Dear Friends,

 

I wrote you on Friday with the remarkable news that the Biden administration had done exactly what we asked and halted permitting for new LNG export facilities––and I confess I spent some of the weekend just relaxing with the good feeling of a job well done––together we set an aim, found many other working in the same direction, and built a campaign that succeeded on logic, on human solidarity, and on political reality. It doesn’t always work so smoothly––but you guys are good at this!

Thank you for coming to last night’s #STOPLNG Celebration Call. We hope you enjoyed hearing from some of the frontline leaders down in the Gulf, whose leadership made this victory possible. If you were unable to join us, or wish to re-watch moments from the call, the recording is here.

 

Everyone here at Third Act wishes we could give you a longer breathing spell––but that’s not precisely how politics works. Even with this LNG decision we have to win the 2024 election for it to count––both Donald Trump and Nikki Haley have announced they’d reverse it on day one.

 

So here’s a newsletter full of good ideas about how we step up next, nationally and in places around the country. I’m going back to work with good heart on all of it––that’s the best way to celebrate a victory! (And if you’d like to savor this one just a bit longer, read this remarkable outpouring of praise for the decision from around the country and the world, or this sour grapes from Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal. I don’t know which one I like better).

 

Bill McKibben
Third Act

Join our #STOPLNG Celebration Call to get inspired about the cause, unite with fellow activists. We will be celebrating a victory on one of the most important fights on climate justice. This call was originally going to be a pre-action hype call ahead of the #STOPLNG Sit-in at the DOE in the nation’s capital, but with the White House’s decision, we can now look towards defending this win. Join us and get inspired by the frontline voices who have been leading the charge!

Thanks to 40,000 petition signers, our “Costco: Clean Up Your Credit Card” campaign surpassed a major milestone last week: we delivered the petition signatures at Costco’s headquarters and at warehouses across the country! Our collective efforts made visible our demand that Costco cut ties with dirty Citibank, its credit card partner.

At the January 19th shareholder meeting, CEO Mr. Vachris publicly acknowledged the petitions saying:

We are going to continue moving forward with our climate action plan, and have been in discussions with Citi about their carbon reduction plans in the future.

 

Check out the photos, video, and more campaign details in our blog. Getting the 3rd largest retailer in the US to publicly acknowledge this campaign represents HUGE progress!

All the fun and hard work doesn’t stop with the petition delivery. We still need your help to turn acknowledgement into action. Escalate pressure on Costco and highlight the urgency of severing ties with Citi by writing a letter to your local newspaper. Check out Bill McKibben’s Op-Ed in the Seattle Times for inspiration!

With less than 3 weeks until New York’s special election, we’re partnering with Activate America to train volunteers to turn out the vote for the crucial special election in New York’s Third Congressional District. This election is vital to retaking the House in the fall for climate champions, and we need your help! Activate America has phone bank opportunities those who need training as well as for those ready to start immediately.

Join Third Act Oregon as they host a climate and democracy conversation with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Bill McKibben. Learn how you can be a part of our Third Act Oregon community and join in the work we are doing together to create a more just and livable planet for future generations.

Register for our “Welcome to Third Act Calls,” hosted by Third Act volunteers, and learn about campaigns, Working Groups, and how you can plug into our growing network. Third Actors described these calls as: Positive, thoughtful and welcoming; Not only informative, but offers participation and connection; and Allows time for people to connect and share their stories.

Let’s face it: taking on Washington and Wall Street is daunting work! Being an activist for social change can be draining and depressing, especially when the stakes are so high. We’re developing a series of offerings to actively promote hope and joy in our work, including storytelling, book groups, conversational canvassing, and house parties. To kick things off, Vermont Third Actor Dan Quinlan is hosting 30-minute Zoom sessions where you can hear more about the Hope & Joy series and ask questions. There will be three identical sessions in February. They are open to everyone––bring your friends!

 

RSVP for Tues 2/13 at 12 PM EST

RSVP for Wed 2/14 at 3 PM EST

RSVP for Wed 2/21 at 6PM EST

Bring your unique gifts, passions, and talents to a role as a national volunteer at Third Act. There are many roles essential to the continued growth and vitality of this movement linked below. Maybe you want to lean into a skill you already have, or maybe you’d like to try something new! Volunteer in work that not only utilizes your natural abilities but also brings you joy and fulfillment!

With your support, we met our $500,000 goal! Thousands of you helped to bring more resources and support to our working groups and future organizing through the No Time to Waste campaign. There were over 1,000 first-time contributors as well as numerous increased monthly and annual contributions. Many thanks to the working groups and individuals who promoted the drive to their communities. We started the new year off strong by hiring another full-time organizer right away! Thanks for all you did to grow our impact in 2024!

Third Act
PO Box 445
Nassau, NY 12123
United States
info@thirdact.org

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