2018 ACTION REPORT
Update on Previous Monthly Postcard Issues
December 2017: SAVE THE CLEAN POWER PLAN
Pres. Obama's Clean Power Plan spelled out a regimen of reductions in CO2 emissions from power plants with how to accomplish this being chosen by each electric company. This was in response to a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that the EPA is required by law to address the issue of CO2 pollution. In August 2018, Pres. Trump's EPA repealed that regulation, leaving each individual state to work out their plan. We urged the EPA, through the public comment channel, to retain the Clean Power Plan. The issue is currently in the courts.
January 2018: NORTH KOREA—YES TO DIALOGUE, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO WAR
As threats of Armageddon were hurled between the US and North Korea, we urged Sec. of State Rex Tillerson to enter into dialogue with North Korea. We urged the US to offer a halt in US-South Korean war exercises in exchange for a halt in North Korean bomb and missile tests. That is in fact what happened. The "freeze-for-freeze" has held to this day.
February 2018: ACHIEVING SECURITY AND NUCLEAR STABILITY WITH NORTH KOREA
We urged Sec. of State Tillerson to extend the de facto moratorium on US-South Korean war exercises indefinitely, or at least as long as North Korea did not test its bombs or missiles. Fortunately, that's exactly what happened.
March 2018: THE ASTONISHINGLY GOOD NEWS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
In most US locations, the cost of producing power from new wind plus storage or solar plus storage installations are now cheaper than from new nuclear or fossil fuel installations. The "ship of energy" will not turn on a dime, but the future is renewables. That's just business. We urged you to contact your governor with this good news and encourage him/her to do more to develop clean renewable energy as quickly as possible.
April 2018: HELP THE NORTH KOREA SUMMIT SUCCEED
South Korea's top national security advisor, Chung Eui-yong, after his talks with Chairman Kim of North Korea, reported that Mr. Kim was committed to "the complete denuclearizing of the Korean peninsula" in exchange for a peace treaty with the US. This optimistic note was threatened by the nomination of a well-known hawk, Mike Pompeo, to be Sec. of State. We urged our Senators not to approve the nomination of Mr. Pompeo to this sensitive post, particularly at this pivotal time, however, Mr. Pompeo was confirmed by the Senate majority.
May 2018: KEEP THE IRAN DEAL ALIVE
The US intelligence agencies and the IAEA were reporting that Iran was keeping all of its commitments in the Iran Deal of 2015, which severely cut back Iran's nuclear supplies and activities, and allowed very intrusive inspections. We urged Pres. Trump to waive new sanctions at this time. Unfortunately, on August 22, 2018, Pres. Trump withdrew from the Iran Deal. The consequences are unclear.
June 2018: STOP HURTING INNOCENTS AS A POLICY TOOL
Hurting innocent defenseless children, and using the resultant anguish of their parents to force a political or military end, is the very heart of terrorism. The Administration's plan of separating children from their parents at our Southern border was explicitly designed to be for the purpose of reducing migration from the South. Similarly, the maltreatment of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons is intended to reduce Palestinian resistance to Israel's policies. We urged Congress to loudly oppose our family break-up plan, and also the illegal Israeli treatment of Palestinian children.
There was near Congressional silence on the Israeli treatment of children. But a large Congressional protest, as well as public and media protest, broke out about our family breakup policies, at which point the Administration mostly stopped the program.
July 2018: STOP THE BAILOUT OF COAL AND NUCLEAR
Electricity production by coal and nuclear are no longer economically feasible in many parts of the US because natural gas and wind and solar coupled with storage are cheaper. However, to support the coal and nuclear power industries, the Dept. of Energy is considering a directive to grid operators to buy electricity from failing power plants to keep them going, allegedly to avert a power shortage. Industry experts say there is no shortage. The increase in price paid by grid operators will show up in your electricity bills. We urged Congress to oppose this action. There has been no congressional action on this to date, but FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, may oppose this move, as it did an earlier bailout plan in January.
August 2018: EXTEND THE NEW START TREATY
The New START Treaty with Russia is set to expire in 2021. That would be unfortunate since it keeps the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons below 1,550 each, and allows very intrusive inspection and verification measures. Pres. Putin has expressed interest in discussing a 5-year extension. We urged Pres. Trump to agree to an extension, which needs no Senate nor Duma action. Last year the State Dept. supported an extension, but so far, the Administration says that "all options are on the table."
September 2018: TELL THE EPA TO BLOCK PROPOSED TRUMP REGULARIONS THAT WILL LOWER MPG & REVERSE CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS
You contacted the EPA with your comments on why you oppose lowering MPG regulations and reversing clean air and emissions controls. There has been no governmental action taken as yet.
October 2018: HOW TO ELECT PEACE AND ENVIRONMENT CANDIDATES ON NOV. 6
We all worked hard for the candidates that have a good approach to lessen the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and global warming. AND WE WON!!! Now that the House is in the hands of Representatives who are passionate about these issues we've got a better chance to address them.
November 2018: CALL TO ACTION! DIRE PREDICTIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
In light of the recent dire predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we asked you to contact your Reps and Senators urging them to take stronger action to lower our country’s greenhouse gas emissions. We also asked you to call your power company to order 100% renewable electricity; cut your air travel; and switch from eating beef to poultry, or even vegetarian fare. We’ll report on Congressional action, and ask that you let us know what actions you have taken.
Lois Barber, 2020’s founder, switched her provider to NexAmp, which builds, owns and operates community solar projects. Not only is Lois now supporting a local, clean, renewable energy source, she will also save 15% on all her electricity bills. For more info, contact: https://www.nexamp.com/what-we-do/community-solar.
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