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Communities & Focus Areas :
There is a Field: Screening and Panel Discussion
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Help needed for local watershed protection campaign!
Dear Nada,
Following up from our conversation, I would appreciate your forwarding this summary to potentially interested people / organizations. Thank you.
I am on the Steering Committee of the Clean Water is Good for Business campaign, run by the American Sustainable Business Council and four state affiliates. The objective is to build a coalition of businesses and business associations to take action to clean up and preserve the Delaware River watershed, a water source for most of Westchester County and 50% of NYC. As the watershed faces numerous threats, we are recruiting business owners / leaders who care about clean water to become signatories to be part of the growing business support for these efforts. The collective voice of business has a significant impact on gaining support for policy and green stormwater infrastructure solutions to ensure clean water and protect our health. On the campaign webpage, you can download a short paper and add your voice by signing on to the clean water principles. I have attached a 2-page summary document as well.
The New York Sustainable Business Council has coordinated business support on many fronts. Examples: They have been leaders in banning / regulating persistent toxic chemicals such as PFAS in places where they have the most impact on water quality. As COVID-19 has magnified existing challenges to water systems and demand for clean water, they led creation of recommendations as part of a larger guide for reopening our economy at state and local levels. As business support grows in Westchester and NYC, they will have more power to protect our water.
We are happy to provide education and answer any questions. Again, the information and sign on opportunity is on the campaign page.
Thanks so much and best wishes,
Camille
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Camille L. CannistraciCLC Consulting LLC
914-340-4275
linkedin.com/in/914-340-4275
camillelcannistraci.com
Thank you, Congressmember Bowman!
Harry is a WESPAC member and the coordinator of the local chapter of JVP. Thank you, Congressmember Bowman, for your leadership on this. To date, Israel has vaccinated 33% of its population (over 3 million people) but has not provided vaccinations to the 5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Under international pressure, the Israeli authorities have agreed to release 5,000 doses of the vaccine to frontline Palestinian health workers only.
Such an expression of commitment from Congressmember Bowman to the inherent equality of Palestinians is unprecedented coming from a member of Congress representing our districts here in Westchester County. Thank you, Congressmember Bowman:
Friends –
In a letter to the Israeli Consulate today, Jamaal Bowman took a strong and thoughtful stand on ensuring that Palestinians receive the Covid vaccine. You can read the letter here:
JVP Action is asking that as many constituents as possible either email Jamaal’s office or telephone directly at 202 225 2464 to thank the Congressman for taking a strong humanitarian position.
In your communication with Jamaal’s office, you may choose to include the following points:
- Identify yourself as a constituent. For Jewish members, identify as a Jewish constituent on the call
- Thanking him for making it clear that Israel has an obligation under international law to provide the vaccine to Palestinians and that this is a result of the horrible occupation that harms Palestinians daily
- Saying that we are grateful that he is going to hold the Israeli government accountable and we do not want our tax dollars going to fund Israeli apartheid
One final request, as much as it is possible, please let me know how many calls and/or emails are being made.
Thanks.
Harry
Justice Roadmap Presentation
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Racial Justice
WESPAC Director on Bronxnet
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Racial Justice
Justice Roadmap Launch!
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
On December 15, we will launch the Justice Roadmap 2021 to call for bold legislative change to decarcerate jails, prisons and immigrant detention centers and address the harms of the criminal legal and immigration systems.
Join us to demand that New York dismantle systems that criminalize, incarcerate and deport our communities and build a world where all of us can thrive
NYS to Divest from Fossil Fuels!
Big news today! New York State just became the largest pension fund in the world to take comprehensive climate action, including fossil fuel divestment. The $226 billion state pension fund will review and divest from the riskiest oil and gas companies within 4 years and decarbonize the entire fund by 2040. This came after years of campaigning by the DivestNY coalition.
Can you help us share the news?
Check out this social media kit for all the materials you need to share this news organically and widely including an embeddable video and sample email blast.
In essence, New York State’s Comptroller, who is the sole custodian of of the states $226 billion pension fund has announced that his office will:
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Decarbonize the pension fund’s full portfolio by 2040 with interim targets
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Complete a systematic review of all fossil fuel investments within 4 years, including divesting from any companies which don’t have a plan to leave fossil fuels behind. This includes transitioning their business away from oil and gas production, servicing or transportation, and alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement”
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Engage in rigorous reporting including annual in-depth reports on implementation plus media announcements each time a review is undertaken and completed. Hiring of new staff to implement the plan.
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Commit to a higher level of director engagement including voting against board directors at non-fossil fuel companies that aren’t taking climate action in line with the fund’s decarbonization goal.
Read more about the announcement in the DivestNY Coalition media release and this background document.
In the 8 year history of the divestment movement, this is the biggest announcement by a pension fund and amongst the largest by any financial institution. It goes beyond the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, legislation that DivestNY advocates had been pushing for years. And it’s all a real testament to the people-powered, inside / outside, lobby and advocacy campaign run by the multigenerational DivestNY coalition for years.
We did this together – Please help us share the news!
CLAIMING URGENCY AND A PROGRESSIVE MANDATE FOLLOWING THE ELECTION, NEW COALITION LAUNCHES DEMANDING DECARCERATION
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
Contact:
Katie Schaffer, [email protected]
Nada Khader, [email protected]
Vanessa Agudelo, [email protected]
Luke Grandis, [email protected], 917-702-8781
CLAIMING URGENCY AND A PROGRESSIVE MANDATE FOLLOWING THE ELECTION, NEW COALITION LAUNCHES DEMANDING DECARCERATION
RALLIES WILL TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OF A JAIL, PRISON, IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTER & THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION AS NEW COALITION CALLS FOR ACTION
WHEN: December 9th at 11am
WHERE:
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Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/
webinar/register/WN_ XUZZw9SXRmyTqJS5whLWNw -
In person:
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Sing Sing prison (State Street & South Street, Ossining)
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Orange County Building (255 Main Street, Goshen)
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Governor’s Mansion (138 Eagle Street, Albany)
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WHAT: Rallies outside of a county jail, state prison, immigrant detention facility and the Governor’s mansion announcing the launch of a new coalition: Decarcerate the Hudson Valley. The new coalition will be building power throughout the Hudson Valley to demand action by local and state elected officials to address the crisis of mass incarceration. Following the November elections, advocates and impacted people urge state legislature to act on a progressive mandate.
WHO: Formerly incarcerated Hudson Valley residents, families with incarcerated loved ones and advocacy organizations in the Hudson Valley including: Alternatives to Incarceration Coalition Westchester, Beacon Prison Action, Beacon4BlackLives, Black Lives Matter Hudson Valley, Call BlackLine, Center for Community Alternatives, Community Voices Heard, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance, End the New Jim Crow Action Network – Poughkeepsie, Equitable Future, Inc., I Am Citizen, Irvington Activists, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, LIFE Progressive Services Group Inc, Newburgh LGBTQ Center, New York Immigration Coalition, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, Mid Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists of America, NYCLU Hudson Valley Chapter, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Release Aging People in Prison – RAPP, Showing Up For Racial Justice Westchester Chapter, VOCAL-NY, WESPAC Foundation, Inc., Westchester Coalition for Police Reform (WCPR), Westchester for Change, Yonkers Sanctuary Movement.
BACKGROUND:
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While we have seen real decarceral success in the Hudson Valley since 2019 – with a 36% reduction in the number of people jailed pretrial – mass incarceration continues to be a crisis.
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Each day, there are over 13,000 Hudson Valley residents languishing in county jails and state prisons. (In October 2020, there were 2,200 people incarcerated in county jails each day and 11,152 incarcerated in state prisons.)
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In addition, there are over 4,000 people subject to parole supervision in their Hudson Valley communities.
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There continue to be stark racial disparities.
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Local and county governments in the Hudson spend over $856 million each year on the carceral system. This includes nearly $406 million on jails alone.
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WESPAC Holiday Appeal!
Nada Khader
Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice
Thank you SO much to all who have already given to sustain WESPAC! In order to meet our budgetary targets, we must raise between $8,000 and $10,000 at this holiday time. A contribution in any amount will help sustain us during these challenging times. You can make a secure donation in less than a minute with any credit or debit card using this link here
With our deep appreciation in advance,
Nada