OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST came to town on the coldest day of the winter and the Grannies were there to welcome them. 21 youth plaintiffs, together with Julia Olson the lead attorney in their federal lawsuit, appeared on Thursday, January 31st at the New York Society for Ethical Culture to discuss ‘Changing Tactics in the Face of the Climate Emergency. Joining them in a discussion were representatives from 350.org and Sunrise.
The young people have experienced climate change first-hand and their case demands action from the U.S. government to reverse course immediately and protect our water, air, land and atmosphere – as is the legal basis in the Public Trust doctrine dating back to Roman times. James Madison in 1818 worried about the damage from forests being cut down ! The youth await a new court date which was postponed from October 2018.
Our table joined those staffed by students from various groups – the Sunrise Movement, the Alliance for Climate Education (a nonprofit providing educational resources on climate science and justice, as well as training for young climate leaders); the Sierra Club; and, of course, 350 NYC and O.C.T.
The GPB shared a table with these students from a New Jersey high school.
We have ten years in which to turn around global systems and the USA bears the largest responsibility as we have for decades released the most Greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, with our military generating the most GHG.
The enthusiasm and energy of the 21 youths was palpable. Watch for a segment on SIXTY MINUTES in mid-February. Support them!
– Nydia Leaf
for the Granny Peace Brigade
Photos: Linda Novenski and Eva-Lee Baird
Links to follow up:
Article by Alice Slater and Medea Benjamin Why Green New Deal Advocates Must Address Militarism From Counterpunch December 19, 2019
www.ourchildrenstrust.org
www.acespace.org
www.ourclimateourfuture.org
Granny Peace Brigade 