Get ready for the 2020 General Assembly session

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Contact us: HoCoClimateAction@gmail.com

Second Howard County
Sustainability Legislative Breakfast
Tuesday, Jan. 7
7:30 - 9 a.m.
Howard Community College
Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall
Campus Drive, Columbia

Free registration here for this event the morning before the first day of the 2020 General Assembly session. Invited speakers include County Executive Calvin Ball, council members and the state delegation.

Opening Day Rally
In front of the Maryland State House
Wednesday, Jan. 8
9:30-11:30 a.m.

On the first day of the 2020 session, rally for environmental justice, health and safety, protection of indigenous and African American people, the right to clean air, land and water, no "sacrifice zones" and much more at this intersectional event. Participants include the Climate Reality Project and CCAN. Ji'Aire's Workgroup Mental Health Symposium is hosting. Facebook event here. After the rally, help deliver Sierra Club fliers outlining legislative priorities. Sign-up here.

State bills we'll be watching include: requiring the Public Service Commission to consider climate in its decisions; closing the state's remaining coal plants and providing a just transition for workers; funding for mass transit instead of highways; allowing community choice energy plans; ending clean-energy incentives for incineration; stopping Hogan's faux climate plan; banning plastic bags, and much more.

Rally ... and then pack the room
Tell MDE that the governor's draft climate plan
is far too weak.
Public meetings across the state on
Hogan's draft 2019 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act
Rally : Friday, Jan. 31, noon-1 p.m.
Meeting: 1-4 p.m.
MDE, Baltimore
Other dates and locations here

During this series of community meetings, MDE is accepting comments about its draft Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act. Released a year late, the plan falls far short of what Maryland needs to address our climate emergency. See CCAN's video about the plan here and analysis of the plan from the Sierra Club and the Maryland Climate Coalition. Facebook event.

#GND 2020 launch parties
Wednesday, Jan. 29

Sign up ASAP to host a 2020 launch party, where we can all learn more about plans to win a Green New Deal. #PeoplePower will be needed,, so sign up here.

Earth Day 50th anniversary actions
April 22-24

HoCo Sunrise is already working on Earth Day. On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Sunrise will engage in three days of HUGE climate action Sign up here to be part of the planning.

2020 MD Environmental Legislative Summit
Wednesday, Jan. 29
Miller Senate Office Building, Annapolis

Head to Annapolis for the annual Environmental Summit, sponsored by the coalition of Maryland environmental groups known as Citizens Campaign for the Environment, aka CCE. Environmental advocates and state lawmakers will outline climate and other environmental bills for the 2020 session. RSVP.

NOTE: You need a picture ID to enter the building.

HoCo Climate Action appreciates your support.

Steering/Advocacy Team
Tuesday, Jan. 14
7 p.m.
at Betsy’s house.
Email Betsy or call
410-730-7740
if you plan to attend.

Speaking Out Faithfully
for Creation
Sunday, Jan. 12
2 - 4 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County

Interfaith Power & Light (MD.DC.NoVA), Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, and Earth Forum of Howard County will discuss priority legislation and how faith communities, using a moral and religious perspective, can advocate for clean air and water, and environmental justice. The legislative briefing will be live-streamed.
Facebook event

HoCo Green Drinks
Jan. 23
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Hysteria Brewing Company
9570 Berger Road, Columbia

Keep Winter Cold
Polar Bear Plunge
Saturday, Jan. 25
Leap into the
Potomac River for the 15th annual Polar Bear Plunge or donate to raise money for CCAN.

Make an Environmental
Difference in 2020
Sign up for eight weeks of Thursday classes beginning Feb. 6 to learn from national and local experts. Includes two classes held at NASA. Details and registration here.

T-shirt Bag Workshop
Sunday, Jan 26, 2-4 p.m.
Emmanuel UM Church
Laurel
Turn your favorite old t-shirt into a reusable shopping bag. We'll also make bags to donate to those who can't afford to buy reusable bags. We'll make sew and no-sew versions. Register here to make at the workshop or at home.

Catch a showing of
"Dark Waters"
This film, starring Mark Ruffalo, is about Dupont's poisoning of a West Virginia rural town, so, it's not fracking in this case, but a conjoined twin). Watch the trailer. Read reviews here, here, here, here and here. Dupont is not happy.

Fridays at 11 a.m.
Jan. 3 and Jan. 10
U.S. Capitol, DC

Our climate emergency is a collective crisis that demands massive collective action. Join Fire Drill Fridays at the U.S. Capitol in DC (southeast lawn). These dates will be the final #FireDrillFridays in DC with Jane Fonda, although #FridaysForFuture strikes will continue. Info about the #FridaysForFuture Jan. 3 event is here.
In addition, Jane Fonda, arrested during #FireDrillFriday on the eve of her 82nd birthday, has been leading weekly teach-ins on climate, such as one on health threats with Sandra Steingraber and the Rev. Dr. William Barber. The teach-ins are live on Facebook Thursdays at 7 p.m. Previous teach-ins are in the video section of the #FireDrillFridays Facebook page.

Email HoCoClimateAction@gmail.com to carpool from Columbia.

More events and updates on Our Events Webpage:
www.hococlimateaction.org/events/MD-DC-Events

Climate News

2019 has been a year of climate disaster.
"Immense wealth translates automatically into immense environmental impacts, regardless of the intentions of those who possess it. The very wealthy, almost as a matter of definition, are committing ecocide," writes George Monbiot in arguing for a limit on wealth.
Climate chaos is on display in Australia, where cattle can't breed, people escape to beaches and boats , the land is on fire while the sea is cooking, and dread builds for the future.
The Dutch Supreme Court requires strong climate action, in "the most important climate change court decision in the world so far," says David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment.

HoCoCA posted these items and so much more

on our Facebook page.

Please LIKE us and keep the updates coming.

How to donate to HoCo Climate Action
Please make checks payable to CCAN
(Chesapeake Climate Action Network)
with HoCo Climate Action on the memo line.
Mail to HoCo Climate Action
10306 Champions Way, Laurel, MD 20723
HoCo Climate Action has partnered with Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) to achieve non-profit status. Donations are tax-deductible.

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