that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, Monsanto's popular herbicide, is still present in children's cereal and snack products. | EWG tested 21 oat-based products. All 21 showed traces of glyphosate and all but four had levels of glyphosate that are higher than what EWG scientists consider safe for children. | The newest tests are a follow up from EWG's findings last year when the group tested samples in July and October and found consi…

Jon Queally, staff writer (2019-06-20). 'Our Climate Is Breaking Down. Business As Usual Is Over': Campaigners Interrupt Televised Speech of UK Treasury Official. commondreams.org "The people in this room have been funding climate change, and we're not giving the banks and hedge funds a pass for their unethical investment decisions anymore," said one Greenpeace campaigner | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-06-20_at_4.49.55_pm.png

Julia Conley (2019-06-20). 'Huge victory' for grassroots climate campaigners as NY lawmakers reach deal on sweeping climate legislation. nationofchange.org Grassroots climate campaigners in New York applauded on Monday after state lawmakers reached a deal on sweeping climate legislation, paving the way for the passage of what could be some of the country's most ambitious environmental reforms. The legislature reached an agreement just before midnight Sunday on the Climate and Communities Protection Act (CCPA), one of several climate bills …

Los Padres ForestWatch (2019-06-19). 90,000 Comments Submitted Opposing Plan for New Drilling and Fracking on Public Lands. indybay.org Monday, June 10 marked the end of the second and final public comment period on the Trump administration's plan to open more than 1 million acres of public land and mineral estate across the central coast region to new oil drilling and fracking. The 45 day period, which opened with the release of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, a study of the impacts that fracking would have on in the lease plan area, was the shortest allowed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

commondreams (2019-06-19). New Analysis of Fracking Science (~1,500 Studies) Finds Serious Harms to Public Health, Environment, and Climate. commondreams.org ______________________________…