Climate Resolution Press Conference

As you can see from the press release below, our climate resolution has been very successful. We owe that all to you, the wonderful people who stepped forward to help. Within days, the results of our work will be sent to President Obama, to Todd Stern—U.S. chief climate negotiator, to selected Texas elected officials, and then, to the U.N. Climate Conference in Paris, via colleagues who have volunteered to be a part of our work.

But first—we’ll hold press conferences in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. We’d appreciate your attendance at the San Antonio Press Conference to support our speakers and the project itself. We’ll have signs and banners and you’ll get to meet some of the climate leaders in your community. It’s Wednesday, 11-18, at 11 AM at the St. Brigid’s Oak area, part of the Headwaters office at the University of the Incarnate Word. You can find more information about St. Brigid’s Oak here: http://uiw.edu/mission/landmarks.html Please arrive 15-30 minutes early.

St. Brigid’s Oak can be found along St. Brigid’s Path behind the Village of Avoca Apartments. [MAP]

Questions? Contact Alyssa Burgin alyssa@texasdroughtproject.org or 210-381-4021

Texas groups come together to announce diverse coalition supporting Climate Resolution
Texas Drought Project will take 220+ organizational signatures to U.N. Climate Conference

November 18th, 2015

San Antonio—The Texas Drought Project, a non-profit founded in 2008 to educate Texans on climate change, will announce in San Antonio November 18th at a press conference at 11AM at the Headwaters Coalition Offices on the grounds of the University of the Incarnate Word, Brigid Oaks area, that they have succeeded in obtaining the signatures of over 220 organizations for their resolution on climate change. The resolution calls for climate negotiators at the U.N. Climate Conference in Paris, set to begin November 30th, to heed the recommendations from the world’s top scientists in setting emissions cuts and asks that negotiators quickly move to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Co-founders Jere Locke of Austin and Alyssa Burgin of San Antonio networked through Texas environmental, human rights, educational, religious, labor, civic, student and political groups for over three months to obtain the endorsements. Signers include the League of Women Voters Texas, Lone Star Sierra Club, Texas State Employees Union, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility Texas, Environment Texas, Texas Farmers Union, Earthworks, Public Citizen Texas, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word SA, Sisters of the Divine Providence SA, Moms Clean Air Force, Northeast Neighbors for Clean Air, William Velasquez Institute, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio peaceCENTER, and many, many more. “But we couldn’t have done this without the help of Texans across the state,” Locke emphasizes. “People think of Texas as this conservative, oil-dominated state, but people understand the dire threat we face from climate change unless something is done now.” Burgin agrees, “We were gratified to see the response, and we’re hoping that this resolution will generate a major discussion—proving that citizens in the reddest-of-the-red states care about the future of their children and their grandchildren.”

Speakers include representatives of the following endorsing organizations: William Velasquez Institute, Environment Texas (Luke Metzger), San Antonio peaceCENTER (Narjis Pierre), Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word San Antonio (Sister Elizabeth Riebschlaeger), Jefferson Heights Neighborhood Association (Charles English, Texas State Employees Union (Anne Lewis), National Nurses United, League of Women Voters Texas, Moms Clean Air Force (Krystal Henagan) and the Texas Drought Project. Each will briefly discuss the concerns which brought their organization to join this effort. The importance of this U.N. Climate Conference will be outlined, providing a preview into events taking place later this month. Lists of signers will be furnished, along with a copy of the resolution.
* * *