The Gifts that Bind

(Visiting Mummy’s grave, Massachusetts National Cemetery, Cape Cod, MA, November 24, 2013)

“Be grateful for all you have,” you said,

“Cherish what you’ve lost, but let it go;

Spread joy; hold your tongue,

Banish worries with a shrug. 

Heal your sorrows, unbidden.”

“Love the good in Thanking,

Make amends to those the “good” abused,

Love the kids, the moms, the dads, 

Who came before, who may yet come.”

Like a wounded dog, I licked my wounds 

whenever I promised I would.

“Most of all respect the Mother,” you said

Replenish Her, keep her, care for Her.

For She is Life and She is dying. 

If you transgress,

Unintended consequences follow.”

Wisdom imparted in silence, echoes on cold stone, 

yellowed grass, rustling leaves, bracing wind. 

I did not understand.

Earth’s energy is rising in me, slowly, slowly.

“Breathe in love, breathe out love.

Breathe in life, breathe out life.”

Thank you, dearest one.

Now The Mother calls to me, 

Her wisdom dissolving my resistance

Releasing my spirit, dancing blessings into being, 

in tune with a symphony made of Her parts:

The sun to hold me, 

The stone to ground me, 

The wind to carry me,

The rain to cleanse me.

Your memories to guide me. 

Nothing left of me,

Nothing but the gifts you gave,

Gifts I've shared,

Gifts I've cherished,

In loving memory of you.

2022

 2022

What a couple of years it has been. 2020 was all about the pandemic, quarantine, and the federal bailout money that saved me - because even though I was already living a very simplified life after I lost everything in the Great Recession, I survived on the federal aid. So many people could not. Then 2021 came along, and I was able to find a minimum wage customer service job I could do from home, on my laptop and cell phone - and I was eternally grateful because this job  allowed me to keep going. 

I will continue my self-imposed quarantine until we reach herd immunity, because I don't think I'd survive if I caught the bad version of Covid (apparently Omnicron is not as bad as some of the other waves that have gone around, but I don't want to find out). I'm triple vaccinated and only go out to the supermarket once a week, to my sister's or a friend's house for a few hours of socializing (with like-minded Quarantiners) on Saturdays. And once a month I take some food and supplies to a friend in need, who is also quarantined. Otherwise I'm alone at home, and I'm OK with it. I have my rescued dogs and cats (and a crazy neighborhood chicken) that love me and need me, and allow me to love them back, and for now, work, animal love, a stocked fridge, and Netflix is more than enough. 

I'm doing well, even though my sleep patterns are a little wonky. I'm hopeful that we all come through this, learn the many lessons nature is throwing at us, and we all find pragmatic solutions to the many existential problems that are barreling down on us. The time for shutting our collective eyes to what is really going on is over. We have survived an awful epidemic. Climate Change is here and attacking us. We have eight years to right this ship or humanity will likely disappear from the face of this earth. For me the argument is not whether I'm damaging the chances of survival of future generations. It's much more immediate. I don't want my last twenty years to be all about exhausting and ever-present survival plans from one disaster to another, without doing anything to address the real problems, I'm doing radical changes to my lifestyle, and teaching others to do the same. 

How are you?

The 12 Steps of Fossil Fuel Addiction

 The 13 Steps of Fossil Fuel Addiction

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction to FF —that our lives had become unmanageable without them.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him or Her or It.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs, to ourselves, other people, other living beings, and the Web of Life on this planet.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him or Her or It to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons, animals, wildlife, forests, and waters we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people, animals, living beings, air, lands and waters, wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer/meditation/introspection/support group/psychiatrist to improve our conscious contact with a Higher Power, as we understood Him or Her or It, praying only for knowledge of Its will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening and a situational Come-to-Jesus moment as the result of these Steps, we will carry this message to other FF Addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

...and one more:

13. Read up and find ways to live sustainably, justly, and in harmony with the rest of the planet, which turns out to be a lot like the way my grandparents and great-grandparents lived.

I was recently invited to answer the following questions regarding what I would do to if I were given the chance to lead a nonprofit for empowering latinx women: 

1. What is your vision for the future?

My vision for the future begins with two keystones, has a unifying middle, and ends with a promise: 

• the first keystone is Puerto Rican women (women living on the archipelago, those from the recent diaspora, the descendants of the original 1950's diaspora, and those of Puerto Rican descent that are well-established abroad)

•  The second keystone is my deep belief that women (and their way of relating to the world) are essential to overcoming the multiple existential threats humanity faces (Climate Change, Social Injustice, a toxic economy).

• A middle that we will form together, male and female, tribe and nation, community by community, by discovering each other and our allies, by deploying our power to convene, to engage, to educate, to lobby, to fund, and to act - in order to create a holistic path forward which finds a new equilibrium between people, planet and profit - in a harsher, but a much more socially united, future.

• The promise is creating a group of women who accept the inescapable reality that things need to change, that it's up to us to change them, and that we must accept and adapt to this reality as fast as possible. We face challenges of Gordian intractability which do not allow easy answers or solutions, but that must be fixed with compassion and understanding. 

 

Puerto Rican women grew up with the "Machismo" culture of our forefathers, and have tempered that experience by learning empathy, strategy, gratitude, and humility. We are intimately acquainted with the 'workarounds' needed to (re)construct, feed, and maintain a healthy habitat for our children and our elders (and know how to do that at the personal, family, community, and national levels). 

We have survived a shattered economy while being battered by natural (hurricanes, earthquakes) and unnatural (political, financial) phenomena for over 15 years, and have come out stronger. We are smart, pragmatic, socially accepting, big-hearted, focused, and resilient women - actively interested in creating an inclusive, transparent, and fair economy - that demands that its members participate in the benefits, consequences, and responsibilities imposed by this earth's ecosystem and our societal needs. 

As females, we can recognize and avoid the violence of the "Master of the Universe" mindset, which is destroying the planet in the name of "progress" and "development." Instead of ruling by force or coercion, we rule by consensus and accommodation, by what is best for all of us, using only what we need, being mindful, sharing with each other, caring for and respecting each other, grounded in our community, and standing in solidarity with each other.

And this is our moment. The women that came before us are 'willing' us to rise and finish what they started; the women that come after us are demanding that we rise, so they have a chance to teach their children to rise as well. This is our time to act. And the Foundation is perfectly positioned to be the catalyst we need most to come into being: empowering women, choosing guiding values that embody a timeless female ethos (supporting each other, sharing knowledge, creating proactive philanthropy, creating a space for change and inclusion, and standing together through everything), which are the best antidotes to the toxic world we live in.

I see my organization as an integrating force that brings together women and allies from all sectors - to work together to replace the noxious and old, and create the truly inclusive and new. To broaden humanity's horizon, from mere wealth to health and wellness; from accumulating money to accumulating happiness; from consuming excess to consuming 'just enough,' and leaving enough for other species to thrive; from exclusion to inclusion; from violence to love; from self-interest and greed to community prosperity, from limitless growth to disciplined degrowth, from being blind to seeing clearly, and acting boldly. I see the organization bringing the women of Puerto Rico together, of all colors and heritages, of all incomes and education, of all ages and self-definitions, and helping them build a workable future, one building block at a time. We can show the world the power we have, and help other women and other nations, achieve their own power. 

The era of rapaciousness is over. We must "go back to nature," and start the human experiment again, this time letting the forces mother nature has designed to control and shape us as human animals guide us individually and as a society; we must make use of all we have learned in the last ten thousand years, and walk the line between respect and need without destroying the web of life.

2. What goals will define your leadership during the next 5 years if you were to run a nonprofit?

1. Back of the House: Establish the in-house work team, research potential paths forward, begin fundraising outreach, recruit volunteers and interns

2. Front of the House: present and educate the public on our development plan, invite communities to join, form an alliance with other NGO's that share our goals

3. Bring a Funding Specialist, an Entrepreneurship Specialist, a Communications Specialist, and a Volunteer Coordinator onboard to solidify relationships with sponsors, partners, government agencies, and volunteers, communicate our vision, create synergies, establish budgets, and develop commitments from available sources of funds and new clients. One of these women will become the Director after me.

4. Raise $1.5 million ($500,000/yr for salaries, benefits, travel expenses, and overhead costs, and a seed fund of $1,000,000 for projects and grants for the Launch Year - the year we reach our financial goals, expected to be at the end of year 2 of my directorship)

5. Reach out to my amazing network of female environmental and business stars for support, suggestions, and shared project potential

6. Plan the first five years after launch together with allies, partners, and sponsors (as an iterative, organic process)

7. Work with and train a visionary young successor (in her 30's or 40's) from our team, become a mentor, retire from active administration, sit on the Board of Directors of the Foundation

8. Launch the first round of Foundation grants, fundraising events, community outreach projects during our Launch Year, and begin offering consulting services for pay to supplement our fundraising (year three of my directorship)

9. Raise $3,000,000 for the second year after launch and reach $200,000 in sales (year four of my directorship)

10. Raise $5,000,000 for the third year after launch, and reach $500,000 in sales (year five and last of my directorship)

11. Raise $6,000,000 for the fourth year after launch, and reach $1,000,000 in sales (first year of the new director's reign)

3.  What strategies will you use to meet those goals?

1. I will use my administrative experience to set up the organization correctly from the start (funding, team, goals)

2. I will use my personality and smarts to bring onboard amazing women to work with me to make the Foundation and its vision/goals a reality

3. I will use my management experience to make my work team happy, efficient, focused, disciplined, and agile  

4. I will use my contacts to build relationships with the business sector and government agencies here and in the US

5. I will use my activism contacts to consolidate relationships in the environmental, feminist, social rights, environmental rights, and LGBTQ communities

6. I will use my communication and social media skills, working with our Communications Specialist, to set out the vision and goals of the Foundation

7. I will take time to mentor and work with the next Director

8. I will bring my knowledge of history, economics, philosophy, ethics, sociology, humanities, art, and climate change to share a holistic vision of the approaching future so we can all be aware of what is coming and how to prepare for it.

9. I will use my skills and experience in photography and video production to make the visual case for conscientious living

10. I will use my social media presence to disseminate our vision and accomplishments

11. I will create affordable MOOC's on Social justice, Climate Change Survival Strategies, Social and Solidarity Economy, Environmental justice, Degrowth, Transition Towns, Building an Ecovillage or an Eco-Community, Urban Agriculture, from Industrial Agriculture to Permaculture

12. I will create, with leading female lawyers and legislators, a transversal public policy on climate change; an appointment to government cabinet positions of people committed to climate justice; update laws to mitigate this crisis; adopt Coastal Conservations Laws; ban single-use plastics from entering the island; set up recycling and landfill management departments; set up watchdog groups to supervise contracts to avoid conflicts with environmental goals; transition to a sustainable economy; generate green jobs and green entrepreneurship that restore natural assets; create a land-use plan according to the climate crisis; generate more citizen participation; commit to renewable energy, the protection of coasts, rivers, and estuarine systems, allow only organic and permaculture agriculture, and stopping deforestation while adding tree planting programs.

Notas de eficiencia Ambiental para Legisladores

¡Las EcoNotas! (yo voy a reanudar esta tarea!!)

Herramienta para Cabilderos Ambientalistas

Originalmente publicado en: Lunes 3 de noviembre, 2008 

San Juan, Puerto Rico  

El Comité Evaluador de la Legislación Ambiental (CELA) emitió esta tarde las EcoNotas, donde como ya es tradición, se evalúa la actuación Ambiental de la legislatura. El CELA mantiene esta gestión de escudriñar el record legislativo para informar al pueblo sobte la actuación de su legislatura. ¿Fué a favor o en detrimento de la integridad del medio ambiente.? Otorgándoles una nota (A - F) de acuerdo a su gestión legislativa, esperamos alertar al público al respecto. 

 “La conspiración por parte de la industria del desastrollo para corromper al gobierno de Puerto Rico hasta ahora ha sido sumamente efectiva. Ha llegado a las más altas esferas. Lo demuestra claramente el caso de Castro Font y las irregularidades en torno a la decisión del Supremo en Paseo Caribe, así como la inacción de Justicia sobre todos los otros angulos de este caso. Se pretende entre otros males, privatizar los bienes de dominio público. Los bienes que no son de nadie porque son de todos. 

De facto existen dos poderes en la política el dinero los votos: Vox populi… Vox Dei.” Expresó Ricardo "Riki" de Soto, GuardaMar de Puerto Rico. 

A Continuación Las EcoNotas 2008: 

A+ Maria de Lourdes Santiago Negrón PIP SENADO 

A + Orlando Parga,Hijo PNP SENADO 

A + A Victor García San Inocencio PIP Camara de Representantes 

A José Luis Rivera Guerra PNP Camara de representantes 

A Eudaldo Baez Galib PPD SENADO 

A A- B+ Cirilo Tirado,Hijo PPD SENADO 

B + B B- Carlos Vizcarrondo Irrizarry PPD Camara de Representantes 

B menos Johnny Méndez Nuñez PNP Camara de Representantes 

B menos Norma Burgos PNP SENADO 

B menos Antonio Silva Delgado PNP Camara de Representantes 

B menos Javier A. Rivera Aquino PNP Camara de Representantes 

B menos Luis Vega Ramos PDP Cámara de Representantes 

B menos C+ Luz Z. Arce Ferrer PNP Senado 

C + Lornna Soto PNP SENADO 

C + C Héctor Ferre Rios PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Liza Fernández PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Jorge Navarro Suárez PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Nelson Del Valle PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Héctor Torres PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Carlos Molina PNP Camara de Representantes 

C José E. Concepción Hernández PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Sergio Ortiz Quiñones PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Carlos M. Hernández López PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Norman Rámirez Rivera PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Lydia Méndez Silva PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Roberto Cruz Rodríguez PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Ramón A. Reyes PPD Camara de Representante 

C José L. Jiménez Negrón PNP Camara de Representante 

C Carmen I González González PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Pedro I. Cintrón González PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Jorge L. Ramos Peña PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Sylvia Rodríguez Aponte de Corujo PPD Camara de Representantes 

C José M. Varela Fernández PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Angel R. Peña Rosa PNP Camara de representantes 

C Cristóbal Colón Ruiz PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Joel Rosario Hernández PPD Camara de representantes 

C Pedro Rodríguez González PPD Camara de Representantes 

C Epifanio Jiménez Cruz PNP Camara de Representantes 

C Migdalia Padilla Alvelo PNP SENADO 

C José Emilio Gonzalez PNP SENADO 

C Modesto L. Agosto Alicea PPD SENADO 

C Juan Eugenio Hernández Mayoral PPD SENADO 

C Rafael A. García Colón PPD Camara de Representantes 

C C- Luis Raúl Torres Cruz PPD Camara de Representantes 

C menos Angel Pérez Otero PNP Camara de Representantes 

C menos Bernardo Márquez García PNP Camara de Representantes 

C menos Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porra PPD Camara de Representantes 

C menos Carmelo Rios PNP SENADO 

C menos D+ Pedro Rosselló González PNP SENADO 

D + D Iris M. Ruiz Class PNP Camara de Representante 

D Maria de Lourdes Ramos Rivera PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Rolando Crespo Arroyo PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Francisco González Rodríguez PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Alba I. Rivera Rámirez PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Luis Pérez Ortiz PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Tomás Bonilla feliciano PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Angel Bulerín Ramos PNP Camara de Representantes 

D Hector Martinez PNP SENADO 

D Luis Daniel Muñiz Cortez PNP SENADO 

D Carlos Pagán PNP SENADO 

D Bruno A. Ramos Olivera PNP SENADO 

D Margarita Nolasco Santiago PNP SENADO 

D Sixto Hernandez Serrano PPD SENADO 

D José J. García Cabán PPD Camara de Representantes 

D D- José Chico Vega PNP Camara de Representantes 

D menos Jorge Colberg Toro PPD Camara de Representantes 

D menos José Luis Dalmau Santiago PPD SENADO 

D menos Antonio J. Faz Alzamorra PPD SENADO 

D menos F Jennifer Gonzalez Colón PNP Camara de Representantes 

F Ferdinand Pérez Román PPD Camara de Representantes 

F Roberto Arango PNP SENADO 

F Sila Mari González Calderón PPD SENADO 

F F- José Aponte Hernández PNP Cámara de Representantes 

F menos Carlos Diaz PNP SENADO 

F menos Jorge De Castro Font PNP SENADO 

F menos José Garriga Pico PNP SENADO 

F menos Kenneth McClintock Hernández PNP SENADO 

 Enemigos del medioambiente:: 

 € Jorge de Castro Font 

 € Carlos Diaz 

 € Kenneth McClintock 

 € José Aponte 

 € José Garriga Pico 

Paladínes del medioambiente y la eco-logía social: 

* Orlando Parga* 

* Maria de Lourdes Santiago Negrón *

A, tot 6

4 PIP

0 PNP

2 PPD

B, tot 7

0 PIP

5 PNP

2 PPD

C, tot 37

0 PIP

21 PNP

16 PPD

D, tot 20

0 PIP

15 PNP

5 PPD

F, tot 8

0 PIP

6 PNP

2 PPD

Buenos (A + B) = 16% de todos los legisladores

Malos (C, D, F) = 83% de todos los legisladores

Por Partido:

PIP 100% VERDE  (votaron por 10 de cada 10 piezas de legislacion verde posible)

PNP 10% verde (solo votaron por 1 de cada 10 piezas de legislacion verde posible)

PPD 14% verde  (solo votaron por 1 de cada 7 piezas de legislacion verde posible)

Ciudadanos, comunidades y organizaciones exigen al Gobierno de Puerto Rico que atienda la crisis climática (español e ingles)

 Esto sigue siendo necesario. MPN

Ciudadanos/as/es, comunidades y organizaciones exigen al Gobierno de Puerto Rico que atienda la crisis climática

 Por Sea Grant Puerto Rico

https://seagrantpr.org/blog/2020/12/13/ciudadanos-as-es-comunidades-y-organizaciones-exigen-al-gobierno-que-atienda-la-crisis-climatica/  12/13/2020  

10 puntos mínimos para una gobernanza climática

En los últimos años Puerto Rico ha vivido momentos de mucha angustia, dolor y desasosiego. Hemos sobrevivido el embate de huracanes, inundaciones, terremotos, sequías, amenazas al aire que respiramos, altas temperaturas sin precedentes, una pandemia, todo esto en medio de una larga depresión económica y crisis social. Miles han perdido sus viviendas y sus empleos, nuestras costas se convierten en vertederos de escombros, nuestra flora y vida silvestre, vital para la agricultura, están desapareciendo. Una tercera parte de nuestra población vive inseguridad alimentaria mientras la crisis climática amenaza los sistemas alimentarios globales.

La ciencia nos ha advertido: los gases de efecto invernadero provocan el aumento de las temperaturas, esto a su vez provoca el alza en el nivel del mar y el aumento en la intensidad de fenómenos atmosféricos (lluvias, sequías, ciclones). Estos cambios drásticos tienen como resultado la pérdida masiva de especies, migraciones masivas de gente, profundización de las desigualdades sociales, angustia y dolor. La crisis económica también se agudiza pues estos eventos alteran dramáticamente las condiciones de vida. Después de todo, la economía no es algo ajeno a la vida social y también requiere transformarse.

La crisis climática es resultado de todas las crisis e injusticias por las que hemos luchado por décadas, es consecuencia del afán de lucro y la explotación infinita en un sistema que no reconoce los límites de la Tierra. Es consecuencia también de gobiernos negligentes, que rechazan el conocimiento científico, que no les importan las consecuencias de sus políticas y destruyen el futuro de las próximas generaciones. Año tras año los gobernantes prometen mucho, pero no han hecho nada para cambiar de curso. Se dice que el crecimiento económico es fundamental, pero ninguna política pública ha detenido el aumento de la pobreza por décadas.

Puerto Rico enfrenta directamente las consecuencias del cambio climático por lo que es urgente una política pública asertiva, fuerte y decisiva para atender la crisis climática. POR ESO, en esta coyuntura en que se configura un nuevo gobierno, las personas y organizaciones firmantes AFIRMAMOS Y EXIGIMOS, tanto de la RAMA EJECUTIVA como de la RAMA LEGISLATIVA:

1. UNA POLÍTICA PÚBLICA TRANSVERSAL que en todas las áreas (presupuesto, economía, energía, transportación, agricultura, salud, educación, infraestructura, vivienda, las artes y las ciencias, entre otras), integre las consideraciones del cambio climático priorizando soluciones basadas en la naturaleza y la atención a los segmentos vulnerabilizados y empobrecidos por la desigualdad social.

2. NOMBRAMIENTOS de personas comprometidas con el servicio público y con la implantación de las políticas dirigidas a atender la crisis desde la justicia climática, la protección y restauración de la naturaleza y la rehabilitación de toda la infraestructura del país.

3. PAQUETE DE MEDIDAS LEGISLATIVAS que actualicen leyes y reglamentos vigentes, dirigidas a una política pública integral, justa y decisiva para prevenir, desacelerar y mitigar la crisis climática.

4. La adopción de una LEY DE COSTAS Y BIENES COMUNES COSTEROS.

5. LA OTORGACIÓN DE TODO CONTRATO del gobierno debe asegurar que el ánimo de lucro no implique un conflicto con el interés público, nuestros bienes comunes y las metas programáticas ante la crisis climática.

6. TRANSFORMACIÓN HACIA UNA ECONOMÍA SOSTENIBLE Y JUSTA. Urge transformar la economía de una enfocada en el crecimiento infinito y arbitrario hacia economías que garanticen el cuidado y bienestar de las personas y los ecosistemas de los que dependemos.

7. Los niveles de pobreza y desempleo en Puerto Rico son insostenibles. Exigimos que haya una POLÍTICA DE GENERACIÓN DE EMPLEOS de la mano de las políticas dirigidas para atender el cambio climático y que se dé paso a empleos dignos dirigidos a proteger y restaurar los bienes naturales.

8. La PLANIFICACIÓN DEL SUELO debe responder a la crisis climática. Por esto, debe derogarse el Reglamento Conjunto de Permisos aprobado y comenzarse un proceso amplio para uno nuevo a tono con lo aquí expuesto.

9. UNA POLÍTICA DE PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA amplia que reconozca la experiencia, los saberes y los intereses de la ciudadanía, de los y las profesionales y comunidad científica que por décadas han alertado y luchado para evitar esta crisis.

10. LAS ACCIONES PARA MITIGAR Y ENFRENTAR la inminente realidad del cambio climático deben incluir, entre otras:

a. Una política sensible y comprometida con la energía renovable y la independencia del combustible fósil, sin comprometer los bienes naturales.

b. La protección de los bienes comunes de los que nuestra vida depende. Debe detenerse la tala indiscriminada de árboles y la extracción en áreas naturales indispensables como infraestructura natural para mitigar, desacelerar y adaptarnos al cambio climático.

c. Las barreras naturales costeras deben protegerse y restaurarse, priorizando los recursos naturales costeros, deteniendo la dilapidación y explotación irreversible de estos. Desde la justicia climática debe atenderse el saneamiento de la zona marítimo terrestre y detener la destrucción y el daño irreversible en la zona costanera.

d. Los cuerpos de agua y sistemas hídricos como los humedales nos protegen de inundaciones. Es urgente que se prohíba la desaparición de humedales y otros sistemas estuarinos, la canalización de ríos y otras construcciones que nos hacen más vulnerables a inundaciones y erosión.

e. El fomento de la economía local y a pequeña escala, de modo que se genere actividad comercial en lugares cercanos a las viviendas, trabajos y escuelas para reducir la dependencia de combustibles fósiles que aportan al calentamiento global.

f. La protección de terrenos agrícolas que garanticen para el presente y las futuras generaciones una agricultura sostenible y la seguridad alimentaria de quienes habitan estas tierras.

Estas exigencias forman parte de una larga trayectoria de personas y grupos que han dedicado su vida a defender la naturaleza. Con ellas y ellos, y en saludo a las gestas de hoy hacemos un llamado amplio y urgente a todas las personas y grupos a proteger, restaurar y rehabilitar sin esperar por la política partidista. Debemos actuar en favor de la sostenibilidad de la vida, el tiempo es ahora. Lo que hagamos o dejemos de hacer va a repercutir en el futuro -cercano y a largo plazo-. El presente y futuro de la vida en estas islas está en nuestras manos.

 

[ENGLISH]

CITIZENS, COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND ACTION FROM THE PUERTO RICAN GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS

By Sea Grant Puerto Rico

12/13/2020

10 minimum points for climate governance

In recent years, Puerto Rico has experienced moments of great anguish, pain, and unease. We have survived the onslaught of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, droughts, hazardous threats to the air we breathe, unprecedented high temperatures, a pandemic, all in the midst of a long economic depression and social crisis. Thousands have lost their homes and jobs, our coasts are becoming rubble dumps, our flora and wildlife, vital to agriculture, are disappearing. A third of our population is food insecure as the climate crisis threatens global food systems.

Science has warned us: greenhouse gases cause temperatures to rise, this in turn causes a rise in sea level and an increase in the intensity of atmospheric phenomena (rains, droughts, cyclones). These drastic changes result in the massive loss of species, massive migrations of people, deepening of social inequalities, anguish and pain. The economic crisis is also becoming more acute as these events dramatically alter living conditions. After all, the economy is not separate from social life and it also requires transformation.

The climate crisis is the result of all the crises and injustices that we have been fighting for decades, it is a consequence of the endless pursuit of profit and infinite exploitation within a system that does not recognize the Earth's limits. It is also a consequence of negligent governments that reject scientific knowledge, that do not care about the consequences of their policies and destroy the future of the next generations. Year after year government leaders make many promises, but they have done nothing to change course. Economic growth is said to be essential, but no public policy has stopped the rise in poverty for decades.

Puerto Rico faces the impact of climate change directly, which is why an assertive, strong and decisive public policy is urgent to address the climate crisis. THEREFORE, at this juncture in which a new government is being configured, the signatory individuals and organizations AFFIRM AND DEMAND, both from the EXECUTIVE BRANCH and from the LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:

1. A TRANSVERSAL PUBLIC POLICY that in all areas (budget, economy, energy, transportation, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, housing, arts and sciences, among others), integrates the considerations of climate change prioritizing solutions based on nature and attention to the vulnerable and impoverished due to social inequality.

2. APPOINTMENTS of people committed to public service and the implementation of policies aimed at addressing the crisis from climate justice perspectives, the protection and restoration of nature, and the rehabilitation of the entire infrastructure of the country.

3. A PACKAGE OF LEGISLATIVE MEASURES that update current laws and regulations, aimed at a comprehensive, fair and decisive public policy to prevent, slow down and mitigate the climate crisis.

4. The adoption of a COASTAL AND COMMONS ACT.

5. THE AWARDING OF ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS must ensure that the profit motive does not imply a conflict with the public interest, the commons and the programmatic goals to address the climate crisis.

6. TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR ECONOMY. It is urgent to transform the economy from one focused on infinite and arbitrary growth towards economies that guarantee the care and well-being of people and the ecosystems on which we depend.

7. The levels of poverty and unemployment in Puerto Rico are unsustainable. We demand that there be a JOB GENERATION POLICY hand in hand with policies aimed at climate change and that decent jobs are created to protect and restore natural systems.

8. LAND PLANNING must respond to the climate crisis. For this reason, the approved Joint Permit Regulation must be repealed and a broad process for a new one should begin in line with what is stated here.

9. A broad CITIZEN PARTICIPATION POLICY that recognizes the experience, knowledge and interests of citizens, professionals and the scientific community who for decades have warned and fought to avoid this crisis.

10. ACTIONS TO MITIGATE AND ADDRESS the impending reality of climate change should include, among others:

a. A sensitive policy committed to renewable energy, fossil fuel independence, without compromising natural systems.

b. The protection of the natural systems on which our life depends. The indiscriminate felling of trees and extraction in natural areas essential for natural infrastructure must be stopped to mitigate, slow down and adapt to climate change.

c. Coastal natural barriers must be protected and restored, prioritizing coastal natural resources, stopping their irreversible exploitation and their loss. Climate justice must address the rehabilitation of the maritime-land area, and stop the destruction and irreversible damage in the coastal area.

d. Bodies of water and water systems such as wetlands protect us from floods. It is urgent that the disappearance of wetlands and other estuarine systems, the channeling of rivers and other constructions that make us more vulnerable to floods and erosion be prohibited.

e. The promotion of the local and small-scale economy, so that commercial activity is generated in places close to homes, jobs, and schools to reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

f. The protection of agricultural lands that guarantee sustainable agriculture and food security for those who inhabit these lands for the present and future generations.

These demands emerge from a long history of people and groups who have dedicated their lives to defending nature. With them, and in salute to the struggles of today, we make a broad and urgent call to all people and groups to protect, restore, and rehabilitate without waiting for partisan politics. We must act in favor of the sustainability of life. The time is now.

What we do or do not do will have repercussions in the near and long-term future. The present and future of life on these islands is in our hands.

Sugerencias para un Plan de Sostenibilidad para Puerto Rico

 

No he visto ni un solo plan de gobierno que sea sostenible para Puerto Rico.

Entiendo que para un cambio que llegue a bajar las emisiones de carbón por 10% al año los próximos 10 años, se necesita crear Equipos de Sustentabilidad a nivel sector privado, sector público, y tercer sector (y no voluntariamente, sino por ley) creando lo siguiente:

• 1.       Un Asesor de Sostenibilidad del “C-Suite” (CEO, CFO, CIO, COO) para asesorar a los Ejecutivos y a la Junta Directiva corporativos (mas de 50+ empleados)
• 2.       Un SVP y dos Directores de Sostenibilidad (un Director/a supervisa la producción y el/la otro/a la administración de la corporación (nivel gerencial), y el SVP para comunicaciones entre el C Suite y los gerentes)
• 3.       dos Enlaces de Sostenibilidad (“Sustainability Liaisons”) que trabajen uno con grupos internos (empleados, cadena de valor, suplidores) y el otro con grupos externos (inversionistas, organizaciones comunitarias, “stakeholders”, clientes, compradores, y políticos) y explique lo que está en juego (genocidio, ecocidio), cual es el impacto que necesita evitarse, qué acciones son necesarias, e intercambiar ideas sobre alternativas y soluciones con las partes; estos se comunican con los Directores de Sostenibilidad.
• 4.       Un grupo de gerentes de datos que recopilan información pertinente en cuanto al impacto ambiental, el BDJ social, y el impacto económico de estos cambios, los cuales pueden ser usados en el Reporte Anual Inclusivo (que incluye data económica, social, y ambiental) y quienes se comunican con los Directores de Sostenibilidad.
• 5.       Las comunidades deben tener Asesores de Sostenibilidad para mejorar sus proyectos y comunicarse con los Directores de Sostenibilidad privados y públicos
• 6. Los pequenyos negocios deben tener la ayuda de un Consultor de Sostenibilidad
• 7.  La ciudad o pueblo, así como el gobierno municipal y nacional, deben crear una Oficina de Sostenibilidad que supervise todos los esfuerzos y proyectos de Sostenibilidad corporativos, gubernamentales, y comunitarios y dirijan, con la ayuda de la Junta de Planificación, el PRCCC, y el DRNA, el desarrollo sostenible para cada municipio, region hidrologica/economica, y la isla entera.
• 8.       También se debe crear un Carbon Tax, y tener una campaña educativa en todos los medios sobre como la “Nueva Economía” nos lleva a dejar de gastar dinero en ciertos lujos, y a aprender a gastar inteligentemente – o, como se vive bien con menos. Se le tiene que pagar mas a los empleados ($15 la hora, mínimo) y se tiene que comprar las cosas locales, y dejar de importar 85% de las cosas que consumimos; hay que crear una economía local, social, y solidaria con mas enprendedores y menos negocios foraneos; hay que tener mejor infraestructura de transportacion publica. Hay que incentivar y ayudar a empresarios sostenibles y dejar de hacerlo con los que no lo son (crear parámetros de sostenibilidad, y dar un (1) año para lograrlos). Hay que crear nuevas industrias de limpieza y embalaje de desperdicios y minería de vertederos, y prohibir empaques plásticos y plásticos de un solo uso. Hay que crear una industria local de hacer plásticos de aceite de algas o de cáñamo. Hay que crear una industria de aceite de algas para hacer biodiesel (98% equivalente a Bunker C, pero limpio y local) para usarse en las generatrices de electricidad con demanda disminuida. Hay que poner a los pescadores a dejar de pescar (moratoria indefinida para la pesca de todo animal marino) y pagarle por recoger desperdicios del mar; darle ayuda para hacer fincas marinas, y prohibir los desechos marinos en un radio de 200 millas de Puerto Rico. Hay que crear áreas protegidas intocables, en tierra y mar, que sumen un 40% de nuestro terreno y mar. Hay que reconstruir los centros de ciudad que han colapsado de una manera sostenible, solidaria, e innovadora (con bosques de comida urbanos!). Hay que dejar de invertir en negocios “sucios” o tóxicos (#Divest). Y todo esto va a causar que las cosas sean mucho más caras, y por ende, solo se pueda comprar lo necesario para vivir durante la próxima decada. La tarea es que cada uno de ustedes empiecen a pensar en soluciones, como si ustedes fueran los politicos a cargo - para que tengan que tomar todas las posibilidades en cuenta, y pensar en soluciones holisticas. Como un ejercicio de accion y crear conciencia. Si esperas que otros lo hagan, nuestros nietos no llegaran a viejos.

Entiendo que estas sugerencias parecen ser radicales, pero es lo que la ciencia dice que se requiere, y de antemano se puede tener una campaña publicitaria sobre los dones y necesidades de ser sostenibles, las diferencias entre las soluciones apropiadas a una isla versus la metrópoli, y ejemplos de vida en la “Nueva Economía”.

La situación es como si yo fuera un cirujano, que lleva a un paciente al quirófano, y antes de operar, pido un CT scan de su cuerpo, y me percato que además de tener que reemplazar la cadera, tiene cancer del pulmón, y si solo se opera la cadera, el paciente podrá caminar, pero se morirá al no poder respirar. Con la sostenibilidad es lo mismo, hay que oscultar, identificar, y remover todos los riesgos al mismo tiempo, o se muere el paciente (en este caso la Tierra, la biodiversidad, y por ende, nosotros).