Author: Jane
Facebook Live Teach-in: Oceans
Teach-In: Oceans We’re live! Join Jane Fonda, Ted Danson, John Hocevar, and Denise Patel to talk about why our oceans are such an important part of our flight for the climate. Join us this Friday at 11am at the US Capitol for #Firedrillfriday Posted by Fire Drill Fridays on Thursday, October 24, 2019 Digital teach-in with Ted Danson (actor, producer, director, activist), John Hocevar (Greenpeace USA’s Oceans Director), and Denise Patel (Program Director at GAIA) to talk about why our Oceans are such an important part of our fight for the climate.
THE SECOND FIRE DRILL FRIDAY / GREEN NEW DEAL
It was a successful action last Friday. The crowd was bigger, there was more press covering it and spirits were high. Press is important because that’s how to get the word out: “Wake up folks. The house is on fire. We gotta come together to put it out.” It’s good to know that people are talking about this all over the world because it’s a global crisis The wonderful Sam Waterston joined me. This was special because Sam is essentially a centrist, not given to speaking at such rallies or getting arrested. But he was there and most articulate in expressing how, while he might not agree with every aspect of the Green New Deal, he sees it as a framework for solutions on the scale and depth commensurate with the catastrophe we’re facing. He understands we are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis and that now is the time for everyone, including centrists, to join together to make the necessary changes. There were also diverse younger speakers who spoke to how the Green New Deal is the way forward that we must support with everything we have. The Green New Deal isn’t a policy, it’s a framework for weaning ourselves off fossil fuel by mid-century in a just and equitable way, leaving no one behind. Really smart people are at work developing policies called for in the Green New deal that can be enacted in a new president’s first 100 days just like Franklin D. Roosevelt did in 1933 when he enacted the New Deal. This lifted the country out of despair during the Great Depression, put 10s of millions back to work and brought us so many programs we benefit from today such as Social Security. Yes, The Green New Deal will be a huge, disruptive, super ambitious undertaking and yes, it will cost a whole lot of money. But the cost of inaction is huge. Over the last 3 years, the total cost of billion-dollar weather and climate events exceeded $450 billion! And it’s going to get worse. But, listen, this country has been here before… during the 1930s depression. We marshaled the needed resources then and we can do it again. The rich and powerful hated the New Deal because it set a precedent for the federal government to play a central role in the economic and social affairs of the nation. It was criticized as fascist or socialist, bankers tried to overthrow Roosevelt. Big banks, big railroads, big money ranted and raved and even tried to overthrow Roosevelt. But he succeeded because his programs worked. The New Deal wasn’t perfect. It largely left out Blacks and women. The Green New Deal aims to enable an equally grand series of local, state and federal interventions that will turn back climate catastrophe but without leaving anyone behind, including the people and communities who depend on fossil fuel -related jobs and the frontline communities that have been most impacted by the fossil fuel industry and climate change. The same interests that hated the New Deal are the ones today telling us that the Green New Deal is bad, that Big Government is bad, and they’ve convinced a lot of people of this, the very people who are actually hurt because government is being shrunk and taken over by Big Business. Republicans and some Democrats will say the Green New Deal is ridiculous, utter fantasy, too expensive. But given the emergency, it is those who believe in business as usual and moderation who are truly delusional. The fact is, the policies proposed by the Green New Deal are in line with what the American people have done before… because there was no choice. There is no choice now. Scientists tell us the tipping point for catastrophe is only 11 years off.
Facebook Live Teach-In: Green New Deal
We’re Live! Join Jane Fonda, Sam Waterston, and Joanna Zhu with Sunrise Movement to talk about why a Green New Deal is so critical if we stand any chance to protect our climate.Join us this Friday at 11am ET at the US Capitol for #FireDrillFriday Posted by Fire Drill Fridays on Thursday, October 17, 2019 Facebook Live Teach-in Every Thursday @ 7pm EST https://www.facebook.com/firedrillfriday
The Launch of Fire Drill Fridays
Speaking today at the launch of Fire Drill Fridays. 17-year-old Jerome Foster 11, who has been striking for Climate every Friday in front of the White House. Left to right: Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, me, Naomi Klein and Annie Leonard, head of Greenpeace USA With me granddaughter, Vasser Turner Seydell Vasser, being arrested…her first time Me being arrested…not my first time It was a grand launch. The weather was perfect. All the speakers were wonderful, the press coverage was awesome. White plastic “handcuffs” were put on each of us, we were taken to the nearby police station for a few hours. The plastic handcuffs hurt more than the metal ones and I discovered that it’s not easy for an 82-year-old to get in and out of a police paddy wagon without the use of her hands. All the police women and men were super polite and nice. There were about 16 of us all together, divided into 2 cells with the doors left open. We used the time, a few hours, to organize and plan. Then we each paid $50 (Fire Drill Friday provided the funds for those who didn’t have) and were released. We then walked to a nearby coffeehouse and debriefed. This has all come together very fast. I only moved to D.C. 2 weeks ago. The idea came to me over Labor Day weekend in Big Sur. I was with my pals Catherine Keener and Rosanna Arquette and I started reading Naomi Klein’s new book, “On Fire: The {Burning} Case for a Green New Deal.” Everything Naomi writes rocks my world but this one really brought home to me the urgency of our situation. The young, Swedish student, Greta Thunberg, who started the Friday School Strikes for Climate in front of the Swedish Parliament has said, “This is a crisis. We must act as if our house is on fire…because it is.” That’s why I’m calling these actions “Fire Drill Fridays.” You can go to our website, Firedrillfridays.com or follow our Thursday teach-ins on Facebook at 7pm EST. @firedrillfriday. This will be live-streamed with the celebs, scientists and folks most impacted by climate change who live in frontline communities. We will discuss in more depth the issues we will focus on the next Friday morning and take your questions. I really hope you join us for these teach-ins. The issues are complex and we all need to understand them better…I know I do.. Next Thursday, Oct 17th, we are focusing on a Green New Deal. This is a truly vital thing for us to better understand. This is the framework that will guide us moving forward. It will be viciously attacked by the Fossil Fuel Industry & the politicians they’ve bought off. We the people must unite behind it. Tune in Thursday the 17th at 7pm to understand why. The beloved Sam Waterston will join me for the teach-in as will Rhiana Gunn-Wright, one of the authors of the Green New Deal. Ibram X Kendi, Professor & Director, Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University & author of the remarkable “Stamped From the Beginning” and the newly published “How to Be An Antiracist” will join us for the Fire Drill Friday the next day, Oct 18th. To follow and for more info: Web Site: https://firedrillfridays.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firedrillfriday/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firedrillfriday/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireDrillFriday
The Lynching Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama
I went to the Lynching Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama today. Each hanging block represents a county in a southern state and has the names of the victims and the date of their deaths. Some blocks had hundreds of names. This is an especially powerful statement. My father, Henry Fonda, watched this lynching in Omaha from his father’s office window which overlooked the square where it happened. It left a deep and lasting impression on the 12-year-old boy. He later went on to make anti-racist film like “Young Mr Lincoln,” “Twelve Angry Men,” and an anti-lynching movie, “The Ox-Bow Incident.”
STUDENTS’ CLIMATE STRIKE
I’m inspired by Greta Thunberg and the young people who came out in unprecedented numbers, behaving like the mature adults in the room. Greta has called on us to get out of our comfort zones, stop business as usual and start behaving like we’re in a crisis, like our house is on fire…because it is. So I’m moving to DC to take more direct action. Stay tuned.
RISE WITH OUR SISTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
In this time of escalating femicide in South Africa – ONE BILLION RISING (OBR) – AS A GLOBAL MOVEMENT AND AS A GLOBAL COMMUNITY – STANDS WITH OUR SISTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA, as we RISE, RESIST and UNITE for their freedom. We have recently seen the escalation of femicide in South Africa, and women have come together in the thousands in the streets, at huge protests, to demand an end to this diabolical violence being perpetrated continuously and with impunity towards women and children in the country. One Billion Rising South Africa Coordinator Lucinda Evans, one of the leaders and organizers of the 17,000 strong protest, spoke out about the current situation and what the South African women are demanding: “What our President recently announced, talk about improving the system to lessen violence towards women and children, is inadequate and does not give us hope. We need more accountability from the government, and an admission of the gravity of the situation in the country, as well as strong, direct and tangible actions to end the violence. We need more front line services for women and children – legal and medical protection services. And to make ending violence towards women a priority issue. But most of all, we need solidarity. National solidarity so we can become a unified voice, and global solidarity to apply pressure on the South African government to implement better protection services for our women and children. Here in South Africa women have been Rising against gender based violence and femicide. It is in this call for unity in South Africa, and global solidarity for the women and children in our country, where we will find true protection, freedom and liberation – and be able to hold our government responsible for not providing the protection for our Vaginas and our bodies.” Eve Ensler, founder of One Billion Rising stated: “Women from South Africa are leading the way, with their fierceness, courage and action. Let’s join them in solidarity and spread their rising across the world. This is the moment. Rise, Rise Rise.” OBR GLOBAL ACTIVISTS – led by OBR AFRICA, OBR Europe and OBR Asia – lead the global call to RISE IN SOLIDARITY with our South African sisters. Statement from OBR Africa: OBR Africa is rising in solidarity with the women of South Africa – calling for the protection of all women and children. Women in Africa suffer from systematic and legalized discrimination. This discrimination is exacerbated by institutions , cultures of patriarchy and laws which contribute to violence against women. It is time to end impunity for violence against women and children, and the silence and stigma associated with it. By not addressing this violence, and if African women are under threat, if their bodies are constantly and massively violated, if their safety is not secure, their progress is stymied. And without the women of Africa there is no future. Violence against women and children is a calamity across the world, this is why we RISE IN SOLIDARITY. We urge the elected leaders of South Africa to End this situation. We urge all leaders in all African countries to act swiftly to end this situation in all African countries. We RISE against the xenophobic attacks happening in South Africa. We call for Unity and Peace in South Africa and Africa as a whole! #HandsOffOurVaginas #OurVaginasAreNotSafe #ProtectOurVaginas #ProtectOurVaginasUntilTheViolenceStops #364DaysForTheProtectionOfWomen #IAmNOTNext #EndXenophobia #1BillionRising Signed: Omodele Ibitoye – OBR Nigeria Rita Verdavainme – OBR Gabon Maureen Samulela Tresha – OBR Zâmbia Aminatou Saher – OBR Cameroon Alice Kachere – OBR Malawi Zulaika Nanfuka – OBR Uganda Cecillia Brenda – OBR Kenya Irene Garoes – OBR Namibia Massaran Traore – OBR Mali Ndioro Ndiaye – OBR Senegal Vickenzie Ofei – OBR Ghana Nyasha Sengai – OBR Zimbabwe Libakiso Mathlo – OBR Lesotho Armande Blakime – OBR Togo Colani Hlatjwako – OBR Eswatini/ Swaziland Christine Schuler Deschryver – OBR Democratic Republic of Congo For more information on One Billion Rising South Africa and Rising actions, contact: +27 78 8772107 obrsouthafrica(at)gmail.com To learn more, read this recent article in The Guardian: Activist Lucinda Evans addressed protesters in front of parliament, stating that the fight against gender-based violence was a 365-day process. “As a country we are in a crisis. Violence against women, children and the LGBTIQ+ is a crisis. I am addressing the female ministers. When are you going to hold these men accountable who have been failing us for so long?” “If this government fails to protect us, we, as the women of South Africa, will take them to the constitutional court,” Evans yelled as the crowd cheered. Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/05/thousands-protest-in-south-africa-over-rising-violence-against-women “Thousands protest in South Africa over rising violence against women” Happening Saturday in Cape Town. Join, support, RISE! For source article, more info and to support visit: https://www.vday.org/node/3510.html
ORGANIZING IN CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL VALLEY WITH WORKING AMERICA
Yesterday I went to Modesto in the northern part of the Central Valley to canvass with Working America and attend a joint fundraiser for them and the North Valley Labor Federation. Two years ago, labor lawyers and activists, Fran Schreiberg and Lora Jo Foo and I started a new model of Working America’s amazing canvassing operation in Congressional Districts 10 and 21 in the Central Valley of California. Believing there’s strength in numbers, our goal was to reach out to Working-class people across race, identifying their interests (jobs, health care, education etc) getting them to sign up as members and to take action in their area of concern (send an email, write a text, attend a meeting, etc). What is new about our model is the incorporation of volunteers—some 800 have traveled from the Bay Area after being recruited and organized by Fran and Lora Jo—into the paid professional WA canvassers. Over these 2 years, 36,000 members have been recruited and we were able to flip those 2 congressional seats from Republican to labor-friendly Democratic although this was viewed as a real long shot! Now we have to ensure they are re-elected in 2020. What I love about Working America is that they do this work year-round in key locations in the US and an ongoing membership is created beyond the election cycle. Yesterday I canvased for new members (in 100 degree heat) and spoke at the fundraiser which was billed as “An Evening With Jane Fonda.” Tim Robertson, executive Director of the North Valley Labor Federation put the whole thing together. It was a beautiful experience—The Who’s who of the North Valley Labor Federation and what a diverse group it is… not at all resembling the old labor stereotype— they were old, young, Black, Latinex, white, Asian and I loved being in their midst. There were the Plumbers & Pipefitters, the United Domestic Workers, SEIU, California School Employees, Laborers, Electrical Workers, United Steelworkers, United Health Workers, Firefighters, Sheetmetal Workers and Operating Engineers to name but a few. And we raised a bunch of money!! Jacques Loveall, President of United Food & Commercial Workers local 8, presented me with the “9 to 5” Award. And, much to my joy and surprise, Jacques got up when I was through speaking and pledged that the Local was going to fund an additional organizer for Working America in the Central Valley. This was beyond our wildest dreams and sorely needed. One more key organizer!!! Think of all that we can accomplish now!! Our immediate task is to build support for a new proposition—SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES FIRST—to close the corporate tax loophole that has drained billions of dollars from our local schools and communities for over 40 years. In a few weeks I go to Scranton, PA, with Working America to do the same thing: canvass and fundraise. All this is building local power and laying the foundation for 2020 and beyond. “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”