August 2020 Newsletter

Fridays For Future MA

August 2020 Newsletter

About This Months Newsletter As we say goodbye to July and welcome August, FFFMA is focusing on environmental racism. Environmental racism is the way in which minority group neighborhoods (populated primarily by people of color and members of low socioeconomic groups) are burdened with a disproportionate number of hazards, including toxic waste facilities, garbage dumps, and other sources of environmental pollution. This newsletter will highlight different ways environmental racism affects people, and how to help fight against it.

Bertha on the Climate Crisis I never realized how terrible climate change was until I read an article on it, freshman year. The Climate Crisis is something we don’t learn in school or have normal conversations about because of how “contradictory” it may be to people. Growing up in a low income community, where walking to places is easier than driving; I had no clue how every little thing affected the future of the Earth. Climate Change is so unspoken about that many youth don’t even know how much our towns are being affected by it. In the city I grew up in, streets would flood with water and the levels wouldn’t go down until hours later; many people with cars would get stuck or traffic would be caused. In the town I currently reside in, mostly no one believes in climate change or even advocates for it. Every time it rains heavily in Methuen and surrounding towns, the rain water flows into a wastewater network and due to the old pipes, it messes up the sewer system. The waste water that goes untreated overflows into the Merrimack River. This causes the water to be toxic to the people and pets. Although this issue is always talked about when it rains heavily, the number is still unsure of how much wastewater goes into the river; without having actual numbers, the health of many people could be at risk.

Quick Action Items  Here are a couple of short action items that can all be done in less than five minutes! Yemen Crisis Petition: While a war continues on between power-hungry leaders, citizens of Yemen are starving and paying the price. Call for the United Nations to intervene by signing this petition. Sign here >> Environmental Racism in Congress Petition: Demand that Congress address environmental racism through signing this petition. Sign here >> Support Justice at the PES Refinery Site Petition: Show your support to the residents of Philadelphia fighting against an oil refinery for almost killing a million people. Sign here >> Justice for Robert Fuller Petition: Robert Fuller, a 24 year old black man, was found hanging in a tree in Palmdale, California, and his death had little to no media coverage, nor was it properly investigated before being called a suicide. Demand a proper investigation. Sign here >>

What We're Reading

Youth to Power: An inspiring book written by Jamie Margolin, a Zero Hour co-founder and climate activism that gives an essential guide to change-making for youth activists. Buy it here >> Climate Change from the Streets: An in-depth book describing environmental justice is necessary in global climate change policies. Buy it here >> Environmental Justice and the Effects of Pollution: An article packed full of answers to common questions about environmental justice. Read it here >>

Important Links

Mark Your Calendars: https://2020socialjustice.com/socjus-calendar/  Protestor Safety: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#protesters