Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Tell your Rep to support the STOP Act to Stop Trump's Oil Payoff!


Since the beginning of the pandemic, oil execs have been relentless in their attempts to profit from the crisis. First, they pushed Congress to spend billions of stimulus dollars on stockpiling oil that the country doesn’t need. Now, they’re asking the government to waive or reduce the royalties they pay for drilling on public lands.

Slashing royalties would cheat taxpayers out of billions in desperately-needed funds -- money that should be going towards protecting people’s health and getting hard-hit communities back on their feet.

In response, Rep. Ilhan Omar just introduced a bill that would block the Trump administration from cutting royalty rates for oil companies. The “Stop Trump's Oil Payoff Act” (STOP) would make sure that crucial funds go towards recovery instead of lining the pockets of Big Oil execs.

Tell your Representative to put people before polluters and support the STOP Act!
https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0259568&id=70131000001Lp1FAAS&utm_campaign=addthis&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recruit&fbclid=IwAR1Y2NyEPW6Aph74TjYIuHX6g6JO4b_Yx07EwQR5BmFHkJoP-P75Z9jFhWY#.XpYEMtOxsaM.facebook

-Sierra Club

#coronavirus #corvid19 #climatesolutions #environment #sustainability #polution #politics #climatechange

Tell Congress: Stop putting Big Oil before people!



Tell Congress to get their priorities straight and stop putting Big Oil before people!

Oil executives are at it again -- demanding handouts that will let them profit from the pandemic. And unfortunately, Congress is listening. A bipartisan group just introduced a bill that would spend $3 billion on buying oil we don’t need for the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Right now, communities are facing desperate shortages of protective gear, testing kits, ventilators, and more. Congress should be providing funds for those necessities, not stocking up on dirty fuels. By wasting money on stockpiling oil, they’ll be depriving communities of funds that could support long-term recovery.

Tell Congress to get their priorities straight and stop putting polluters before people by signing the following Sierra Club petition found on the link below. Consider leaving a  personal comment for more impact.

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0259567&id=7013q0000028b9UAAQ

The petition reads:

 As we all pull together to protect ourselves and the most vulnerable among us from the coronavirus pandemic, I am concerned about recent legislation proposed to bailout the oil industry. This legislation, introduced by Senator John Hoeven and Representatives Lizzie Fletcher and Michael Burgess, would appropriate $3 billion for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Whether in the form of low-interest loans, purchases into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, royalty relief, or new tax subsidies, I am opposed to any giveaways to corporate polluters. The fossil fuel industry is already heavily subsidized by the federal government. In 2017, researchers showed that about half of the profits enjoyed by the oil and gas industry were derived from tax and royalty subsidies. With over 16 million people out of work, now isn’t the time to be giving handouts to fossil fuel billionaires. Instead of propping up fossil fuel corporations, the economic stimulus package should focus on protections for frontline workers, communities, and the most vulnerable among us. I urge you to oppose this legislation and ensure that it is not included in any economic stimulus package. Together, we can ensure that we have a just and sustainable recovery to COVID-19 -- a recovery that helps strengthen our communities and protect our climate.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Support bill to ban fracking nationwide


Please tell your senators and your representative that you support a nationwide fracking ban. Use the text below, and please personalize it. Adding just a few lines about who you are and why you care will make your message much more impactful.

Also, if you are represented by any of the bill’s sponsors, I encourage you to thank them. In the Senate, that's Senator Sanders (VT) and Senator Merkley (OR). In the House, it's Representative Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Representative Soto (FL).

Click here to send the following message to your Members of Congress: 


Subject: Support a ban on fracking for oil and natural gas

I strongly urge you to support the just-introduced legislation for a nationwide ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for oil and natural gas, S.3247. (The accompanying House version is expected shortly.) 

A nationwide fracking ban would be invaluable for human health.  racking contaminates huge amounts of water and pollutes the air, exposing local communities to chemicals known to be toxic to humans and animals.  Scientific studies have documented serious health impacts among people who live near active fracking sites, including increased rates of hospitalization for cardiac, neurological, urological and cancer-related issues, as well as premature birth, low birth weight and congenital heart defects in babies. Recent investigations have even documented that fracking wastewater can be radioactive, especially in the Marcellus Shale.

While the danger is most immediate for people who live close to fracking sites, all of us are harmed, because when fracked gas leaks into the atmosphere, it accelerates climate change. As I'm sure you know, climate change contributes to health- and life-endangering heat waves, extreme weather, storms, flooding, expanded disease ranges, and more.

As your constituent, I call on you to support the proposed ban on fracking nationwide.

Urge Gov. Ducey to ensure everyone has safe water in their homes during this pandemic


"Wash your hands ... and stay at home."

This is lifesaving advice from public health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.

But what if you don't have running water in your home? This is the reality for a staggering number of households across the country right now — many of whom have had their water service shut off, often for being behind on their unaffordable water bills. In fact, some homes have been without water for weeks, months, or even years.

During this health crisis, water service is critical in ensuring that households can take steps to safeguard themselves through hand-washing and house sanitizing. And anyone sheltering at home needs water for drinking and cooking.

So we must call on governors in states across the country to do everything they can to make sure water service is restored to all households that have had their water disconnected.

Urge Gov. Ducey to ensure all Arizona residents have immediate access to running water and emergency water distribution stations as necessary.

No one, regardless of race, gender, income, or geographic location should go without water services at any time ... especially not during a pandemic.

Specifically, we're urging U.S. governors to use every available legal authority to:
  • Stop residential water shutoffs for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, extending until 120-days after the end of the declared health emergency to allow people time to regain their financial footing
  • Ensure that utilities reconnect households without water as quickly as possible, proactively and without the need for a customer to make a specific request
  • Ensure that water reconnections are done safely, for both residents and workers
  • Where necessary, establish emergency water distribution stations for households waiting for their water to be turned back on
  • Make sure utilities waive late fees, interest, and related charges, suspend the use of liens as a collection practice, and provide extended repayment plans after the crisis
We're also asking our governors to stop electricity and gas shutoffs during the pandemic, and to ensure these critical services are also restored to homes.

Some states have already required water, electric, and gas utilities to place a moratorium on shutoffs during the crisis, although very few have done so for water. And many utilities have already made this commitment themselves. That is progress.

But we must ensure that every governor explicitly uses their executive authority to mandate moratoriums on shutoffs in their state, and to require utilities to restore safe service to all households that have been disconnected.

Tell Gov. Ducey to make sure utility services are restored to all households in the safest and most efficient way possible — and to ban future shutoffs during the crisis!

https://on.nrdc.org/3aCiH5U

We must ensure that all families have access to safe water and energy when they need it most. It's a basic human right.

- Mae Wu, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program, NRDC

CDC website for important tips on how to avoid COVID-19 exposure.

HELPFUL HINT

To conserve water turn off the water while you scrub your hands with the soap for 20 seconds. 😊Then turn on water to rinse. 

Tell Kroger to provide paid sick leave to employees


Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the United States. The workers there are doing an amazing job supporting our communities despite this awful coronavirus health crisis. The least Kroger can do is ensure its employees have paid sick leave.

Why is this important? As entire cities and states are seemingly shut down due to the coronavirus we know grocery stores are an essential part of our society. They remain open, but cashiers and workers stocking shelves are among those on the front lines risking their health to support our communities and earn their wages.

Reports have started to come in that Kroger employees are getting sick from the coronavirus. But in the face of increased public criticism, Kroger, a $26 billion corporation, is refusing to provide paid sick leave for employees unless they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are placed in mandatory quarantine by a medical professional. Instead of taking a simple step of letting sick workers simply call in sick Kroger is refusing to use their enormous power to do the right thing for workers.


Shockingly, Kroger's only real attempt to show workers any recognition is offering them a $25 Kroger gift card for their hard work!

These are serious times. We must take action in solidarity with Kroger workers and the millions of customers who will be put at risk if sick workers are showing up sick while trying to earn a pay check.

Kroger runs grocery chains including Ralph's, Harris Teeter, QFC, Smiths, Fred Meyer, and Dillons. They have a presence in all of our communities, and now we need to show up to support the workers who need us.

Sign and share this petition.

https://bit.ly/2X4nVn5

Sources:
1. "White House expresses support for immediate cash payments to Americans as part of coronavirus stimulus package," The Washington Post, March 17, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/117487?t=10&akid=260587%2E18315738%2EPwxK4E
2. "Supermarket Sick," Popular Information, March 15, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/117457?t=12&akid=260587%2E18315738%2EPwxK4E
3. "Kroger Gives Workers Gift Card Money, Not Paid Leave For All, Amid Coronavirus," HuffPost, March 17, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/117458?t=14&akid=260587%2E18315738%2EPwxK4E
You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.