2020 Action

May 2025: Embodying the Life and Teachings of Pope Francis

BACKGROUND: Throughout the world people are honoring the life of Pope Francis who was both a spiritual and political leader. He called on all of us to make it a priority in our lives to protect the environment, provide justice for all--especially the poor and marginalized, and to work for peace. In our country flags are flying at half-mast in his honor. But to truly honor Pope Francis, it is not enough to lower our flags, light candles, and bow our heads. May we all reflect on and be guided by the Pope’s words and deeds. Here are just a few quotes from Pope Francis:

On Peace: "It is impossible for peace to exist without dialogue. All the wars, all the strife, all the unsolved problems over which we clash are due to a lack of dialogue. When there is a problem, talk: this makes peace."

On Justice: "Even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structures and actions are all too apparent. Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples."

On the Environment: “The problem is urgent. Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years. We must all change our day-to-day actions to live more sustainably. Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility. On a larger scale, our leaders must be held to account. Those who will have to suffer the consequences . . . will not forget this failure of conscience and responsibility.”

ACTION: Contact your Representatives, Senators and the President. Ask each of them to reflect on the life and leadership of Pope Francis and to recommit themselves to act with moral integrity and let the Pope’s teachings guide their negotiations, policies, and votes. Urge them to build bridges, not walls, and work with humility and compassion for peace, justice and the environment here in our country and around the world.

CONTACT:

President Trump

• Website: whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Tel: 202 456-1111
• Mail: President Trump, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW., Washington DC 20500

Your Representative and Senators

• Web: www.senate.gov, www.house.gov;
  leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121
  (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name)
  U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510 OR
  U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

Click here for more quotes from Pope Francis about peace, justice, and the environment.

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your paper of choice.

April 2025: What is Your Role in Preventing Climate Change?

BACKGROUND: We all know about the consequences of burning gas and oil to drive our vehicles and to heat and cool our homes: wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and increasingly deadly heat waves. Are we, our children, and grandchildren doomed to live in a world with increasing disasters? NOT IF EACH OF US—ALONG WITH OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD—ACT TO CHANGE OUR PIECE OF WHAT IS INVOLVED.

Currently, the worldwide average of Greenhouse Gas (GHG)* emissions is 4.6 tons per person per year. The Paris Agreement of 2015 agreed on a goal of 2.3 tons per person per year. The emissions of governments, militaries, and corporations make up about one half of the total, leaving the other half, roughly 1.2 tons for each of us residents of the planet as our personal "GHG budget". Here are the most effective ways that each of us can reduce our GHG emissions to 1.2 tons per year:

1. Make plans now for when your furnace quits, to replace it with an electric heat pump system powered by renewable energy. This is the most important thing you can do.
2. In the U.S., the yearly average GHG emissions per gas-fed car is 5 tons. When possible, replace your gas-powered car with an electric vehicle fed from a fossil-free source.
3. Beef is surprisingly ‘GHG-expensive’: eating half-a-pound of beef a week causes almost 1 ton of GHG emissions/year—almost all your total yearly budget! Eat less, or no beef at all.
4. Flying is especially ‘GHG-expensive’. A single flight from NYC to LA and back can cost you between 0.6 and 1.2 tons of GHG, depending on class, wind, stopovers, and fullness of the cabin. One round-trip can cost you your entire GHG budget for the year.

ACTION:  Discuss the facts above with your family, friends and community. Make a plan and begin to do everything you can to reduce your personal GHG emissions.

*GHG emissions include carbon dioxide, methane and other global warming gases.

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

March 2025: Trump Calls for Reduction in Nuclear Weapons

BACKGROUND: In an Oval Office interview with reporters, on Feb. 13, 2025, President Trump called for a reduction in nuclear weapons of Russia, the U.S. and China. He said, "there's no reason for us to be building brand-new nuclear weapons. We already have so many."  

He continued, "We're all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things." And added, "One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, 'Let's cut our military budget in half.' And we can do that."

He warned that if nuclear war ever breaks out, "that's going to be probably oblivion." He did not elaborate. Scientists report that if a large nuclear war ever does happen, pulverized soil will rise into the atmosphere, block out the sun, reduce crops, slowly starve us humans, and end much of life on Earth as we know it. 

ACTION:   Regardless of your political leanings, contact President Trump and give him your support to reduce the nuclear arsenals of Russia, the U.S. and China. This would be an enormous contribution to protect humanity and all life.

CONTACT: President Trump

• Web: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Tel: 202 456-1111
• Mail: President Trump, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW., Washington DC 20500

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

February 2025: No Immunity for Corporate PFAS Polluters

BACKGROUND: Huge stretches of America’s farmland have been contaminated by fertilizer tainted by PFAS — a class of “forever chemicals” linked to cardiovascular, immunological, developmental and reproductive disorders. They may cause growth and behavioral problems in children and kidney and testicular cancer in adults. Affected farms face enormous and debilitating remediation costs or the harsh reality that their land will be unusable for food agriculture . . . . FOREVER. The EPA has taken steps to regulate PFAS chemicals and is reported to be on the verge of phasing it out altogether, as some European countries have.

The corporations responsible for selling these “forever” chemical fertilizers to farmers are now lobbying Congress to grant them immunity from lawsuits that would, if they were found guilty, force them to clean up the fields their chemicals polluted.

ACTION: Write to your U.S. Senators. Tell them not to grant protection from liability to fertilizer companies that sold fertilizer containing polluting PFAS chemicals. This will make it possible for farmers to sue the fertilizer companies that sold them polluting PFAS chemicals and to make the companies assist in remediation of their fields. 

CONTACT: Your Senators

• Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
• Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
• Mail: Senator (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

January 2025: To Bomb or to Deal? That is the Question.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the "Iran Deal" was ratified by Iran, the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia and China.  Basically, it limited Iran to enriching uranium to 20%, while 90% would be needed to make a nuclear bomb. In 2018 then-Pres. Trump withdrew from the treaty, saying it was a bad deal. Since then, Iran and its allies Syria and Hezbollah have been militarily weakened.  Also since then, Iran has enriched its uranium to 60% which means it is much closer to having material for making nuclear weapons.

Israel, meanwhile, we are told, has been considering bombing Iran's nuclear sites, like it bombed Iraq's nuclear program in 1981. The US also bombed Iraq in 2003, again due to nuclear fears. A future attack on Iran’s nuclear sites might not even work, since much of Iran's program is deep inside a mountain.  Better to have an airtight treaty, with on-site inspections, and layers of security.

ACTION: Urge Marco Rubio, the Trump-nominee for Secretary of State, to see to it that we get a good, credible deal and sign a treaty with Iran. This would help avoid attacks in all directions.  Fortunately, Iran's new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has signaled an interest in a treaty. And Pres.-elect Trump is quoted: "We have to make a deal."

CONTACT: Email Marco Rubio, the nominee to be Secretary of State: [email protected]

Please use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

December 2024: Get Your EV & Heat Pump Incentives Before They’re Shut Down

BACKGROUND: Currently, the federal government offers up to $7,500 in rebates in support of Americans buying an electric vehicle. In addition, Massachusetts and many other states offer up to $16,000 to help residents switch from fossil fuel heating systems to much cleaner heat pump systems which provide both cooling and heating. Some of these are known as ‘mini-splits’. Consult Federal and State government websites for rebates in your area. Most of these incentives are funded through the Inflation Reduction Act which incoming Pres. Trump has vowed to shut down. 

Trump also has said he would "slap" 20% tariffs on heat pumps from Japan and South Korea where many heat pumps are manufactured, which can be expected to raise their prices by 20%. 

ACTION: Revoking existing incentives to buy and install heat pumps and to purchase electric vehicles has in the past, required congressional action, which after January 20 could be swift. Tariffs on heat pumps and all other imported items can be imposed quickly by the President. Trump says he will revoke the incentives and impose tariffs by executive action as soon as he takes office. Don't delay to purchase a heat pump system and an electric vehicle! 

Act before the rebates are pulled off the table! 

Use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

November 2024: Do You Want Trump Negotiating Nuclear Policy?

BACKGROUND: When Trump was President, he removed the US from the IRAN Deal which has meant that Iran has proceeded with developing their nuclear capacity. When the U.S. and Iran were complying with the Deal, it was estimated that it would take Iran about one year to produce enough fissile material (weapons grade uranium) for a nuclear bomb. Today, Tehran is believed to be not one year but just weeks from being able to produce a bomb. The declining security situation in the Middle East has greatly raised the stakes on Iran’s nuclear capacity.

Also while Trump was President, he removed the US from the INF (Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty, an agreement between the US and the former Soviet Union that eliminated an entire category of nuclear weapons. The treaty banned ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500–5,500 kilometers. These missiles are considered destabilizing because they can reach their targets quickly, leaving little time for decision-making. As a result of ending this treaty, Putin now has these nuclear forces to threaten Ukraine and the world. 

If Trump were again President, the terrifying situations in the Middle East and Ukraine would become even more dangerous and deadly. 

ACTION: Turn your worry over the fall elections into action. Go to The Environmental Voter Project, https://www.environmentalvoter.org/  for a list of immediate actions you can take. Also, email, text, call and/or visit your family, friends and contacts in any of the swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Encourage them to vote by Nov. 5^th and support candidates that will lessen our reliance on nuclear weapons.

Use the info in this Action Alert to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local paper.

October 2024: Concerned about what a Trump Presidency would mean for the Environment and our struggle against Climate Change?

BACKGROUND: Project 2025 provides a detailed description of what a Trump Presidency would mean for environmental concerns.  Although not yet official policy, Project 2025 was written by high-level Trump team members to guide policy under a Trump Presidency.  The document is crystal clear in its goal of dismantling environmental regulations and prioritizing fossil fuel use.  A Trump Presidency would pursue these goals and aim to:

• Weaken environmental regulations: Project 2025 proposes weakening or repealing regulations that limit air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and endangered species protections.
• Reduce funding for environmental agencies: The project suggests cutting funds for agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Increase fossil fuel development: Project 2025 advocates opening up public lands for oil and gas drilling and expediting permits for pipelines.
• Shift us away from a focus on clean energy: The project downplays the importance of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

ACTION: If you want to help prevent four years of backsliding on the environment, go to the website of The Environmental Voter Project, a highly effective organization that will give you precise tasks to help identify inactive environmentalists and transform them into consistent voters.  Turn your worry over the fall elections into action.  Do your part to build a powerful environmental movement.

CONTACT:

• Website: The Environmental Voter Project https://www.environmentalvoter.org/
• Email: [email protected]

 Writing a letter-to-the-editor in your local paper will help inform others

September 2024: Project 2025 Includes Dangerous Nuclear Weapons Policies

BACKGROUND: Written by the Heritage Foundation, with staffers and supporters of former President Trump, Project 2025 calls for nuclear weapons to become a dramatically larger part of our national defense posture. The writers state that more nuclear weapons would guarantee our freedom and prosperity, unlike President Reagan, who acknowledged this as a myth when he said that nuclear weapons offered only a “war that couldn’t be won and must never be fought.”

Project 2025 calls for the elimination of all nuclear treaties and for the US to restart nuclear testing in Nevada. It also calls for us to expand and modernize our nuclear arsenal and increase funding for more Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles armed with multiple warheads, instead of reducing the number of deployed weapons. Project 2025 calls for us to position more nuclear weapons in Europe and Asia and to focus our deterrence on Russia and China.

Project 2025 states that nuclear weapons should be prioritized over other security programs, and that the National Nuclear Security Administration should transition to a wartime footing. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns that this dramatic build up could increase the global nuclear arms race.

ACTION: Let others know of these alarmingly dangerous policies in Project 2025. Write a letter to the editor of your local or regional newspaper, and to your Representatives and Senators.

CONTACT:

• Newspaper Editor: You can submit a letter-to-the-editor electronically from your newspaper’s website. Cut and paste from text above.

• Your Representative and Senators
  •  Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
  • Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
  • Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
    or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

August 2024: Planet Earth is Heating Up Faster all the Time

BACKGROUND: It does not just seem to be getting hotter; it actually is. Each of the last 11 months was the hottest month globally for that calendar month. This year is on track to break our US and global heat records.   

Until now, most wildfires in Western North America are much reduced at night because the temperature decreases while the humidity increases, thus giving the firefighters a chance to rest. But now, the number of high-intensity fires where that cool-off does not occur, has gone from 6 in 2003 to 67 last year. The human heat death toll is staggering. At this year's Hajj in Mecca, 1,300 people collapsed on the sidewalks and died from the heat.

We need to act now to prevent the looming "hell on earth." Former Pres. Trump has called for "Drill, baby, drill." This will increase our burning of fossil fuels, escalate greenhouse gases, and speed-up the global ‘heat-up’. With the enthusiastic support of VP Kamala Harris, Pres. Biden signed a bill with an estimated $450 billion over 10 years to allow the US to shift from fossil fuels to wind and solar energy. Make your choice as to what seems best to you, then get involved in educating and engaging others to vote.

ACTION: Contact The Environmental Voter Project and join their effort to tell people about the global heat threat, and the critical need to vote in November to stabilize our still livable Earth.

CONTACT: The Environmental Voter Project

• Web:  https://www.environmentalvoter.org/
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Environmental Voter Project, PO Box 962002, Boston, MA 02196

Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.