May 20, 2013
Dear
Fellow Sierran
Here's what's in this week's edition of CoolCATs Weekly:
1) Fossil Free RI Schools!
2) Following Brown's and RISD's Lead
3) Renewable Tax Credit Gets Another Good Hearing
1) Fossil Free RI Schools!
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I have been diligently keeping you informed about the progress of fossil fuel divestment initiatives at Brown and RISD. I'm ecstatic to report that the Chapter is now helping to organize efforts to get RI's State University and Colleges to divest their endowments from the dirty fuel industry. We're calling the campaign Fossil Free RI (LIKE the Facebook page), and you can expect it to grow beyond educational institutions. For right now though, please SIGN the petition to the RI Board of Education and the School Presidents asking them to do the right thing. After all, as Rhode Islanders, we all have a vested interest in how the investments of these public institutions promote a livable planet.
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2) Following Brown's and RISD's Lead
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Speaking of Brown and RISD, I was honored to be asked to speak at the last rally on Brown's Green where we called on President Paxson to hold a vote on divestment at the May Corporation meeting. I am hopeful that she will. Meanwhile both Brown and RISD have gotten amazing national press attention on NPR recently. Please listen to this episode of This American Life which tries to reframe the whole climate change debate and features the RISD sit-in. Then, there is this great piece about the divestment movement fostering a new generation of activists featuring Brown.
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3) Renewable Tax Credit Gets Another Good Hearing
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In other news, the Residential Renewable Tax Credit was heard in the Senate Finance Committee last week. Once again all the testimony offered was in support. It was nice to get coverage of the bill from both RIPR and ecoRI. To date, more than 400 letters in support of the tax credit have been generated through our action alert. Let's hope it all adds up to passage of this common sense legislation.
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Thank you for signing up for Cool CATs Weekly. You can make your community "Cool" by advocating for renewable power, green buildings and transportation choices. Visit the Cool Cities website for resources and toolkits.
Sincerely,
The Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter
42 Rice St.
Providence, RI 02907
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SIGN the Fossil Free RI Petition
Tell the General Assembly to restore the Renwable Energy Tax Credit
Send a Letter to your State Representative asking their support for public transit.
Click on the Calendar tab above to learn when and where our next executive, outings, development, communications, conservation, and political committee meetings will be held.
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