The pandemic shock offers the chance to build a new world, using ‘ideas that are lying around.’ Neoliberals built a list of ideas to be implemented in a crisis. Now progressives have a better list of things to do in the face of the pandemic.

A recent article in ‘The Correspondent” makes the case that progressives have the right policies to meet the moment, if we fight hard enough for them.

The reading list

• Bregman's article "The Neoliberal era is ending.."
• A review of Bregman's recent book on human nature
• Solnit on mutual aid societies
• An outline and defense of the Green New Deal
• Monbiot on neoliberalism. Good introduction to topic!
• Klein discusses corona capitalism on video
• Kelton's new book on MMT
• Wikipedia on Piketty's book
• The Climate Minute on MMT
• I'm pretty compassionate, but I wonder about you.... CommonCause UK survey
• Rutger Hauer RIP

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

While humans have spread to all parts of the globe, they prefer a narrow band of temperatures. (How would the Roman Empire have fared if Remus and Romulus had been born in Helsinki?) Global warming is threatening to make the places in which most people much less tolerable. Listen in.

The reading list:

• InsideClimateNews on the human temperature niche
• The report on the human climate niche
• Your gas stove is polluting your home
• MA sets 2050 goal, but what needs to happen in 2020?

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The ideas contained in the Green New Deal can help us recover from the pandemic economic distress. They ought to be presented as a pragmatic solution to the current crisis, in order to combat the distortions already being pushed by some.

The reading list

• Europe's "Green Deal" draws controversy
• Right wing attacks the Green New Deal
• Vox on what a 'Federal Jobs Guarantee' would look like
• Vox on framing the GND
• Latest $3T package, the HEROES Act

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The predicted 5% reduction in carbon pollution due to the worldwide pandemic shutdown provides insight into how we can achieve the more challenging 7%-per-year-for-the-next-10-years that we need to do next. Listen in.

 https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/lessons-in-the-pandemic-pollution-reductions-the-climate-minute

 The reading list

• Meehan Crist in the New York Times
• GRIST asks where all the carbon is coming from
• SciAm breaks down carbon pollution reductions from the COVID shutdown
• The New Yorker ponders our future

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

What will be the new normal? However they are defined, after these current difficult times pass, what will survive? What good features of our current experiences will persist? Listen in as we imagine. John Lennon would be proud.

The reading list

• Eric Holthaus in The Correspondent

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

We check in with the Executive Director to find out what MCAN is doing in this time of social isolation. It turns out quite a lot, from helping activist learn new tools for uncertain times to webinars about the EZ building code. Listen in to hear the discussion and stay on for a bonus virtual roadtrip to the MCAN website.

The reading list:

• The MCAN event calendar
• MCAN’s Youtube Webinar on building your campaign in uncertain times
• MCAN's EZ Code Webinar on YouTube
• A link to the arcane Board of Building Regulation and Standard (BBRS)
• MCAN's Donation Page

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Michael Moore has released a dishonest movie. It fails on journalistic integrity, by using outdated footage and refusing to allow a response from it's targets. It misinforms based on a narrow and biased narrative perspective. It distorts serious issues in a fun-house mirror image of climate activism. If you must watch this sad piece of videography, listen first to our podcast. It will arm you to comprehend the damaging lies contained in this movie.

The reading list

• Ketan Joshi (read this one!)
• Kahn at Gizmodo: Moore almost gets it, but goes full eco-fascist
• Bill McKibben's response
• The Guardian
• Films for Action
• Atkins at Heated (sign up for this newsletter!)
• Vox
• Ted Glick

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Forests everywhere are under threat from climate change. Some students in Germany took action to plant resilient species of trees in an at-risk forest near Bayreuth. This effort has many aspects, like the feeling of satisfaction and hope in the future that comes from planting a tree. Listen in.

The reading list

• Here is the link to the English version of the Klima-wald website
• Here is an English language video describing the Klima-wald project
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayreuth
• Douglas fir
• A threat to coastal regions here in MA

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Should towns in MA prohibit the use of natural gas in new construction? “Yes!” says an MCAN Board member. Heat pumps are reliable, inexpensive and greatly reduce carbon pollution, so their installation in new buildings can provide a cozy home and a clean environment. Listen in!

https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/gas-bans-allow-heat-pumps-to-provide-a-clean-and-cozy-future-the-climate-minute  

The reading list

• Brad Hubbard-Nelson's article in the Boston Globe
• MCAN's Webinar on gas hookup bans (YouTube)
• All about heat pumps from Energy.gov
• HEETMA on GeoMicroDistricts

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Hidden by continuous media coverage of the pandemic, the current administration is pushing environmental rollbacks. The latest is about fine pollution (PM2.5) that makes coronavirus worse! We review some of the rollbacks, so you can remember later, when you have to make a decision on which leaders you will choose.

The reading list:

• EPA refuses to improve fine soot limits
• The new study linking PM2.5 to corona severity
• Trump's 'deal' with Putin and MSB on oil markets.
• Trump to pay producers to 'leave it in the ground'
• Vanity Fair on Trump's rollbacks under coronavirus
• Reuters on EPA relaxation of enviro enforcement
• EPA's fake 'secret science' gimmick to limit regulation

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre