The Frontlines of Crisis are the Forefront of Change

October 2014 - Volume 5, Issue 2

September 21, 2014 will forever be remembered as the day 400,000 people rallied in the streets of New York to bend the arc of history towards justice. On that day - Frontline communities took the international stage to tell global leaders now is the time to act! The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance & member UPROSE worked tirelessly to ensure local Environmental Justice communities were represented at this epic event. Frontline communities from the five boroughs and beyond came out in the tens of thousands and led the front of the People's Climate March.

"We said it would take everyone to change everything - and everyone showed up." - Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance

People's Climate March - Frontline Marchers

(Images Courtesy of Climate Justice Alliance Website)

Aerial View of Marchers lined up on Central Park West

Aerial View of Central Park West (Image Courtesy of Working Families Party Facebook)

The Defienda a Nuestra Madre Tierra Float

Designed by Youth at El Puente

(image courtesy of Climate Justice Alliance Website)

We Are The Roots That Weather The Storm Sunflower Parachute

(image courtesy of Climate Justice Alliance Website)

NYC-EJA Fellows & Community Garden Leaders Holding our Banner

Trash Equity + Zero Waste + Environmental Justice Banner Drop

Banner Drop on 42nd Street (Images Courtesy of the Climate Justice Alliance Website)

"Sunflowers serve to remove harmful toxics from the soil, while providing nutrients and shelter for animal life above ground. We present these sunflowers to the global leaders at the UN Climate Summit as a symbol of the community-led solutions we are growing."

- From Press Statement to UN Delegates from Our Power Campaign Members during the People's Climate Justice Summit

Sun Flower Signs at UPROSE offices

The Climate Justice Alliance, including the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Indigenous Environmental Network and other allies, hosted a two-day People's Climate Justice Summit. The tribunal was concurrent with the Climate Leaders Assembly convened by the UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon in New York City. The Summit delegates convened at the UN Church Center, directly across the street from the UN, and the proceedings were live-streamed for public viewing at The New School on both days. The Summit convened a meeting of frontline community delegations from across the U.S. and around the world - that are both organizing against the root causes of climate change, and cultivating real solutions to address these causes.

New York City Leading the Global Shift Away from Carbon

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Local advocacy and planning leading up to the March galvanized city politics in an unprecedented way. After the unanimous passing of the City Council Resolution to support the People's Climate March and a day before the People's Climate March - the de Blasio Administration announced it's goal to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels.

Read the Press Release (with quote from NYC-EJA): Mayor de Blasio Commits to 80 Percent Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050, Starting with Sweeping Green Buildings Plan and the article in the New York Times de Blasio Orders a Greener City, Setting Goals for Energy Efficiency of Buildings.

People's Climate March in the News

Front Page of NY Times

New York Times: Taking a Call for Climate Change to the Streets

NY Times Video: Sounding off on Climate Change

New York Daily News: Thousands of protesters, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Join People's Climate March

NYC-EJA Policy Director, Juan Camilo Osorio (En Espa�ol) Video: El debate sobre el cambio clim�tico insta a los mandatarios a actuar

The Latin Post: People's Climate March 2014: Over 400,000 Rally Against Climate Change, Photos and Video From NYC March

The Latin Post: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Introduces Sweeping Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions by 80 Percent by 2025

FoxNews: New York climate march attracts nearly 400,000 people

The Times of India: There is no 'plan B' for action as there is no 'planet B', UN chief says ahead of UN Climate Summit

Capital New York: Hundreds of thousands turn out for climate march

Slate: The Changing Face of Climate Change

Huffington Post: A Climate Movement That Can't Be Ignored

The Nation: The People's Climate March Was Huge, but Will It Change Everything?

People's Climate March Run-up

NY1 Online Video: Panel Previews People's Climate March

Documentary Chronicling Events Leading to the People's Climate March: Watch "Disruption" Film

Dear Friend:

We ask your help to sustain our campaigns for environmental justice. Please support the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA) by making a tax-deductible online donation at NYC-EJA's website.

Founded in 1991, NYC-EJA, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, is NYC's only federation of community-based organizations fighting for environmental justice in low income communities of color.

For nearly 25 years, NYC-EJA has successfully led reform campaigns on climate change, solid waste, power plant siting and brownfield remediation policies.

But we need your help to continue our successes. Your tax deductible online contribution can be made securely on the Donation page at our website: www.NYC-EJA.org. Your donation will support NYC-EJA's ongoing campaigns, including the new challenges posed by climate change. You can also mail a check payable to: New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, 166A 22nd Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11232.

Become an EJ Friend - $50.00

Become an EJ Ally - $100.00

Become an EJ Champion - $200.00 (our 200x200 campaign!)

For more information on NYC-EJA's work (or better yet, to support that work with a tax-deductible donation), please visit our website at www.NYC-EJA.org . You'll be glad you did!

Hasta la proxima,

Eddie Bautista,

Executive Director