Moving Planet News

Forwarded by Linda Bowers

Community groups will be meeting on Monday, July 25^th, at 3:30 pm at deKoven House (27 Washington Street in Middletown) to start planning for Moving Planet Day events to be held in Middletown on Sept. 24th. as part of an international call for action on climate change. As the 350.org website states: Moving Planet will be a day to put our demands for climate action into motion – marching, biking, skating – calling for the world to go beyond fossil fuels. This is the third year that 350.org is organizing events around the globe.

You may remember that the first year, three downtown churches rang their bells 350 times to show support for the Copenhagen Convention on Climate Change. A couple of brainstorming ideas we have for this year's event are: a Blessing of Bikes, skateboards, etc., or an interfaith Meditative Walk (like a labyrinth) to reflect on and hope for solutions to climate change. We aren't wedded to only these ideas however, and are interested in hearing others. Let's get a buzz going around town about this. Please forward this to those who you think might be interested; City leaders and commissions, faith communities, Wesleyan, arts groups, Chamber of Commerce and businesses – any and all are invited.

Also from the website:

On 24 September, we won't just be cycling or marching – we'll also be delivering a clear and strong set of demands.

These demands will differ from one country to the next, of course, because the steps we need to take depend on how much fossil fuel we already use.
 But the rough outlines are clear:

1. Science-based policies to get us back to 350 ppm
We can’t negotiate with chemistry and physics – that’s why we know we have to make sure that climate politics is in line with climate science. We must push for a UN climate regime that lays out the path for a socially just pathway below 350 ppm.

2. A rapid, just transition to zero carbon emissions.
We know that the only way to avert climate catastrophe is an emergency mobilization to cut emissions to zero as soon as possible. That’s why we’re encouraging organizing efforts everywhere to support programs that aim for:

o 100% renewable energy

o Zero carbon emissions

o Leaving fossil fuels in the ground

3. A mobilization of funding for a fair transition to a 350ppm world.
Climate change is a moral crisis, and we know that one of the most important ways to address the issue is for the richest among us to help the poorest among us to deal with the burdens of climate change. We must support policies and programs that ensure financing for a fair transition, such as:

o Adaptation funding appropriate to the risks and damage already happening from climate impacts

o Funding for access to clean, renewable energy to lift people out of poverty

4. Lifting the rights of people over the rights of polluters.
Lifting the rights of people and nature over the rights of polluters. The climate crisis is a human rights crisis. We must support policies and programs that lift up the rights of people over the rights of polluters, such as:

o Reducing corporate power’s unfair influence on our leaders

o Stopping dirty energy projects

o Getting dirty money out of elections

o Supporting the rights of indigenous peoples

o Protecting human health