CARNEGIE HALL

 

Carnegie Hall

New York, New York, USA


Pathway+to+Paris+01.jpg

On November 5th, 2017, in the lead up to COP 23 taking place in Bonn, Germany, Pathway to Paris in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org organized a concert event at Carnegie Hall with incredible musicians and leading thinkers to highlight the importance of making Paris real. Pathway to Paris announced the 1000 Cities for Carbon Freedom at the event, inviting all cities of the world to transition to 100% renewables by 2040. All proceeds from the event were donated to 350.org, Pathway to Paris, and the UNDP.

The event featured performances and talks from Patti Smith, Bill McKibben, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Michael Stipe, Flea, Talib Kweli, Cat Power, Tanya Tagaq, Tenzin Choegyal, Rebecca Foon and Jesse Paris Smith.

Among the speakers and performers was Bill McKibben, climate change leader and writer, and one of the founders of 350.org. During his time onstage, he asked the audience to remove the DivestNY insert from their playbills, and use it to write a letter to NY Comptroller Scott Stringer, urging him to divest New York's pension fund from fossil fuels. Together, New York’s pension funds are among the largest in the world, representing a combined $390 billion.

Bill silently waited as the full hall read the information on the insert and wrote their letters. After the event, they were to drop them off in the lobby at the 350NYC table, or mail them from home. A few days later, 350 and Pathway to Paris mailed them to Scott Stringer's office, while also sending out calls to actions for anyone else in the city to send their own letters or visit DivestNY to send an email. A climate hearing with Public Advocate Tish James was scheduled, and it was urgent that anyone available attend the hearing and make a testimony. The turnout was a success, and the diversity of voices who shared their views, stories, facts, findings, solutions was absolutely incredible.

Pathway to Paris 02.jpg
beckandjesse.jpg

On, December 19th 2017, after over five years of community campaigning for New York to divest from fossil fuels, City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Governor Andrew Cuomo each released separate proposals to freeze all current fossil fuel investments, divest New York’s public pension funds fossil fuel companies, and reinvest in renewable energy. Bill McKibben issued the following statement: “The dam has broken: after years of great activism, New York has taken a massive step towards divesting from fossil fuels. Coming from the capital of world finance, this will resonate loud and clear all over the planet. It’s a crucial sign of how fast the financial pendulum is swinging away from fossil fuels.”

This is such a major victory and proof that grassroots activism -- using your voice, writing letters, speaking out, pushing for and attending hearings, working together, building the numbers, it all WORKS.

 
Joel Blair