Dear Lorelei,
That's a wrap. For the final edition of Fossil Free News in 2018, I'm taking you back to some of the highlights of what we accomplished together in this impressive year of climate action. Below are 10 people-powered moments of 2018 that blew us away.
Many of you took action for the first time this year, and some have been in the movement for a while. We're all united by a determination to help stop climate change and build a Fossil Free world.
And as always, there are so many more inspiring stories of people taking action that I couldn't possibly fit in here. Pass on our wrap-up video to your friends to spread the inspiration:
Let's take a moment to be proud of everything we accomplished this year. I wish you all restful time with family, friends, neighbors over the new year, and we'll be back in 2019 for more. Here's to you,
Nicole
In Case You Missed It Here are the 2018 highlights. You can also flip through more incredible photos from the year on Flickr.
Local group Divest NY mobilized popular support for New York City to divest. The demand was front and center at a march to honor 5 years since Hurricane Sandy. Photo: Rae Breaux
1. New York divests. The year began with a big announcement from New York City – that it'd divest its $189-billion pension fund from fossil fuels, and take five of the most climate-wrecking fossil fuel companies in the world on in the courts. That set the stage for more major announcements later on in 2018, including divestment from the country of Ireland and France's investment arm the Caisse des depots et consignations.
2. "No deal" in Brazil. In March in Rio de Janeiro, inside an auction for oil and gas blocks, no offers were made after activists from around the country delivered a powerful speech on the climate imperative. An equivalent 3.2 billion barrels of oil were left in the ground. The groups continue to target these auctions.
3. New Zealand bans fossil fuels. In April, years of campaigning from community, environmental groups, and iwi in New Zealand paid off when Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern announced a ban on all offshore oil and gas drilling. In November, it was passed into law.
On 10 March in Burnaby BC, Indigenous leaders head a 5,000-person march. Photo: Rogue Collective
4. Kinder Morgan, stopped. In Canada, incredible mobilization throughout the year culminated in the Federal Court of Appeal ruling to overturn government approval of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline extension, which would pipe Alberta crude west for export through fragile ecosystems on the Pacific coast. Indigenous groups were leaders of the resistance, and thousands of you from around the globe sent in letters to Canadian embassies worldwide.
Break Free action in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Photo: Daniel Felix Mpulula
5. Africa-wide day of action to DeCOALonise. On 25 May, coordinated action to Break Free from fossil fuels took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and 13 other countries across Africa. It launched an ongoing campaign to DeCOALonise Africa from fossil fuels and encourage a switch to renewable energy. More photos from the day around the African continent here.
6. 100% renewable energy in Ukraine. Starting with the city of Zhotymyr in June, 2018 saw multiple cities in the Ukraine pass local resolutions to commit to 100% renewable energy. Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chortkiv and Lviv made similar announcements in September, and there are signs the trend is spreading in the wider region.
Photo: 350 Pilipinas
7. Virtual marches. In the Philippines and Turkey, people found ways to overcome tricky political contexts to push for climate action by sending their self-portraits in solidarity.
8. Rise for Climate on all 7 continents – including Antarctica. September 8 saw over 200,000 people worldwide come out for over 900 events demanding a Fossil Free world. See highlights from all over the world here and the United States roundup here.
Men on the Buriganga River in Dhaka form a sun with their boats and display printed messages on 1.5˚C. Photo: Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam
9. IPCC wake-up call. Scientists issued perhaps the most jarring report yet on climate in October showing that a world above 1.5˚C of warming means serious human costs. Inspired by the report, people sprung to action with creative and diverse tactics, from targeting their local MPs to holding local meetings to discuss the science and implications. Read about the weekend of action here.
10. Pacific leadership swells. Building on years of organizing and a recent tour in Australia to bring storytelling work to diaspora communities, 15 climate leaders from the Pacific islands called for an end to the creation of new coal mines as well as the expansion of existing ones. They joined and spoke at rallies to stop the Adani megamine in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Australia in December, where striking school students were in attendance. An example of interconnected movements coming together in a powerful way.
The Inside Story This end-of-the year editorial brings in some intriguing movement theory (and numbers!) behind people power, and a vision for where we can be this time next year.
A local Rise for Climate action in Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey.
The One to Watch And to finish, I invite you to watch and share the inspiring short video looking back on the year, and setting the stage for everything ahead. 
Thank you for an amazing 2018. You can help make the movement for a Fossil Free world even bigger in 2019 by making a donation:  |
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