Gigantic International Postcard To Obam on Climate

Hi Green Guerrilla Network -- 

The awesome folks at Greenpeace and Sierra Club are organizing a very cool international stunt with decentralized actions to send a message to Obama's administration that climate action must be an immediate priority. Easy to plug in,,, just show up next Saturday Dec 6 at noon at Crissy Fields.  Drop a line if you want to roll over there together. 

peace n action,
Aliza


Giant Postcard To Obama at UN Climate Conference

This December, world leaders will be meeting in Poznan, Poland for the UN Climate Change Conference to decide the next steps on tackling global warming. It's a perfect opportunity for President-elect Obama to send a clear message to the rest of the world that the U.S. is ready to be part of the solution. That's why on December 6th Greenpeace members will be joining people throughout the world for an International Day of Action for Climate Solutions. In the U.S., we'll be holding rallies and taking photos at iconic locations in over 30 cities to send a message to the President-elect that the American people support strong action on global warming.

What better way to send that message than with a massive 30 by 50 foot postcard -- letting our world leaders know that here in San Francisco we're ready for climate solutions! And, they'll know it's from us because we're posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

We'll have a few speakers, then we'll take a massive group photo with our custom made 30 x 50 ft. banner. The very next day, our Greenpeace activists in Poland will deliver the message to climate negotiators that Americans are ready for climate solutions.

Show President-elect Obama you're serious about global warming and RSVP for the day of action in San Francisco today.

If you have any questions, you can contact Anna Wagner at anna.wagner@sfo.greenpeace.org
<mailto:anna.wagner@sfo.greenpeace.org>

Saturday -- December 6th @ 12:00 PM

Crissy Field
San Francisco, CA 94129
*MAP OF EVENT <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=crissy+field+san+francisco&fb=1&ll=37.803867,-122.467003&spn=0.030992,0.055275&z=14&g=crissy+field+san+francisco&iwloc=addr

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Aliza Wasserman
Green Guerrillas Against Greenwash
www.LetsGreenWashThisCity.org
510-717-6599

"If you think mitigated climate change is expensive, try unmitigated climate change."

- Dr. Richard Gammon, University of Washington, on the steps of the US Congress, 6/28/99

"Campaign finance reform is climate protection."
- anonymous, 2007

Thoughts on Prop H losing & Potluck Debriefing... so we never lose again.

Hey Green Guerrillas and Prop H supporters --

As you now know, Prop H went down with 41% of the vote in favor, and 59% against.  In many regards this is a terrible defeat and deserves to be analyzed for the flaws of the policy design and campaign.  In other regards, you could argue that the flaws are secondary given that $10 million can confuse people into thinking apple pie is un-American.

We only needed another 10% points to win.  That means, PG&E spent $1 million for each of the percentage points that led to our defeat.  Alternately - PG&E spent $169,491 for each 1% point they got, and we spent $1,512 for each of ours.  And that is a pretty remarkable testament to how strong our message is resonating with San Franciscans who we were able to reach.  Without fail, every single San Franciscan I spoke to over the last three months of campaigning --- I was able to talk into seeing why the No on H message was deceptive and they ended up supporting Prop H.  But we can not expect to personally reach all voters, and PR money rules. And we were outspent on PR by 16,100%. 

We need to debrief the lessons learned from this campaign -- to ensure that the next round of climate policy -- including Community Choice -- has a real chance to pass, and to pass soon. We simply do not have the luxury of time to wait. 

(On a personal level, I am sick of losing.  I am officially resigning from volunteering (and taking pay cuts to volunteer) on loosing campaigns. I'll re-enlist once I see a solid campaign structure underway. This is not a progressive pipe dream to eternally fight for. This must get implemented in the next 3 years or the millions who will die in the next rounds of Katrinas are our moral fault - so I believe a solid campaign strategy is our ethical responsibility. Soapbox exit left.)

I invite any and all of you to a potluck debriefing -- where we will talk through the victorious aspects of this campaign and develop lessons learned for moving forward. Let's submit these ideas to the Board of Supervisors and local stakeholders.  If you are interested in attending, please drop me an email and then I'll send a few times around to see what days works for most.   There is a Locavolts meetings that Bay Localize is organizing for Nov 13 6-9 pm at Glide Memorial Church -- which will be a great time to have regional conversations of this nature.  But we need to also have a Prop H-specific debrief to dig in to the details.

Some of the glorious moments of the campaign:
--  Hosting Voter Guide Booths around the City to allow folks to choose from a wide variety of slate cards -- all of which had Yes on H endorsements.  Geoff's brilliant idea here helped us give out several thousand guides right as people were stepping in to vote.
-- CAKE concert for Prop H!  Julian D pulled a fun and high-profile coup that helped us reach a demographic beyond the politicos.
--  Wind turbine installations on PG&E headquarters!  This original Green Guerrilla idea was taken to a wonderful new level with all of the contributions from Global Exchange, Greenpeace, and myriad of volunteers. While the mainstream media did not provide the attention it deserved, we created a picture perfect collaborative action, and at least Channel 7 news covered it.  
-- California Students and Yes on H/No on 8 Rallies!  Renee, Nina and Global Exchange organized over 200 college students for a lively PowerVote/California Students/Yes on H rally, and several of you (sorry, not sure who) organized the No on 8 rally with high-profile speakers including Leno, Leal, Peskin, Holland, etc...
-- News coverage in the New York Times Blog and dozens of other blogs and media outlets.  We never got positive media coverage in the local mainstream media (and that is a primary topic I want to analyze in our debriefing) -- but we managed to do so with the NYT -- which called Prop H and Community Choice:  "California's Clean Energy Revolution" and instead of simply parroting PG&E's talking points, noted that the motivation is PG&E's  paltry renewable levels.  A big shout out to the Guardian and Fog City who have been steady and long supporters -- and who deserve credit for many of the 41% of the votes we won. 

A final shout out to my Green Guerrilla comrads and network of supporters -- you have been amazing beyond words. You have funded sticker runs, designed fliers in the middle-of-the-night, descending upon PG&E HQ, and did a million of the little and far-less-glamorous things that need to get done like walking precincts. With a $0 budget, you helped 41% of San Franciscans voice their call for robust and affordable green energy. Who knows what future policy this might help become reality.

Let me know if you are interested in a pot-luck debriefing.
With more thoughtfulness and preparation, I see no reason why our city can't make this clean energy revolution a reality... Yes we can.

In peace and action,
Aliza

Today::: Biking & Movie watching for Change!

Hey Leaguers, Green Guerrilla Network & Prop Hers!  

 

Today is your last weekend day to help pass some of the most progressive candidates and policies ever. 

So let's spend it in style....

 

-  Bike ride for change!   If the weather holds up, we'll start in the Mission and ride through the Bayview -- to give out Pissed Off Voter guides to tons of new voters coming out for Obama -- and offer suggestions on all the other measures like B, H, and 8. This district is historically ignored by campaigns -- but Obama and PG&E has been mobilizing like crazy here -- so let's make sure to let folks know about the all the other opportunities to vote for change!    Then, we'll roll to a swing district of either Avalos or Mar -- and do visibility and help them out for an hour or so.  We'll also swing by El Rio and make sure everything is set for our election night party.  

 

-  Movie Watching for change!   If the weather turns rainy let's hit up a couple malls to give out literature... and then sneak in to a movie in the late afternoon!    There is no rule against taking a few hours to relax... so let's do it!    

 

Let's start this action at 11 am at Global Exchange HQ (MIssion at 16th), and folks can join in throughout the day at whatever time works for you.   Please give me a call with your expected time of arrival -- so we can make sure to bring enough literature. 

 

Wanna join the action?!   

 

- Aliza

 

Drop a line!    510-717-6599

We're in the NY Times & Comedy Central! & Last Chance To Have Fun & Pass Prop H!

Hey Green Guerrillas --

So many of you have been calling to see how to get involved this weekend!  Right no!!
The Green Guerrillas will buy a free shot at our Election Night party at El Rio for everyone who shows up this weekend to help out!!   No other campaign gives out CAKE tickets and shots... we're making this easy on you ;)

Will you show up on Saturday at 10 to make this happen?!   Enjoy Halloween tonight and stumble on by tomorrow at Mission and 16th for a day of visibility. Longer list of what's going on is pasted below. Please give June or me a call (510-717-6599) with what time estimate you plan on coming by -- so we can make sure to have the food and materials and outreach plan ready for you to go and make a difference! 
 
ALSO -- Check out the latest media coverage -- including a New York Times piece on Prop H as California's Clean Energy Revolution and  KTVU coverage of our guerrilla action installing turnbines on PG&E HQ this week!!  Also, the  Yes on H/PG&E is f^@g over the city commercial played at 11:30 last night on Comedy Central. We're pissed that the Chronicle didn't show up for our event that had so many superlatives (most amount of money ever spent on SF election, largest renewable policy ever considered; first construction of wind turbine on PG&E's HQ;) --- but at least the NYTimes acknowledges this policy's worthiness, which we have to be stoked about, given our half-a-shoestring budget.  And here are more of Jerry's pics and blog posting, Fog City,   and longer video clips of our stunt in the Guardian blog. 

peace n action n free shots,
~~ aliza

Election day is rapidly approaching - it's time to give it all you've got for the SF Clean Energy Act (Prop H)!

You can stay out of the rain and still help Prop H this weekend.

If it's raining too much to go out and do precinct walking, join us indoors at the Prop H Action Center at Global Exchange's office at 2017 Mission street, 2nd Floor (Near 16th & Mission Streets BART).  We'll be making phone calls to voters, blogging for Prop H with a blog jam/blitz, writing letters to the editor, monitoring the radio and calling in to talk radio shows, and making banners. We'll have food and drinks to keep us going throughout the day. 

We'll be there both Saturday November 1st and Sunday November 2nd from 10am - 5pm each day. Come for a couple hours or stay all day!

For those who'd like to brave uncertain weather, we can still send you out in pairs to walk key precincts and drop literature,  to put up window signs or to do visibility at busy intersections.

Please RSVP to let us know you'll be joining us this weekend.
Contact: June at 415-618-9076 or email june@sfcleanenergy.com  to RSVP

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Monday, Nov. 3

Please set aside this final day before the election to spend the whole day with the "Yes on H" campaign.  Starting as early as 6am and going into the night, we'll be doing visibility, handing out literature at key spots, making phone calls and walking key precincts. We'll plug you into a mix of your favorite activities.  Please spend as much of the day with us as you can whether you can join us for a few hours or all day!    Please RSVP to let us know you'll be there so we can plan for this big final pre-election day.  Contact: June at 415-618-9076 or email june@sfcleanenergy.com  to RSVP

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ELECTION DAY Tuesday, Nov. 4

All Day 
7am-8pm on Election Day we'll be doing visibility for Prop H, GOTV and monitoring the polls to make sure all goes okay.
Please RSVP to let us know you'll be there so we can plan for election day.  Contact: June at 415-618-9076 or email june@sfcleanenergy.com  to RSVP

After  8pm, after the polls are closed, join us at  our Election Night Victory Party with the League of Young Voters and others at El Rio bar on Mission Street.

LET'S MAKE IT A VICTORY!

GET BUSY HELPING PROP H NOW!

Photos & Report back from today's kick ass action!

Hey Green Guerrilla Network & Prop H Outreach!

Today was amazing!!   You guys are incredible!!
Check out the attached photos from Woody and this blog posting by Jerry.
We had 50 people out there helping to install 3 wind turbines on PG&E's headquarters.
PG&E had prepared for us and barricaded their opening plaza. We are flattered.
There were half a dozen media outlets covering the event -- including KTVU/Channel 2 and 36, Fog City Journal, KPFA, and the Guaridan.  Chanel 2 - our primary mainstream target -- said we made a compelling argument -- so check out tonight's evening news and copy it if you can! We also sent follow up press info and photos to over a dozen publications -- so keep your eye out for any print coverage tomorrow. 

Below is the final press packet with some of the latst campaign developments.  

And with 6 days left to pass this amazing policy -- let us know what day and time you want to pass out literature and guides.  We have pub crawls happening nearly every day... and rush hour visibility too. Drop a line to coordinate a time to contribute!

best,
aliza

The press packet included this FAQ on Prop H and the Op-Ed from Fiona Ma and Mark Leno supporting Prop H. 

For Immediate Release                                                                           Contact:  Aliza Wasserman 510-717-6599

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                    Wednesday October 29, 2008 

PROP H WIND TURBINES INSTALLED ON PG&E HQ 

PG&E's record-breaking $9.9 million opposition to Prop H obstructing San Francisco's chance for renewable and cheaper energy

SAN FRANCISCO --  In front of PG&E's downtown headquarters at 77 Beale St. at Market, three twelve-foot wind turbines were constructed by citizens eager to see Prop H pass and begin a green jobs and affordable green energy future.   On Wednesday, October 29 from 12:00 to 12:30pm about 50 citizens wearing green hard hats and worker overalls descended on PG&E's headquarters and constructed the wind turbine art installations. PG&E provides the City with only 2% wind energy, and 1% solar, and has a total renewable portfolio of 14%, while Prop H would move the minimum renewable and clean energy mandate to 51% in a decade, 75% by 2030 and will maximize all available and affordable renewable energy possible by 2040. The City has already conducted a feasibiity study with Navigant Consulting, finding that the City can achieve 51% of its energy from efficiency and renewables in a decade - via Community Choice Aggregation - at rates that meet or beat PG&Es. That finding was used by the Supervisors to write Prop H renewable energy targets that are robust, pragmatic and affordable.

The polls must be tight.  No on H campaign finance records show that PG&E has spent $9.9 million to oppose H – which is the largest amount of money ever spent on a San Francisco ballot measure and more than any candidate campaign, according to SF Dept of Elections campaign records. PG&E had already spent $5.5 million on the No on H campaign by early October.  PG&E then paid for a poll of the City and within 9 days paid $4 million more to the No on H (made in two installments on 10/07 and 10/16). The Yes on H campaign has used only $61,059 and has relied on the extensive list of endorsing organizations and citizens to get out the word.  Over the last week, the Yes on H campaign has intensified its outreach – including a rally of hundreds of college students at SF State on Saturday and a No on 8/Yes on H rally with Assemblyman Mark Leno on Sunday.  

Prop H is the most robust renewable energy policy ever seriously considered in the country, and yet is more modest than Al Gore's recent call to America to achieve 100% renewable energy in a decade.  Prop H authorizes the City to achieve the renewable energy targets in the most cost-effective and pragmatic means necessary – including Community Choice Aggregation and public power – the latter of which generates wind and solar energy at rates that are 10% and 49% cheaper than private utilities' rates – according to the California Energy Commission ("Comparative Costs of California Central Station Electricity Generation Technologies," CEC 12/07).

VISUALS:   Workers in green hard hats and overalls constructed three wind generators and began to erect them – evoking the image of the WW II victory photo,  Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, illustrating the historic opportunity Prop H offers our country for secure energy.  The $9.9 million that PG&E has spent to oppose Prop H were visually depicted by ten large burlap sacks of money.   

WHO: Around 50 citizens from across the City volunteered their time for Prop H.  Many are members of the 35 community organizations endorsing Prop H, including Green4All, Greenpeace, SEIU Joint Council, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, SF Tenants Union, SF Women's Political Committee, Global Exchange, Sierra Club, Green Guerrillas Against Greenwash, Urban Alliance for Sustainability, and Senior Action Network. 

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About Prop H: 

Prop H directs the SFPUC to analyze the best way of achieving these renewable energy mandates.  If PG&E agrees to achieve these mandates at competitive rates they can remain the energy provider for the City.  If PG&E does not achieve these mandates, Prop H includes accountability mechanism by authorizing the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to work with the SFPUC to analyze the best mechanism for achieving these goals, including Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and public power.  

About the Cost & Opportunity for Green Job Development From Prop H

Energy policy consulting firm Navigant Consulting researched CCA and confirmed that the City could attain 51% of its electricity from renewables and efficiency at rates that meet or beat PG&E's. Yet the City has not acted on this opportnity yet.  In California, wind power is 10% cheaper, and solar PV is 49% cheaper when generated through public power compared to privately generated power such as PG&E, according to the California Energy Commission's "Levalized Cost Report" released December 2007.  "Publicly owned plants are the least expensive because of lower financing costs," confirms the CEC. The data demonstrates this consistency for renewables as well as conventional combine energy that is 8% cheaper than PG&E's private rates.  

Over 4.2 million U.S. jobs could be created by 2038 if the U.S. electricity grid transitioned to 40% renewable energy, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors' New Green Jobs Report released on 10/2/08. Prop H is a major policy opportunity to start this national green job development (and explicitly directs the PUC to develop a comprehensive job development plan) which is seen as a huge economic opportunity during this economic crisis.  Nationally-renown green job proponents – including Van Jones of Green for All- are endorsing Prop H as a model policy for the country to follow.  Other green job endorsers include: Literacy for Environmental Justice, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Endorsements
Prop H is endorsed by the SF Democratic Party, the SF Green Party and over 35 major organizations including the Sierra Club, SEIU Joint Council, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, SF Tenants Union, SF Women's Political Committee, SF League of Conservation Voters, ACORN, League of Young Voters, Senior Action Network, and Global Exchange.  There are dozens of political leaders endorsing Prop H including Assemblymembers Mark Leno and Fiona Ma, Former Mayor Art Agnos, eight members of the Board of Supervisors, and five Board of Education Commissioners. Endorsing energy policy experts include Former SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal and nationally acclaimed professor Bill McKibben.  

More information about Prop H is at:   www.SFCleanEnergy.com