Citizens' Climate Lobby

We are celebrating the sixth anniversary of Citizens Climate Radio, and a big theme you will hear in this episode is about break-throughs and transformations. From the very beginning, Citizens Climate Lobby’s mission has been to create the political will for a livable world by enabling individual breakthroughs in the exercise of personal and political power. That was definitely the theme in the very first interviews Citizens Climate Radio’s host, Peterson Toscano, conducted with Marshall Saunders, founder of CCL, and Mark Reynolds, the organization’s first executive director. 

Peterson decided to revisit these interviews, remaster them, and share them with you. Marshall and Mark’s personal stories of transformation are inspiring and at times hilarious, especially when they talk about the first tentative and even ridiculous steps they took to start the organization. Their belief in the power of everyday people doing extraordinary things will move you. In fact, you may want to have some tissues nearby as you listen to Marshall and Mark share their stories, and the story of Citizens Climate Lobby’s beginnings. 

Madeleine Para, CCL’s current executive director was also featured in that first episode. You will hear her original vision for this podcast. 

From the recent past we bring the story forward to today. You will meet one of the newest Citizen’s Climate staff members. Steffanie Munguía is a PhD student researching Coastal Wetlands Management in the Caribbean, her first home. She gives us an update of the many ways the organization has changed over the years all while staying faithful to CCL’s core values of Optimism, Integrity, Relationships, Personal Power, Diversity, and a constant commitment to bipartisanism. These are the  values that draw more and more college, high school, and middle school aged volunteers into the organization. 

The Art House

Jodi Heights is a singer/songwriter. In the sea of singer-songwriters, Jodi stands out.  Not only does she have a classically honed technique that captures a Broadway style in her voice, and contemporary rock in her piano playing, she also writes brilliant lyrics that dive deep into everyday life. Her songs can be playful and heartbreaking.

Recently she was moved to write a song about our world, which is being rocked by the impacts of climate change. In The Iceberg she imagines an alien classroom in the future looking back to the history of earthlings and the lessons they can draw from human error. Jodi tells us about The Iceberg and then performs it for us. 

You can hear standalone version of The Art House at Artists and Climate Change

Good News Report

You will hear about a brand new climate curriculum for schools. It will provide engaging, informed, and action-driven lessons for middle-school teachers and students. Sharon Bagatell, Citizens Climate’s National Youth Action Team Coordinator first announced the completion of the new curriculum at this month’s Citizens Climate International Conference. She tells us about the project and just how special the curriculum will be for teachers and learners. 

If you have good news to share, contact Peterson radio @ citizensclimate.org

We always welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, and recommendations for the show. Leave a vall our listener voicemail line: (619) 512-9646. +1 if calling from outside the USA that number again. (619) 512-9646.

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Also, feel free to connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to programs in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

It isn't often we have a guest who can cover as much ground on climate and energy as Neil Chatterjee. As the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the Trump administration, it was his job to ensure that energy was delivered, reliably and safely, across the U.S. A vocal supporter of carbon pricing, he took a bipartisan approach to forming energy policy. On this month's call, Neil will share his climate story, why he supports carbon pricing and how we can prepare the grid for the transition to clean energy.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(1:47) Neil's Talk(28:14) Earth Emergency(33:02) June Actions & Conference

June’s Pre-Call video: https://vimeo.com/719233771  More About Neil: https://twitter.com/FERChatterjee June Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet Earth Emergency: https://feedbackloopsclimate.com/ June 2022 Conference: https://cclusa.org/juneconference

Join John Sabin, CCL Great Lakes Regional Co-Coordinator, for a training that will show you how to use Motivational Interviewing to more effectively connect with your members of Congress, local leaders, or even members of your own CCL group.  “Motivational Interviewing” is a communication style that fosters collaboration and offers you as an advocate a package of skills to collaborate with anyone, especially “difficult people.” As a well-regarded professional approach Motivational Interviewing has thirty years of research across many fields and more than 1,000 studies demonstrating its effectiveness.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:23) Origins & Value of Motivational Interviewing(5:33) The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing(9:17) Four Processes of Motivational Interviewing(11:37) Reflective Listening: the Core Skill (OARS)(20:45) Summary &  Demonstration

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/mi-slides CCL Community Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/123

This training is designed for those who wish to learn more about leading a lobby meeting with a member of Congress or staff. In this training, we'll review the role of a lobby team leader, how they assign team roles, coordinate practice times and how to handle other special situations. This training is Part IV in the “Working With Congress” training series, designed to help our more experienced volunteers and citizen lobbyists get ready for our June lobbying meetings.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:38) The Importance of Leadership(9:52) Advance Planning(22:11) Meeting Planning Suggestions(29:00) Expressing Leadership(42:15) After the Meeting

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/lobbylead Visit the interactive training for Leading Your Lobby Team: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/working-with-congress/lobbying-401

Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Dr. Danny Richter for a training that will review the updates and context for CCL's June 2022 Primary and Supporting Asks as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their online meetings. This is a recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's June 2022 Lobby Meeting (as well as June Lobby Training #1: CCL's Legislative Plan).

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:45) Member of Congress Segments(9:34) June 2022 Primary Asks(23:22) June 2022 Supporting Asks(30:43) Final Notes On This MomentQ&A Discussion (https://vimeo.com/714309341)

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/june-asks-slides  Reviewing Primary & Supporting Asks Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/185

In today’s show we hear from Conservatives who are concerned about climate change. Not only are they concerned, they are engaged in meaningful action. Hannah Rogers, Trevor Jones, and Kaleb Christensen are three young people with ties to the State of Utah who are part of a growing movement in that State. They are each members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Fusing faith, hope, love for humanity and all nature, these young Conservative Christians are finding their places in the climate movement. 

People of faith play a vital role in talking about the causes and impacts of climate change. They also are an essential part of the growing group of citizens and leaders stepping up to propose and pursue solutions. Our guests tell us about their faith and what motivates them to pursue Conservative climate solutions. They also reveal what they bring to the climate movement and why it is essential that they have a seat at the table. 

To some they may seem like outliers, Conservatives concerned about climate change. According to a recent Gallup poll of Republican and right-leaning people ages 18-29 reveal that almost two thirds of them acknowledge climate change is caused by humans. Many of these young Conservatives are concerned about this. Older Conservatives though are not on the same page. And Progressives can be dismissive of Conservatives in the climate movement. Hannah, Trevor, and Kaleb believe the LDS Church has a unique role to play in the Republican party and the Conservative movement.

The Art House

You will learn about The Cli-Fi Imaginarium. A group of climate advocates in the UK were tired of so much talk about dreadful climate impacts, and not enough conversations and resources that address actual solutions. They decided that they are over dystopia. Using some of the solutions outlined in Project Drawdown, they organize free monthly on-line workshops for anyone to come and they imagine, What if? In these Intro to Cli-Fi Workshops, they ask, What if we incorporated one of these solutions? How will the world change? How will the neighborhood change? 

Some of the topics include District Heating, Tree Intercropping, Refrigeration, Reducing food waste, Alternative Cement, Tidal energy, and solar thermal water. While attending one of the Intro to Cli-Fi Workshops, Citizens Climate Radio’s host, Peterson Toscano, was surprised to see how such wonky solutions inspired engaging creative writing. 

Anyone who attends the workshop is eligible to submit a story to the Cli-Fi Imaginarium. 

This is a storehouse of creative, inspiring, and sometimes very funny stories all envisioning a world filled with practical and highly effective climate solutions. If you need a shot of inspiration and a positive vision of our future, visit The Cli-Fi Imaginarium. 

You can hear standalone versions of The Art House at Artists and Climate Change. 

Good News Report

Our Good News Story today comes from Nate Abercrombie, Conservative Outreach Coordinator for Citizens Climate. He has good news to share with us about a recent event that brought Conservatives from all over the country to Washington, DC to talk about climate solutions. The event was a huge success. 

In other Good News, Eric Fine, the  group leader of the CCL chapter in Greater New Haven, CT told us about a new limited series podcast all about carbon pricing. We hear from Casey Pickett and Naomi Shimberg, hosts of Pricing Nature. They tell us about the show and share some of the conversations they are having. 

If you have good news you want to share on the show, or if you have an idea for the art house, email Peterson. Radio @ CitizensClimate.org. Or leave a message our NEW listener voicemail (619) 512-9646

 

Connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to episodes in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

 

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on:

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Northern S

Are you curious about what to expect when you attend either CCL's December Conference or virtual Lobby Days? Join Amy Bennett, CCL's Director of Congressional Liaisons and Lobby Days, for the first half of the call to focus on CCL's lobby days procedures and questions. Then, for the second half, join CCL National Events Manager, Alison Kubicsko, to review the conference details and answer related Q&A.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:20) CCL's December Lobby Days(14:56) CCL's December Conference

To learn more about this topic, visit the Preparing For December Conference & Lobby Days (online) training page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/272  Register for the conference here: https://cclusa.org/fallconference  View the Presentation slides: http://cclusa.org/lobby-conference-qa

Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Dr. Danny Richter for a training that will provide up to the moment insights on the dynamics in Congress and how we can most effectively use our time in meetings to support our agenda. This is a recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's June 2022 Lobby Meeting (as well as the next week's - Lobby Training #2 - CCL's June 2022 Primary & Supporting Asks).

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:48) Review Where We've Been(8:54) Reconciliation Updates(18:41) Currently In Congress...(26:06) ConclusionsQ&A Discussion (https://vimeo.com/712061393)

 

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/legislative-plan-slides   CCL Training: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/459

Increasing the number of trees is an effective means to store carbon that also has bipartisan support. But the preservation and planting of trees isn’t just a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also a way to foster environmental justice by improving the quality of life in urban areas where people of color are often marginalized. Jad Daley, President and CEO, and Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Forestry, will discuss American Forests’ work with tree cover in American cities, which is often determined by income and race, and the work their organization is doing to restore forest health across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):(0:00) Introduction & Agenda(3:03) Jad & Joel's Presentation(23:59) Q&A Discussion(31:53) May Monthly Actions 

CCL's May Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheetMay Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/709196899 America's Forests: https://www.americanforests.org/ Register for CCL's June 2022 Conference: https://cclusa.org/juneconference 

June 4 event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/caring-for-creation-together-a-west-virginia-interfaith-climate-conference-registration-330947431677 

Home page of CCI: https://citizensclimate.earth/

Kigali Amendment: https://www.unido.org/our-focus-safeguarding-environment-implementation-multilateral-environmental-agreements-montreal-protocol/montreal-protocol-evolves-fight-climate-change

Learn about constituent advocacy, the advantages we hold as constituents in transforming our government and the policies we adopt, and hear stories from CCL volunteers around the country who demonstrate how citizens can build meaningful, long-term relationships with their congressional office. Joined by CCL leaders that share their stories of empowerment, Brett Cease, CCL's Education & Engagement Senior Director will be hosting Part I in the “Working With Congress” training series, designed to empower you - an important member of our volunteer network - to be ready for our annual June lobby meetings.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

(0:00) Intro & Agenda(2:08) Marshall Saunders's Vision & Reclaiming Our Democracy(8:07) The Role of Citizen Lobbying (18:43) Expanding Our Comfort Zones(23:45) Building Relationships(31:34) Sharing Our Stories

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/transformative-power

CCL Training on Lobbying 101: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/working-with-congress/lobbying-101 

Our June Lobby Day Training Schedule: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/272