Two people spoke this week against our own municipal utility’s desires to extend their customer base for fracked gas by developing an LNG facility. You can learn more at 350philly.org/NoLNG.

First up, candidate Joe Cox, running for City Council At Large.

Watch Joe Cox at 1:30

Next, Meenal Raval

 

Watch Meenal at 1:40

 

Hello, my name is Meenal Raval.

I’m here today in opposition to bill number 181063, PGW’s proposed LNG facility. You may have noticed that I’ve been here each week speaking, or supporting someone speaking, against this bill. Last week, you heard from Abby Leedy, the student from Central High, and also with the global School Strike for Climate. Some of the students from that strike are here today, from Friends Select School.

I ask you — When are you going to acknowledge the elephant in the room? I’m talking about the climate crisis. The crisis that’s affecting our air and water quality. The crisis that’s affecting the most poor, the black and the brown in each community. The crisis that demands that we stop planning new fossil fuel projects.

I also know that most of you are up for re-election. We could support you so much whole-heartedly if you showed an initiative, even some interest, in solving the climate crisis.

Some new at large candidates, such as Adrian Rivera-Reyes, give us hope. Did you read his op-ed in Philly Voice?

But how, you ask? How can you lead on climate? We’ve developed a climate action platform that my colleague Tanya Seaman has shared with each of you. You could use this document for starters. Missed that email? Please see me afterwards.

You could also review the testimony offered by the public at the November 29, 2018 hearing organized by the Committee of the Environment. There are quite a few good ideas there.

Also, for starters, you could publicly state that you’re against this project and that you plan to vote NO on bill # 181063.

Since we’re given only 3 minutes to speak here, we’ve taken to the airwaves, by producing our own radio show — Philly Talks Climate. Last week we talked about other US cities making commitments to renewable energy. This week, we’ll talk about using less energy overall, and the jobs potential from this.

You can hear us on Fridays at noon on PhillyCAM’s WPPM 106.5 FM. And you can find details at phillytalksclimate.wordpress.com.

We need your leadership. Who wants to work with us? Come be our hero!

This was written for 350 Philadelphia; found here.