Mourn, then organize!
Dear Regeneración community,
I am reeling after the national election results.
How are you?
In a moment when it is imperative to cut emissions as quickly as possible, a small majority of voters (as of this writing 50.3 to 48%) have elected a climate denying president who vowed to "Drill, baby, drill!" in order to extract more oil as quickly as possible. It is likely the US will again refuse to support the Paris Accord.
Please take time to rage, grieve, unplug and spend time in nature, find comic relief, and more, in order to fully face this defeat.
Then, find ways to plug back in and organize to resist backwards movement on climate nationally, and support local, regional and state forward momentum. Pace yourselves - this is going to be a long journey. We each deserve to rest, relax, spend time with family and friends, and find joy every day.
Defending the rights of immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ people and every threatened group goes hand in hand with protecting a livable planet for all. We are all part of the environment, and we need to protect each other while we protect our air and water for human and other species' life to continue flourishing.
This is in everyone's interest, and we can each help everyone around us understand how the issues are interconnected.
With the passage of Prop 4, California's Climate Bond - and local Measure Q - Water and Wildfire Protection Act - there will still be many opportunities to advance planning and implementation projects to reduce the use of oil and gas, develop nature based adaptation solutions, and build. more climate resilient communities.
Regeneración will continue to help ensure community voices are centered in all projects.
We can and we must unite people to ensure a climate safe future for all.
To do this, we need to build 1-1 trusting relationships with people from every constituency.
I'm going to re-print a section from last month for emphasis:
We are facing an uncertain future - which should give you reason to INCREASE your action, because the future is not yet determined! The next few years provide a window of opportunity to rapidly decrease emissions.
Whatever WE - the generations alive today - do, (or don’t do), will determine outcomes for humanity for thousands of years.
This is an awesome responsibility - but it’s also an awesome opportunity.
Every decision you make is a chance to decide to protect life.
Every bit of warming prevented will pay off both economically and with better health outcomes for someone, somewhere.
Will you consider making climate change your key issue for the next 10 years? I’m convinced if enough people do that, we will turn the situation around.
You can work on climate change from any angle, from any issue that you are passionate about.
Please support community driven climate solutions.
Here are 2 easy ways to INVEST NOW.
This is an important moment for folks with means to step up and make deeper investments and ensure our work continues well into the future.
-Donate securely on our website.
OR
-Make a check out to Community Initiatives with Regeneration in the memo.
Mail to:
Regeneration
PO Box 1252
Freedom, CA 95019
Please contact me at nancy@regenerationpajarovalley.org if you are interested in exploring a large investment or a legacy gift.
Gifts of every size contribute to our success.
Together we can do what's needed!
Nancy Faulstich, Director
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
Pajaro Photo Storytelling on display at Seymour Center through December 1
Visit the Seymour Center and view an exhibition of images and stories by Pajaro Youth and Community Leaders about how climate change is impacting people in Pajaro!
The goal of the project is to use photojournalism techniques so that Pajaro residents tell lasting stories and express their fears, hopes and dreams in the real face of climate change.
Photo credit: Nicky Rosenberg
Pictured - Angelina, one of the 5 Pajaro residents whose work is featured in the exhibit.
Tree Symposium and Tree Planting
Saturday, Nov. 23 - 10-12 and 12-2
Watsonville Center for the Arts (375 Main Street).
The event includes guest speakers on trees and urban forestry, a downtown tree walk, lunch, and a tree planting at Struve Slough.
This free event is for community members and students interested in trees along with local business owners interested in planting trees around their properties.
Watsonville Wetlands Watch offers local businesses free trees, installation, and support in establishing the trees through our Watsonville Community Forest program.
The symposium will be followed by tree planting at Struve Slough.
Palabra Campesina: Stories from Watsonville's
Farmworker Communities
Join curator Alex Rocha-Alvarez on December 14th, 2024, at the Watsonville Public Library from 4-7 PM for Palabra Campesina, an evening dedicated to the stories and experiences of Watsonville’s farmworker communities and the history of its labor camps. The event will feature live storytelling, a photo gallery, historical presentations, performances, and a free dinner. Celebrate the resilience and rich cultural heritage of local farmworker families. All are welcome!
Note - the library will open for this special event (normally closed on Saturdays).
This event is made possible through funding from the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, the Friends of the Watsonville Public Library, and the Awesome Foundation of Santa Cruz.
Good Climate News -First Salmon Spotted in Klamath River
After Dam Removal Project
In August, the last of the four dams in the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border in the U.S. was officially removed — a milestone preceded by decades of advocacy efforts by Indigenous communities and conservationists. Already a Chinook salmon has been spotted swimming upstream in a previously blocked area. That salmon was the first anadromous fish to return to the Klamath Basin in Oregon since 1912, when the initial dam was built. The fish, and others, likely traveled over 200 miles from the Pacific Ocean. “The return of our relatives, the c’iyaal’s [salmon], is overwhelming for our tribe. This is what our members worked for and believed in for so many decades,” Roberta Frost, the Klamath Tribes secretary, said in a statement, adding: “The salmon are just like our tribal people, and they know where home is and returned as soon as they were able.”
Image by danny moore from Pixabay
Bad Climate News - NO PROGRESS cutting emissions
In October the UN released its “Emissions Gap” report and reported that in the last year the world has made no progress on cutting emissions. Global greenhouse gas emissions soared to a record 57 gigatons last year and are not on track to decline much, if at all, this decade, the report found. Even though renewable energy sources like wind and solar are growing rapidly around the world, demand for electricity has been rising even faster, which means countries are still burning more fossil fuels each year. Rich countries have failed to keep their financial promises to help poor countries shift away from oil, gas and coal. In the coming year, countries are expected to submit new formal targets for cutting emissions by 2035. It remains to be seen how ambitious those goals will be and whether countries will take concrete steps to follow through.
Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay
Give input on Train Station!
Monterey County Transit hosts Open House about the Pajaro - Watsonville Train Station
Since vehicles account for over half of emissions it's imperative we improve our public transportation options.
Wednesday Nov 20, 6-8 pm
Pajaro Middle School
Upcoming Events
November 3 -December 1- Our Pajaro Photo Gallery will be on display at UCSC Seymour Center during November!
November 20 -6-8 pm - Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road. Open House about Pajaro-Watsonville Train Station.
Nov 23 - Tree Symposium (10-12 at Watsonville Center for the Arts) and Tree Planting (12-2 at Struve Slough). Led by Watsonville Wetlands Watch.
Nov 30-Dec 12 - COP 28 - United Nations Conference of the Parties. Many sessions live-streamed.
December 14 - 4-7 pm Palabra Campesina - Watsonville Public Library, 274 Main St, Second Floor. Stories and experiences of Watsonville’s farmworker communities and the history of its labor camps.
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