Quote of the Week:“Democracy is in trouble” is the phrase with which an eminent activist opens a talk, which is true, but it’s also true that it’s flourishing in bold new ways in grassroots movements globally.” – Rebecca Solnit Final Campaign – Get Active:There Is Still Time to Help Senator Warnock Win the Dec. 6 Georgia Senate Run-off  Our number one job this week is to help Warnock win. Having a genuine Senate majority is our best hope for giving progressive legislation a chance in the upcoming legislative session. Update from the Washington Post: “In more than two dozen counties across the state, thousands of voters from both parties came out to vote [on Saturday, Nov 26], some waiting for hours in lines stretching around the block for the chance to cast their ballot early for the Dec. 6 runoff. The secretary of state’s office reported that at least 70,000 people voted Saturday. The first Saturday of early voting for the general election drew 79,682 people, more than double the 2018 number. Early voting will continue through Friday.” Action 1: Make a donation! Better yet, sign up to make it weekly until December 6th. Donate to Movement Voter Project in GA - funds are distributed to Black-led organizations working in communities in Georgia. Donate: Georgia Fund: We Can Win the Runoff Action 2: Sign up with our ally Common Power to phone bank Georgia voters. Common Power is hosting four phone banks per day, welcoming amazing volunteers like you and special groups across the U.S. + abroad! They host a training session at the start of every shift. Visit Common Power’s Fieldwork Calendar, pick a shift, and sign up! Action 3: Text bank Georgia Voters on Monday Dec. 5 from 2-4:30pm PST with Black Voters Matter. Register HERE.
Green Energy Independence for Puerto Rico In what has become the new normal in Puerto Rico after a storm, millions were powerless after Hurricane Fiona overwhelmed the archipelago’s fragile centralized electrical grid. With transmission lines dead and generators shut down, only the relatively few Puerto Ricans with rooftop solar and battery storage were able to maintain power to keep electronics charged and medicine and food unspoiled. Fiona exposed the same vulnerabilities in Puerto Rico’s centralized grid that Hurricane Maria did in 2017, when many of its three million residents were without power for nearly a year. Over 3,000 lives were lost — many died in the aftermath of the Hurricane, while the electric grid was down. There’s an opportunity now for Puerto Ricans to revolutionize their energy future. FEMA allocated $14B for transformation of Puerto Rico’s energy system after Maria. Most of those funds remain unspent. After Hurricane Fiona, President Biden gave Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm authority over funds for the grid. The only way to transition the archipelago to a reliable, affordable, healthy and climate-resilient energy grid is for Granholm and Governor Pierluisi to prioritize investments in rooftop solar and battery storage for all residents of Puerto Rico. The money is there, and the Queremos Sol report shows that this amount is more than enough to fully power the entire grid with rooftop solar and storage systems on a million Puerto Rico rooftops. The federal government and Governor Pierluisi just need to spend it for the benefit of all Puerto Ricans. Action: Call on Secretary Granholm and Governor Pierluisi to lead the transition to sustainability and resiliency. Pass the Equality Act While the Respect for Marriage Act is getting bipartisan support, Federal law does not protect LGBTQ+ people from discriminatory eviction by landlords. Also, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that LGBTQ+ people cannot be fired due to their identity, they are not a protected class under the Constitution. The Equality Act would codify equality for all. Action: Contact our Senators and thank them for sponsoring the S.393 Equality Act.
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] thanking Senators Murray and Cantwell for co-sponsoring the S.393 Equality Act and I urge the Senator to press for a Senate floor vote on this bill before the end of the 2022 Congressional session. While the Respect for Marriage Act is getting bipartisan support, Federal law does not protect LGBTQ+ people from discriminatory eviction by landlords. Also, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that LGBTQ+ people cannot be fired due to their identity, they are not a protected class under the Constitution. The Equality Act would codify equality for all. Have You Scheduled This Event?Action Cafe This weekly Zoom lunch hour gathering is a place to meet, eat, build fellowship and take actions together. Chef Lisa will take a breather next Monday (Nov 28), but the Action Cafe will be back on December 5th. You Might Also Like to Attend:Meet Author Merritt Long The Thurston LWV's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee is sponsoring an event we hope you will attend. Meet the author of "My View From the Back of the Bus" on Saturday, 12/10/22 3-5:00pm at Panorama Pavilion building, 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey, WA 98503. Merritt Long will be there in-person to help you see his view, “from the back of the bus.” His book reveals his lens as a “colored” child, “Negro” teenager, “Black” young man, and finally successful African American state official. Merritt D. Long was shaped by – and helped to shape – American history. Books will be available for purchase and inscription by Mr. Long. To attend contact Membership@LWVthurston.org . |
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