Climate March Kicks off Legislative Session

A march of 200 winter soldiers wound their way through downtown Hartford on February 2. The winter cold bit at their noses. Some had signs declaring a climate emergency, others wore Palestinian scarves. 

The March to Keep Connecticut's Climate Promise, endorsed by 28 organizations, called upon state leaders to “keep their climate promise and honor everybody's right to a safe, healthy and sustainable Connecticut.” Initiators included the Sierra Club, CCAG, Third Act, the Global Council for Science and the Environment,  and 350.org. 

 

A specific focus was climate justice, acknowledging that challenged communities are impacted more severely than others.

Marchers stopped at Eversource, DEEP, Travelers, and the state capitol. Letters were dropped off demanding an Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) in the State constitution.

The march was one of several actions as the Legislature convenes On Feb 10 the 60 member Connecticut for All coalition unveiled its equity agenda challenging “guardrails” limiting needed funds for public education and other services.

 

The talk at the climate march brought one point out clearly. No movement can win alone, especially with the fascist threat to our country. A coalition of green groups is not enough. It takes an alliance. The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs is one such alliance. 

 

SEIU/CSEA union members, Black Lives Matter, Ct Peace Council, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association were sprinkled along the march.  Leading the march were students from Suffield High.

 

One peace activist said wars and the gigantic military budgets feeding them exist, in large part, to maintain a fossil fuel economy, stressing the imperative that climate activists oppose the climate-bashing militarized economy. Many military invasions have been about oil.

 

NAUGATUCK: SOUTHWOOD APTS

 

In mid-January, one multiracial neighborhood in Naugatuck found out that climate change involved more than Arctic melting. 

 

Two streams that curse under the main artery of Rubber Ave. flooded. It cut the road in two. On one side toward town were ambulance services and fire stations. On the other side was Southwood Apts. where hundreds of people live. 

 

If those services were needed that night, it would have taken extra time to reach the Apts. Time, as emergency workers will tell you, is crucial to save lives. Climate change was very much here and now.

 

You can help by supporting H.B. 5004 declaring a climate emergency and no interstate pipelines for fossil fuels.