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Dear Community of Cornell and Tompkins County, As the status quo marches relentlessly towards climate crisis and ecological cataclysm, Earth Day has inexplicably become a cheery occasion for celebrating our “sustainability” efforts. The youth aren’t buying it. Neither is Earth. Message from the youth, as conveyed by 15-year old Alexandria Villaseñor: "Dear grown-ups, now is the time to be a climate activist." Message from Earth, as presented by Climate Pulse: temperatures are skyrocketing beyond our predictions. Earth heated nearly 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in 2023 and 2024 is on track for more. As records are broken “by absurdly large margins,” scientists confess they are “humbled:” our “predictive capabilities [are] confounded.” Indeed, “mind-boggling” Antarctic temperatures show that scientists “very probably underrated by a considerable degree the threat that now faces humanity.” Scientists declare “red alert,” warning that if you’re not terrified, you’re not informed. There is only one conclusion: We are running out of time. Cut to Earth Day 2024: In this Titanic-hit-the-iceberg moment, the conventional Earth Day script would ask us to politely celebrate “sustainability” efforts. Instead of organizing protests, it would have us organize festivals. To be frank: none of us are buying it. So mark your calendar: on Monday, April 22, join your peers across campus and the county to Reclaim Earth Day. This year, students and youth across the nation call on their institutions and governments to join them in Declaring a Climate Emergency. “On behalf of our homes, families, and communities we are scared and we are furious. We believe we can build a more just and sustainable future. Universities, politicians, friends: join us!” Starting at 2pm on Monday, April 22, we invite and urge you to cease routine activities, power down, walk out, and call on Cornell and Ithaca to Declare a Climate Emergency. Business as usual is shutting down our climate, yet our administrations and governments cling to the status quo. Given the lack of mandatory climate change curriculum coupled with evidence that collective action is the best response to climate anxiety, climate protest is the most significant educational action we can take. Sounds nice. But as you consider your schedule, you think: does my presence at this action really matter? For many, the subtext is one of worry: perhaps our engagement with “demands” or “activism” might not sit right with the polite and powerful. Therein lies your evidence. Yes, your presence matters. The powers that be need you to believe, on the one hand, that your presence doesn’t matter, and on the other hand, that it might matter so much that it could even be a little bit “risky.” Crucially, they need you not to contemplate how risky your climate inaction is. The youth activists organizing Reclaim Earth Day understand what works: collective action. Protest movements are more effective than charities and conservation groups in generating social change – indeed, they are the only thing that has ever worked. Youth organizers know it’s necessary for citizens to demand action. Gina McCarthy, head of the EPA under Obama, backs them up: "I cannot envision our government finding a pathway to address climate change without a broad and demanding push from the people. That's just how democracies work." As members of a democracy and a university, it is our responsibility to demand change when science, solidarity, and survival demand it. In Reclaiming Earth Day for climate justice and mass collective action, youth activists call for a Declaration of Climate Emergency to make good on three demands: (1) Divest from fossil fuels and Invest in environmental justice initiatives; (2) Dissociate from the fossil fuel industry and Build relationships with frontline communities; (3) Decarbonize our campuses and Lead on transformative climate solutions. These demands require decolonization. Climate breakdown will not be healed with the same mindsets that created it. To adopt an Indigenous and reparative stance, our question becomes: How can we restore right relationship with Earth and one another upon Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ lands? This requires courage. The ecological crisis is also a social crisis: far too many privileged individuals are unwilling to speak truth to power. Recent research identifies university employees’ reluctance to challenge the status quo as one of three key obstacles to climate action: right up there with fossil fuel interests and financialization. You and I can address that obstacle, decisively, by supporting each other to speak up and act with integrity. Over the next 13 days, build momentum for Reclaim Earth Day by taking advance actions: Post about RED on your social media platforms Announce RED in your classes (or ask your instructor to do so) Sign the Climate Action Plan Petition to the Ithaca City School District Sign the Call to Action for Cornell Make public your plans to power down and walk out by 2pm on April 22
On Monday, April 22, take decisive action to Reclaim Earth Day: Wear all black with a dash of red for “Code RED.” 2pm: Cease your routine activities to join the campus-specific action nearest you. 3pm: Join a march to the Commons (see routes here). 4pm: Be at the Ithaca Commons for a centralized CALL TO ACTION. Hear song, speech, and wisdom from citizens, youth, frontline communities, and Indigenous leaders. Confirmed speakers include Anna Kelles, Nia Nunn, Christa Nuñez, Caroline Levine, Jorge Defendini, and growing.
Local Reclaim Earth Day events are being co-organized by Cornell on Fire and a vibrant alliance of organizations. Register here, learn more here, or contact earthdaytompkins@gmail.com. We hope to see you on Monday, April 22! In solidarity, Cornell on Fire Reclaim Earth Day participating groups: [National Groups] Campus Climate Network, Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Youth vs Fossil Fuels [Local Groups] Native American & Indigenous Students at Cornell, Climate Justice Cornell, Sunrise Movement Ithaca, Ithaca College Eco Reps, Student Sustainability Club at TC3, Cornell on Fire, Environmental Law Society, Society for Natural Resources Conservation, Fossil Free Tompkins, Campaign for Renewable Energy, Extinction Rebellion Ithaca, Mothers Out Front Tompkins, Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America, and growing. Register your group’s interest here. Opportunities:Do you have a talent for music or acting? We want to hear from you as soon as possible! We are looking for participants to help with two short-term creative projects to help spread the Cornell on Fire message. We need: (1) singers and musical instrument players to help compose, produce, and record a movement song that can be shared ahead of Earth Day; (2) actors to take part in a comedy skit about the movement's progress so far, also to be recorded and shared. Are you a textile artist? Want to create banners saying “Declare a Climate Emergency?” Let us know if you’re interested!
Get involved with Cornell on Fire nowRead our reports. What you need to know to demand the change we need. Sign Our Demands. Tell Cornell to lead the way with a climate response that is adequate in ambition, credibility, and urgency. Drop by Office Hours. Visit us on Cornell’s Ho Plaza every Friday from 11a-12:30p. Join our Working Group: Support us with participation, research, or consultation by reaching out to connect@cornellonfire.org. Advise our Working Group: Our Movement Advisors include experts consulting on everything from Indigenous restorative justice to fossil free research and local activism history. Join our Alliance Partners: Advance climate justice and your organization’s mission by endorsing our movement. Ask how to get started at connect@cornellonfire.org. Spread the word: Forward this newsletter to others.
Engage the wider movementThe Just Cause Employment campaign for Ithaca’s workers has launched! Sign the petition here. Just Cause is essential for climate justice. Cornell is currently an “at-will” employer, meaning employees can be fired without just cause. People must have job security to speak honestly about the climate crisis and demand change from the institutions they can touch – first and foremost their own employers. Cornell University: advance to just cause employment!
Saturday, April 13th, 2-4pm at the Cornell Botanic Gardens Nevin Welcome Center: Cornell’s Nature Rx first student-led Climate Cafe! Climate cafes are relaxed and open spaces for people to share thoughts, experiences, and emotional responses related to climate change. This is an opportunity to meet others who are similarly curious, passionate, inspired, to have conversations about one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Refreshments from Anabel’s Grocery will be served. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome, and we hope to see you there! Please use this link to register in advance so we know how much food to provide. If you have any questions, feel free to email trb238@cornell.edu! Thursday, April 11, 4:30p - 5:30p: What does consciousness have to do with our survival in the face of the unfolding climate catastrophe? This, and many other fundamental questions, will be explored at The Consciousness Revolutions: From Amoeba Awareness to Human Emancipation, A HYBRID Chats in the Stacks Book Talk with Shimon Edelman, professor in the Department of Psychology and Cornell on Fire member. In person at 160 Mann Library or register here via Zoom.
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Thank you for reading this far and engaging in the number-one frontline for climate action: your attention.
Newsletter #5 originally published on April 9, 2024. Opt out of Cornell on Fire Newsletters: write “unsubscribe” to connect@cornellonfire.org or click “unsubscribe” below.
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