The Climate Minute

People’s Climate Mobilization: How’d we get from there to here? The Climate Minute Podcast

The People’s Climate Mobilization will happen on April 29th in DC and cities across the country. As this big day draws near, it is worthwhile tracing the history of public protests dedicated to climate issues. From the original ‘Step It Up’ in 2007 to the 2014 March in NYC, the people power of climate marches keeps growing. Listen in as we discuss.

CT pulls out, but ND goes all in: The Climate Minute Podcast

Climate news this week contained progress and tension.  Grassroots opposition has slowed pipeline progress in MA, RI and NH, so CT decided to pull out of the whole concept. On the other hand, in North Dakota the confrontation keeps spiraling, it seems due to a militarized response from the police. Listen in as we discuss.

Can oil intimidate journalism? The Climate Minute Podcast

The Dakota pipeline confrontation is turning increasingly harsh. Journalist Amy Goodman was charged with rioting (but then released), Native Americans and Hollywood actresses were strip-searched and a movie maker was charged with 45 years worth of offenses. Does this mean ‘big oil’ is feeling the heat of grass roots protest? Let’s hope so! Listen in.

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Did something big just happen at Standing Rock? The Climate Minute Podcast

A series of very important events happened very quickly on the Dakota plains last week.  After a high profile guard-dog attack on the alliance of Native American activists, a Federal judge rejected the tribe’s legal claim. But almost immediately, the Obama Administration moved to stop pipeline construction. Two days later, an arrest warrant was issued for one of the journalists covering the story.  What does this all mean? Can we even tell yet? Listen in as we try to unpack some of the implications of this tumultuous week.

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

From Block Island to Dakota: The Climate Minute Podcast

Following the SJC’s decision against the pipeline tax, the utilities have pulled out of the Access Northeast pipeline project. That is good news, but raises the question of what happens next in the fight against new fossil fuel infrastructure. The Dakota Access pipeline fight looms large in this context.  One the other hand, there are now several examples of clean energy breakthroughs. Listen in as we discuss.

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

A court ruling stops the pipeline tax-and maybe the pipeline! The Climate Minute Podcast

A court ruling ends the plan to finance new natural gas pipelines by means of a ‘tariff’ on electricity bills. This is a victory for the Massachusetts consumer and for clean energy, especially since it will become much harder to build this kind of decades-long-lived fossil fuel infrastructure. Listen in as we discuss the implications of this important decision.

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Voices from Acushnet-The Climate Hawk's Companion Podcast

A massive gas compression and storage facility has been proposed for the small town of Acushnet Massachusetts. In protest, local residents, lead by South Coast Neighbors United marched between two schools that would be close to the facility.  Listen in as we hear voices from the march. (Special bonus: some whaling and literary history!)

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Protests and pipeline taxes- The Climate Minute Podcast

Pipeline protests gain strength even as the State Legislature considers a new Omnibus Energy bill. A key provision denies the utilities a ‘pipeline tax’ to fund the construction. A match to the Statehouse this weekend will send a clear message- see below for the route and timing.
Here is some background and advice on what to do, even if you can’t get to the statehouse this weekend. Both the House and Senate have heard that you want a bolder clean energy vision, please thank your senator for their leadership and ask them to support a few key amendments.
The current bill includes these clean energy pieces:
- A commitment to offshore wind of 2000 megawatts
- An annual increase from one to two percent in the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard
- A mandate for a home energy audit to be made available when homes are listed for sale.
- Incentives for energy storage
BUT, the Senate bill could include key provisions: 
- Ban the pipeline tax 
- Protect low-income solar
- Accelerate gas leak repairs.
Without an outright ban on the pipeline tax, the Baker administration and the utility companies could still find for ratepayers to bear the cost of building massive fracked gas pipelines.
Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

MA Senate rolls out a shiny new Omnibus: The Climate Minute Podcast

The Massachusetts Senate passed an Omnibus Energy bill that mandates 2GW of wind power, increases the use of renewables by 2% a year and bans the ‘pipeline tax.’ This is good news!  Next comes joint work between the House and Senate to reconcile the two different versions of the bill passed by each body.  Climate Hawks should urge their legislators to put the Senate’s vision into the final bill.

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Portrait of a Climate Hawk: An interview with Rachel Geiger on The Climate Hawk's Companion

In this episode, we meet a young Climate Hawk who is just beginning her journey of activism. Rachel Geiger is committed to fighting climate change, and her story is both a template and inspiration for others.  Listen in!

Rachel’s – and other’s -work with the Mount Holyoke College's Climate Justice Coalition and Fossil Fuel Divest campaign can be tracked at this link to the Facebook page, Instagram, tumblr, and  twitter! As usual, the Facebook page is a good place to start.
Rachel gives this recommendation:
Advice to fellow activists, especially youth and young adults, since the young tend to think we are invincible. Find any way you can to get involved, but also, take care of yourself. Take breaks when needed and do not take on too much, so you do not burn out. Look out for each other and connect as people, not just activists. We need to build networks of people, because no one can do this alone-we need a society shift! We need to build these networks based on care and love for the earth, the people who inhabit it, and each other.

If you want to   get involved:
•    If you are looking to start a divest campaign, Divest Student Networkcan be immensely helpful, and 350.org. So can http://gofossilfree.org/, which has a handbook on how to start a Divest Campaign (attached).
•    In the Northeast, some organizations that help students with Divestment campaigns are Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC) and Better Future Project (BFP). BFP works on an assortment of climate justice issues and is currently most focused on stopping natural gas pipelines from entering MA, while REC focuses on pressuring institutions to invest responsibly, including fossil fuel divestment campaigns, other kinds of divestment campaigns, and reinvestment.
 
As for other links to include, Rachel talked a bit about
•    Do The Math. Here's the video that inspired Rachel and here's the article from Rolling Stone.
•    Here is the link to the new Bill McKibbon article about methane, Global Warming’s Terrifying New Chemistry. Many listeners are probably already aware that methane is not the bridge to the future many have claimed it to be, and that reports show that MA does not need it to power itself on renewable energy.

Other great resources are Naomi Klein's  Capitlism vs the Climate and The story of stuff f by Annie Leopold who provides a great explanation of capitalism as inherently impossible because it is a system that assumes infinite growth, but the earth is a closed system.

Rachel’s work is funded by other Climate Hawks, so you can help. Here is the link for how to donate to better Future Project's Climate Justice Fellowship. As for those who do not do online banking:  One can write a check to Better Future Project, and specify Climate Justice Fellowship in the check's memo. They can be sent to Better Future Project at 30 Bow St. Cambridge, MA 02138. If someone is donating by check, that can include their email address and phone number if they want occasional updates about the fellowship and Better Future Project from BFP. They should also include who solicited the donation. BFP says "Donations to Better Future Project and its programs are tax-deductible. All donors who give online receive a receipt automatically. Please note that the receipt refers to donations to “Better Future Project, 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (350 Mass), the Climate Justice Fellowship, and other programs of Better Future Project.” They will send receipts either electronically or via mail to donors who give via check."

Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre