Citizens' Climate Lobby

Our panel of John Wood, Jr., Hahrie Han, and Shi-Ling Hsu will discuss from each of their unique perspectives what the way forward for climate action in 2021 will look like. For all #CCL2020 Conference videos go to: https://cclusa.org/youtube 

-Hahrie Han, Johns Hopkins University, Professor of Political Science

-Shi-Ling Hsu, Florida State University, Professor of Law

-John Wood, Jr., Braver Angels, Director of Public Outreach

-Moderated by Mark Reynolds, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Executive Director

A recent episode of Lew Blaustein’s Green Sports Pod featured a riveting interview with National Football League player, Garry Gilliam. Blaustein writes:

Garry Gilliam experienced this hope-squashing system firsthand during his childhood in the opportunity-deprived section of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Now, the ex-NFL offensive lineman is using his resources and his seemingly boundless energy to try to break that system, replacing it with a more equitable, hopeful one.

His system-breaking tool is The Bridge Eco-Village, an innovative start-up that provides opportunities for African-Americans and other marginalized people to “Work, Eat, Live, Learn and Play” in affordable, high quality mixed-use developments. The pilot is being built in — where else — Harrisburg.

Lew Blaustein has given us permission to rebroadcast an edited version of his interview with Garry Gilliam. You will also hear Citizens Climate Radio’s host, Peterson Toscano check in with Gilliam to find out how things stand with the Bridge Eco-Village today in light of the Covid-19 Global Pandemic. Garry Gilliam has good news to share about the progress of the project.

As the  Coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, Sharona Shnayder, a college student, simply could not stay inside any longer. One Tuesday she joined a friend at neighborhood park. Together, while maintaining a safe physical distance, they picked up trash at a park in Portland, OR near their university.

Not only did people in her community begin to notice and join in; word quickly spread. Now there are Tuesdays for Trash events happening all over the world.

Sharona, who grew up in Nigeria and now lives in the USA, shares how picking up trash is bringing people together, lifting spirits, and getting people engaged in climate work. In fact, this may be a project your own climate group wants to take on in order to connect in a new way with your own community.

We always welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, and recommendations for the show. Leave a voice mail at 518.595.9414. (+1 if calling from outside the USA.) You can email your answers to radio @ citizensclimate.org  

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, Podbean, Northern Spirit Radio, Google Play, PlayerFM, and TuneIn Radio. 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.

Are you curious about what to expect when you attend either CCL's virtual June Conference or 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 day procedures and questions. Then, for the second half, join CCL National Events Manager, Alison Kubicsko, to review the online conference details on AirMeet and answer related Q&A.

Skip ahead to the following sections:

Register for the June Conference: https://cclusa.org/june 

Preparing For Lobby Day training page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/272 

Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Dr. Danny Richter for a training that will review CCL's primary and supporting asks, the 2020 June Meeting Analysis, and provide final guidance for lobby teams as they plan their December online lobby meetings. 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/2020-asks-review  

At the age of 13, Tia Nelson spent the first Earth Day cleaning up trash with her junior high classmates. She went on to follow in the environmental footsteps of her father, Sen. Gaylord Nelson, founder of the historic event that ushered in a new era of awareness and action for our environment. Now the Managing Director for the Outrider Foundation, which works to end the threat of nuclear war and reverse the course of global climate change, Tia joined this month’s call in the aftermath of a momentous election. She shared the lessons she learned from her father and offer perspective on the state of the climate movement based on her many years of working on that issue.

Helpful links:

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, legislative strategy, and how to talk about endorsements/statements of support most effectively in meetings to support our agenda. This is a recommended training for those planning on joining their local 2020 December Lobby Meeting.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

The Election (2:14)

The Lame Duck (13:32)

The New Congress (19:21)

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/2020-legislative-plan 

CCL Community Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/459 

Q&A Discussion with Danny: https://vimeo.com/478942018/029d997779 

Join CCL Strategy Director Tony Sirna for a discussion about the implications for CCL's work ahead, based on what we know of the election outcome as of the time of this training.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/processing-election-slides

Join leaders of the Presenters Action Team for a high-impact half-hour workshop introducing CCL speakers to motivational presenting. The "AHA" methodology of Acceptance, Hope, and Agency is based on modern psychological-sociological techniques, providing practical steps presenters can use to motivate audiences, bridging the gap from climate apathy and taking action. 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

Helpful Resources:

Join Ashley Hunt Martorano, CCL's Marketing Manager, for an advanced training that will help you take the next steps after getting started with CCL's Using Instagram training. Ashley will review helpful tips and tricks to create effective stories, including lobbying and grassroots outreach efforts, and how to use the platform more efficiently with advanced search and other customization suggestions.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/advanced-instagram-training 

Andrew Stuhl, an associate professor of environmental studies and sciences at Bucknell University, has been interviewing residents from Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River Valley about what they remember about 1972. He keeps hearing about the powerful smell of flood mud. This was the pungent odor throughout the Susquehanna Valley after Hurricane Agnes brought historic rainfalls and a massive flood which upended lives and reshaped towns and waterways.

“It reminds me of the connection between smell and memory, and how quickly a memory can come back to you if you smell something in the present day,” Andrew tells podcast host, Peterson Toscano.

"I like to think about that as a metaphor for the importance of history and the importance of moments like Hurricane Agnes. They’re always with us, and sometimes they don’t come to our immediate senses, but they can be triggered, and they can be brought up really quickly. I like to believe in the power of memory and history, to mine those experiences, to reflect on them, and recognize and regard them, so we that can walk today in the difficult moments, and get through them.”

Andrew talks about his community-based research, the Agnes Flood Project. You will learn why this one storm is still so important, not just for the region, but for the entire country. Lessons drawn from 1972 and the resiliency modeled by local residents during and after the storm will help us in coping and caring for each other during the Coronavirus Pandemic and with the growing risks of climate change.

If you or someone you know have Hurricane Agnes stories to share for the Agnes Flood project, contact Andrew Stuhl and the team. They are also looking for pictures from the hurricane and its aftermath. Susquehanna Life Out Loud podcast.

How does an artist decide to do the work she does? How does that work evolve overtime? What impact does it have on the audience and how can an artist deepen that impact? During a recent conversation with dancer and choreographer, Lynn Neuman, Peterson Toscano encountered an artist with boundless curiosity. This curiosity drives her work.

As director of Artichoke Dance Company, Lynn recognizes the vital role art plays in addressing issues like climate change. Entertaining and Educating not enough though for Lynn and her company, though. They always want to do more to get people to act. Through community engagement and direct outreach to lawmakers, they are training community members how to change legislation.

And in this time of the Coronavirus pandemic Lynn Neuman and Artichoke Dance Company have been adjusting and adapting once again. See their Covid Creations. “It reflects our feelings of isolation and desires for connection during the corona virus. Filmed at various times of day, the series reflects the available bandwidth of the internet.” 

Hurricane Agnes, National Weather Services

Tropical Storm Agnes devastated Pa. in 1972: ‘Battered, lashed, flooded and paralyzed’ Penn Live

The 1972 Agnes Flood at Milton, PA, video with archival footage

Dancing In Plastic — How One Woman Is Shining A Light On Plastic Pollution, Medium and accompanying video 

Waste Side Story, Robin Michals photography collaboration with dancer Lynn Neuman.

New York State’s Bag Waste Reduction Law, NY Dept of Environmental Conservation

We always welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, and recommendations for the show. Leave a voice mail at 518.595.9414. (+1 if calling from outside the USA.) You can email your answers to radio @ citizensclimate.org. 

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, Podbean, Northern Spirit Radio, Google Play, PlayerFM, and TuneIn Radio. 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.