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BREAKING: The Port Ambrose Resolution is Moving! MOMENTS AGO, Resolution 549, asking Governor Cuomo to veto Port Ambrose, came out of committee. That
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MOMENTS AGO, Resolution 549, asking Governor Cuomo to veto Port Ambrose, came out of committee. That means it will now go to a floor vote at Thursday's main City Council meeting. MORE LEGISLATIVE NEWS: Last week, the anti-TPP Resolution passed in the Council. PLUS, a resolution to shut down Indian Point will be introduced on Thursday as well. Given the fire this past weekend, that couldn't come a minute too soon. More on the good news front: it's a breakthrough moment for renewable energy, and a packed month for events––see below! |
We're up to 30 cosigners (26 are needed to pass the measure) and the Resolution will now come before the entire City Council for a floor vote on Thursday!
Please join us at City Hall Park at 12 noon on Thursday for a pre-meeting event. We'll greet council members as they arrive to thank those who have already signed on, and encourage the rest to vote YES on Reso 549! |
Please gather at both the east and west entrances of City Hall plaza; look for Kim, Patrick or Clare when you arrive. Please bring photo ID to gain entrance. We'll ask you to hold thank you signs and greet the council members as they arrive, so bring your biggest smile! We'll go inside when the meeting starts (at 1pm) to watch the Reso get passed! |
 Workers who will fabricate turbine foundations attend a ceremony to mark the start of construction. |
Seven years in the making, last week marked the start of local construction on a five-turbine pilot project, the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. The Block Island Wind Farm could be the first of many wind projects off the Atlantic Coast. Until a domestic support hub can be built, the turbines themselves are being built in Europe. The AFL-CIO strongly supports the creation of such a hub on Long Island, where it could create an estimated 43,000 jobs. |
Another turning point in renewable energy was marked by Tesla Motor's unveiling a line of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries meant to store solar energy for homes and businesses. Despite naysayers, a week later, the batteries were sold out for a year. |
Tell the governor what we want, what we want––what we really really want!
That would be offshore wind and NO Port Ambrose, NO MORE PIPELINES and NO MORE shale gas infrastructure.
And while the fire at Indian Point is fresh in his mind, despite being treated by officials in that "nothing to see here, move along" manner that reassures us not at all, let's remind Cuomo how bad an idea having the AIM pipeline next to an aged nuclear power plant really is. |
CLOTURE, you say? Does that mean giving designer outfits to Congress? No, something even worse: The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote at 2:30 on Tuesday on cloture, a procedural motion that would cut off debate on Fast Track. As we all know, stopping fast track is the first step in stopping the disastrous trade agreement known as TPP (the Trans-Pacific Partnership). Shutting down debate on fast track would be a win for environment-busting TPP supporters. Don't let that happen: Write your senator here. |
 Discarded umbrellas await transformation into artwork for Hands Across the Sands |
Two art builds to prepare for two important upcoming actions: No talent or prior experience needed, just a willingness to have fun:
At the Puppet Studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn: The artwork for last year's BXE visit to FERC was the highlight of the action; this year will top that. Be part of it. 7pm until it ends, 20 Jay Street, Room 214. F train to York Street.
At the Magnolia Center in Long Beach, LI, help create a huge "parachute" banner made from recycled umbrellas, for Saturday's Hands Across the Sand event that will highlight Port Ambrose and offshore drilling. 6-8pm, RSVP/more info here. |
Halting the Flow of Gas Pipeline Infrastructure in NY The Village Independent Democrats, who were a partner to our lawsuit against the Spectra pipeline, will host a forum Thursday night on protecting the health, environment and economy of New York against the relentless onslaught of the shale gas industry.
Founded in 1957, VID is one of the oldest and most progressive Democratic clubs in New York City and the first in Greenwich Village. 7pm, St. John's Lutheran Church Annex, 83 Christopher St. (just west of Seventh Avenue). FREE The public is welcome. |
Special guest: Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal will discuss efforts to block Port Ambrose, including the state legislative sign-on letter to Governor Cuomo that she and Senator Brad Hoylman partnered on. Speakers include: Clare Donohue of Sane Energy Project, who will demonstrate the YOU ARE HERE map, which shows 137 shale gas infrastructure projects currently in play in NY State; Eric Weltman of Food and Water Watch will report on the more than 7,500 fracking incidents and their effect on water quality in the region; and Ling Tsou, co-founder of United for Action, will discuss the implementation of renewable energy, conservation and energy efficiency policies. |
FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is so disturbed by having to face the families it hurts by its rampant enabling of the shale gas infrastructure build out, that it has cowardly rescheduled its May 21st monthly Commissioner's meeting to this Thursday, 10am, hoping to scramble advocates' plans to drop in. That's not going to work, FERC! See revised call to action here. View a live cast of all FERC meetings here. |
This annual global event has deep local meaning this year, as advocate groups partner to stop Port Ambrose as well as offshore drilling, and promote the construction of offshore wind. We'll join hands for a solidarity photo shoot at noon sharp, but arrive early to join us for all the fun: There'll be music and refreshments, art and friendship, and an aprés party!
The lovely town of Long Beach, NY is just a short, easy LIRR train ride from Penn Station or Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn: trains depart Penn at 9:46 or 10:46 and depart Atlantic Terminal 2 minutes later. (The second train arrives just in time for you to walk quickly the few blocks to the beach.) Long Beach City Council unanimously passed a resolution against Port Ambrose months ago, just as we are trying to do now in NYC--sister cities united! |
This weekend, throughout New York and New Jersey, people are standing up against extreme energy infrastructure. The mad rush to build new pipelines, compressor stations and offshore ports, as well as the expansion of Bakken crude oil pipelines, bomb trains and barges will not be tolerated.
Join events in the New Jersey towns of Sandy Hook, Easthampton, New Egypt, Pennington, Linden, Teaneck, Trenton; or in Mahwah and Albany, New York.
Full schedule here. |
It has been 70 years since the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In commemoration, and as part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty review process at the United Nations, hibakusha (survivors) are giving testimony to their experiences and pressing for meaningful negotiations to advance the elimination of the nuclear arsenals of all nine nuclear armed countries.
Kunihiko Bonkohara was five years old at the time of the bombing. "At the moment of the bright light my father pushed me under a desk and placed himself on top of me to protect me.”
Toshiko Tanaka was almost 7 years old when the bomb was dropped as she was walking to school. "It was pitch dark around me…I came back to my house, crying. The house was totally destroyed by the blast."
1-3pm, Brooklyn Friends Meeting House, 110 Schermerhorn Street at Boerum Place. Directions here. |
It is anticipated that 500 or more people will gather this year during part or all of BXE's (Beyond Extreme Energy) visit to FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency known as "the Rubber Stamp Machine" for their proclivity to approve pipelines and shale gas infrastructure). A complete schedule of events can be found at the website link below, including the Witness Wednesday action, led by faith-based groups. Sign up here. |
We usually reserve this space for fundraising for Sane Energy Project, and we thank you for all of your past support. But this week, we want to highlight the needs of two allies in Pennsylvania, who are under attack from the gas industry. Both these cases shame and illustrate the depraved behavior of drillers, and the collusion of our own legal system against American citizens. We ask that you consider donating to two important legal funds: |
Vera Scroggins is a well-known advocate who has long given tours of Pennsylvania's frack fields. As a result of her attempts to bring those harms to light, the industry has been harassing her and she is now threatened with a jail term. Through her group, The Mothers Project, Angela Fox has set up a special fund so that your contributions will be tax deductible. All donations go directly to Vera to help with her ongoing legal fees. Donate online here. Checks can also be sent to: TMP at 2578 Broadway, #108, NY, NY 10025, Please mark all donations "for Vera." |
Stand with Dimock: Many people remember the town of Dimock, PA from the movie, Gasland. That nightmare is not over yet for the Ely family and their neighbors. They have lived with contaminated water for years now, and have been abandoned by government agencies that should have helped them. There are only 10 days left to fully fund the Indigogo campaign for the $10,000 needed to cover trial costs. They are almost there: 99 people have already pledged $6000--incredible! It would only take 200 people giving $20 each to complete this funding. This is a landmark case that will help all families who have been victimized by the gas industry. Thank you for donating online here. |
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