Earth Day—April 22
Parallel events focused on intersecting crises and solutions—steps toward ending corporate rule and realizing the Alliance's mission

From Earth Day to May Day, here’s a list of events focused on the intersecting crises of climate, militarism, race and economic injustice. These events go beyond the usual focus of Earth Day activities. Today, nothing short of real system change and an end to corporate rule will put the people and planet over profit. Participate online, be inspired, and use what you learn to organize support for a peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world. 

Thank you
Nancy Price and David Delk, Co-Chairs

Earth Day to May Day: 10 Days of Action

How we organize, fight, and win through the 2020s—the “Decisive Decade"—will determine the future of the planet. 

Two Earth Day to May Day conferences will explore movements and initiatives within higher education and community life. Speakers include leading policymakers, innovators, organizers, and academics working to prepare our society for a transition to a system that provides the best outcomes for all—including the Alliance’s own Jim Tarbell, who will present with Carrie Durkee on the Grassroots Institute Solidarity Economy mapping project. 
 
Earth Day to May Day events begin on April 21 with “The Next System and the Academy: Systemic Crises, Movements, and Change in 2020s,” hosted by George Mason University (VA). Event description/registration is here. Participants include Rep. Mark Pocan (2nd CD, WI), Kali Akuno (Cooperation Jackson), Dr. Gar Alperovitz (Democracy Collaborative), Dr. Amy Best (George Mason University), Roberto Jesus Clack (Warehouse Workers for Justice), Dr. Diane Fujino (UC Santa Barbara), Dr. Emily Kawano (U.S. Solidarity Economy Network), and Dr. Ben Manski (George Mason University).

Then, from April 22 to 25, explore concrete, practical solutions for creating an economy for all of us at the online “Post Capitalism Conference: Building a Solidarity Economy.” This conference will offer 21 sessions facilitated by movement leaders, practitioners, and scholars. The complete schedule and registration link is here.

The Alliance’s Jim Tarbell, editor of Justice Rising, will present with Carrie Durkee on "Mapping the Solidarity Economy in Your Community" on Friday, April 23, at 1:30 PT/ 4:30 ET. This session will help you identify and map the existing Solidarity Economic ecosystem in your own community, and explore how to amplify and connect individual efforts. Jim and Carrie will use their work in Mendocino County as a case study. 

Other speakers include Rick Wolff (Democracy at Work), Emily Kawano, (US Solidarity Economy Network), Chase Iron Eyes (Last Real Indians), Michelle Vassel (Wiyot Tribe), David Korten (Yes! Magazine), Margaret Kimberly (Black Agenda Report), Mike Strode (Koala Nut Collaborative), David Cobb, Cooperation Humboldt, Trinity Tran (Public Banking Alliance), Ramon Tores (Cooperativa Tierra y Libertad), and many more!

 
Other events: 

April 20 – 22: Earth Day—Three Days of Climate Action   

On Earth Day, April 22, global activists will come together for the second-annual multi-hour Earth Day Live. This year’s theme is Restore Our Earth, and it will be hosted by lead organizers Education International, Hip Hop Caucus, and Earth Uprising. 

Organizers have brought together three parallel climate action summits ahead of the Biden Administration’s global leaders’ climate summit, focused on climate literacy, environmental justice, and youth-led climate-focused issues. The Earth Day site also features links to local events including author talks, celebrations, and clean-ups. You can register a local event on the Earth Day Map here and find an event near you here.  
 

April 22-23: President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate 

In March, the White House announced that President Biden had invited 40 world leaders to the Leaders Summit on Climate. The summit will emphasize both the urgency and the economic benefits of stronger climate action.

The administration hopes this will be a key milestone before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) this November in Glasgow. You can watch the summit livestream here.  
 

Earth Day Focus on Climate Crisis and Militarism

Below is a message from Veterans for Peace, which has been organizing a grassroots appeal to John Kerry, President Biden's Special Envoy on Climate. The Alliance Council approved signing on to this letter as an organization and co-chairs Nancy Price and David Delk have signed on as individuals.

Veterans for Peace representatives met recently with two of Kerry's aides and presented the first list of organizational and individual signers, but we must keep up the support for what Kerry is being asked to do. We need action so that people and the planet will survive and thrive and the military-industrial-corporate grip on our tax dollars loosened. It's time to Move the Money to Human Needs. 

Deadline to sign this letter is Wednesday, April 21. 

Please take time now to read carefully and consider adding your name. Let's help get to the goal of 3,000 signatures or more.

Climate Crisis and Militarism Project
Veterans for Peace representatives have met with senior advisors to John Kerry in his role as Special Envoy on Climate. They delivered a letter signed by more than 200 climate, environmental, peace, and veterans organizations asking Kerry to recognize that militarism is a key part of the climate crisis. The letter calls for a redirection of military spending to address the climate crisis and provide for human needs. You can read the letter here.

As Adrienne Kinne, VFP president and Army veteran said, "the climate crisis is past the point where the U.S. can just take symbolic action, nor can we accept military greenwashing. Electric powered humvees and biodiesel navy fleets are still capable of devastating the environment...It is imperative that the U.S. end the squandering of financial, material and human resources, and minimize the Pentagon's carbon bootprint."

It is not too late to help take action. You can sign this petition calling on John Kerry to include militarism in climate talks. Both individuals and groups can sign. If your group endorses, VFP asks that you share or send a version of their press release to your local press indicating your group has signed on. Please share this action with others!