Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice (CASEJ)
This is the Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice wiki page.
Mailing List: <a href="https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/climate-action">Click here for the signup page for our mailing list</a>
Meetings: Our meetings are currently held Mondays at 6 pm. We will usually meet in the Old West Church (131 Cambridge st., Boston, MA). Meetings will be announced over the mailing list in advance of each meeting. They will also be announced on the Wiki, and (hopefully) updated correctly on the Occupy Boston calendar. When in doubt, trust the mailing list. (There will be dates when we CANNOT meet at the Old West Church, so please watch the mailing list for those changes!)
Draft Mission Statement
The Occupy Boston Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice Working Group seeks to provide a space where members of the Occupy/99% Movement and their allies can come together to help create a more just and sustainable world, locally and globally. We will accomplish this goal by:
- Educating ourselves and our communities about climate change and the environmental issues and solutions before us;
- Building Alliances within and beyond the Occupy/99% Movement, without regard for ideology or tactical preferences, to increase our collective power; and
- Taking Direct Action to confront the social, economic and political forces causing environmental injustice and highlight a new paradigm for life on earth, both human and non-human.
Upcoming Events and Actions
Senator Brown has recently co-sponsored a bill meant to push through the construction of the highly controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and take away regulating powers from federal agencies. A coalition of concerned Massachusetts residents has been trying to work with the Senator to have him protect the interests of the people, but he’s made it clear which side he’s on. Brown has received $1.9 Million from fossil fuel corporations and their front line groups and has consistently voted in the interest of those corporations.
It’s time for the people to call “foul!” on Scott Brown, remind him that he’s sitting in the people’s seat, and call him out for pushing the interest of the people aside while the oil and coal industries buy the votes.
Please join a coalition of concerned residents and members of Occupy Boston this Thursday to throw down the penalty flags and highlight the injustice and unfairness of the corporate influence on legislators.
What: Calling “Foul!” on Scott Brown, rally and march to his downtown office
When: Thursday Feb 9, 12:00PM, 12:30 march to office, till 1:30p
Where: Meet to “suit up” in referee stripes at Park Street Station, 12:30 march to Sen. Brown’s office, JFK Federal Building
What to Bring: There will be lots of referee shirts for you to wear, but feel free to come dressed as a referee or otherwise. You can also bring signs, whistles, penalty flags, positive attitudes, and all your friends!
Who: A coalition of Massachusetts residents, the Occupy Boston Climate Action,
Sustainability and Environmental Justice working group, Boston Occupiers and you!
Contact: occupyboston.climate.action@gmail.com
If you use facebook, please RSVP and share: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/133982553388870">https://www.facebook.com/events/133982553388870</a>
Why:
Scott Brown and a cohort of elected officials who have received large campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests have introduced<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s2041pcs/pdf/BILLS-112s2041pcs.pdf">Bill S.2041</a>to push through approval for the Keystone XL Tar Sands pipeline. If built the 1,700 mile pipeline will transport the dirty oil product from the point of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaF5NfCjWHs">destruction</a>in the Boreal forests of Alberta, through fragile watersheds in the U.S. and to tax havens in the Gulf of Mexico for <a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/">export</a>to world markets. The project has already been denied a permit by the President due to potential environmental impacts. Occupy Boston recently passed a <a href="http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/06/occupy-boston-supports-fossil-fuel-nuclear-subsidies/">resolution</a>calling for an end to all government subsidies to fossil fuel interests, an end to energy industry influence on the political process, and the rejection of this catastrophic Keystone XL mistake. Senator Brown’s latest move has proven that he is beholden to the desires of the fossil fuel interests and the people of Massachusetts are going to remind him who’s seat he’s sitting in. (“Who’s seat? Our seat!”)
Resources:
Facts on the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline <a href="http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/">http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/</a>
Infograph: Keystone Pipeline - Built to Spill
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/keystone-pipeline-infographic_n_941069.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/keystone-pipeline-infographic_n_941069.html</a>
Recent Reuters articles on this bill and other maneuvers to push through pipeline
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/keystone-xl-approval-bill-support_n_1241563.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/keystone-xl-approval-bill-support_n_1241563.html</a>
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/294033/20120206/house-republicans-try-again-force-keystone-xl.htm">http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/294033/20120206/house-republicans-try-again-force-keystone-xl.htm</a>
Oil Change International: Dirty Energy Money Campaign
<a href="http://www.dirtyenergymoney.com/">http://www.dirtyenergymoney.com/</a>
OpenSecrets.org
<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indexp.php?cycle=2010&id=MAS1">http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indexp.php?cycle=2010&id=MAS1</a>
Meeting Process
[This protocol can be revised by proposing an amendment for consensus at group meetings]
Propose Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice Protocol
This set of guidelines assumes that collectively demanding respect for each voice, and
therefore establishing a system through which any individual can bring their perspective to the group as a whole, is critical in the building and growing of an effective movement. It assumes that this is especially crucial to achieving the goals of the Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice working group of Occupy Boston, as these goals require the formation of coalitions capable of effecting change both across a diverse political landscape as well as on a global scale. Demanding this requires establishing a clear means through which diverse perspectives can be voiced, that is agreed upon and modified by the groupʼs own participants. In establishing this we are seeking to both effectively collaborate within and outside of Occupy Boston, and to pursue the ideals, central to the Occupy movement, of horizontal participatory democracy. However, these guidelines will only be effective if each one of us takes responsibility for ensuring that everyoneʼs voice is present.
MEETING PROTOCOL
"Facilitation"
For each meeting designate...
1) Facilitator - At least one prepared, neutral, moderator for each meeting Note: the Facilitator sacrifices their own voice for the sake of ensuring that others are heard. This means that they withhold their own opinions when facilitating. 2) Stack Keeper - lists and keeps track of an agreed upon agenda 3) Note Taker 4) Time Keeper
These roles should rotate each meeting. Alternatively, one person can facilitate/ take
notes the first hour, and another person do this second hour. At the end of each meeting we ask someone to volunteer to facilitate the next meeting who has not done this in the past few weeks. They should have some experience, or be willing to familiarize themselves with the process before the meeting.
Meetings
Facilitator:
1) Welcome to the meeting 2) Introduce individuals helping to facilitate 3) Explain the process (hand signals etc.- mention that it is the responsibility of everyone to make sure everyoneʼs voice is respected) 4) Individual introductions: say your name and (X) 5) Take stack (list items to add to agenda- to be discussed in greater length after stack is taken) 6) We will come in with an agenda planned out, which will have some time allocated for new items added to stack (Decide weather group wants to modify order or time?) 7) Go through agenda in order agreed upon 8) If there is time: Additional things to add to the stack 9) Closing ceremony ;)
When Discussing Agenda
For all parts of the meeting excluding critical group proposals:
We discuss these points in the order decided, anyone can ask for a temp check, (We can discuss using formal process: raising hands and using hand signals etc. or informal process - informal group discussion. Anyone can propose we switch from one to the other, at which point facilitator will get quick temp check and proceed accordingly
For all critical proposals made to the group
(GA proposals, group statements, mission statement, parts of Wiki etc., requests for
funds, making changes to agreed upon protocol (this document after implementation): 1) When possible share this proposal at least a day in advance 2) Bring to the group for discussion (preferably in small groups) 3) Facilitator asks for statements of support (just what it sounds like) 4) Facilitator asks for statements of concern 5) Facilitator asks for friendly amendments: friendly changes people suggest in response to concerns and objections 6) The proposer(s) bringing this to the group may then choose to modify their proposal (incorporating the friendly amendments if they so decided) and then present the modified proposal to the group for steps 2-6. Otherwise, they may choose to table their proposal for the time being, or ask to bring it, unmodified, to a vote. Note: For the sake of expedience, if both proposers and group agree (meaning the proposers all agree and there are lots of twinkle fingers AND no objections from group), they can choose to skip a step and move directly to vote.
Voting: We do a formal vote, by show of hands. Proposal must have %75 support (might not be
perfect, but you are cool w/ it) to pass w/ no blocks (a strong principled opposition) “Note: The amendments offered are the response to concerns and objections. That proposers have the opportunity to consider amending their proposal is a way of addressing or resolving concerns and objections. The goal is to keep it non-confrontational and to focus on building solutions together by assuming that every input is a brick in a building and the next input is a brick placed above the foundation all the other bricks already laid.”
Quorum We will consider this on Jan. 9th and hold off on votes for proposals until that time
Committees
We will have a committee of three or more people manage each of these and
consider rotation every few months (these people must be in good working communication with each other):
Mailing list: we have one list and anyone can be added, managed by a List Committee
Wiki: the Wiki Committee will watch over the CASEJ wiki, helping to ensure a clear layout and accurate updates
Funds: Our Funding Committee keeps track of funding plans and logistics (including
proposals for funds that may conflict in a given week). All funding proposals should be brought to the group for a formal vote. In rare cases we may want to ask for funds directly at the GA which exceed $100.00. If we are asking for such money for the group, this should be through a proposal and formal vote within the group. Note: We will not need a Funding Committee until we decide we need funding.
GA Proposals: the GA Proposal Committee composes and presents a proposal to bring
to the GA, and then brings this to the group for revision or formal vote
Hand Signs (borrowed from Facilitation)
I suggests we learn these (but skip the “move it along” when possible and leave this to
the time keeper) a. I consent, I like, I feel good about this - hands up fingers wiggling upward b. Iʼm neutral, I feel so-so - hands flat with fingers wigging forward c. I donʼt consent, I donʼt like, I feel badly about this - hands down, fingers wigging downward d. Move it along, we hear what youʼre saying - roll fists around one another e. Speak louder - with index finger pointing up, move arm up and down Note: Indicate clearly that the following signals will bring a Floor Manager over to you in order to review your point and put it on a "mini-stack" for bringing to the floor when the current speaker reaches a natural break f. Clarifying Question - put index finger and thumb into ʻcʼ shape Note: define that a CQ is not an opinion. It must be answerable by the proposer(s) g. Point of Information - point index finger up Note: define that a POI is not an opinion. It is a fact relevant to the topic at hand. h. Point of Process - place tips of index finger together in horizontal line Note: define that a POP is not an opinion, it is a reminder to the Facilitators or Speaker about a point of order i. Friendly Amendment - “peace” sign j. Block - crossed arms over head NOTE: Blocks are generally considered to be an extreme measure, only used when a member feels a proposal endangers the organization or its participants and/or the person feels so strongly about her/his position, s/he will walk away from OccupyBoston.”
Proposals
Passed proposals can be added here.
Meeting Minutes
<a _fcknotitle="true" href="CASEJ Minutes - Dec. 19, 2011">CASEJ Minutes - Dec. 19, 2011</a> blank right now, please click and add!
Resources
This section is suggested as a place to put links to other groups we might be interested in collaborating with, learning from, etc., as well as links to articles of interest.
www.grist.org is a website that provides environmental and sustainability news and policy analysis. d