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Here's why I don't want to hear California called a 'progressive state' or a 'leader on climate change' ever again. (a thread)
As more than 360 wildfires rage across the state, we can't contain them because our state uses incarcerated people as firefighters (paid $2-$5/hour for the service) and many of them have fallen sick due to COVID-19 outbreaks across state prisons https://www.insider.com/california-facing-a-shortage-of-inmates-to-fight-wildfires-2020-8
The fires are happening because we had a record-breaking heatwave due to climate change which is increasing the frequency, severity, and duration of extreme heat and warm nights + unusually muggy air, leading to the lightning storms that started fires https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-18/california-heat-wave-brings-extreme-weather-and-a-glimpse-at-our-future-with-climate-change
Meanwhile, @GavinNewsom has quietly issued 42 new fracking permits during the pandemic and approved 1,400 new gas and oil wells -- increasing the amount of fossil fuel operations in the state that contributes to climate change in the first place.
https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/new-permits-newsom-ramps-fracking-california-2020-07-06/#:~:text=Newsom%20ended%20a%20moratorium%20on,permits%20since%20ending%20the%20moratorium.
https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/new-permits-newsom-ramps-fracking-california-2020-07-06/#:~:text=Newsom%20ended%20a%20moratorium%20on,permits%20since%20ending%20the%20moratorium.
In addition to causing climate change (which contributes to the devastating wildfires we're seeing now), pollution from oil and gas drilling has ALSO been linked to increasing the risk of COVID-19 -- and you wonder why California has the highest cases?? https://news.stanford.edu/2020/06/30/links-covid-19-air-pollution/
And in a year where millions of people have taken to the streets to decry systemic racism, it should come as no surprise that these permits are disproportionately being issued near communities of color. Just like always. https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/new-drilling-and-fracking-california-will-hurt-latino-communities
Which means that millions of Californians (mostly Black and brown people) are currently sheltering place next to oil and gas wells, breathing toxic air from fossil fuels during a respiratory health pandemic, while the whole state burns. https://grist.org/politics/an-oil-well-right-next-to-your-house-the-california-senate-says-thats-ok/
And all this is happening a few weeks after three Democrats in the @CaSen voted 'No' on #AB345 which would have required 2500 ft health and safety setbacks between oil and gas sites and where people live, pray, and pray. https://knock-la.com/ab345-wake-up-call-hertzberg-caballero-hueso-d131f038be1
So no, California is not leading in progressive values or stopping climate change. For all the beauty and promise of this state, there is far too much inequality and injustice. We need to see how these problems intersect & we need to demand better from those letting them happen.
