The end of the beginning

Green New Deal Discussion on Thursday, March 21, 2019

What Can We Do to Support Climate Recovery?
 
Learn More About the Green New Deal

Last Thursday, American Resistance Sevilla and ClimateRecovery.org hosted a roundtable discussion on the Green New Deal Resolution, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bold alternative to Nancy Pelosi’s proposal to revamp the historically ineffective committee on global warming.
 
Kathy Sherretts, who writes the Stop Look Listen section of this newsletter, gave us an overview of the plan, which calls for a ten-year mobilization to deal with climate change and create the economic equity and millions of jobs needed to sustain that effort.
 
Steve McCann evaluated the ambitious goal of net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050; the timeline may not be feasible, he concluded, but the overall goal is not impossible.
 
Lynnette McCurdy talked to the group about private transportation, and the many projects in place for improving vehicle efficiency and public transit options.
 
Natalie Purinton addressed the youth movement, including the Sunrise Movement and activist Greta Thunberg, noting that millennials are the generation with strongest support for the Green New Deal.
 
James Mangan presented on labor, which is less united and influential than in the past; to win them over will require demonstrating solid, practical benefits. 
 
Richard McCann talked about various proposals for achieving healthcare for all which would expand coverage while cutting costs in areas such as administration. 
 
Donald Reid discussed social planning and policy, suggesting that enormous changes will take place, with or without this plan, as the US seems to be moving towards a post-democracy, post-capitalist future.

Want to know more?
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Robert Mueller has released his report, but that hasn’t magically solved everything for us. 

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! by Kathy Sherretts

The end of the beginning
The Mueller report was released on Friday; by the time you read this, Attorney General Barr may have released a summary of the report to Congress. Or maybe not. It doesn’t appear to be the bombshell that some of us were hoping for; rather, just an extension of the waiting and analyzing that we have been doing since Mueller started his investigation. Whatever is in it, it seems that no more indictments will directly result… Mueller’s report hasn’t magically solved everything for us. We still have to do the heavy lifting: pressure our representatives to make the report public, oppose Trump’s judicial nominees, overturn the national emergency declaration. We still have to resist.
--Kathy Sherretts

Article:
History Channel: New Deal by Editors of History.com
The Green New Deal was inspired by FDR’s comprehensive Depression-era programs. What do you know about the original New Deal? 

Article:
Politico: Appeals court rules Ohio can defund Planned Parenthood by Alice Miranda Ollstein 
Ohio cuts about $1.5 million of annual support from the network of clinics treating sexually transmitted diseases, breast cancer and cervical cancer, teen pregnancy, infant mortality, and sexual violence.

Video: 
National Popular Vote (7 min)
This video, from 2016, outlines an ongoing push to circumvent the electoral college, guaranteeing the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 
Read about it at FairVote.org.

Video:
Precious Plastic: Learn about Plastic (6 min)
To understand recycling, it helps to learn about plastics. (Part of a series on DIY recycling projects)

Report:
Influence Map: Big Oil’s Real Agenda on Climate Change
In the three years following the Paris Agreement, the five largest oil and gas companies (ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, BP and Total) have invested over $1Bn of shareholder funds on misleading climate-related branding and lobbying, all while seeking to expand fossil fuel operations.
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About to go up in flames ... at Fallas in Valencia this year. (Getty images)

Ready to do more?

​Read the Indivisible Guide 2.0, a new strategy for a new congress.
 
Check out the weekly action plan from Progressive Action, Global Exchange (PAGE) which mobilizes progressive Americans living overseas.
 
Sign up for the Americans of Conscience Checklist, a weekly action list that also provides encouragement and good news.
 
Learn more at ClimateRecovery.org, a new group organized by members of American Resistance Sevilla and other community activists. Have questions or want to volunteer? Contact [email protected].
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