Bill McKibben: Tomorrow should be sort of fun, and important

From: "Bill McKibben - 350.org" <350@350.org>
Date: September 9, 2015 at 15:21:43 EDT
To: "Tom Wassmer"
Subject: Tomorrow should be sort of fun, and important
Reply-To: 350@350.org

Friends,

To be honest, I'm not much a fan of big climate summits. None so far have done hardly anything to solve the problem, and this year's Paris talks may be no different.

But if they're good for anything, it's that for a few weeks at least, the world tends to focus a little more on the state of the climate and our attempts to save it.

And so with the big Paris talks on the horizon, our job is to focus that attention on what it will really take to get serious: keeping at least 80% of fossil fuels under ground and getting to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

What may be different this time is that getting there is actually quite possible. The cost of solar panels is lower than ever and falling, and a big movement has sprung up to oppose new fossil fuel projects from Keystone XL to the Galilee Basin coal reserves in Australia.

We have a whole plan for the coming months: from local workshops this September, to a global day of action at the beginning of the Paris talks, to a mass action to have the final word after they end. And to cap it all off, April of next year we're planning the most ambitious wave of global action yet.

And tomorrow night in New York City, we're kicking it off with an event co-hosted by Naomi Klein, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, and a ton of activists from around the world -- and we're livestreaming it out around the world.

We're going to try and lay out the road ahead for the climate movement -- how we're going to use mass action and divestment to keep turning off dirty energy, and turn on cheap, clean renewable power all over the world. We'll lay out a roadmap past the Paris talks and straight to one of the biggest days of resistance we've ever engaged in. Also, there will be good music!

So if you can't be there in the room, be in the virtual room on your computer. Just click here at 7 PM Eastern time tomorrow when the show gets underway, and press play: 350.org/off-on-live

In short, it's a night not to miss. Oh, and tweet in ideas/comments if you're watching; I'll be trying to monitor them during the show. Just use the hashtag #offandon.

With gratitude for all your work,

Bill

---

350.org is building a global climate movement. Become a sustaining donor to keep this movement strong and growing.

People with Beyond Extreme Energy are fasting in front of FERC in DC from Sept 8-Sept 25 to hold them accountable

People with Beyond Extreme Energy are fasting in front of FERC in DC  from Sept 8-Sept 25 to hold them accountable. This also coincides with the Pope’s visit to the US and addresses Congress and the UN. 

http://beyondextremeenergy.org/september-fast-at-ferc-for-no-new-permits/

http://beyondextremeenergy.org/2015/07/28/why-i-will-be-fasting-for-no-new-permits-and-how-you-can-too/

https://www.popularresistance.org/fast-to-fight-ferc-permits-begins-meet-the-fasters/ 

Cardinal Turkson Laudato Si On Care for our Common Home - United Nations...

Greenpeace continues to protest against drilling in the Arctic

Greenpeace continues to protest against drilling in the Arctic playing beautiful music in front of Shell's HQ. They created a very artistic website showcasing the compositions, performances and campaigns:

https://music.savethearctic.org 

In their last performance today at 12:30 GMT, singer songwriter Charlotte Church joined the young performers. You can see and the campaign on the below YouTube video. Amazing crowd! The music starts about half way in.

Deep Well Injection in Michigan: Deepening Our Understanding and Exploring What We Can Do About It

Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Aug 21, 2015

http://sierraclubmichiganaction.blogspot.com/2015/08/deep-well-injection-in-michigan.html

What do you know about deep injection wells in Michigan? If the answer is "not much," then please consider joining us on Sep. 26 at Alma College for an important workshop about the environmental risks this activity (taking place in counties around the state) poses to our water quality and environment. 

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has received applications for permits for deep well injection activity in more than a dozen counties. Is your county one of them? What does it mean for you and your family? Find out at our workshop Sep. 26!

WHAT: Deep Well Injection in Michigan: Deepening Our Understanding and Exploring What We Can Do About It

WHEN: Sat., Sep 26, 10am - 2pm

WHERE: Alma College, 614 W. Superior St., Alma; Room L4 of the DOW/KAPP Bldg.

Permits for injection wells containing hazardous substances posing a serious threat to water quality are increasing in Michigan, yet most people including local public officials know little about them. In an effort to educate Michigan citizens and local governments, Sierra Club has paired with Grobbel Environmental & Planning Associates to present a workshop on about the history, purpose and risks of injection wells in Michigan. 

Christopher P. Grobbel, PhD, is an environmental consultant based in Traverse City and  MSU professor of environmental planning and management, environmental impact assessment, environmental law, and sustainability studies.

Christopher P. Grobbel, PhD, will present "Deep Well Injection in Michigan: Deepening Our Understanding and Exploring What We Can Do About It" on Saturday, Sep. 26, from 10am - 2pm at Alma College, 614 W. Superior St. The event takes place in Room L4 of the DOW/KAPP building. 

Grobbel will lay out the context for this activity in Michigan and then explore the environmental risk associated with it and how the public can get involved in the process. Grobbel's presentation will cover the history and regulatory framework of injections wells, the technology and geology involved in Michigan, and dangers such as spills and seismic activity.  

REGISTER TODAY!

On or before Sep. 18: $25 general public/$15 students (with ID). The cost covers lunch and all conference materials.

After Sep. 18: $35 for the general public; $20 for students. Final registration deadline is Sep. 25. No walk-ins. 

To register, email me at gail.philbin@sierraclub.org or call 616-805-3063. I hope to see you on September 26th in Alma!

Community Meeting: Nexus and ET Rover Natural Gas Pipelines

Nexus and ET Rover Natural Gas Pipelines Community Meeting

August 25, 7:00 PM

Pittsfield Township Hall, 6201 W Michigan Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Nexus

ET Rover

August 25, 7:00PM @Pittsfield Township Hall, 6201 W Michigan Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48108
ET Rover and Nexus are proposed pipelines that will carry fracked gas along parallel routes from
Pennsylvania through Ohio, Michigan, and into Ontario, Canada. A panel will  present landowner, law, and environmental perspectives on the pipelines, followed by a Q&A period for additional questions or concerns.

This meeting is supported by:  FOOD & WATER WATCH  (www.foodandwaterwatch.org)
         THE SIERRA CLUB  (www.sierraclub.org/michigan) 

Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan (ECCSCM) Water Monitoring Results, 8.12.15

ECCSCM completed its third round of water monitoring tests for our 2015 Water Monitoring Project on August 12, 2015.  We are monitoring 8 sites in the Bear Cr./Black Cr./Raisin and lower (MI) Bean Cr./Tiffin/Maumee watersheds this year.

 Please find the results on the spreadsheet attached.  Numbers in bold either meet or exceed MI water quality standards or the EPA-recommended maximum levels. All eight sites had excessive phosphorus levels.  Multiply the orthophosphate (PO4) result by .3262 to obtain P.  Michigan does not have water quality standards for phosphorus for non-point sources, but it is <1 mg/L (ppm) for point sources (industry, municipal wastewater treatment plants).  The safe level for aquatic life is <.05 mg/L, and the danger level is .1 mg/L. Four sites, Deline Dr. Extension, Durfee Cr., Shierson Dr., and Rice Lake Dr., had levels at or above 1,000 mg/L which is the MI limit for partial body contact - E. coli. Three sites, Carter Dr., Silver Cr., and Shierson Dr., had nitrate levels that were either at or above the MI water quality standard. Four sites, Rice Lake Dr., Bovee Dr., Durfee Cr., and Carter Dr. had dissolved oxygen levels that were below the MI water quality standard for warmwater streams, and two - Rice Lake Dr. and Durfee Cr. had levels that were too low to sustain aquatic life. Dead fish were reported at the Rice Lake Drain sampling site.  This observation was reported on 8.12.15 to MDEQ, USF&W, and DNR.  In addition to excessive E. coli, excessive phosphorus, and extremely low dissolved oxygen, the ammonia level at Rice Lake Drain was .3 mg/L.  From the EPA:  "Manure, and wastewater containing manure, can severely harm river and stream ecosystems. Manure contains ammonia which is highly toxic to fish at low levels. Increased amounts of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus...can cause algal blooms which block waterways and deplete oxygen as they decompose.This can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, devastating the entire aquatic food chain." 

In fact, the test results at seven of our sites showed the presence of ammonia, and the highest level was at the Deline Drain Extension.

A picture of one of the dead fish at Rice Lake Drain

The results can be downloaded here.