Citizens' Climate Lobby

We like to share perspectives from many parts of the world through the guests on our podcast. In today's show Peterson Toscano interviews two men from two very different climates and cultures. Still they have some real similarities. 24 year old Aryan Uprety, lives 1400 meters above sea-level in the city of Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. Chris Balos is a 28 year old man in the American South, but he is originally from the Marshall Islands. Both men are passionate about addressing climate change. They speak about how global warming is affecting their home countries. But they are not one issue guys; various issues move them to action. In fact, it is their ability to pursue answers to intersecting problems that make them successful in their climate advocacy.

Art House

Ashley Mazanec, a singer/songwriter from Encinitas California, joins us in the art house. She not only tells us about some of the songs on her new album, Let's Talk about the Weather, she fills the segment with her powerful and lively music. In addition to making music, Ashley is holding regularly monthly events that bring together other eco artists. 

Puzzler

Jean Johnson from Alexandria, Minnesota sent in an excellent answer to last month's puzzler about carbon dioxide. Not only does she accurately address Luncinda's question, (Wait is CO2 good or bad for the planet?) she models a warm and friendly response that no doubt will open up the conversation. 

Here is our new puzzler: You are at a party, and you mention to a neighbor your renewed commitment to address climate change.  Your neighbor, let's call him Samuel, says, "Wait a minute, I kinda like the idea of a little warming. We could sure use more more heat up North. Think of the opportunities for agriculture. I don't know; seems like global warming has some real upsides to it."

Samuel is not alone in thinking this. So what would you say to Samuel?

Send Peterson your answers. Leave your name, contact info, and where you are from.

Get back to him by February 15th 2017. You can email your answers to radio @ citizensclimate.org that’s radio @ citizensclimate.org You can also text him or leave a voicememo of 3 minutes or less at 570.483.8194. (+1 if calling from outside the USA.)

Dig Deeper

• Nepal highly vulnerable to cliamate change (Himalayan Times)
• Lives in the balance: Climate Change and the Marshall Islands (The Guardian)
• Facing Climate Change through intersectionality and justice (350.org)

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Podbean, and now on Northern Spirit Radio. Also, feel free to connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to programs in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

Join RESULTS founder and CCL’s first coach Sam Daley-Harris Thursday, January 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern for a one-session CCU Webinar on his book Reclaiming Our Democracy: Healing the Break Between People and Government. Hear Sam describe his journey from musician and civic cynic to founding the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS 36 years ago. Hear him read excerpts from the new chapter on Citizens Climate Lobby and excerpts from chapters on RESULTS and get your questions answered on the thinking behind CCL’s methodology.

Warning: Expect to be inspired.

In this lesson, Citizens' Climate Lobby's Director of Field Development Elli Sparks and Regional Coordinator Don Addu discuss strategies for finding and engaging people to become active volunteers in your local chapter.

What are the lessons we can learn from the defeat of the Washington state carbon tax referendum, Initiative 732? To find out, our guest on January’s call is Yoram Bauman, founder and co-chair of YesOn732.org, which spearheaded the campaign for I-732. Bauman holds a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Washington and is known as the “Stand-up Economist.” He is co-author of the 1998 book Tax Shift that helped inspire the revenue-neutral carbon tax in British Columbia. In 2012, he co-authored with Shi-Ling Hsu an op-ed in the New York Times, The Most Sensible Tax of All.

Unsure how to find common ground when you meet with a member of Congress or Congressional staff? Most likely, a National Park Service (NPS) unit exists in the district of your member of Congress or inside your state. It is vital to know how climate change negatively impacts these national treasures and how the NPS works to reduce their carbon footprint in each of their units. National parks and monuments may be an economic linchpin for many Congressional districts.

Join seasonal park ranger and Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteer Brian Ettling as he discusses how he has witnessed climate change while working in the national parks. He will share how he has used his experience and love of our national parks to achieve common ground in meetings with Congressional staff. Even more, he will share examples of two national parks working to reduce their carbon footprints.

Legislative and Research Director Danny Richter presents his analysis of the 502 meetings with members of Congress or their staff in June of 2016.