Calendar

oin leaders of the statewide environmental and climate justice movement to hear about the campaign to strengthen California’s (appallingly weak) draft climate plan—and how we can help.

 Register here

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a draft plan for state climate action over the next five years.  A broad coalition of climate justice organizations is pushing them to go beyond this business-as-usual proposal and take strong measures to phase out fossil fuel with just transition. Meanwhile CARB’s own Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) has outlined some specific steps, including:

• A comprehensive plan to phase out refineries with just transition for communities and workers.
• Strong limits on any “carbon capture, use, and storage” projects to make sure they don’t make air and water pollution worse or extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure–and that include inputs from environmental justice stakeholders and independent experts.
• An end to support for factory-farm “dairy methane” projects.
• An overhaul of the state’s “low carbon fuel standards,” which currently incentivize destructive practices and environmental injustice.
• Thorough review of the “cap and trade” program and less reliance on that to meet climate goals.

The Environmental Justice Advisory Committee includes representatives from many of the organizations that are leading the statewide movement for climate and environmental justice.

Speakers to be announced–watch this space!

 Register here

Livermore Lab, located in Alameda County, is one of two locations in the U.S. that develops every nuclear warhead and bomb in the stockpile. The nuclear dangers begin at the local level with the poisoning of our air, land, water and health. But, the dangers do not stop there. Livermore Lab’s weapons activities are also fueling a new – and escalating – global nuclear arms race. Marylia Kelley, who has spent nearly 40-years at the helm of the Livermore-based Tri-Valley CAREs will bring us up to date on nuclear weapons policies, locally and globally. She will then discuss positive actions toward global abolition of nuclear weapons, including the latest news on the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and a new environmental review that is happening at Livermore Lab. Come and get informed and energized by actions that can create a more peaceful and just world, even in the midst of war and other madnesses.

Marylia Kelley is Executive Director at the Livermore-based Tri-Valley CAREs and brings nearly 40 years of research, writing and facilitating public participation in nuclear policy decisions. She has testified before the House Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Congress and the California Legislature, among other deliberative bodies. Kelley’s work with Tri-Valley CAREs has garnered numerous local and national awards, and in 2002 she was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame. Marylia Kelley has lived in Livermore, CA since 1976, and can be reached at marylia@trivalleycares.org.

Tri-Valley CAREs�
Since 1983, Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment) has strengthened U.S. and global security by stopping the further development of nuclear weapons and working tirelessly for their elimination. Tri-Valley CAREs monitors nuclear weapons – and the environmental consequences of nuclear development – throughout the U.S. nuclear weapons complex with a special focus on Livermore Lab and the surrounding Northern CA communities. The group’s vision for a “green lab” in Livermore provides tangible steps to move the nation and the world away from reliance on nuclear weapons and toward a more sustainable and just future. Tri-Valley CAREs participates in regional and national coalitions and is a long-time member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. The group’s website is at http://www.trivalleycares.org

Green Sundays are a series of free public programs & discussions on topics “du jour” sponsored by the Green Party of Alameda County and held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly business meeting of the County Council of the Green Party follows at 7:00 pm, after a 30-minute break. Council meetings are open to anyone who is interested.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 895 5984 4652

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+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Where: via ZOOM Webinar (registration required)
The Task Force on Police Reform presents this unique opportunity to learn about the new California law AB 481 that requires greater transparency of the militarization of local police forces.

Join us for this important discussion with panelists representing Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond communities.
REGISTER HERE

Barbara Atwell from Berkeley Friends will moderate this discussion where the panelists will explore …

• what kind of equipment East Bay police departments have,
• what safeguards protect the public’s welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties, and
• how the purchase of military equipment and associated training has, as some say, changed the interactions of police with the citizens.

For more information, contact Don Hubbard (wdh1935@gmail.com) or Barbara Atwell (batwell@thesoundwell.com).

On Nov 15, come to SF City Hall to advocate for Citywide People's Plan to meet the #housing element reqts in an equitable #tenant-friendly and #affordablehousing-prioritized way. Rally at 1pm, Meeting at 3pm. #REPSF #AffordableFirst #PlanningToThePeople https://t.co/lAhAAKWNhW pic.twitter.com/gVy44VIs28

— Media Alliance (@twrling) November 8, 2022

TODAY 11/16 at 7PM: Don’t miss our #UnitedAgainstHate Week screening and panel discussion of Repairing the World, a documentary on resilience, unity in crisis, and what it means to be stronger than hate.https://t.co/9Q03Bll6W5 pic.twitter.com/zu8YWfMOxK

— Jesse Arreguin #GetVaccinated (@JesseArreguin) November 16, 2022

This week, a federal judge sided with political groups and blocked President Biden’s debt cancellation plan. This is not the end. The Biden administration has appealed the decision and advocates are fighting to protect borrowers.

That is why we’re hosting an EMERGENCY TOWN HALL online to explain the status of debt cancellation, where we go from here, and how to get involved!

Student Debt Cancellation: Where We Stand and What is Next

We know this is a very confusing, frustrating, and uncertain time for you all. We understand, hear, and empathize with you. But, we need your voice and strength now more than ever.

It took millions of Americans pushing for debt cancellation to get to this point. It will take us coming together to protect it. If you want to learn about the newest updates and how to get involved, click here to RSVP for Thursday’s town hall.

Can’t make it? You can take action right now.

Sign the petition calling on President Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments here.

Together, our movement cannot be defeated!

Dear Singers,

Let’s sing on the picket line!

WHERE:
UC Berkeley Campus
We may move into Sproul Plaza if the sidewalk at Bancroft & Tele isn’t accommodating.

We’ll bring some songsheets, you can print one out or view on your phone here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ODB7ZsjgHhYhYwWeNj8Ws4S5y8-0qme67I8mgdAORTY/edit
Looking forward to singing with you on Friday!

You can check this web calendar for any updates�if the strike settles or picket line iis called off, we’ll cancel on the calendar.

See you Friday 3PM at the Campanile! Solidarity forever! #FairUCNow pic.twitter.com/CV6QpoaHNL

— Berkeley Tenants Union #CancelRent #FairUCNow (@BerkeleyTenants) November 18, 2022

In line with the tradition of Marxism-Leninism, this presentation argues that the elements constitutive of objectively revolutionary conditions are all present in the U.S.; what is missing for a successful revolutionary movement is the subjective factor. The presenter will argue that the purity fetish which predominates the outlook of modern American communism has presented a fundamental fetter for the development of the subjective factor in the American working masses; the development of a consistent dialectical materialist worldview, it will be argued, is the precondition for the advancement of the subjective conditions.

Speaker Bio:

Carlos L. Garrido is a Cuban American PhD student and instructor in philosophy at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (with an M.A. in philosophy from the same institution). His research focuses include Marxism, Hegel, early 19th century American socialism, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. He is an editor in Midwestern Marx Institute for Marxist Theory and Political Analysis and in the Journal of American Socialist Studies. His popular writings have appeared in dozens of socialist magazines in various languages. As a political analyst with a focus on Latin America (esp. Cuba), he has appeared in dozens of radio and video interviews around the world. He also edited and introduced Marxism and the Dialectical Materialist Worldview: An Anthology of Classical Marxist Texts on Dialectical Materialism (Midwestern Marx Publishing Press, 2022).

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81133350622?pwd=dUUyUWppbWt6djVTaElISUhocXpSUT09

Meeting ID: 811 3335 0622
Passcode: ICSS2717rs
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Next Thursday! Join me at 2 Star Market to volunteer & feed our community! Grateful for Farrouq and 2 Star leadership for their annual holiday festival! pic.twitter.com/J6VyMwgxiQ

— Janani Ramachandran (@Janani4Oakland) November 18, 2022

SPECIAL SESSION JUST ADDED
The Biggest Academic Workers Strike in California History!

A huge, unprecedented strike of academic workers started on November 14th, hitting all ten University of California campuses like a ton of bricks.  The 48,000 striking workers perform the majority of the teaching and research at UC, yet the pay and benefits for these workers, members of the United Auto Workers union, is way too low especially for high-cost-of-living areas like Berkeley, California.

The UC Regents, who run the university and represent the most powerful business interests in the state, have so far refused to bargain over wages.

Come to an special session of Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library to hear the latest about this historic academic workers strike.

Speaker: Dave Welsh is a writer, musician, retired letter carrier, Labor Council delegate, member of Veterans For Peace, and lifelong fighter for people’s power. Whether it was the civil rights movement in Mississippi, support for the Black Panther Party, solidarity with the grassroots movement in Haiti, or breaking the blockade of Cuba at the border with the Pastors for Peace caravans, or holding down Oscar Grant Plaza with Occupy Oakland or the ongoing fight to jail killer cops � he’s been a part of it.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81133350622?pwd=dUUyUWppbWt6djVTaElISUhocXpSUT09

Meeting ID: 811 3335 0622
Passcode: ICSS2717rs

Dial by your location
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Oil companies are exploiting a global crisis to jack up prices at the gas pump and rake in massive profits while driving a cost of living crisis for Californians. They blame California’s environmental protections, but we know it’s polluter greed sending prices sky high, plain and simple.

This Monday will be a day of action (organized by Last Chance Alliance) across the state to enact a windfall profits cap proposal that will be voted in the CA legislature in the week of December 5th. In the Bay Area, activists will gather at the Chevron station at 5500 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland at 4:00pm to encourage Governor Newsom’s support of the tax and to shift the narrative around gas prices to one that frames big oil greed as the problem.

If you’re free, come join us at 4pm on Monday to hold signs and make our voices heard. Support the action on social media with hashtags

#PolluterGreed #TheyProfitWePay and #PollutersPayUp and tag @LastChance_CA, @CAGovernor and @GavinNewsom.

No Dirty Deal: Make the Call

In September, activists stood up to Senator Manchin and Senator Schumer and defeated a dirty side deal that would undermine one of our bedrock environmental laws, fast-track fossil fuels, and sacrifice fence-line communities Unfortunately, during the final weeks of this Congress, lawmakers are now poised to revive the dirty deal. Can you take a few minutes to call your congressperson to say this dirty deal has go to die?

Call 917-791-2257 to be connected to your member of Congress.

Suggested script:

“Hi, my name is ____, & I’m from ____. I’m deeply concerned about the Energy Independence and Security Act and any legislation that would fast-track fossil fuel projects and undermine the public’s ability to give input on new energy projects. As your constituent I’m calling to demand that you publicly oppose this dirty deal and do all you can to stop it from being attached to must-pass legislation and passing!”

With Love and Rage and Action,

Extinction Rebellion SF Bay Area
https://www.xrsfbay.org

COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT

— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022

COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT

— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022

COVID-19 testing is available at Allen Temple! Our drive-thru testing site is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm! Testing is quick, easy & free! Results available in 3 days. Appointments recommended; make yours at https://t.co/G3MPStVccj pic.twitter.com/OwdThvrBIT

— Allen Temple Baptist Church (@allentemplebc) November 21, 2022

Join a statewide day of rallies to save rooftop solar in California!

So many of us resisted the Public Utilities Commission’s proposed attack on rooftop solar that they backed down—a little.  But their new proposal would still make it much harder for people who don’t currently have solar to get it.

The revised proposal eliminates the planned fee that rooftop solar owners would have to pay for connection to the grid.  But new solar owners would still have to pay a $15/month “electrification charge.”

And, like the previous proposal, the new one would drastically cut the rates paid to rooftop solar owners for electricity they sell back to the grid—by an average of about 75% for homeowners, and even more for churches, schools, and small businesses.  This would eliminate the financial benefits of going solar.  And it would take people many years to recover the amount they invested in the solar panels, making that investment impossible for many homeowners and small businesses.

These changes would not affect current solar panel owners, but apply to new solar users starting April 2023. When changes like these have been implemented elsewhere in the US, solar adoptions have dropped by a lot.

The CPUC will vote on this proposal December 15.  Join a rally telling them not to stop rooftop solar from growing!

 WHERE

San Francisco, Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Stockton

Exact locations to be announced

More info/sign up here

More info:

See a replay of a Solar Rights Alliance webinar about the proposed changes and learn how to reach out to Newsom and the PUC here.

Check out the explanations and responses to this latest proposal from environmental organizations:

• Center for Biological Diversity
• Environment California
• Environmental Working Group
• Vote Solar