Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice (CASEJ): Difference between revisions

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<p>This is the <b>Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice</b> wiki page.
This is the '''Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice'''''(CASEJ)''' Working Group wiki page. This 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.
</p><p><b>Mailing List:</b> <a href="https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/climate-action">Click here for the signup page for our mailing list</a>
</p><p><b>Meetings:</b> Our meetings are currently held Mondays at 6 pm. The location is not 100% set at this time. It will be announced over the mailing list in advance of each meeting, and (hopefully) updated correctly on the Occupy Boston calendar. When in doubt, trust the mailing list.
</p><p><br />
</p>
<h2>Draft Mission Statement</h2>
<p>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:
</p>
<ul><li> Educating ourselves and our communities about climate change and the environmental issues and solutions before us;
</li><li> Building Alliances within and beyond the Occupy/99% Movement, without regard for ideology or tactical preferences, to increase our collective power; and
</li><li> 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.
</li></ul>
<h2>Upcoming Events and Actions</h2>
<p>Add details or links here.
</p>
<h2>Meeting Process</h2>
<p>[This protocol can be revised by proposing an amendment for consensus at group meetings]
</p><p><b>Propose Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice Protocol</b>
</p><p>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.
</p><p><br />
<b>MEETING PROTOCOL</b>


</p><p>"Facilitation"
'''Meetings:'''
</p><p>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
</p><p>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.
</p><p><br />
<b>Meetings</b>
</p><p>Facilitator:
1) Welcome to the meeting
2) Introduce individuals helping to facilitate
3) Explain the process
(hand signals ect.- 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&#160;;)
</p><p><b>When Discussing Agenda</b>
</p><p>For all parts of the meeting excluding critical group proposals:
We discuss these points in the order decied, anyone can ask for a temp check,
(We can discuss using formal process: raising hands and using hand signals ect. 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
</p><p><b>For all critical proposals made to the group</b>
</p><p>(GA proposals, group statements, mission statement, parts of Wiki ect., 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.
</p><p>Voting: We do a formal vote, by show of hands. Proposal must have&#160;%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.”
</p><p><br />
<b>Quorum</b>
We will consider this on Jan. 9th and hold off on votes for proposals until that time
</p><p><br />
<b>Committees</b>
</p><p>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):
</p><p>Mailing list: we have one list and anyone can be added, managed by a List Committee
</p><p>Wiki: the Wiki Committee will watch over the CASEJ wiki, helping to ensure a clear layout and accurate updates
</p><p>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.
</p><p>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
</p><p><br />
<b>Hand Signs</b> (borrowed from Facilitation)
</p><p>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.”
</p>
<h2>Proposals</h2>
<p>Passed proposals can be added here.
</p>
<h2>Meeting Minutes</h2>
<p><a _fcknotitle="true" href="CASEJ Minutes - Dec. 19, 2011">CASEJ Minutes - Dec. 19, 2011</a> blank right now, please click and add!
</p>
<h2>Resources</h2>
<p>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.
</p><br/><span _fcknotitle="true" class="fck_mw_category" sort="Speculations">Speculations</span> <br/><span _fcknotitle="true" class="fck_mw_category" sort="Actions">Actions</span> <br/>


[[Category:Working groups]]
== Mission Statement<br/> ==
 
The Occupy Boston Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice (CASEJ) 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 creative solutions before us;
*Building Diverse Alliances within and beyond the Occupy/99% Movement to increase our collective power; and
*Taking Non-Violent 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.
 
== Contact US<br/> ==
 
*'''Contact e-mail: '''occupyboston.climate.action@gmail.com
 
*[https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/climate-action Mailing List]
 
*[http://casej.boardhost.com Discussion Board]
 
*'''twitter: ''' [http://twitter.com/#%21/OB_CASEJ OB_CASEJ]
 
*'''BLOG: ''' [http://occupyenvironment.wordpress.com/ CASEJ Blog]&nbsp;(semi-official)
 
== Current Campaigns<br/> ==
 
'''[http://occupymbta.org/ Occupy MBTA’s campaign]''' for fair and affordable public transportation
 
'''Tar Sands Action:''' a national campaign against the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and more broadly opposing the extraction of crude oil from tar sands
 
'''Natural gas pipelines and Spectra Energy:''' A Houston-based company called Spectra Energy is looking into [http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/04/24/enlarged-natural-gas-pipe-proposed-for/xhmjtNIHRTCLzDRiZUYuhK/story.html expanding an existing 1,120 mile pipeline] to bring more natural gas from Pennsylvania and New York to Massachusetts.&nbsp; Spectra Energy has a spotty track record and is [http://nogaspipeline.org/ already facing significant grassroots opposition] to a new gas pipeline they’ve proposed that would cut through the densest parts of New York City and New Jersey.&nbsp; The company [http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/?p=744 received 17 citations for pipeline safety violations] in 2011 and has [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000045190&year=2012 spent over $5.5 million lobbying the federal government] since 2007.&nbsp; &nbsp;In 1989 their pipeline division was [http://www.spectraenergywatch.com/blog/?p=480 hit with a $15 million penalty] – the largest in EPA history at the time – for discharging highly toxic PCBs at 89 sites along a 9,000 mile pipeline from Texas to New Jersey.&nbsp; As of 2009 [http://www.spectraenergywatch.com/blog/?p=498 much of this contamination persisted in their pipeline system.]
 
In addition, Spectra Energy’s proposed pipelines would spur an increase in fracking, a toxic gas drilling technique that is [http://www.alternet.org/fracking/155022/the_human_cancer_risks_posed_by_extreme_fossil_fuel_extraction already poisoning the health and water of local communities all over the world, ]without doing anything to address the climate crisis.&nbsp; [http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/03/01/428764/ddrop-in-warming-requires-rapid-massive-deployment039-of-zero-carbon-power-not-gas/ A recent study from Stanford climatologist Ken Caldiera] found that a large-scale shift from coal to gas would have a negligible impact on global temperatures.
 
Massachusetts needs truly sustainable zero-carbon solutions, not dangerous half-measures driven by irresponsible fossil fuel corporations.&nbsp;
 
=='''Actions and Events'''<br/> ==
 
<span style="font-size:larger">'''Upcoming'''</span>
 
'''Please Add Action & Event Announcements Below'''
 
'''January 26th, 2013'''
 
ONE (Occupy New England) and 350 New England are hosting a day of regional action for the environment in Portland Maine! Topics on the table include: fracking in the Pioneer Valley; the Northern Pass project; the Vermont Yankee power plant; and, of course, the infamous Trailbreaker tar sands pipeline! After the rally, we will be meeting to discuss this year’s events. For more info or Bus info check out the [http://www.occupyboston.org/ Occupy Boston] announce or [http://350ma.org/ 350MA] site.
 
== 10 Wicked Awesome Things You Can Do Now<br/> ==
 
'''(TBA!)'''
 
== Our Process<br/> ==
 
*[http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/CASEJ_Meeting_Process CASEJ Meeting Process]
 
== Passed Proposals<br/> ==
 
... that relate to our mission
 
Recently passed [[http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/18/ob-calls-corporate-abuse-contributing-climate-change/ "Call to Action"]] about egregious corporate assault on the environment.
 
 
 
On February 4, 2012, members of CASEJ brought the following proposal to the Occupy Boston General Assembly, which was passed by consensus.&nbsp; See also [http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/06/occupy-boston-supports-fossil-fuel-nuclear-subsidies/ http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/06/occupy-boston-supports-fossil-fuel-nuclear-subsidies.]
 
''The below proposal reached agreement at OB General Assembly, on February 4, 2012.''
 
Fossil fuel and nuclear corporations are some of the wealthiest interests on the planet – yet they still suck up billions of dollars in government subsidies. They buy off elected officials and corrupt our political process while sticking us – the 99% – with the bill for the health, ecological and climate destruction they cause. Their coal, oil, gas and nukes fuel our unjust economic systems, imperil our planetary future and prevent us from shifting to a clean energy economy of, by and for the people.
 
Occupy Boston therefore calls for:
 
*An end to all government subsidies to fossil fuel and nuclear energy interests;
*An end to corporate influence, including energy industry influence, on politics;
*Immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations to below the safe atmospheric threshold of 350 parts per million CO2e; starting with the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline;
*A just transition for workers currently employed in fossil fuel and nuclear energy sectors to sustainable employment.
 
We pledge to make personal and group choices that support these aims.
 
== Related Organizations<br/> ==
 
'''We've Worked With'''
 
'''In Boston'''
 
'''In the Occupy movement'''
 
== Resources ==
 
'''CASEJ in the Media'''
 
*[http://bostonoccupier.com/2012/02/13/calling-foul-on-fossil-fuels/ Calling Foul on Fossil Fuels], Boston Occupier
*[http://openmediaboston.org/node/2181 Climate Activists and #Occupy Boston Call “Foul” on Scott Brown’s Support for Keystone XL Pipeline], Open Media Boston
*[http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/04/05/occupy-mbta-protests-fare-hikes-cuts-at-state-house/ Occupy MBTA Protests Fair Hikes Cuts at State House], The Daily Free Press
 
<br/>'''Links and Articles of Interest'''<br/><br/>[http://wiki.occupyboston.org/images/f/f3/The_Case_for_Carbon_Fee_and_Dividend.pdf The Case for Carbon Fee and Dividend] provides an overview of the economic rationale for why we need to put a tax on the carbon in fossil fuels in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It presents a specific policy proposal called Carbon Fee and Dividend which would achieve gradually increasing costs for fossil fuels while&nbsp;shielding&nbsp;low income households from rising energy costs. It explains how implementation of this policy would stimulate economic growth to help undo the effects of the Great Recession.
 
[http://wiki.occupyboston.org/images/0/03/CCL_Boston_Resource_Library.pdf CCL Boston Resource Library] provides a&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px">collection of useful links to articles that help explain different dimensions of the problem of climate change focused primarily on economic and policy issues rather than the science.</span>
 
[http://grist.org/ grist] is a website that provides environmental and sustainability news and policy analysis.
 
<br/>[http://thinkprogress.org/climate/issue/ Climate Progress], a blog with up to date, informative articles on climate and energy
 
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>
 
[[Category:Speculations]] <br/>[[Category:Actions]] <br/>[[Category:Working groups]] <br/> <br/><br/>

Latest revision as of 09:19, 7 January 2013

This is the Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice(CASEJ)' Working Group wiki page. This 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.

Meetings:

Mission Statement

The Occupy Boston Climate Action, Sustainability and Environmental Justice (CASEJ) 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 creative solutions before us;
  • Building Diverse Alliances within and beyond the Occupy/99% Movement to increase our collective power; and
  • Taking Non-Violent 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.

Contact US

  • Contact e-mail: occupyboston.climate.action@gmail.com

Current Campaigns

Occupy MBTA’s campaign for fair and affordable public transportation

Tar Sands Action: a national campaign against the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and more broadly opposing the extraction of crude oil from tar sands

Natural gas pipelines and Spectra Energy: A Houston-based company called Spectra Energy is looking into expanding an existing 1,120 mile pipeline to bring more natural gas from Pennsylvania and New York to Massachusetts.  Spectra Energy has a spotty track record and is already facing significant grassroots opposition to a new gas pipeline they’ve proposed that would cut through the densest parts of New York City and New Jersey.  The company received 17 citations for pipeline safety violations in 2011 and has spent over $5.5 million lobbying the federal government since 2007.   In 1989 their pipeline division was hit with a $15 million penalty – the largest in EPA history at the time – for discharging highly toxic PCBs at 89 sites along a 9,000 mile pipeline from Texas to New Jersey.  As of 2009 much of this contamination persisted in their pipeline system.

In addition, Spectra Energy’s proposed pipelines would spur an increase in fracking, a toxic gas drilling technique that is already poisoning the health and water of local communities all over the world, without doing anything to address the climate crisis.  A recent study from Stanford climatologist Ken Caldiera found that a large-scale shift from coal to gas would have a negligible impact on global temperatures.

Massachusetts needs truly sustainable zero-carbon solutions, not dangerous half-measures driven by irresponsible fossil fuel corporations. 

Actions and Events

Upcoming

Please Add Action & Event Announcements Below

January 26th, 2013

ONE (Occupy New England) and 350 New England are hosting a day of regional action for the environment in Portland Maine! Topics on the table include: fracking in the Pioneer Valley; the Northern Pass project; the Vermont Yankee power plant; and, of course, the infamous Trailbreaker tar sands pipeline! After the rally, we will be meeting to discuss this year’s events. For more info or Bus info check out the Occupy Boston announce or 350MA site.

10 Wicked Awesome Things You Can Do Now

(TBA!)

Our Process

Passed Proposals

... that relate to our mission

Recently passed ["Call to Action"] about egregious corporate assault on the environment.


On February 4, 2012, members of CASEJ brought the following proposal to the Occupy Boston General Assembly, which was passed by consensus.  See also http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/06/occupy-boston-supports-fossil-fuel-nuclear-subsidies.

The below proposal reached agreement at OB General Assembly, on February 4, 2012.

Fossil fuel and nuclear corporations are some of the wealthiest interests on the planet – yet they still suck up billions of dollars in government subsidies. They buy off elected officials and corrupt our political process while sticking us – the 99% – with the bill for the health, ecological and climate destruction they cause. Their coal, oil, gas and nukes fuel our unjust economic systems, imperil our planetary future and prevent us from shifting to a clean energy economy of, by and for the people.

Occupy Boston therefore calls for:

  • An end to all government subsidies to fossil fuel and nuclear energy interests;
  • An end to corporate influence, including energy industry influence, on politics;
  • Immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations to below the safe atmospheric threshold of 350 parts per million CO2e; starting with the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline;
  • A just transition for workers currently employed in fossil fuel and nuclear energy sectors to sustainable employment.

We pledge to make personal and group choices that support these aims.

Related Organizations

We've Worked With

In Boston

In the Occupy movement

Resources

CASEJ in the Media


Links and Articles of Interest

The Case for Carbon Fee and Dividend provides an overview of the economic rationale for why we need to put a tax on the carbon in fossil fuels in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It presents a specific policy proposal called Carbon Fee and Dividend which would achieve gradually increasing costs for fossil fuels while shielding low income households from rising energy costs. It explains how implementation of this policy would stimulate economic growth to help undo the effects of the Great Recession.

CCL Boston Resource Library provides a collection of useful links to articles that help explain different dimensions of the problem of climate change focused primarily on economic and policy issues rather than the science.

grist is a website that provides environmental and sustainability news and policy analysis.


Climate Progress, a blog with up to date, informative articles on climate and energy






















































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