Monthly Archives: August 2015

WECAN (Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network) International is organizing a Global Women’s Climate Justice Day of Action on September 29th, 2015.

Para información en español, haga clic aquí

“We are calling for this worldwide women’s climate mobilization in light of the December 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP21, where world governments will work on a climate agreement that will have profound impacts on our global trajectory…”

Women of the World Call for Urgent Action on Climate Change & Sustainability Solutions 

We are the mothers and the grandmothers, sisters and daughters, nieces and aunts, who stand together to care for all generations across our professions, affiliations and national identities.

We are teachers and scientists, farmers and fishers, healers and helpers, workers and business peoples, writers and artists, decision-makers and activists, leaders and thinkers. We work in the halls of power, the halls of faith and the halls of our homes.

We are gathering to raise our voices to advocate for an Earth-respecting cultural narrative, one of “restore, respect, replenish” and to replace the narrative of “domination, depletion and destruction” of nature.

We are committed to a transition from a future of peril to a future of promise, to rally the women around the world to join together in action at all levels until the climate crisis is solved.

PREAMBLE

Climate change threatens life as we know it on our one and only home planet. Our children, our grandchildren and all future generations are in danger. Natural systems upon which all living things depend are in jeopardy.

The world’s governments have committed to avoiding a global temperature rise of 2.0 C degrees. But emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GhGs) are setting us on a course toward a likely 4.0 C (7.2 degrees F) temperature rise. Scientists repeatedly warn this will cause unprecedented, large-scale disruptions of human and natural systems, food and water insecurity, and untold loss of life.

We are experiencing more frequent, extreme weather events, droughts, floods and displacement of millions around the world.

International commitments and national responses of governments have not been equivalent to the escalating urgency and local communities are bearing the brunt.

Humanity is in a crisis – a dangerous, carbon fueled, urgent climate crisis. This crisis is not only a scientific reality, but also demands the moral imperative to act. Future generations depend upon our capacity to solve climate change before it is too late.

The time is now to usher in a sustainable future.

Among the most severely vulnerable to climate change are women, Indigenous Peoples, and those who live in extreme poverty. Climate disruption, including disasters and their enduring effects, is jeopardizing livelihoods and well-being around the world.

Unsustainable consumption and production reverses development gains in the global North and the global South: Women and men of industrialized nations have a responsibility to educate themselves, examine their worldviews, commit to action, and lead by example.

No one person, organization, community, province, region, or nation is capable of solving the challenge of climate change alone. This is a time for collaboration at a global level as never before required.

We are coming together to demand a just and necessary transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, to reduce consumption by our families and communities and to actively embrace a high quality-low footprint lifestyle.

We are coming together to embrace a new way of living with each other and the Earth.

We have a choice: between a path of continued peril and a path towards climate justice and a safe and clean energy future. We can and must join together as women to take action with common but differentiated responsibilities for achieving sustainability.

We must act now for ourselves, for future generations, for all living things on Mother Earth.

DECLARATION

We are gathering from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

We are gathering from diverse nationalities, faiths, families and professions.

We are gathering in defense of our children, grandchildren, and the generations beyond.

We are gathering in defense of the animals, plants and natural systems that are under siege.

We are gathering and uniting in solidarity to grow the global women’s movement for climate action and sustainable solutions.

We are gathering to put the world on notice that women will take action at all levels to avert the trajectory of a 4 degrees C (7.2 degrees F) rise in global temperatures.

We are gathering to ensure that the sovereignty of communities to design and determine their own destinies into a thriving future is respected.

We are gathering to take action and chart a new course.

The science is clear. There is no more debate. The time for action is NOW.

We will answer humanity’s increased vulnerability with our increased commitment.

We know that while women are among the most negatively impacted by climate disruption, we are also key to creating climate solutions.

We stand together to accelerate a Global Women’s Climate Action Movement.

We, the undersigned, call on ourselves, our communities, and our governments to:

Cancel plans for future carbon developments and deforestation and bring atmospheric CO2 concentrations back below 350 ppm;

Divest from dangerous and dirty fossil fuel developments – coal fired power plants, oil shale fracking, deep-water oil drilling and Tar Sands and rapidly phase out fossil fuel subsidies;

Put a price on carbon and implement carbon-fees and Financial Transaction Taxes;

Call for urgent action prior to 2020, in order to accelerate the phase-out of greenhouse gas pollution and to close the gap between the science and national pledges; action is needed at all levels, from the grassroots to the United Nations;

Negotiate and ratify a binding, international climate treaty of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reduce carbon emissions;

Prioritize adaptation funding to build community resilience for those most affected by climate change in existing climate funds under the UNFCCC;

Increase available funding for adaptation and ensure that community-based groups, including women’s groups, have direct access to those adaptation funds;

Invest in an energy revolution with massive and swift expansion of conservation, energy efficiency, and safe energy by

• implementing radically increased efficiency standards and
• generating 100% of all new electricity from renewables
• incentivizing conservation and reduction of consumption, especially in the Global North;

Recognize that the transition to renewable energy does not justify or require a massive increase in mega hydro dams, biofuels and major monoculture biomass plantations that cause displacement, food insecurity, human rights abuses and deforestation;

Prioritize natural forest protection and increase funding for natural reforestation;

Reject Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions schemes that come from high-risk technologies which create irreversible damage to human and planetary health including tar sands, shale gas, nuclear energy, and geo-engineering;

Embrace and implement common but differentiated responsibilities to solve the climate crisis between the global North and global South;

Implement new economic indicators and structures that encourage sustainability, Buen Vivir (living well), and abandon models for limitless economic growth;

Recognize that the planet’s freshwater heritage is under threat and that abuse, over-extraction and displacement of water is a major cause of climate chaos. Essential to the recovery of climate stability is a strong plan to conserve, protect and restore the world’s watersheds and rebuild the health of aquatic ecosystems;

Take action to protect one of our essential life support systems – the world’s wild oceans – as a start, protect 20% of the world’s oceans by 2020 and 40% by 2040 in marine preserves and sanctuaries;

Fulfill existing international agreements on women’s equality and climate change by

• ensuring implementation of gender-responsive climate change policy and programs
• ensuring all climate financial mechanisms embrace the internationally agreed principles on gender equality, non-discrimination, human rights and women’s empowerment
• recognizing that gender-sensitive climate policy benefits men, women, children and the planet;

Respect and learn from the Traditional Ecological Knowledge, wisdom and experience of the world’s Indigenous Peoples;

Respect and implement the Rights of Women, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Rights of Nature and the Rights of Future Generations;

Take individual action on a daily basis to avert climate chaos and to implement solutions at all levels.

This is the clarion call to the women and men of the world.

Please join us by sharing this Declaration and by taking urgent action for climate change and sustainability solutions.

This Declaration was ratified by Delegates

to the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit

September 20-23, 2013, New York, USA

Hello all,

Many NYers are seeing their skyline, light, air affected by out-of-scale development in formerly low-rise or even (what we used to think of!) mid to high rise neighborhoods.

Let us know what you think?

CB#5 has done a great deal of research on shadowing and Central Park with their Sunshine Task Force Report.

This petition is from the Tribeca Trust.

We urge the City Council to amend (and urge Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer to support amending) local zoning laws as they relate to as-of-right development given the significant environmental impact of tall buildings over 25 stories. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should take into consideration density and congestion, the effect of shadows on parks, and the vulnerability of an area to sea rise and storm surges.  Zoning should allow for the following principles:

1. Limit height
2. Require an EIS on buildings over 25 stories (no as-of-right)
3. Consider existing density and congestion on neighborhood streets
4. Require operable windows
5. Adhere to the Public Trust and Open Space Doctrine*
6. Prohibit tall residential buildings in low lying areas subject to sea rise and storm surges
7. Contain a Sunshine Clause that prohibits shadows in parks caused by new development
8. Designate landmark-worthy sites and ensure contextual zoning in Historic Districts.

New Yorkers for a Human-Scaled City

– Our Petition to Government-

DRAFT #2

WE, the citizens of New York City, call for an end to the violence that real estate developers have inflicted on our skyline, parks, public areas, and cityscape with dramatically over-scaled buildings that ignore the historic context of our City.

WHEREAS, we are angered when developers seize our commonly shared light, air, and iconic views for private consumption.

WHEREAS, we are aggrieved when we see developers plunder our historic neighborhoods and bury them in a sea of glass, all for luxury condos that destroy more affordable housing than they create.

WHEREAS, we are dismayed that small businesses are being hounded out of their premises by an army of banks and chain stores.

WHEREAS, many parts of our city are already too dense such that the public infrastructure in those places cannot support more people without a decline in the quality of life, destruction of historic fabric, and deterioration of the urban experience that made New York so great.

WHEREAS, economic growth and affordable housing are indisputably compatible with both a human-scaled city and the preservation of our historic neighborhoods.

WE CONCLUDE that reform must take place or the unique character of New York City will be lost forever.

THEREFORE, we call upon the Mayor and the City Council to prioritize and develop zoning changes, height restrictions, demolition moratoria, strengthened environmental reviews and to implement other regulatory reforms and laws to guide future development towards a human-scaled future – one that protects rather then destroys New York’s historic fabric. We ask that appointees to regulatory bodies be free of ties to the real estate industry. We call for widespread public debate and referenda on these policies.

We also call on the political clubs to field candidates for all offices who are willing to challenge the power and influence that the real estate lobby has accrued within our government.

Sponsored by:

Tribeca Trust, 29^th Street Association, Friends of South Street Seaport

Thought to post this from February regarding CB3 Resolution requesting Safety improvements to Chrystie Street:

February 2015 Full Board Minutes of Community Board 3

Support for Safety Concerns / Chrystie Street Bike Lane VOTE: TITLE: Community Board 3 Resolution Requesting Safety Improvements for Chrystie Street

WHEREAS, Chrystie Street’s road design has not been adjusted for 7 years, since the 2008 Manhattan Bridge Bicycle Access Network installation that brought traffic calming and bike lanes to the area. Cycling ridership has grown tremendously in the years following DOT’s upgrades to the Manhattan Bridge, in particular along Chrystie Street for the northbound AM and southbound PM rush hours; and

WHEREAS, Second Avenue has seen a surge of bicycling usage since the introduction of its protected bike lane, which feeds directly into southbound Chrystie Street. The Second Avenue bike lanes were installed during the 2010 First Avenue/Second Avenue Select Bus Service installation; and

WHEREAS, Current conditions on Chrystie Street all but guarantee hazards for cyclists and drivers alike with severely faded bike lanes in the southbound direction, and with uneven and hummock-filled surfaces because of heavy truck and bus traffic; and

WHEREAS, Southbound cyclists must regularly contend with double parked vehicles and garage driveways blanketing the west side of the street; and

WHEREAS, Southbound cyclists must regularly make a confusing and dangerous transition at E 2 Street (just before Houston Street) from the protected bike lane on the east side of Second Avenue to get over to the unprotected, faded bike lane on the west side of Chrystie Street; and

WHEREAS, Vision Zero’s first year of record has seen marked reductions in crashes and fatalities for all categories, except cyclists killed; and

WHEREAS, The Sara D Roosevelt Park Coalition and Transportation Alternatives support safety enhancements brought to cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike traveling in, to, and beside Sara D Roosevelt Park. Significant numbers of pedestrians, especially seniors and children, must make unsafe crossings of Chrystie St and Delancey St along this corridor.

Groups of pedestrians must be taken into consideration include:

? Sara D Roosevelt Park has three playgrounds and many sports fields used by many programs for children: Pre-K/Day Care/Head Start Programs University Settlement (184 Eldridge St, at Rivington St); Lighthouse Preschool (82 Bowery, near Hester St); Preschool of America (39 Eldridge St, near Canal St); Garment Industry Day Care Center (between Grand St and Broome St); PS 42 Elementary School (71 Hester St, between Orchard and Ludlow St, but they do come to the Park); Asian Family Services – Chinese-American Planning Council run several programs for children and youth (165 Eldridge St, between Delancey and Rivington St); the Chinatown YMCA has afterschool programming (273 Bowery, at Houston St); Junior Soccer Leagues/Clubs.

? Several schools are located along Sara D Roosevelt Park: 198 Forsyth St (at Stanton St) is the location of several GED/High Schools (Cascades, Tenzer, Satellite Academy, Lyfe Center) and has an active daycare on site for the students who have young children; 100 Hester St (at Forsyth St) is the location of several Middle and High Schools (MS 131, Emma Lazarus and Pace HS) and has a Beacon Program; 38 Delancey St (at Forsyth St) is the Innovate Manhattan Charter School for 6- 8th grades.

? Many seniors make use of facilities in or near the Park: the BRC Senior Center (30 Delancey St, in the park); the Indochina Sino-Amercian Community Center – Senior Center (170 Forsyth St near Rivington St); the CenterLight Healthcare runs a day health center providing health-related services to the elderly, chronically ill and disabled (183 Chrystie St, near Rivington St); Rivington House is reopening as a nursing home (45 Rivington St, at Forsyth St). 5

? Men from homeless shelters, often seniors, use the Park: Bowery Mission (227 Bowery, between Rivington and Stanton St); Common Ground Andrews (297 Bowery, at Houston St).

? There are several community gardens in the Park: the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden and the Elizabeth Hubbard Memorial Garden (between Delancey and Rivington St); and the Hua Mei Bird Sanctuary (between Delancey and Broome St); now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Community Board 3-Manhattan recommends that the Department of Transportation investigate Chrystie Street for potential safety enhancements to benefit all road users, including possible two way protected bike lane facilities on the east side of Chrystie Street adjacent to Sara D Roosevelt Park, additional pedestrian refuge islands along the entire corridor, and a smoother surface for all vehicles via a freshly milled and repaved street surface; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Community Board 3-Manhattan requests that DOT work with local stakeholders, including the Sara D Roosevelt Park Coalition, and conduct visioning sessions to get community input, before DOT develops a proposal for a redesign of Chrystie St bike/traffic lanes. DOT should come to CB3 for input on a final design.

We would add for consideration as well:

– the Housing for the Deaf buildings on Forsyth near Stanton

– Forsyth Garden Conservancy

– Senior’s Garden of the BRC

Any groups or community usage we missed?

K2 is a synthetic drug that is flooding parts of NYC that are already struggling with homelessness. We don’t believe in criminalizing poverty here. We do believe in stopping drug dealers who prey on the poor. People may long for even a momentary escape from a harsh reality that has its roots in or is inflamed by racism, poverty, and centuries of exploitation. Wherever K2 is sold, on the street or in small stores, we the public need to pressure those store owners to stop selling – even if it is not technically “illegal” to sell it.

Community Board 3 passed a resolution to prosecute those who prey on the vulnerable (see below) after the moving testimony in support of the Community Board’s resolution regarding K2 (Transportation #7) by Wesley Williams and Bernard Carter. Each speaking as insiders living in the shelter system and founders of the Community Advisory Board of the Third Street Men’s Shelter. They spoke about the dangers of K2 and hoped for legislation outlawing it and protecting those abusing the drugs.

The resolution has served as a model to other CB’s of such support.

Excerpts from WNYC: Dangerous Drug Threatens East Harlem:

“Several people on this block have tried the drug. … a former heroin addict and current methadone user, said when he tried it …he became paralyzed. “Locked up” was how he put it…..[he] warned it was dangerous and should be taken off the market. City and state officials have been working to do just that, but it’s proven to be a frustrating and futile process.

K2, or synthetic marijuana, is basically herbs spiked with chemicals and drugs. … The state banned the ingredients used to make it in 2012, but distributors found new ones. And just last month, the governor proposed banning those substances too.

The drug comes in small packages labeled K2, Green Giant, Spice, Sand or Wicked. Vendors can face criminal fines or jail time, but first authorities have to prove that the chemical in the package is illegal.

“I bought it right from one of these stores here,” said Scott DeHaven. “All the stores have them. Even though they say they’re not supposed to sell them, they got them under the counter right now.”…DeHaven said he had a near-death experience when he smoked the drug….”My respiratory system shut down. I turned blue. They had to bring me to the hospital….They didn’t know what to do with me,” he said.

Health officials have said the drug can cause a range of symptoms, from extreme anxiety, rapid heart rate and vomiting to sedation, paranoia and hallucinations. ….

Between April and June, there were more than 1,900 emergency room visits across the state related to synthetic marijuana, and nearly 700 calls to the poison control call center. More than 120 people visited an emergency room in the city in just one week in April, New York City’s health department said. The majority of those cases were in East Harlem, where person after person had a story to tell.

…..”…They can’t give you something to withdraw from K2 because they don’t know” …

…The city has responded with raids by health inspectors, consumer affairs inspectors and the NYPD….”

January 2015 Full Board Minutes

“….Consideration of state legislation to address the K2 legal/enforcement problems

VOTE: Title: Community Board 3 Resolution Requesting NY State Penal Code Classification of “K2” as a Controlled Substance for Purposes of Intent to Sell and Distribute

WHEREAS, Synthetic cannabinoids (a class of drugs commonly known by their street names “K2” or “Spice”) are an emerging problem in our neighborhoods. Residents of Community Board 3 have come to the Board for help and relief from this drug that is adversely victimizing our residents, including lower income and shelter residents. Our local law enforcement and district attorneys do not have adequate legal tools to remove these harmful substances from sale and distribution; and

WHEREAS, Existing regulations classify possession of “K2” as a violation, with no distinction between possession and distribution. In other words, “K2” is legally just a violation similar to the public consumption of alcohol. Therefore, it is not possible for local law enforcement and district attorneys to uncover and shut down networks involved in the illicit sale, distribution and importation of “K2” because it is not possible to obtain a search warrant or to engage in plea bargaining with defendants; and

WHEREAS, The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has reported that emergency department visits related to synthetic cannabinoids were up 220% in first six months of 2014. The manufacture of “K2” includes an unpredictable blend of ingredients, which can cause an array of serious and unpredictable side effects. Common psychological reactions include agitation, fear and paranoia, which can cause intense experiences of panic attacks and disorientation. Significant physiological side effects can include heart palpitations and respiratory difficulties; and

WHEREAS, CB 3 wishes to respond to the community residents coming to CB 3 for help and protection of people using K2. Our lower income residents are particularly being victimized and hurt by use of this drug which can be bought for only $2.00. CB 3 wishes to support legislation that would not 9 punish the user, but would target distributors preying on our community. Only possession with intent to distribute should result in misdemeanor or felony charges that would result in serious penalties. Classifying mere possession of small quantities of “K2” as anything more serious than a violation would do nothing to improve individual or public health or safety. CB 3 does not support any change in legislation that would impact users of this drug. Drug convictions have already criminalized and marginalized millions of Americans, with consequences that can include loss of a job, voting rights, housing, and access to education. Users of “K2” should not be further victimized — “K2” is an emerging public health problem that should be addressed by legislation to curb its sale and distribution, not to criminalize its possession; and

WHEREAS, In June-September 2013, NY State enacted legislation to address synthetic cathinones (another class of drugs commonly known by their street name, “bath salts”), reclassifying them from a violation to a controlled substance under the state penal code. That legislation closed a significant loophole and toughened penalties to curb the sale and distribution of “bath salts” by allowing local law enforcement and district attorneys to use search warrants and plea bargaining. Legislation to address “K2” could be modeled on the “bath salts” legislation; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that CB3 encourages our State elected officials to enact and pass legislation to classify synthetic cannabinoids (A.K.A., “K2″) as a controlled substance under NY State penal code for purposes of intent to sell and distribute in NY State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that only possession with intent to distribute should result in misdemeanor or felony charges that would result in serious penalties. CB 3 is advocating for legislation that would not change the existing regulations regarding users of this drug. The intent is to protect users from the potentially dangerous impacts of this drug by curtailing distribution.”

STATEMENT

New York, 2 August 2015

I welcome the agreement achieved today by Member States on the outcome document of the United Nations Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda to be held in New York from 25 to 27 September 2015. “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” encompasses a universal, transformative and integrated agenda that heralds an historic turning point for our world. This agreement results from a truly open, inclusive and transparent process. This is the People’s Agenda, a plan of action for ending poverty in all its dimensions, irreversibly, everywhere, and leaving no one behind. It seeks to ensure peace and prosperity, and forge partnerships with people and planet at the core. The integrated, interlinked and indivisible 17 Sustainable Development Goals are the people’s goals and demonstrate the scale, universality and ambition of this new Agenda.

The Agenda will be adopted at the United Nations Summit in September in New York. Building on the successful outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, the Summit will chart a new era of Sustainable Development in which poverty will be eradicated, prosperity shared and the core drivers of climate change tackled. Critically, the Summit will also contribute to achieve a meaningful agreement in the COP21 in Paris in December. I look forward to joining Heads of States and Government, civil society, faith and business leaders, and peoples around the world for the adoption of this new agenda in the historic Summit in New York.

I wish to commend Member States for their leadership and commitment. I thank the co-facilitators of the negotiations, Ambassadors Kamau of Kenya and Donoghue of Ireland, for their stewardship and tireless efforts. I commend the engagement of civil society, parliamentarians, business, the academic community and all major groups in this historical participatory process during the last two years that makes the 2030 Agenda the “We the Peoples” sustainable development agenda.

The UN System stands ready to support Member States in the implementation of the new agenda.

It has been a long number of months and meetings around the UN in NYC and around the world to hammer out a new set of goals for the world to be guided by post the Millennium Development Goals expiration. There are serious flaws in the outcome document but it is what was possible at this time, with these Member States with a very active NGO Community working very hard to make the goals progressive and human centered… 

The 17 goals are listed on the website here:‹

The NGO Committee on Sustainable Development NY

“Environmental, social and economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

“The purpose of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development is to monitor and influence the implementation of the commitments and agreements adopted by the United Nations that pertain to sustainable development as defined by the UN Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit, the MDGs, the SDGs, Rio+20 and the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.  We seek to be knowledgeable about sustainable development issues under discussion or expected to be discussed by the United Nations. We focus attention and promote the programs of the United Nations on Sustainable Development for the Post-2015 Agenda, working closely with relevant UN commissions and agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme and the Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), UNDP, UNDESA, UN Women, UNPFA, and UNODA and promote and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of information on sustainable development issues within the NGO community and to the general public to raise awareness toward an action agenda. We work with Ambassadors and Permanent Missions to the United Nations, members of civil society, academia, women, youth, indigenous leaders, members of the private sector and sustainable development experts in energy, water, climate change, and infrastructure to bring about collaborations that foster innovative solutions for sustainable development, social impact initiatives and gender equality issues.”

Despite the many hours put in by Park workers and volunteers from M’Finda Kalunga and Elizabeth Hubbard Memorial Gardens to keep it in good shape this area of the Park has resisted efforts to maintain it in good shape.

Now a chance at reclaiming this part of Sara Roosevelt Park with a committed group of volunteers from the Tenement Museum. They will continue the work until we’ve rebuilt and reclaimed the former beauty of the Forsyth Garden Conservancy plots.

Thanks to Park Manager Terese Flores and the work of the original builders of this GreenThumb Garden since the early 80’s.

Volunteers from the Chinatown Y also dropped by to lend a hand!

Much thanks to everyone and a few before and after photos!