People wearing masks walk along the Hudson River as smoke shrouds the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center as the sun rises in New York City on June 8, 2023, as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Climate Crisis Canceled Our Climate Rally
With NYC suffering the world’s worst air quality due to smoke billowing from Canada’s unabated wildfires, there was no way we could gather people to chant and sing.
Thursday afternoon I was scheduled to keynote a climate rally in NYC to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for our burning planet and soaring energy bills. Despite New York State’s ambitious climate law, the fossil fuel industry is fighting climate action every step of the way. They are refusing to adhere to our climate law’s targets, working to weaken them, and sowing misinformation, all while asking for dramatic rate increases.
So, led by People vs. Fossil Fuels, we decided to take to the streets and highlight the need to enforce our climate law, shut down dirty power plants, and dismantle fossil fuel infrastructure. We planned a forceful but joyful teach-in and art action featuring stickers, screen printing, and a giant story book.
But with the climate crisis causing NYC to suffer the world’s worst air quality due to smoke billowing from Canada’s unabated wildfires, there was no way we could gather people to chant and sing. The danger to our health is too great. We had to cancel. The climate crisis canceled our climate rally.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
While this irony is frustrating, the real tragedy is the ongoing public health emergency that the poor air quality is causing. Pollution and the related health disparities in New York have taken many lives due to Covid-19, disproportionately impacting communities of color. The same people, those with pre-existing conditions, children, the elderly, essential workers who can’t shelter inside—are bearing the brunt of this poor air quality. The same people are paying too much for the very energy that is harming their health. This environmental justice is caused by fossil fuels.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
We have the tools to address this. Our state laws and climate plan demand that we phase out fossil fuels, shut down power plants, downsize fossil fuel infrastructure, and move away from combustion.
We will reschedule our rally and we won’t stop fighting for the plain and simple truth—we need air to breathe, and we won’t survive unless we stop burning fossil fuels.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Thursday afternoon I was scheduled to keynote a climate rally in NYC to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for our burning planet and soaring energy bills. Despite New York State’s ambitious climate law, the fossil fuel industry is fighting climate action every step of the way. They are refusing to adhere to our climate law’s targets, working to weaken them, and sowing misinformation, all while asking for dramatic rate increases.
So, led by People vs. Fossil Fuels, we decided to take to the streets and highlight the need to enforce our climate law, shut down dirty power plants, and dismantle fossil fuel infrastructure. We planned a forceful but joyful teach-in and art action featuring stickers, screen printing, and a giant story book.
But with the climate crisis causing NYC to suffer the world’s worst air quality due to smoke billowing from Canada’s unabated wildfires, there was no way we could gather people to chant and sing. The danger to our health is too great. We had to cancel. The climate crisis canceled our climate rally.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
While this irony is frustrating, the real tragedy is the ongoing public health emergency that the poor air quality is causing. Pollution and the related health disparities in New York have taken many lives due to Covid-19, disproportionately impacting communities of color. The same people, those with pre-existing conditions, children, the elderly, essential workers who can’t shelter inside—are bearing the brunt of this poor air quality. The same people are paying too much for the very energy that is harming their health. This environmental justice is caused by fossil fuels.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
We have the tools to address this. Our state laws and climate plan demand that we phase out fossil fuels, shut down power plants, downsize fossil fuel infrastructure, and move away from combustion.
We will reschedule our rally and we won’t stop fighting for the plain and simple truth—we need air to breathe, and we won’t survive unless we stop burning fossil fuels.
Thursday afternoon I was scheduled to keynote a climate rally in NYC to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for our burning planet and soaring energy bills. Despite New York State’s ambitious climate law, the fossil fuel industry is fighting climate action every step of the way. They are refusing to adhere to our climate law’s targets, working to weaken them, and sowing misinformation, all while asking for dramatic rate increases.
So, led by People vs. Fossil Fuels, we decided to take to the streets and highlight the need to enforce our climate law, shut down dirty power plants, and dismantle fossil fuel infrastructure. We planned a forceful but joyful teach-in and art action featuring stickers, screen printing, and a giant story book.
But with the climate crisis causing NYC to suffer the world’s worst air quality due to smoke billowing from Canada’s unabated wildfires, there was no way we could gather people to chant and sing. The danger to our health is too great. We had to cancel. The climate crisis canceled our climate rally.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
While this irony is frustrating, the real tragedy is the ongoing public health emergency that the poor air quality is causing. Pollution and the related health disparities in New York have taken many lives due to Covid-19, disproportionately impacting communities of color. The same people, those with pre-existing conditions, children, the elderly, essential workers who can’t shelter inside—are bearing the brunt of this poor air quality. The same people are paying too much for the very energy that is harming their health. This environmental justice is caused by fossil fuels.
New York City’s skies are glowing a hazy apocalyptic orange. We now need to wear our masks outdoors too. What else must we experience before waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is upon us, now, in NYC?
We have the tools to address this. Our state laws and climate plan demand that we phase out fossil fuels, shut down power plants, downsize fossil fuel infrastructure, and move away from combustion.
We will reschedule our rally and we won’t stop fighting for the plain and simple truth—we need air to breathe, and we won’t survive unless we stop burning fossil fuels.