Tar Sands Exposed: a success!
A big shout out to 350Maine for putting together a spectacular event! There was a nearly full house at UVM and standing room only in St. Johnsbury! Garth Lenz’s photos were stunning, Crystal’s stories were jaw-dropping, and all of you who came out on those cold nights were inspirational. Over $2000 was raised to send to the Beaver Lake Cree Legal Fund! You can donate to them directly here. If you missed it, the talk will be broadcast soon, stay tuned.
This tour was possible thanks to generous local sponsors: the Sierra Club, NWF, UVM’s Environmental Program, and SunCommon!
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Students call for pension divestment

On January 23rd, college students from Middlebury, St. Michael’s, and UVM gathered at the State House to hold a press conference on fossil fuel divestment. This event made the front page of the Montpelier Times Argus and ran in outlets in Boston, Houston, and San Francisco (among others)! Read the article here.
In other divestment news, the World Bank President says, “Through policy reforms, we can divest and tax that which we don’t want, the carbon that threatens development gains over the last 20 years.” -Jim Yong Kim. Did the Yes Men just strike again, or is divestment catching on like a wildfire?!
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What’s in your tank?
It could be tar sand derived fuel, very soon. A new report out by the NRDC tells of a major new threat: the Northeast will have 11.5% of their gasoline and heating fuels coming from tar sands by 2020. Further, if the Keystone XL pipeline is approved, tar sands oil could make up nearly 20% of our fuel supply. Thanks to the much higher carbon footprint of tar sands fuels, this would wipe out the modest progress we’ve made in Vermont to reduce GHGs.
Read more here.
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So Little Time:
Words and Images for a World in Climate Crisis is a new book from a new Vermont press, Green Writers Press. It’s more than a “read”; it’s an experience. This joint project of two climate activists, Greg Delanty and Dede Cummings, has produced a collection of poetry and photography that, in Greg’s words, will help “assimilate within ourselves the terror of the facts [on climate change] rather than ignore it with apathy, or be depressed.”
The book launch is January 30, 2014 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Pomerleau Alumni Center at Saint Michael’s College.
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Breaking Up with Fossil Fuels
It may be hard to do, but it must be done! Please join us at the “Break Up with Fossil Fuels” day at the VT State House to support the divestment of the state pension fund and to support other progressive legislation that will lead Vermont to a fossil fuel free future. Sign up here.
Where: Vermont State House
When: Friday, Feb. 14th, noon
Meet on the State House steps at noon for a picture and some divestment theatrics, followed by an educational Valentine’s card blitz and press conference inside of the State House. It is encouraged that everyone wear their most festive Valentine’s Day attire!.
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Courtesy of 350VT

350VT.org is building a movement to solve the climate crisis. What is 350? Go to 350.org to learn about the science behind the movement.