2020-04-23: News Headlines

Ted Glick (2020-04-23). Pandemics, Climate Crisis and the Turbulent Future. zcomm.org We must learn from the history of past efforts at systemic change which have floundered because they were male-dominated, monochromatic instead of consciously multi-racial, led too often by white men who too often got wrapped up in ego and power…

Stephan Kroll and Christian Hofmann (2020-04-23). The car industry and the climate crisis. indybay.org The car companies should now be converted into providers of mobility needs based on socio-ecological sustainability. Reduction of working hours – short full time of an average of 30 hours/4 days per week for all – is part of the neceesary radical change to save human lives amid plutocratic neoliberalism.

Pacific Environment & Climate Works Found. (2020-04-23). Earth Day: How to Get Ships Off Fossil Fuels (webinar). indybay.org Online via Zoom…

Dan Bacher (2020-04-23). As Oil Prices Plunge, Fracking and Oil Drilling Expands Under Gov. Newsom. indybay.org "It just doesn't make any sense to approve fracking permits in the state of California now," said Liza Tucker, consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog. "It's clear that it's time to sunset fossil fuels and effect a just transition to a new energy economy. We should end fracking right now and phase out oil and gas production in the state in a rational, managed way. We should not be issuing new permits for oil and gas drilling."

Staff (2020-04-22). Greta Thunberg: Climate Activists Have Not Lost Hope Amid Pandemic. We're Changing How We Organize. democracynow.org Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke in an Earth Day live stream hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum about how the Fridays for Future school strikes movement she launched is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "Within the Fridays for Future movement, there's still this sort of big sense of resistance, and people are thinking, 'We will get out of this. And when we do, we will continue, and we will do everything we can that is possible in that situation to continue to push even harder,'" says Thunberg. "I feel like many people have not lost their sense of hope. We have just changed the way we do things. W…

Staff (2020-04-22). Greta Thunberg: Climate Activists Are Changing How They Organize Amid a Pandemic. truthout.org Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke in an Earth Day live stream hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum about how the Fridays for Future school strikes movement she launched is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "Within the Fridays for Future movement, there's still this sort of big sense of resistance, and people are thinking, 'We will get out of this. And when we do, we will continue, and we will do everything we can that is possible in that situation to continue to push even harder…

Staff (2020-04-22). Chileans Who Took to Streets Against Inequality & Climate Crisis Say Virus Lockdowns Won't Stop Them. democracynow.org Months ago, the streets of Santiago and other Chilean cities were alive with a vibrant mass protest movement that drew hundreds of thousands and even led the U.N. climate summit to be relocated to Madrid, Spain, last December. Now the public spaces of Santiago are largely empty as citizens shelter in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the protest movement against austerity and right-wing President Sebastián Piñera lives on as activists find new ways to organize online. We go to Santiago, Chile, to speak with Angela Valenzuela, a 350.org organizer who has been active both in the country's uprising and in…

Staff (2020-04-22). Big Insurance Is Propping Up Big Oil. Activists Say It's Time to Pull the Plug. truthout.org This story is published as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. | In the western world, paying for insurance each month is as ubiquitous a routine as paying for the internet. Once insurance companies collect monthly premium payments, the industry turns around and invests the pool of money in profitable ventures — many of which are fossil fuel companies. A new coalition is teaming up to demand Big Insurance cut the l…

Paul Haeder (2020-04-22). Zooming Newport's Climate Awareness Earth Day 2020. dissidentvoice.org Fifty years ago, the first Earth Day brought out 20 million Americans across the land — to parks, schools, college campuses, stadiums, the Mall in DC, and for hundreds of river/beach/trail clean-ups. "Our Space Ship is Burning" From the series XR #7 ( XR — Greta Thunberg's movement Extension Rebellion) 20″x30″ Oil, college and gold …

Staff (2020-04-22). Environmental and Labor Groups Team Up to Demand COVID-19 Relief. truthout.org This story is published as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. | As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the U.S. economy, national environmental organizations are stepping up to support labor unions and frontline workers across the country in their push for personal protective equipment, sick and hazard pay, safe working conditions, and other forms of relief as the crisis intensifies. | The Labor Network for Sustainability…

news.un (2020-04-22). Fall in COVID-linked carbon emissions won't halt climate change – UN weather agency chief. news.un.org An expected drop in greenhouse gas emissions linked to the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is only "short-term good news", the head of the UN weather agency said on Wednesday.

Mark Hertsgaard (2020-04-22). Can Psychedelics Treat Climate Grief? thenation.com Can Psychedelics Treat Climate Grief?

commondreams (2020-04-22). Environmentalists Praise Democratic Request for Greater Oversight, Incorporation of Climate Risk in Fed Lending Programs. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Steve Horn (2020-04-22). COVID-19 'liberate' groups are the same ones pushing climate denial. nationofchange.org The well-funded machinery that sowed doubt about climate is now sowing seeds of doubt over the economic and public health response to COVID-19.

Ashley Curtin (2020-04-22). Scientists, climate experts endorse Joe Biden as 2020 presidential candidate. nationofchange.org "On Earth Day, we speak with one voice: we must elect Joe Biden the next president of the United States—for all our sakes."

news.un (2020-04-21). Guterres vows support for island States in twin fight against COVID-19, climate crisis. news.un.org In an era of new challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres is pledging the UN's continued support to small island States — longtime leaders in the global fight against the devastating impacts of climate change.

Colin Todhunter (2020-04-19). Orwellian Lockstep and a Loaded Syringe. dissidentvoice.org Some years ago, the then vice-president of Monsanto Robert T Fraley asked, "Why do people doubt science". He posed the question partly because he had difficulty in believing that some people had valid concerns about the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. Critics were questioning the science behind GM technology and the impacts …

Jeremy Brecher (2020-04-04). First U.S. Union-Authorized Climate Strike? zcomm.org If Local 26 is forced to strike again, one thing is clear: It will do so not only as the representative of its own members, but as the champion of everyone who knows they are threatened by climate change…

H. Patricia Hynes (2020-04-04). Civil Disobedience in the Time of Climate Crisis. zcomm.org What we—citizens, corporations, courts and government—do about the climate crisis will determine life on earth within the next few decades…

CounterSpin (2020-02-21). Paul Paz y Miño, Saqib Bhatti & Beverly Bell on Environmental Justice & Cross-National Solidarity. fair.org There will only be an increasing number of frontline struggles between extractive, climate-disrupting industry and those willing to stand up to it. Corporate media's inadequate attention, and unwillingness to truly call out the moneyed interests causing present and future harms, make them more often part of the problem than the solution.

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Suzanne O'Keeffe (2019-07-24). MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with XR. peoplesparty.org with Extinction Rebellion climate activists | MPP National Director Nick Brana arrested with Extinction Rebellion climate activists after supergluing themselves to Congress in mass civil disobedience: | Washington, D.C. — Movement for a People's Party National Director Nick Brana was arrested during a protest to block Congress and demand that they join the countries of the UK and Canada and declare a climate emergency. | Brana and 15 people affiliated with the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR) glued themselves to three underground tunnel entrances leading to the Capitol, blocking access…

sputniknews (2020-04-23). 'Imminent' 9.0 Earthquake, 30M Tsunami Could Wreck Fukushima, Gov't Panel Says. sputniknews.com A specially set up working group has been projecting the possible repercussions of new probable natural disasters off Japan's coastline and drawing up measures to prevent them.

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2020-04-22). Coronavirus Crisis Makes Clear Pentagon Should Get No More Money This Year for Its 'Wasteful War Machine': 60+ Groups. commondreams.org "We cannot continue spending billions of dollars on weapons of war while people across the country struggle to buy food, pay rent, and survive a pandemic." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/bombs_0_0.jpeg