Hi North Bridge members and
friends,
We are
holding a followup this Tuesday evening to the Out of Balance film
we showed in Concord recently . The purpose is to brainstorm on specific actions we
might take. See the agenda and actions recommended by Tom Jackson and
Ross Gelbspan, discussion leaders at the showing, below. Hope to see
you there!
I have also
attached the article we submitted to the Concord Journal
covering the showing and discussion which was printed this week,
December 13.
Mary
North
Bridge Alliance Meeting
Tuesday,
December 18, 2007 7:30 pm
Harvey Wheeler Community Center
1276 Main Street (corner of Main and Church)
Agenda
- Discussion of actions
we might take as a follow-up to the recent Out of Balance film
showing in Concord. (See attached list of action suggestions made by
the film’s director Tom Jackson and climate crisis author and
journalist Ross Gelbspan.)
- Discussion of other
projects we might take up or films we might show in the new year. Bring
suggestions for either actions or films.
- Decide on permanent
location and dates for next year’s meetings. **Note: if you have
a preference for a date or locations but can’t make this meeting,
please let us know by responding to this email.
- Announcements, other
business
Recommended
Actions to Combat Corp Impact on State and National Global Warming
Policy
During the discussion Gelbspan defined the crux of the problem and
possible solutions. ExxonMobil’s power “really goes beyond the issue of
global warming to the issue that we’re living in a corporate state.”
Voters have no access to government and no power as citizens. “We’re
living under the rule of corporations who are immune to the political
process. Exxon is a very graphic example.” If a congressperson takes
a forceful stand against the oil and coal industries advocating the
shifting of government subsidies away from fossil fuels to alternative
energy technology, industry groups simply fund an opponent, and they
have the money to do so.
· That’s why it’s crucial to get the money out of politics
through public campaign financing, Gelbspan added.
Tom Jackson recommended:
· Boycotting ExxonMobil products and stock
· Asking local gas stations to use other sources for their
gasoline
· Boycotting American auto companies who are bowing to pressure
from the oil industry in fighting an increase in gasoline efficiency
regulations.
Gelbspan also recommended:
· Querying candidates on their energy policy and on their stand
on rejoining the Kyoto agreement
· Doing some research to see which candidates are getting the
most money from the energy industry. Use Greenpeace’s website,
www.exxonsecrets.org
.
· Publicize our findings with articles in local papers on the two
previous points
· Put pressure on the media to report on global warming at least
three times a week
· Let your congresspersons know you want them to transfer
subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy
· Create a fund to transfer clean energy to developing counties
· While making changes in individual energy use is good, “there
has to be political change” as well. Change your light bulbs, ride your
bike, take public transportation, but whatever you do, tell 100
people why you’re doing it—you’ll lay the groundwork for the political
change we need.”
Additional Issues here in state:
· Research what is happening here in testing gasification of
coal, develop a stand on the issue and publicize it
· Show films on coal gasification
· Support Cape Wind
When asked if all of this might take more time than we have
Gelbspan responded “Maybe - some scientists are concerned that the
warming may be taking on its own momentum, independent of human
generated CO2.” But he added that right now, there are lots of people
working on this issue below the radar, “like earthworms.” While it may
look as if little is going on, “rapid social change can erupt as
quickly as rapid climate change.”
We’re in a race against climate catastrophe, but there’s still a chance
that we’ll be able to make the political and technological changes
necessary to preserve the planet.