Welcome to the December 2023 Climate Action Newsletter 🌎✊📢
In this issue, lots of opportunities to take action and get connected with other activists! From the team at 350CO we wish you a wonderful start to the month and the Winter season. ❄
Quote of the Month
“Everything from the healthcare crisis to the refugee crisis is amplified with climate change. It is our duty to protect our fellow global citizens and our future generations by stepping up to the plate.”
– Zahra Biabani, writer and climate activist
Action of The Month:
Tell Governor Polis we want better rules for pollution reduction from industry: Sign the petition here
How to take action this month:
📱 Share: (Takes a minute or two) – Share this post on Instagram from Divest CSU! Students and organizers are calling for Colorado State University to divest from fossil fuels. Their petition has over 1,000 signatures (🔥🙌) but we need to keep spreading the word!
✍ Write: (Takes 1-4 hours) – We are calling for LTEs (letters to the editor) and opinion pieces on all things keeping fossil fuels in the ground! Some specific topics to cover:
- Why We Need a Phase Out of Fracking in Colorado
- Call on Governor Polis for Stronger Climate Action in Colorado
- Why Emerging Technologies are Mostly False Climate Solutions (Emerging technologies = carbon capture, direct air capture, etc. – see this statement on emerging technologies for more information)
New to writing letters to the editor or opinion pieces? See this LTE-writing guide and this list of Colorado news outlets to submit your work to.
🗣 Testify: (Takes 2+ hours) – The Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is currently undertaking a rulemaking regarding “cumulative impacts” from oil & gas in Colorado – to address how oil and gas wells add to already existing pollution in communities across Colorado.
As part of the rulemaking process, ECMC is holding in-person public outreach meetings this week – in Greeley, Erie, Commerce City, and Rifle. They did not do a good job letting people know – we found out about it only through our network of local fracktivists, and we need your help for a good turnout!
The ECMC has scheduled listening sessions in four communities. You can find more information from the Commission here. Childcare and Spanish translation will be provided.
Use this toolkit to write a public comment and get all of the details and links you’ll need to help.
Local Win: Arapahoe County approves new oil and gas regulations
Thanks to the work of local activists, community members, and several organizations, 1 mile setbacks were secured last month in Arapahoe County! Thank you so much to everyone who showed up to protect our land, air, and water. For more ways to get involved, sign up for 350CO Fracking Action Committee meetings or visit Save The Aurora Reservoir to learn more.
From Dollars to Decarbonization: A Local Government Blueprint for Fossil-Free Finance
The “Dollars to Decarbonization” toolkit offers an easy-to-understand fossil fuel divestment blueprint for local governments to decarbonize their finances in four key areas: pensions, insurance, banking, and direct divestment, with research, real cases, and policy templates. Created in collaboration with Boulder County. Special thank you to Giselle Herzfeld, our Defunding Climate Disaster Campaign Coordinator, for all their hard work on this!
Art & Activism: The Documentary Film, A Good Neighbor
A Good Neighbor, a feature-length documentary film by Maggie Hartmans and Brittany Zampella, tells the story of Lucy Molina, a Latina single mother living in Commerce City, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, one of the most polluted areas in the entire country. In this article, volunteer Susan Heske illustrates some of Farsighted Creative’s background and how they came to work on this important, heartfelt, and inspirational film with Lucy.
Art & Activism: buffalo soldiers: reVision
Volunteer Susan Heske writes about another local film production highlighting activism in art. The film The Making of buffalo soldiers: reVision shares with viewers the story about the current exhibition at the History Colorado’s Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center in Fort Garland, Colorado. The exhibition is “a chance to look forward to the future of historical interpretation of the American West with renewed perspective and wisdom so we can tell a more inclusive and representational history.”
A huge thanks to our November & December Climate Heroes of the Month – Jaime Giesen & Ryan DeCrescent!
Meet Jaime!
Jaime has worked for over 20 years as a geographic information science (GIS) analyst for the government, both at the municipal and federal levels. And as the climate crisis intensified, and the instability of our political environment increased, she felt the pressure building to do something.
She never misses adding her name to a petition or sign-on letter! What may seem like a simple action to many is truly a core element of good grassroots organizing; using our voice and our power to influence elected officials, regulators, and companies. Without actions like that we miss the opportunity to show our strength in numbers, and when the people lead the leaders will follow!
“The topics and processes were (and still are) overwhelming. However, the volunteers at 350Colorado consistently provide action items I can understand and participate in and they follow up on the topics so that there is continuity to the actions. This is what I am looking for.” – Jaime
Meet Ryan!
“My love for rocks and mountains pushed me to seek a life (and career) in Boulder Colorado. I now live here and work as a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.”
And like many people experience, knowing how to channel that care and concern can be challenging. “Although I always “appreciated” Earth, I hadn’t a clue how to begin supporting it,” said Ryan. “In the midst of a mild (but constructive) existential crisis, I emailed 350CO. They supported me tremendously in figuring out how to get involved in climate action.”
“My new and current attitude toward activism is to do whatever I can, whenever I can, however I can, and try to not worry about how small it may seem. (It’s better than doing nothing!)” – Ryan
Resources of the Month
IRA Webinar series: Save Green By Going Green! Learn how Federal $ can benefit your budget, community, and the planet! – Want clarity on what the Inflation Reduction Act is and how to utilize it? Join 350 Colorado and policy expert Jan Rose for the first in a series of educational webinars about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as we unpack this major piece of legislation in a way that is easy to understand. Learn more about the IRA as a whole and how you and your community can take advantage of this federal funding.
Exploring Fossil Fuel Pollution and Related Health Impacts: Focusing in on Colorado – This story map created by Jaime Giesen (our November climate hero of the month!) illustrates and explores some aspects of high levels of ground-level ozone pollution in our state.
Upcoming Events & Actions
- Monday, Dec. 4th, 5-6pm – Safe and Healthy Colorado Online Action Hour to Phase out Fracking (Zoom) – Sign up here
- Tuesday, Dec. 5th – Colorado Gives Day! Share, support 350CO, and donate with this link. Thank you!
- Tuesday, Dec. 5th and Tuesday, Dec. 12th, 6-8pm – 350CO JEDI Workshops: Embracing Inclusive Organizing (Zoom) – RSVP here
- Thursday, Dec. 7th, 12pm – NoDAPL (No Dakota Access Pipeline) Public Comment-Writing Party (Zoom) – Register here
- Friday, Dec. 8th, 6:30pm- Social Justice Film Series Presents: Fracking the System (work-in-progress screening) (Denver) – Get free tickets here
- Saturday, Dec. 9th, 6-8pm – 350 Colorado Holiday Party (Boulder) – RSVP here
Please view our full calendar to join local team meetings, committee conference calls & more!
P.S. This summer 350 Colorado is celebrating our 10 year anniversary! Please help us celebrate by supporting crucial climate work – become a monthly sustaining donor at $10 or more per month!