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For Immediate Release
November, 23 2020, 11:00pm EDT
Contact:
Lindsay Meiman
+1 (347) 460-9082
lindsay@350.org
Ten New #Divestny Coalition Members Energize Campaign to Divest New York From Fossil Fuels
Momentum continues to build for state pension to cut ties with risky oil and gas companies.
WASHINGTON
In the lead up to the next legislative session, the DivestNY coalition, the state-wide multiracial, multigenerational movement of organizations pushing to divest $225 billion New York's Common Retirement Fund (Fund) from fossil fuels, welcomed new coalition members this month including: CODEPINK, NYCD16 Indivisible, Westchester for Change, The Climate Reality Project: Capital Region, NY Chapter, Jewish Climate Action Network NYC, Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE), Indivisible Mohawk Valley, Mothers Out Front Dutchess County, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance and WESPAC. These ten groups see fossil fuel divestment and investing in just and equitable solutions as a key form of climate action.
"Indivisible Mohawk Valley (IMV) stands with DivestNY as it works to divest New York's pension funds from investments in fossil fuels. It's one important way that IMV can join with other New Yorkers to take action in the fight against the growing climate crisis" - Mona Perrotti, Co-Chair, Climate Crisis Working Group, Indivisible Mohawk Valley
The coalition is urging Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to exercise his fiduciary responsibility and reduce the pension fund's risk from oil and gas companies by divesting completely from fossil fuel stocks. Earlier this year, Comptroller DiNapoli took a positive step by completing the review and divestment of 22 thermal coal companies from the fund's portfolio. These coal companies were underperforming other assets and major greenhouse gas contributors. The Fund remains exposed to risky tar sands, fracking, oil services and pipeline companies and has hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the notorious Exxon.
In October, Bloomberg revealed that Exxon has plans to increase carbon emissions in coming years, but was planning on withholding this information from shareholders. The company recently announced the layoff of over 14,000 workers as it struggles with a mounting debtload, high priced expansion projects and shrinking market. The company's stock has dropped by more than 47% in the past year and it was dumped from the Dow Jones in August after 92 years. The company once had a market capitalization of over $500 billion. It is now less than $150 billion.
"Westchester for Change strongly supports the work of the DivestNY coalition because divestment is a key step for New York to take to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the climate crisis. Fossil fuel investments are a bad deal for pension holders, taxpayers and for the planet. Current and future retirees will benefit from divestment and it should happen now!" - Susan Van Dolsen and Diane Torstrup, Co-Organizers, Westchester for Change
The coalition is also supporting the advancement of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act (S2126/A1536) which has gained dozens of news sponsors in the past year as the financials of the fossil fuel sector have worsened. The bills currently have 100 sponsors with 31 in the Senate and 69 in the Assembly. A number of incoming legislators have already indicated support for the bills. The bill would direct the state comptroller to divest the Fund from fossil fuels within 5 years. It is the most advanced state divestment legislation in the country.
In September, 1100+ Academics sent a letter to Comptroller DiNapoli urging him to divest from fossil fuels. Globally, over 1200 institutions representing more than $14 trillion in assets have committed to some level of fossil fuel divestment.
QUOTES:
"CODEPINK supports the urgent work of the DivestNY coalition because divesting from fossil fuels and investing in sustainable sectors of the economy is necessary to ensure profitable long term returns on investment for current and future retirees, taxpayers and to ensure quality of life in our communities. We must divest from these companies because they threaten the future of our planet and the safety and well-being of everyone on it. Now more than ever, we simply cannot afford to wait to divest!" - Yousef Zakaria, Coordinator/Divest From the War Machine Campaigner, CODEPINK
"Fossil fuels have been on a downward trajectory for a long time. The public is aware of the central role they play in destroying the earth's climate, and clearly divestment from this industry is long overdue. NYCD16 Indivisible is glad to be working with Divest NY to achieve this important goal." - Natalie Polvere, Co-Chair, Environment Committee, NYCD16 Indivisible
"The Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE) is happy to join Divest NY. Sheridan Hollow is an environmental Justice community that has suffered over 100 years of pollution from powerplants that provide heat and cooling to the NYS Capitol and other government buildings in Albany. We recently won our fight to stop a new proposed powerplant just blocks from my home. We will continue to fight for a 100% renewable Capitol and renewables for Sheridan Hollow. The climate crisis is an existential threat to us all. We must all work together for our renewable energy future." - Merton Simpson, Albany County legislator and Co-Chair of SHARE
"Mothers Out Front Dutchess County is proud to join the DivestNY coalition. We endorse the divestment movement as a powerful strategy to wean us off of fossil fuels, move toward a carbon-free economy, secure pension funds and help build a sustainable future with well-paying 21st century jobs in the clean energy sector." - Sandi Stratton-Gonzalez, Mothers Out Front Dutchess County
"Jewish Climate Action Network NYC is a group of New York City based Jews raising our collective voice for climate action and asking how we can live more sustainable lives, personally and within our communities. Nothing is more urgent, for ourselves, our children and the future of our planet than freeing us from our reliance on fossil fuels. We believe that divesting from fossil fuel companies is vital to achieving that goal." - Lori Robinson, Jewish Climate Action Network NYC
"The WESPAC Community urges New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to follow the example of New York City and divest the state's public pension funds from fossil fuels. Our times demand strong action to move us towards a more stable, safe and sustainable future!" - Nada Khader, Director, WESPAC
"The Climate Reality Project: Capital Region, NY Chapter supports the important work of Divest NY as they advocate for divestment of fossil fuel holdings in the state's pension fund. Fossil fuel divestment is an important tool to use in the transition to a clean energy future that mitigates the worst effects of the climate crisis. Divestment would also protect the fund from the mounting losses in the fossil fuel sector that are occurring as the world replaces polluting fossil fuel-fired power plants with clean, renewable sources of energy." - Laura Faulk, Chair, The Climate Reality Project: Capital Region, NY Chapter
"Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance is honored to join the DivestNY coalition. Our Environment Team acts to ensure we have a livable climate and believes that we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels and move our communities to 100% renewable energy." - Caroline Fenner, DCPAA Connecting Circle Rep, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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The Guardianreported Wednesday that at least 17 civilians in Pakistan were killed and hundreds more were wounded by army and paramilitary gunfire at protesters and one doctor in Islamabad claimed that authorities were attempting to cover up deaths.
"At least seven have died and four are in critical condition in the hospital," according to the unnamed doctor, who said that on Tuesday night he treated over 40 patients, many injured by gunfire. "Eight more have been admitted to the hospital with bullet wounds."
"All records of dead and injured have been confiscated by authorities," added the emergency doctor, who requested anonymity for his safety. "We are not allowed to talk. Senior government officials are visiting the hospital to hide the records."
The newspaper noted that its reporter "witnessed at least five patients with bullet wounds in one hospital, which was surrounded by police."
"Yet again, protestors in Pakistan have faced a brutal and lethal crackdown shrouded in a callous opacity by the authorities."
Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have converged on Islamabad this week. Troops were supposedly given "shoot-on-site" orders as the protesters closed in on D-Chowk, a popular square in the capital near multiple government buildings, calling for fair elections and the release of Khan, who says the charges against him are politically motivated.
"Islamabad's police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said police had conducted alongside paramilitary forces," Reutersreported. "Rizvi said 600 protesters had been arrested in Tuesday's operation, bringing the total since the protest sit-in began on Sunday to 954."
The office of Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that "as of now, no death has been reported, and the claims circulating regarding any such incidents are baseless and unverified."
According to Reuters:
Visiting protest sites on Wednesday, Naqvi said law enforcement agencies had successfully cleared protesters from the site of the sit-in and other areas of the capital.
He called on PTI to provide any evidence of the firing of live ammunition by security forces, and said it had not provided any details of deaths of its supporters.
PTI said on social media Tuesday that "a massacre has unfolded in Pakistan at the hands of security forces under the brutal, fascist military regime led by the Shehbaz-Zardari-Asim alliance. The nation is drowning in blood. Today, armed security forces launched a violent assault on peaceful PTI protesters in Islamabad, firing live rounds with the intent to kill as many people as possible."
On Wednesday, PTI highlighted The Guardian's reporting—calling it "alarming"—and shared an image of protesters that the party said are "confirmed dead as a result of direct firing by security forces."
Multiple U.S. lawmakers have condemned the crackdown on PTI protesters in Pakistan. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who has spoken out multiple times this week, took note of The Guardian's reporting on Wednesday.
"Horrified by reports of an attempted cover-up of the alleged killings of peaceful protesters by Asim Munir's regime in Pakistan," Khanna said, referring to Pakistan's chief of the army staff. "The U.S. must impose visa bans and asset freezes on senior officials in the military regime."
Drop Site News journalist Murtaza Hussain explained that "visa bans and asset freezes on Pakistani officials would be [a] nuclear event," because "everyone knows their assets are all in Western countries where they also spend all their free time."
Amnesty International, which on Tuesday demanded that the government rescind the shoot-on-site orders and "exercise maximum restraint" in response to protests, issued a Wednesday statement calling for an urgent and transparent investigation.
"Yet again, protestors in Pakistan have faced a brutal and lethal crackdown shrouded in a callous opacity by the authorities," said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty's deputy regional director for South Asia. "The escalation of violence, shutdown of mobile internet services, mass detentions, and alarming rhetoric against PTI protesters by the authorities speaks of a pattern of intolerance for the right to freedom of peaceful assembly throughout the country. Similar clampdowns against Baloch and Pashtun protesters were witnessed earlier this year."
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"Amnesty International calls for a prompt, thorough, impartial, effective, and transparent investigation into the deaths and injuries of protesters as well as the unlawful use of force including lethal and less-lethal weapons by security personnel," he added. "Authorities must also immediately release all protesters detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly."
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Just hours after a
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Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, the British newspaper reported that "U.S. officials recently briefed Congress on the plan to provide thousands of additional joint direct attack munition kits to Israel, known as JDAMS, as well as hundreds of small-diameter bombs."
The Biden administration's decision to advance the sale was subsequently confirmed by Reuters, which reported that "the package has been in the works for several months. It was first brought to the congressional committees in September then submitted for review in October."
Human rights advocates critical of Israel's assaults on Lebanon and Gaza—which has led to a genocide case at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—responded with alarm to the new reporting.
"If these reports are true, it's heartbreakingly devastating news," said Amnesty International USA. "These are the weapons that our research has shown were used to wipe out entire families, without any discernable military objective."
Amnesty highlighted a trio of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would have halted some arms sales to Israel. Although they failed to pass the Senate last week, the group was among several that noted over the course of three votes, 17, 18, and 19 senators supported halting weapons sales, "sending a clear signal that U.S. policy must change."
"Yet, the Biden administration seems to be ready and willing to keep piling more and more, despite Gaza descending into what President Biden just yesterday described as 'hell,'" Amnesty added Wednesday. "Sending more weapons that have been used to maim and kill with impunity doesn't just put in jeopardy Palestinian lives and the elusive cease-fire the president is seeking, but also President Biden's own legacy."
The Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project declared Wednesday that "President Biden is spending the final days of his presidency going against the will of most Americans, U.S. law, and international law."
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John Ramming Chappell, an adviser on legal and policy issues at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, similarly
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Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, pointed out that "aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity is itself a crime for which U.S. officials may (and should) face prosecution at the ICC."
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In a speech to Israelis on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that one of the reasons for the cease-fire in Lebanon "is to give our forces a breather and replenish stocks. And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission."
According to the Financial Times:
U.S. officials have denied there is any explicit link between the cease-fire deal and approval for the latest weapons delivery. While the cease-fire deal includes a so-called side letter from the U.S. to Israel, setting out Washington's support for a certain freedom of Israeli action, people familiar with the text said it included no guarantees of weapon sales.
U.S. officials also deny that there have been deliberate delays to weapons shipments, aside from shipments of 2,000-pound bombs, which Biden paused earlier this year over concerns about their use in densely populated areas of Gaza.
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"There is no military necessity or justification under international law that permits the prevention of basic necessities from reaching a civilian population."
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As millions prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States on Wednesday, human rights advocates provided dispatches from nearly 6,000 miles away in Gaza, where the Biden administration has continued to provide political and military support for Israel's onslaught despite public disapproval for the war among Americans.
Palestinians in Gaza are now facing their second winter amid Israel's bombardment and near-total blockade on humanitarian aid, which began in October 2023.
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said in a statement that Israel's blocking of deliveries including blankets, shoes, and clothing has left Gaza's 2.3 million—nearly half of whom are children—vulnerable to the elements, especially since at least 70% of homes in the enclave have been destroyed in the last 13 months.
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At least 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, and as Euro-Med Monitor said, "the vast majority of displaced people in the Gaza Strip continue to live in tents that do not provide adequate protection from the cold and rain."
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Hundreds of thousands of people, including women, children, and elderly people, have been left without appropriate clothing for harsh weather—and at greater risk of contracting respiratory infections and other illnesses, which health authorities in the enclave are poorly equipped to treat due to Israel's blockade.
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"My mother is paralyzed, and I cannot leave her behind. My brother has been killed, my husband was taken, and I don't know if he's alive. Our home was destroyed over our heads, and we survived by a miracle," Ruba said.
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Humanitarian workers with the group have observed children barefoot in streets littered with sewage and debris from Israeli attacks, sometimes walking "in the rain while wearing only light, shabby clothing."
"Children who lack shoes are more likely to sustain wounds and injuries, leaving them susceptible to infection in an environment devoid of medical supplies and medications because of the strict blockade," said Euro-Med Monitor.
"Israel's continuous and severe deprivation of the fundamental necessities of life is an act of genocide, as it seeks to strip the Palestinian population of the most basic means of protection, with the aim of physically erasing their existence," said the group. "Children and other vulnerable groups are specifically targeted by Israel as they are more affected by this deprivation, which exacerbates their suffering and raises the death rates among them; due to the lack of refuge from winter weather, these rates will undoubtedly spike without international intervention."
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned Wednesday that severe food shortages are also set to worsen without immediate international intervention and a cease-fire.
The groups' warnings come two weeks after the passing of a U.S.-imposed deadline for Israel to significantly ramp up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. The Biden administration in October ordered Israel to allow at least 350 aid trucks into Gaza per day, or else it would invoke U.S. laws that prohibit the government from providing military aid to countries that block U.S. humanitarian relief.
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"The war in Gaza is a war on children," said Jeremy Stoner, regional director of Save the Children. "There is no plainer way to illustrate this than to look at the people who make up the death figures—over 4 in every 10 people verified killed in Gaza are children."
"Safe humanitarian access must be granted immediately to allow food, water, winter supplies, and medical assistance to reach those who are trapped in the death zone in the north," added Stoner. "The international community must step up and make sure that happens, in line with their obligations. Without access and a cease-fire, we are condemning children to perish in hell on Earth."
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