Earth Day Week of Actions – Sierra Club National and Sierra Club – Los Padres Chapter

Action #1: Tell Travelers Insurance to stop enabling companies to drill in the Arctic.
Action #2: Tell State Treasurer Fiona Ma: Hold Wall Street banks accountable to their climate commitments
Action #3: Update from our local Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter, with ACTIONS!

Action #1: Tell Travelers Insurance to stop enabling companies to drill in the Arctic.

Petition here: https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/national?actionid=ar0357858&id=70131000001iOuIAAU

Email the CEO Alan Schnitzer: schnitzer@travelers.com

Dear Mr. Schnitzer, I’m writing to you from California, where Earth Day began after an oil spill off our coast was so destructive that President Richard Nixon, surveying the damage and cleaup efforts in 1969, stated to the crowd, “…the Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people.” I’m asking that your company, as one of our largest insurance companies, join the top major US banks in committing to prevent such an tragic event from occuring in a national treasure – the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Please, during this week of Earth Day observations, show your leadership for human rights, our climate and sensitive ecosystems by publicing stating that Travelers will not support oil or gas drilling in the Arctic and help protect this sacred place for good.

Action #2: Tell State Treasurer Fiona Ma: Hold Wall Street banks accountable to their climate commitments

Petition here: https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0357669&id=7013q000002GzL2AAU

Email: https://www.fionama.com/contact

I just signed a petition asking you to support the Sierra Club Foundation and their allies’ shareholder resolution for all six major U.S. banks to stop funding new fossil fuel development. However, this issue means enough to me, my family and my community that I’m taking the time to contact you personally. Today is the beginning of a week-long nationwide observance of Earth Day, an event inspired by our own state, with the oil-spill tragedy in Santa Barbara. 52 years later, fossil fuel is still threatening the lives and livelihoods of Californians, from polluted air in Los Angeles, to the effects of climate change – increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and larger and more dangerous wildfires. I’ve read of your support for divestment of fossil-fuel funds by CalSTRS. Please use this week to announce that our state will use its tremendous influence in supporting these resolutions to hold Wall Street banks accountable to their climate commitments.

Action #3: Update from our local Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter with actions!

Our awesome Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter has been working on a number of iniatives in concert with other local environmental groups, such as VC Climate Hub, CFROG, Food & Water Watch and 350 Conejo. Here are highlights of those currently bedeviling us here in Ventura County, as well as a couple of wins!:

Current Action – vcsafe.org! Big Oil v. Ventura County – “The oil industry is pouring millions of dollars into defeating Measures A and B, the showdown on the June ballot.” They want us to skip the question or vote “NO”. (https://vcsafe.org/opposition)
- Join the vcsafe.org campaign for “YES on Measures A & B.”
  - Write a letter to the editor. (https://indivisibleventura.org/yes-on-measures-a-b-write-a-letter-to-the-editor/)
  - Subscribe to their youtube channel and share their videos on your social media. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU-4WbYjsh7iHaEqIynRVAA)
- NEW! Canvassing Opportunities! (More information: https://vcsafe.org/canvassing)
  - Ventura: https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/453816/
  - Santa Paula/Fillmore: https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/453825/
  - Camarillo: https://www.mobilize.us/fww/event/453833/
Current Action! Go-Solar: – This article includes a list of actions, including contacting Governor Newsom, by phone (916-445-2841)to leave a message telling him to ensure the PUC properly values and support MORE rooftop solar and electric system resiliency emailing a written comment here. (subject is ‘Public Utilities Commission’).
Current Action! Electric Car Resources – Lots of good information links here for those thinking about making the switch. Also, check out these upcoming electric vehicle events.
- Friday, 4/22: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Drive Electric Earth Day Electric Car Show – Pacific View Mall (Register here: https://driveelectricearthday.org/event?eventid=3178)
- Saturday – 04/23/2022 – OAJI – ”Drive Electric Earth Day – Boku Café Electric Vehicle Show” (2:00 pm – 6:00 pm PT) Café BoKU, 987 W. Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA Register here: https://driveelectricearthday.org/event?eventid=3177
Local Sierra Club and allies defeat Exxon – “the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors ended ExxonMobil’s quixotic bid to reactivate three 1980s offshore oil wells and move its oil via trucks.”
SoCalGas’ West Ventura Compressor Study Fails – “From March 29 to April 2nd SoCalGas held a series of public forums to share a “Feasibility Study” of options for their planned replacement and expansion of a Ventura Compressor Station that pushes natural gas through their pipe system out to the La Goleta gas storage field near UCSB in Santa Barbara County.”