Climate Weekend

Several events are coming up this weekend and in the days and weeks following to let you take immediate climate action. Please do one or more.

Sunday, September 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Copeland Park, learn about your future ELECTRIC ride - car and/or bike and/or bus - from people who have electric cars and bikes. Learn about the many benefits of e- vehicles and how they can actually help you save money. Ask Me About My EV: tinyurl.com/DriveEVLaX

Sunday, September 26 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Emerson Elementary School on Campbell Road, it's the first annual SOLS supporters meeting. Bring your own picnic (only dessert treats will be supplied) and learn about this community group working to put solar on our public schools right here and right now. Solar On La Crosse Schools Annual Supporters Meeting: tinyurl.com/SOLSPicnic

Now through October 4 Sign up for Western Technical College's Drawdown Challenge. This is your chance to pledge and DO things that will help decrease carbon emissions. The sign up will end on October 4 and the challenge actions will happen from October 4 through 23. Actions include everything from researching more climate- friendly options for your family, to trying different ways of shopping, eating, transporting, cooking, and living, to going beyond your family to push for bigger, more meaningful changes in our community and our country.

On September 23, 28, and 30, join a Sierra Club ACTION NIGHT to Build Back Better. At these virtual action events, "we’ll be doing things like posting on social media to pressure our Members of Congress, making window signs, and reaching out to friends and family -- or for a phone bank to call Sierra Club supporters in Arizona and West Virginia to ask them to call Senators Manchin and Sinema, who are two of the key votes needed to secure these wins."

On October 12 from noon to 1 p.m., the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are hosting an online lunch and learn program: Global and Local Climate Action. (Registration available soon.)

If you haven't yet completed the city and county surveys to let them know how you would like them to use American Recovery Program Act funds, please do. City surveys are here. And County information and link to the survey is here. 

Using this money to improve energy efficiency, especially in the city's rental housing stock and, possibly, in new public housing, can reduce our carbon emissions, reduce energy bills for families, and improve health. Using ARPA funds to improve our public transportation system, so people would not feel the need to own a car, will reduce carbon emissions, improve access to jobs and services, and improve public health. Using ARPA funds to and support neighborhood services, like child care and necessities, near where people live and work, will reduce transportation emissions, give people more time for family, and reduce congestion. Our community is not a bunch of disconnected blobs - jobs, health, transportation, school, etc., but is a system of interconnected systems. Improve one and you can improve many. Ignore one and it causes problems in others. 

Please use this opportunity to take one or more actions now and pledge to increase your commitment through the end of the year if you can.

Afghan help updated

The page for helping Afghan visitors is now up and updated as of tonight. Please check that page for new and immediate needs, ways to donate time, money, and goods. Ways to support Afghan visitors.

Especially needed right now:

• Personal hygiene items
• Cash donations
• Those who can commit four to six hours per day working at the Morale-Wellness-Recreation centers at Fort McCoy

Read more at the Help Afghan Visitors page. 

Friday, September 10: Northside Elementary School drive for clothes, blankets, toys for Afghan refugees. Drop off: 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the school, 1611 Kane Street.

Items in most need include summer and fall seasonal clothing, blankets and toys.

Donated items can be new or like new, but should be age-appropriate for newborns up to 18-years-olds.

Money will also be accepted.

 

Use ARPA funds for Climate Action

La Crosse County is requesting input on its plans for spending ARPA funds. You can see their preliminary document, a summary, here and fill out the survey here.

I have done both and have the following comments.

While ARPA is meant to "recover" from the social and economic damage wrought be the novel coronavirus, there is no reason the funds can't be used to prepare for the NEXT and far more serious "pandemic," the climate crisis. In fact, to NOT consider how plans and budgets will work to mitigate global heating is, to me, a dereliction of duty. 

With this in mind, considering that the county's preliminary plan does not mention climate change once, nor, really, target any funding toward its already-passed goal of reducing county carbon emissions. The closest we get is one item of a nine-item list:

B) Renewable/Green Infrastructure Incentives: Programs (grants/low interest loans) under this category would be developed to encourage homeowners, farmers, businesses, and other organizations to install renewable/green infrastructure on their properties. Initial capital costs often preclude the use of renewable energy producing systems and their long-term savings. Using ARPA funding for these expenses will stimulate the renewable energy economy, while producing long-term energy savings for homeowners, farmers and businesses.

To me, this is far too timid and, almost, criminal. The climate crisis must be recognized and must be front and center in our planning. Period. 

At this point, we don't rely on "encouraging" people to do what MUST be done, rather we need to decide on a zero carbon goal (done) and then work out policies and use resources to make that happen. So, to me, this summary should include something like, "we will use funds, as allowed, to improve bicycle and public transportation infrastructure and reward individuals and businesses who create plans to travel and commute using lower carbon modes. We will offer grants for those who commit to reducing or eliminating the need for private vehicle commuting. Using ARPA funds to eliminate the high dependence on private cars will improve transportation equity, put more money in low-income residents' pockets, and reduce our carbon emissions. We will subsidize weatherization to near or net-zero standards. We will facilitate transitioning from fossil gas for heating and cooling. We will assess the climate impacts of all programs funded by ARPA money." That's just one part of an idea about how these funds can build a more sustainable future.

The survey itself divides things that should not be divided, I think. For example, in discussing housing, there is no discussion of transportation, but these two are intimately related as we saw in 2020. Will ARPA funds be used to grant or build housing that is out in the middle of nowhere, far from services and jobs? To me, no. Priority should be given to ensuring housing, especially for low- and moderate-income residents, is near where people need to go. Or, if not near, then accessible by public transportation and bicycle. Otherwise, the funds are wasted by subsidizing unsustainable systems that are killing our planet.

And, for some reason, equity is not mentioned in anything, even though the ARPA funds are supposed to work on addressing inequities. Equity is part of every decision, and making decisions that will address the climate crisis will also address issues of equity. 

I also think, from a climate action standpoint, the section on housing is far too limited. Understand that ARPA funds may be used for, "home repairs, weatherization, or other needs," with the aim of addressing economic impacts of income inequality exacerbated by the pandemic. Why not use this to its fullest climate action potential?

People who need to pay high rents for drafty and inefficient housing in poor condition are at higher risk for health problems which cost healthcare dollars and lost wages and decreased productivity. People who have to pay high energy bills because their housing is in poor condition have less money for other basic needs. So, why not commit as much ARPA funding to refurbishing existing housing to net-zero standards and, leveraging other funding sources if needed, installing solar on this housing which could eliminate people's utility bills and improve health outcomes and reduce income inequality. 

Why not use ARPA funds to BUILD public housing that uses micro- grids on net-zero buildings to eliminate energy bills altogether. Solarizing public housing is a win-win project. These are not loopy dream unicorns. These are things people are already doing. And, again, transportation. Can new public housing be near shops, jobs, and services? Can there be public transport to serve it (and can that public transport run every 15 minutes most of the day and night?) The national average annual cost to own and operate a car is more than $9,000! Public transportation is an equity issue.

What about the food system?. Lack of food, already a problem for many in our area, became a crisis during the pandemic. The business as usual solution is for richer people to buy and donate canned beans and boxes of macaroni and cheese that have been, probably, unsustainably grown, processed, food-colored, and packaged, then shipped thousands of miles to a grocery store, with each step along the way taking a cut and driving up the cost of the "food." And, often, the processed, packaged, shipped food is not healthy and bad for the planet resulting in societal costs paid by all of us. What would a climate-centered recovery for food insecurity look like that also seeks to address lack of good jobs, saving rural areas (from bacon CAFOs), repairing environmental damage caused by industrial animal products factories, reducing hunger and income inequality. Why can't ARPA funds be used to assess how much actual food (not GMO corn and beans for animal feed and, really, not animals) is currently available in our region and how much more could be sustainably grown. Our current 3,000-mile food footprint does not have to (and should not) be the norm. How can we encourage, support, and build a much more robust local and regional food production system?

Consider, also, the other systems now in place from tourism to lack of worker control over their own labor (why not help more co-ops start?) to child care to consumption to schools and more. You cannot solve a problem called by a bad system within the bad system. Who will think outside the system to find better ways?

We just have to think totally differently about our priorities and communities going forward. The old systems have brought us to the very brink of disaster!! We have to connect systems that support a good life like clean  transportation that does not depend on personal wealth, safe healthy housing that does not depend on personal wealth, access to a full life that does not rely on personal wealth.

Please weigh in on these plans. Encourage the county to make climate crisis the number one main concern. Show them how things connect. Speak up.

How to help 2

An update about needs and opportunities to help Afghan refugees came today and is here below. We are going to make a special page for further updates. Please check the AFGHAN AID page in the left menu going forward. We'll post weekly shorter alerts as needed. This update is from Veterbo's Sister Laura who convened the community group a couple of weeks ago:

The Basics:

There are approximately 3300 refugees at Fort McCoy with more arriving daily.  Fort McCoy could process over 10,000 refugees this fall.  We have no indication as to how many (if any) refugees will be resettled in our area.  The agencies and sites for resettlement are scrambling to get things in place and are not ready to take refugees yet.  This means that each refugee could stay at Fort McCoy for 2+ months.  Fort McCoy and various agencies are making plans for refugees to be on base through December. The refugees are in military housing, receiving three halal meals a day and receiving medical care (both physical and mental). 

What agencies are helping at Fort McCoy:

Currently Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, American Red Cross and a representative for the USCCB (Catholic Bishops) are at the Fort.  However, the Red Cross will be leaving shortly.  Many, many other agencies are assisting on the resettlement side of things.  I would imagine there are other agencies helping as well.

UPDATE: Team Rubicon will also be working with donations.  If you want to learn more, you can check them out here:  Team Rubicon | Built To Serve (teamrubiconusa.org

Help needed:

At this time, the greatest and most immediate need is a core team of organizers who are able to work full-time at Fort McCoy coordinating a variety of things. Catholic Charities is looking for:

• ·         Technical lead to organize MWR (morale, wellness and recreation centers) as well as organize and coordinate volunteers.
• ·         Technical lead to organize the legal support of the refugees.
• ·         Technical lead to organize distribution logistics at Fort McCoy.

These are paid full-time positions.  It will be intense work through the fall, if you are interested or know of someone who might be, please contact me (S. Laura) ASAP.  I will gladly share a job description with you.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Catholic Charities is asking for volunteers.  Volunteers will be split into two categories; those that can help regularly at Fort McCoy and those that can work at CC or collection sites.  For those interested in volunteering at the Fort, Catholic Charities is looking for individuals that can give a full week(s) commitment.  There may be other opportunities to volunteer at the Fort and if you are interested, please sign up through the Catholic Charities website here - Volunteer Application Form (volgistics.com)

Catholic Charities is also looking for volunteers to process and sort donations and these volunteers would not need to go to Fort McCoy for this work.  Additionally, while Catholic Charities is being pulling into refugee work, they need volunteers to assist in their various other projects and ministries.  There will be many more volunteer needs as this situation unfolds.

United Way, through their platform Ugetconnected, is taking names of volunteers to share with agencies who are requesting volunteers.

UPDATE: The La Crosse area coordinators now Facebook group – Afghan Refugee Aid Coordination La Crosse. Afghan Refugee Aid Coordination - La Crosse | Facebook If you have FB please join!  This is where we encourage people to post articles, updates, questions, etc. and where we can coordinate information in real time.

Material/Financial Donations:

Catholic Charities has put out a list of donation needs and will update it as the needs change. You can find the list here - Afghanistan Refugee Assistance – Catholic Charities. More organizations are working on collections and links to their efforts will be available soon. If your donation effort would like to be included, email info by 9 a.m. on August 30: lmnettles-at-viterbo.edu

Ongoing Organization:

We are working on a Facebook Page to coordinate all of our efforts, ask our questions in real time and share ongoing information with each other. I will send out the link to the page as soon as it is ready to go live.

The next large group meeting will be on September 6 at 6:30 p.m. If you would like to attend for your group/agency, please email S. Laura.

UPDATE: If you are concerned about ensuring your donations are well spent, check out charities at Charity Navigator first. 

• Catholic Charities of Wisconsin gets a 100 out of 100 rating ..
• No One Left Behind, Inc. earns a 90 out of 100 
• American Red Cross gets 88.99 out of 100
• Some are new crowd-funded and not yet rated like Flyaway Emergency Afghan Rescue Mission. Here's a list from Mashable.

How to help

About 1,500 Afghan families and individuals have arrived at Fort McCoy and thousands more are expected over the next several months. Some may stay in the area, but many will settle near family or where there is already an existing Afghan community. Until their next stop is finalized, they are in need of our understanding, love, care, and compassion.

Many left everything behind and suffered harrowing experiences to get to the airport and on a flight. Some have been separated from family members, including children. Often, extended family members are not allowed to accompany those who have the paperwork to qualify for exit. This is a trauma for families and for US troops who are trying to secure and oversee a very dangerous and chaotic situation.

How can we help?

Dozens of individuals and organizations are working together to build a local foundation and network to anticipate, find, and meet needs. If you can help in any way, please do. 

If you can donate to help with refugee resettlement or to help get people out of Afghanistan, here's a short list:

• No One Left Behind
• Flyaway Emergency Afghan Rescue Mission
• Catholic Charities
• Red Cross 
• Othman bin Affan Mosque, PO Box 275, Onalaska, WI 54650  Venmo: @OBA-Mosque-LaCrosse

You may also donate goods - a list of current needs is here: https://cclse.org/afghanistan-refugee-assistance/

If you can help in-person, here are some needs. Contact the Red Crosse or Catholic Charities to volunteer.

• Immigration/refugee/DOJ attorneys
• Pashto speakers/translators
• ESL teachers
• Individuals who can commit to at least two weeks of daily help at Ft. McCoy staffing MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) services, including playing soccer with children, serving tea, helping make people feel welcome, etc.
• Individuals who can help transport people in Tomah and donations from La Crosse to Tomah
• Individuals who can write letters to the editor and talk to co-workers, friends, organizations with a message of welcome, support, and responsibility to counter some of the ugly rumors being circulated on social media

This is a very preliminary list. We will have more ideas, links and lists as they are developed. The large community group that has been meeting since last week will split into teams now to more specifically focus on areas like material donations, spiritual needs, veteran care, resolutions and communications and more. 

If you represent a group or organization and would like to be involved, email Sister Laura (lmnettles@viterbo.edu) who is moderating the group.

There are plans to pass resolutions welcoming and pledging support for refugees. If you can send a short email to the city council and county board in support of such a move, please do. If you are a council member in Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, or other La Crosse area communities, check out this model from Pierce County, Washington and this example from the University of Kentucky.

Please do whatever you can and do not allow false narratives and misinformation to spread. To this last point, I beg you to read about and practice the "truth sandwich" developed by communication expert Dr. George Lakoff to help communicators avoid inadvertently amplifying lies.

These dear fellow humans have been traumatized enough without rumors, misinformation, and fear-mongering by certain officials and social media trolls adding to their misery.