Saturday Feb. 10: University of Maryland President to Join Largest-Ever Polar Bear Plunge for the Climate Into the Potomac River at National Harbor

Saturday Feb. 10: University of Maryland President to Join Largest-Ever Polar Bear Plunge for the Climate Into Potomac River at National Harbor

UMD President
Darryll J. Pines

National Harbor, MD — University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines will join a record crowd of polar bear plungers on the Potomac River this Saturday to draw attention to climate change. Last year was the hottest year on record by a wide margin! And now climate activists are stepping up their efforts like never before. This Saturday, February 10, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) will hold its 19th Annual Polar Bear Plunge dedicated to raising awareness and funds to fight climate change. This year’s event at National Harbor, MD, is expected to bring together more than 300 hardy activists and volunteers, making this CCAN’s biggest plunge to date! 

At Saturday’s event, Pines will join climate activists from across the District, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region in spotlighting the need for climate action. For over 20 years, CCAN has been building a people-powered climate movement and driving transformation to a clean energy future. Just two weeks ago, the Biden administration responded to pressure from CCAN and other climate organizations nationwide by announcing a pause on pending approvals of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports. That federal effort is just one of many CCAN campaigns planned for 2024 across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region and beyond. The annual Polar Bear Plunge provides funding that is essential to those campaigns – raising more than one-third of individual donations made to CCAN each year. This year’s Plunge goal is $210,000. 

For more information about the 2024 CCAN Polar Bear Plunge, see below:

WHAT: 19th Annual “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge. For more information, visit www.keepwintercold.org

WHEN: Saturday, February 10, 2024, 10 AM EST

      • 10:00 – 11:00 AM: Arrive and check in at the Capital Canopy! We’ll have action tables, music, games, face painting, warm drinks, and yummy snacks.

      • 11:00 – 11:40 AM: Pre-Plunge rally featuring our guest speakers and costume contest.

                                                                                       *GREAT PHOTO OP*

        • 11:40 – 11:50 AM: March to the Plunge point and get ready to Plunge.

        • 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM: PLUNGE TIME! 

                                                                                          *GREAT PHOTO OP*

          • 12:15 – 2:30 PM: Celebrate at the Capital Canopy with fellow plungers! We’ll have pizza, a hot cocoa bar, and a FREE beer from Denizens Brewery (for Plungers age 21 and over), plus games and music!

        WHERE: National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland. 

            • Staging area: National Harbor’s Capital Canopy (on the Pier, near the giant Ferris wheel). 

          SPEAKERS:

              • Darryll J. Pines, President, University of Maryland

              • Andreana Lim, Youth Member of the CCAN NoVa New Leafs

              • Andres Jimenez and his daughter Emma; CCAN Board Member, Executive Director of Green 2.0; Fairfax Co. Board of Supervisors

              • Quentin Scott, CCAN Federal Director

            SPONSORS:

            •  Green 2.0 

            •  US Wind

            •  Neighborhood Sun 

            •  International Brotherhood of  Electrical Workers (IBEW) 

            •  MAREC Action 

            •  Evergreen Action 

            •  Rewiring America 

            •  EDF Renewables

            Speakers will be available after the rally for interviews. If you would like to coordinate an interview, please contact: KC Chartrand, kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144; or, Ariel Cassell, ariel@chesapeakeclimate.org, 710-718-6760. 

            ###

            Chesapeake Climate Action Network, is the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change in the Chesapeake Bay region. For more than 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and beyond.

            In Virginia, People Power is Finally Eroding Dominion’s Power

            I don’t know about you, but for me, November 8th 2016 feels like decades ago. So much has changed since the election of Donald Trump in such a short amount of time — good and bad. Around the country, we are seeing record numbers of new activists, reinvigorated old volunteers coming back to the climate movement, and local climate leaders stepping up like never before. Here in Virginia that new energy is eroding the influence of our resident energy monopoly, Dominion Energy, which once seemed impossible to overcome. Our movement started before Trump, but it is has only become more formidable with this new challenge of having a climate denier in the Oval Office.
            You would think Dominion Energy had their own office at the Capitol considering how much influence they have on our state leaders. They also have no problem brushing off  ethics for the benefit of their bottom line. Dominion spends more than any other company on political campaign donations to both sides of the aisle. And their influence on Virginia’s politics has become clear. Everything from weak coal ash regulations to an easy permitting process for dangerous fracked-gas pipelines are in play when the energy giant put its finger on the scale.
            Meanwhile, the size and strength of Virginia’s climate movement — and opposition to Dominion’s dirty tactics — has become unlike anything we have ever seen.
            This year, the spring season brought new life to our movement. In April, after months of organizing and recruiting, over 6,000 Virginians joined together with concerned climate activists (on an unseasonably hot Saturday) for The People’s Climate March. While the march was focused on the Trump administration, the Virginia Contingent had brought a special message to our local leaders who were too cozy with Dominion: people over polluters!

            Flickr user Becker1999 with a Creative Commons license.
            Photo from Flickr user Becker1999 with a Creative Commons license.

            The People’s Climate March was inspiring, it was rejuvenating, it was historic. A lot of that success was because of activists in the Commonwealth who sacrificed countless hours to recruit their neighbors and friends to defend their climate. This show of might led to huge acts of resistance from mayors and governors across the country, who bucked the Trump administration by pledging to continue working towards our commitments to the Paris Climate Accord.
            pastor-dominionThis wave of action continued at the Dominion Energy shareholders meeting. Just days after the People’s Climate March, over 100 people descended on Richmond to show the utility that their lives are worth more than the trajectory of Dominion’s stock prices. The actions outside scared them enough for Dominion executives to hide their view with curtains. I think Pastor Paul surmised our feelings perfectly when he proclaimed outside the venue that “Dominion had gotten too big for their britches!”
            Our activism spread beyond the streets too: many climate conscious shareholders used their voice in the room to push clean energy resolutions. This year witnessed a resolution that called for the company to report on how it would work to address global warming. The resolution received unprecedented support, with 48% voting in favor. Virginians are putting Dominion executives on notice. 
            Finally, candidates in Virginia’s state elections for 2017 have joined the wave of resistance against Dominion. Earlier this year, gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello kicked off his campaign for governor with a pledge to not take any money from Dominion and to oppose the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline. We’ve also seen a wave of new and incumbent candidates for state delegate seats across the commonwealth who have pledged to refuse campaign donations from Dominion.
            Our work now is more important than ever. With the help of activists like you, along with new recruits to the climate fight, we will lead Virginia into a clean energy future.

            Meet Me In Annapolis

            This is our moment. This year, climate activists across Maryland have the opportunity to pass bold climate legislation that will pave the way for a clean energy future.
            This year, we can slash climate-disrupting emissions by not only renewing the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, but also strengthening and extending its goal — to achieve a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
            This year, we can chart the way to power our homes and communities with wind and solar. The Clean Energy Jobs Act will raise our clean energy standard to 25% by 2020 and invest a landmark $40 million into workforce development training in under-served communities.
            With the support of legislative champions, including Senators Catherine Pugh and Mac Middleton and Delegate Dereck Davis, we are in a strong position to reach the finish line.
            But to get this legislation to Governor’s Hogan’s desk, we need one critical thing: For you to raise your voice in Annapolis and demand that your legislators vote YES!
            We are hosting a series of regional lobby nights to ensure our legislators hear our voices before every key hearing and vote. Come to Annapolis and raise your voice for clean energy with fellow climate activists from your community.
            You’ll have the opportunity to meet with fellow climate activists in your district and receive the latest political updates on where your legislator stands on our priority climate bills. Following a training and orientation, you’ll meet face-to-face with your legislator.
            Sign up for your regional lobby night by clicking on the link that corresponds to your area:

            By passing both the the Clean Energy Jobs Act and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, we will slash greenhouse gas emissions, create thousands of good green jobs, and power more of our homes and communities with clean, renewable sources like wind and solar. We’ll also invest millions of dollars into job training to help underserved communities gain pathways to family-sustaining jobs.
            Join us in Annapolis and let’s keep building Maryland’s clean energy future.

            A Twofer for the Climate on February 24

            If you’re concerned about the climate emergency and were plugged in to news sources yesterday, you probably know that the climate movement won a big victory: President Obama vetoed the legislation passed by Congress to approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
            But there was another, less publicized, important development yesterday: the introduction by Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, with 16 co-sponsors, of the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act (H.R. 1027) in the House of Representatives.
            The Healthy Climate bill uses a “cap and dividend” framework. It would legislate a steadily declining cap on carbon emissions, about 2% a year starting the year that it is passed, leading to an 80% reduction compared to 2005 levels by 2050. Coal, oil and gas companies that bring fossil fuels out of the ground or into the country would be required to buy permits at auction. The overall number of those permits would decrease as the cap declines, leading to rising permit prices. All of the money raised by this process, many hundreds of billions over the first decade, would be returned in equal amounts as “dividends” to every US resident with a social security number.
            Given the absolute need for the federal government to enact a price on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, this less publicized development is, arguably, as important as President Obama’s veto.
            The fact is that there are several things which the climate movement must be doing:
            1) Stopping the expansion of extreme energy extraction: tar sands oil, fracking, Arctic oil and gas drilling, mountaintop coal removal, and deep ocean oil and gas drilling in particular.
            2) Accelerating the rapidly growing shift from fossil fuels to wind and solar as energy sources for electrical power.
            3) Advancing local, state and federal legislation that incentivizes energy efficiency and renewables.
            4) Supporting strong federal regulation of greenhouse gases.
            5) Working to enact federal legislation that puts a price on carbon and other planet-heating greenhouse gases.
            Given the power, wealth and greed of the fossil fuel industry and its ability, so far, to control almost all Republican congresspeople and a significant percentage of Democrats, it is not surprising that number five is the least developed of all of these.
            That has to — absolutely has to — change.
            As 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben emphasized on yesterday’s tele-press conference on the bill’s reintroduction, it makes “no sense to allow one industry to throw its pollution into the atmosphere for free. If anyone owns the sky, it’s not Exxon. It’s all of us.”
            The Healthy Climate and Family Security Act would “accelerate very quickly the biggest job on the planet: getting rid of carbon,” added McKibben. “There would be no plan for Keystone XL if there was anything like a rational price on carbon.”
            With Congressman Chris Van Hollen leading the way and the support of groups like 350.org, CCAN, Center for Popular Democracy, Center for Biological Diversity, National People’s Action, Public Citizen and the Sierra Club, a strong, fair and commonsense federal solution to price carbon is finally moving forward. More information on this legislation can be found at http://climateandprosperity.org.
            For more information on this new legislation:
            Van Hollen moving climate change with 2016 leverage. CNN News. 2/23/15.
            Focus legislative energy on a national carbon policy, not Keystone XL. Washington Post. 2/24/15.

            Beyond Extreme Energy Week of Action in DC

            Starting November 1st, hundreds of people are planning to take part in a very full week of climate action in Washington, D.C., focused on FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The week will also draw connections to other very problematic institutions as far as the global warming crisis.
            Over 50 organizations have endorsed this week of action, many of them local groups fighting fracking, fracking infrastructure and proposed fracked-gas export terminals. On Friday, November 7th, the last day of the week, dozens of fracktivists from the fracking-ravaged state of Pennsylvania are traveling to DC to anchor that morning’s action at FERC.
            The continuing fight against the Cove Point export terminal is a central reason for this week and a major focus of the Beyond Extreme Energy (BXE) demands, which can be found at http://bit.ly/BeyondExtremeEnergy; and in summary demand:

            • A withdrawal of permits already granted by FERC at Cove Point, as well as at Myersville, Md., Minisink, NY and Seneca Lake, NY, as well as a stop to the permitting of any more fracked-gas infrastructure;
            • That FERC prioritize the rights and health of human beings and all life on Earth over private profit, address climate chaos and adhere to the precautionary principle;
            • That FERC commissioners meet with communities affected by already-approved or proposed fossil fuel infrastructure; and,
            • That Congress convene an investigation into FERC’s rubber-stamping ways.

            The heart of the BXE actions is five days of nonviolent sit-ins at the entrances to FERC every morning of the November 3-7 workweek. Over 100 people have signed up and indicated their willingness to risk arrest, with many others signed up to participate in other ways.
            Saturday, November 1st: BXE participants join with the Great March for Climate Action as they walk the final leg of an eight month journey across the country which began in Los Angeles in March. Hundreds of us will walk from Elm Street Park just a few blocks from the Bethesda Metro stop, gathering at 9 and beginning at 9:30 am. The 7 mile walk will end at the White House where there will be a rally. Then that evening, at 7:00 pm at St. Stephens Church, there will be a longer program where marchers reflect upon their heroic experience.
            Sunday, November 2nd: Full day of training, discussion and preparation for the week of action, at Impact Hub DC at 419 7th St. NW. from 10AM-8PM
            In addition to the early morning actions at FERC, there will also be actions each afternoon at other locations.
            Monday, November 3rd: Afternoon demonstration outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee calling upon them to get real about the seriousness of the climate crisis. This will be followed by a “flash mob” action at FERC and at Union Station spearheaded by fracktivists coming down from New York City. For the DNC action gather at the Columbus Statue outside of Union Station at 1:30/1:45 for a march to DNC. Look for the “flash mob” group around 4:15 at the same location.
            Tuesday, November 4th: A bus has been reserved to take people to Cove Point for a demonstration in support of local people who continue to fight the plans by Dominion to build a dangerous export terminal. We plan to be in Solomon’s Island on Solomon’s Island Rd. near the long bridge by 2 pm.
            Wednesday, November 5th: There will be an action at the Justice Department calling for them to intervene to see that justice is done in Ferguson, Mo. and that the national scourge of police brutality, especially against black and brown youth, is seriously addressed. We say: stop disrespecting and abusing the earth and its climate, stop disrespecting and abusing the people. We plan to be at the Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 9th and 10th Sts., by 2 PM.
            Thursday, November 6th: We will demonstrate outside the headquarters of National Public Radio, which keeps running pro-fracking ads of the oil and gas industry and just cut back its team of environmental reporters to one! NPR is at 1111 N. Capitol St. NW, near L St.
            Friday, November 7th: Led by fracktivists from Pennsylvania, we will go the Dept. of Transportation to demonstrate against its policies and practices that are allowing a dramatic expansion of coal, oil and gas shipments, including exports. We should be there around 1:30 pm, and DOT is at 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, at M St.
            Click here for full schedule.
            There is still time to make plans to participate in this important seven days of climate action. You can find out more and sign up at http://bit.ly/BeyondExtremeEnergy. Let’s build upon the power and spirit of the People’s Climate March and say loudly and clearly that NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP IT UP ON CLIMATE!

            A Voice for Climate, 40,000 Strong

            The American Prospect

            By Jaime Fuller

            Allison Chin, president of the Sierra Club, knows now is the moment to think big on climate. It’s been a year of “records”: A record number of droughts have hit towns across the country, record temperatures slowly roast the planet, and storms have left record amounts of snow and rain in their wake. Finally, too, a record number of people have conceded that we’re changing the environment for the worse. “Mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, businessmen, people of the faith—it’s not just environmentalists that are affected by this,” Chin says. She knows that environmentalists need to be practical—they need concrete demands that all people left adrift by a changing climate can endorse. But facing such long odds and high stakes, how can they be anything but ardent about the environment?

            Continue reading

            We Are All from New Orleans Now: Climate Change, Hurricanes and the Fate of America's Coastal Cities

            The Nation
            By Mike Tidwell
            The presidential candidates decided not to speak about climate change. But climate change has decided to speak to them. And what does a thousand-mile-wide storm pushing 11 feet of water toward our biggest population center want to say just days before the election? It is this: We are all from New Orleans now along the U.S. east coast. Climate change – through measurable sea-level rise and a documented increase in the intensity of Atlantic storms – has now made 100 million Americans virtually as vulnerable to catastrophic impacts as the victims of Katrina seven years ago.
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            Hurricane Sandy: The worst-case scenario for New York City is unimaginable

            What might Hurricane Sandy do to New York City? See excerpts below from my 2006 book The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America’s Coastal Cities (Simon and Schuster/Free Press). It’s a depressing title meant to help shock us into preventing these worst-case scenarios from coming true via global climate change. But it might now be too late for parts of imperiled New York. As you read, keep in mind that as of Sunday night October 28th, the National Hurricane Center was forecasting that the storm could hit anywhere between Delaware and Rhode Island, with a surge tide as high as 11 feet in some places. Even if New York City avoids a direct strike, it is still facing a potentially “worst-case scenario” in terms of surge tides.

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