Sacramento Sustainability Action Group
Connecting Sacramento's Sustainability Movement
This page came from the desire to harness some of the energy raised at the Sacramento Sustainability Symposium May 2008. This page is a tool for organizing future sustainability-related events. We subsequently are part of the Rising Tide North America network, which works to confront the root causes of climate change.
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Jun 06, 2008
Updated: May 26, 2009
Membership: Open To Apply
Semi-Private
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Upcoming Events
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Bulletin Board
SacSustain Email Address: SacSustainAction [at] gmail.com
Current Events:
March 3rd at 2pm is the final vote on the proposed Anti-scavenging Ordinance for the City of Sacramento. Please show up and protest this proposed ordinance
Sacramento Food Not Bombs on News10
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Youth power
The Eco-Warrior Princess’ tribute to a new breed of activists
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=889310
Copyright ©2008 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Printed on 2008-12-27
I don’t care much for identity labels, finding them more often than not to be a restrictive way to make sense of the complexities of people and the world (I know, how cliché!). “Youth,” though, is a label I embrace, because it’s typically the youth who propel progressive movements forward with unrestrained intensity, completely committed to a cause, whatever that might be. And I’m proud to be part of that group.
Young people have once again put themselves on the front lines of change, this time in the battle against global warming, as the world struggles to determine how to stay below 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere—the safe line before humans cause huge and irreversible damage to the planet.
In mid-December, 20 teenagers and young adults representing youth organizations Energy Action Coalition and SustainUS condemned the lame-duck U.S. administration at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland. This is the fourth straight year there’s been an organized youth presence at these climate negotiations, as young people try to exert a voice in international policy-making. The group called for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 in the United States, a goal echoed by President-elect Barack Obama.
Reaching that target requires a massive economic and infrastructural transformation, but perhaps more than anything it requires a substantial change in thinking. Paradigm shifts tend to be generational and, as philosopher Thomas Kuhn said, intellectually violent revolutions, which means we need young people to play a central role now more than ever.
So this is a tribute to them: To 25-year-old Mattie Reitman (see “Coal hard truths,” SN&R Green Days), a Sacramento native who dedicates his life to community organizing in the fight against the coal industry, and who told me, “Climate change is the most pressing issue, and I very much want to stop it.” There seemed to be, for him, no other choice. When I asked Reitman what he wanted to do when he got older, he scoffed, and responded that community organizing is what he’ll always want to do. Forget money, status, stability; he has no need for those luxuries.
This is a tribute to Levi Benkert, the 27-year-old owner of LJ Urban, the green builder responsible for the eco-friendly Good housing development in West Sacramento. And to Shawn Harrison, who’s catalyzed urban agriculture with Soil Born Farms; to 26-year-old Katy Nicholls of GreenBuilt Construction and Consulting, who proclaims the value of home-energy audits while breaking gender biases in the process; and to Graham Brownstein, the young director of the Environmental Council of Sacramento, who has made the nonprofit organization passionate, relevant and, yes, fun.
And, of course, this is a tribute to the kids who engage in low-impact living and direct actions, who’ll risk getting arrested at protests or chain themselves to bulldozers on a mountain to prevent clear-cutting of old-growth forests or blockade the entrance to a coal-fired power plant.
This is a tribute to the group of young Sacramentans who, on November 14, congregated outside the Bank of America on K Street to protest the company’s funding of coal companies that practice mountaintop removal (along with thousands of other young people across the country for a national day of action). A few weeks later, the bank announced plans to stop financing companies that employ surface mining as their primary method for coal extraction. I heard about this victory from a young woman at a recent green event in Sacramento; she didn’t tell the audience this news to “give us warm fuzzies,” she said, but to show us the power we have to make change.
Now, at 27 years old, I’m on the cusp of no longer being considered a member of the “youth” movement. And I wonder when my time will come to graciously abandon this designation, to make way for the new breed of activists coming through, who’ll unapologetically stretch our thinking and raise our awareness, frustrate us with their never-ending demands and revive us with their passion.
I don’t want this time to ever come, and I wonder if it’s already passed.
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Victory! Bank of America Divests from Mountain Top Removal Coal!!!
Rainforest Action Network: Bank of America Decision to Stop Funding Mountaintop Removal a Victory for Appalachia and Anti-Coal Movement
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Rainforest Action Network praised Bank of America today for its decision to phase out financing for companies that practice mountaintop removal coal mining, a highly destructive and controversial method of coal extraction. The announcement, part of a new coal policy released on the bank's website, reads: "We...will phase out financing of companies whose predominant method of extracting coal is through mountain top removal."
"Bank of America's decision is a giant leap forward in the fight against mountaintop removal coal mining, which has devastated Appalachian communities and the mountains and streams they depend on," said Rebecca Tarbotton, director of Rainforest Action Network's Global Finance Campaign, which has pressed Bank of America since October 2007 to cease financing of mountaintop removal mining and coal-fired power plants. "We hope that Citi, JP Morgan Chase and other banks follow Bank of America's lead."
Bank of America's policy comes the day after the Bush administration's approval of a rule that will make it easier for coal companies to dump rock and dirt from mountaintop removal mining operations into nearby streams and valleys. The rule has been bitterly contested by environmentalists and Appalachian communities.
"This is a testament to the hard work of Appalachian communities and anti-coal activists across the country, whose collective pressure left Bank of America with little choice but to abandon its support for this barbaric form of resource extraction," said Tarbotton. "To responsibly meet the challenges of the climate crisis, Bank of America's next step should be a complete phase-out of coal financing and increased investments in energy efficiency and renewables."
The bank's policy also supports technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and commits to promote the development and implementation of CCS to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rainforest Action Network has argued that CCS is not yet close to being commercially viable and has pushed energy efficiency and renewable energy sources as far better investments.
Bank of America is currently involved with eight of the U.S.'s top mountaintop removal coal-mining operators, which collectively produce more than 250 million tons of coal each year. Mountaintop removal flattens mountain ranges and transforms healthy mountain woodlands into toxic sludge that has clogged more than 700 miles of rivers and streams. The practice is a major threat to the existence of many Appalachian communities.
To view Bank of America's new coal policy, please visit: http://environment.bankofamerica.com/articles/Energy/COAL_POLICY.pdf
For more information about Rainforest Action Network, please visit www.ran.org.
Rainforest Action Network campaigns to break America's oil and coal addictions, protect endangered forests and Indigenous rights, and stop destructive investments around the world through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action. For more information, please visit: www.ran.org.
SOURCE Rainforest Action Network
Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
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Keep the Cap, Ditch the Trade!
MEDIA CONTACT: Cal/EPA Headquarters
Naomi Kim 541-513-0540 cell 1001 "I" Street (Corner of 10th & “I”)
naomik@envirorights.org Sacramento, CA 95814
11/20/08 – 12:30 PM
SACRAMENTO, CA (November 20, 2008 – 12:30pm) – Over 100 environmental and social justice advocates statewide are giving public testimony and organizing a rally to call attention to the negative environmental consequences in California Air Resources Board (CARB) Proposed Global Warming Legislation Scoping Plan’s recommendation of an international trading scheme and use of offsets to address climate change.
The proposed plan:
· Establishes an approach that has never worked and will harm our communities
· Exacerbates environmental injustices and health impacts
· Fails to ensure significant local reductions for the entire industrial sector, including oil refineries and powerplants located where low-income communities of color work, live, learn, and play.
· Supports international trading for the entire industrial sector, allowing them to rely on pollution credits that companies can buy and sell amongst themselves from anywhere in the world, instead of mandating emissions reductions. The free market, as is starkly evident in the recent months of our nation’s financial crisis, is grossly unpredictable.
At 12:30pm, speakers at the Rally and media event will demand that this Administration adopt a climate plan that meets the health, job creation, and climate goals required by low-income communities of color fenceline to toxic polluting facilities and the law.
California needs a climate change plan that serves all the residents of California, especially communities overburdened by toxic pollution facilities and on the frontline of misery caused by climate change. Advocates will tell regulators to do their job and regulate pollution and protect health instead of relying on failed polices and unworkable international trading schemes to supposedly fix climate change.
For more information regarding the environmental justice communities’ critique of climate change policy, visit http://www.ejmatters.org. CARB’s Proposed Scoping Plan can be found at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/psp.pdf
Rally Sponsored by: West County Toxics Coalition, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Communities for a Better Environment, Healthy 880 Communities, PODER, Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, Environmental Justice Air Quality Coalition, California Environmental Rights Alliance, Environmental Health Coalition
For more information, contact: Greenaction (415) 248-5010 x 101 and CBE (510) 302-0430x11
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Past Events:
WHAT: ORGANIC CAPITAL: A Celebration of Sustainability in Sacramento
WHEN: December 11th, 2008
WHERE: YLI Hall, 1400--27th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
COST: FREE Admission. FREE FOOD. FREE DRINK. Lots of great silent auction
prizes activities. Suggested donation to PesticWHAT: ORGANIC CAPITAL: A Celebration of Sustainability in Sacramento
WHEN: December 11th, 2008
WHERE: YLI Hall, 1400--27th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
COST: FREE Admission. FREE FOOD. FREE DRINK. Lots of great silent auction
prizes activities. Suggested donation to Pesticide Watch Education Fund to
support "Pesticide-Free Sacramento" project: $10.
For more information, please contactcelebration@pesticidewatch.org or
916-551-1883.
ide Watch Education Fund to
support "Pesticide-Free Sacramento" project: $10.
For more information, please contactcelebration@pesticidewatch.org or
916-551-1883.
* Permie Harvest Potluck November 15th, 6 PM, Relocated to Shaina and Ming's small apartment, Sacramento. Call 510-333-2202 for directions.
Hello,
Here are a few important events coming up rapidly. Call Ming at 510.333.2202 or email Shaina SacSustainAction[@]gmail.com for details and directions.
1) Permaculture Potluck has been relocated to Ming and Shaina's place, Sacramento
What: Sacramento Permaculture Guild Fall Harvest Permaculture Potluck
When: Saturday, November 15th starting at, say, 6 PM
Who: You, me, regional folks and visitors interested in permaculture, gardening sustainability, food, community, and the connections between these topics
Where: Sacramento
How: Call Ming and Shaina 510-333-2202 or write humtreehugger(@)yahoo.com to get directions and let us know you are coming
What to Bring: food, especially if its local, homemade, seasonal, organic, or otherwise special, festive, or conscious
Why: Fun, Connection, Food, Sustainability, Let us revamp the Sac Permie Guild!
We look forward to seeing you at all of these events.
- Shaina & Ming
Sacramento Sustainability Action Group
510.333.2202
http://wiserearth.org/group/SacSustain
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Don't Forclose on the Climate!
What: Protest Bank of America's Investment in Coal in Solidarity with Others Around the Country
Where: Bank of America ,1130 K St Ste 100, Sacramento CA
95814-3927
When: Friday November 14, 2008
Why: We only have one climate, and now is our defining moment to protect it for ourselves and future generations. Bank of America's "Statement of Carbon Principles" is inconsistent with their investment in montaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. Because is the most polluting fossil fuel energy source. Because it will be fun!
Who: Me, You, Your Friends, Anyone who wants to take a non-violent stand for the climate.
What Else: Contact Ming and Shaina at 510-333-2202
Don't Foreclose on the Climate; Take Action Against Coal and Coal Finance Nov 14-15, 2008
“I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers, and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants.”
-Al Gore August 2007
“We are here because now is the time to take greater action as individuals, as communities, and as a country to create a sustainable future and stop the destruction of our homes.”
-Wise County Virginia resident Hannah Morgan while committing civil disobedience at a coal plant construction site. September 2008
Al Gore is promoting it. People all over the planet are doing it. It’s time to take action against coal from the cradle to the grave. We’re organized, smart and creative. Now we’re taking the action on the coal front to another level.
Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network and friends are calling for a National Day of Action against Coal and Coal Finance on Nov. 14-15. Hundreds of actions in 24 hours to continue raising awareness about the coal industry and their financiers, Citi and Bank of America.
SIGN UP HERE—http://dirtymoney.org
WHAT: Hundreds of Actions in 24 Hours against the Coal Industry and its Financiers
WHERE: Your Town USA
WHEN: November 14 & 15
CONTACT: dirtymoney@ran.org or students@sfo.greenpeace.org; or call 1-800-989-RAIN
INFO: www.dirtymoney.org
Coal is the dirtiest of all fuels and has a huge negative impact on the climate, yet the coal industry and elected officials are accepting it as a solution to the climate crisis.
It’s time we stand up to say, “Don’t Foreclose the Climate!”
Here’s what we really need to save the climate:
* No new coal plants
* An end to mountaintop removal
* Stop financing the coal industry
* Invest in green jobs and clean and just energy!
Here’s how you can stand up and say no to foreclosure on the climate:
1. Register your action now and download a toolkit at www.dirtymoney.org
2. Get together with your friends and plan an action at a coal company, bank or politicians office.
3. Contact RAN at dirtymoney@ran.org or Greenpeace at students@sfo.greenpeace.org for support. We can send you banners and flyers, as well as help you brainstorm potential actions.
4. Join one of the upcoming conference call check-ins- Oct 28th and Nov 11th by contacting us.
5. Get creative and take some action for the climate and coal impacted communities.
It’s time to take to the streets and send the Coal Industry and its financiers a message that we will not foreclose the climate!!
P.S. if your organization wants to endorse and support the day of action, contact us at dirtymoney@ran.org
Follow the Dirty Money
Adopt a Bank of America/Climate Change Meeting
at Shaina & Ming's
Call (510) 333-2202 for directions.
Hello. Come get together to strategize ways to fight climate change by adopting a local branch of Bank of America. We want to let them -- and their customers -- know that the world and the country do not appreciate them funding the destruction of mountain tops in Appalachia to build polluting, greenhouse-gas-emitting, dirty coal plants. Call 510-333-2202 for directions.
You try to lower your carbon fooprint by recycling, carpooling, and using compact flourescents, why should your (or anyone's) money be funding coal?
Bank of America became one of the first major banks (along with Citibank) to create a statement of carbon principles in 2007. However their lovely words, and even their money-saving efficiency measures, won't save us from climate catastrophe. Not while they are one of the biggest funders of new coal (DirtyMoney.org). We in Sacramento have an opportunity to join others around the nation in telling Bank of America that their green washing campaign will save neither our climate nor their business. Rainforest Action Network (RAN.org) and others are already protesting them other places and RAN.org has a Adopt a Local Branch campaign with many fun ideas and resources.
Folks will have an opportunity to call Bank of America and let them know what we think of their policies. Customers and non customers of the bank will be able to write letters to let B of A know what their customers think of their funding of mountaintop removal coal mining.We will be able to plan petition signature gathering, handing out flyers outside our local branch, and creative skits. Come help!
Adopt a Bank of America/Climate Change Meeting
at Shaina & Ming's
Call (510) 333-2202 for directions
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES MOBILIZE TO SACRAMENTO TO ADDRESS REAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING
Map
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Bike Commuter Op Ed About Highway 50
Future Event
WikiPages
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5th Bay Area Regional Permaculture Convergence.
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added by shawnakelly 11 months ago |
Organizations
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Sacramento Post-carbon Action Network SPAN
Scope: regional
Type: Network/ Coalition/ Collective
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| edited by amberkorb 3 months ago |
Related Groups
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Sacramento Permaculture Guild
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