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‘Gasping for air’: How Staten Island’s air pollution served as dangerous antecedent to COVID-19 outbreak

Interviews with over a half dozen experts and Staten Island residents reveal how air pollution served as a dangerous antecedent to a coronavirus outbreak that ravaged the borough and underscores the need to improve ozone smog on the Island.

…And while the North Shore — above the Staten Island Expressway — has over half the population of the rest of the borough, it has only around 30% the number of trees compared to the Island below the expressway, giving it less green space that can improve air quality, according to NYC Parks Department data.

That total could be further diminished by the creation of a BJ’s Wholesale Club that would result in the destruction of 18 acres of woodland next to the wetlands in Mariners Harbor.

By Joseph Ostapiuk. Read the full article here.

These Wetlands Helped Stop Flooding From Sandy. Now a BJ’s May Move In.

A group of Staten Island residents concerned about climate change is challenging the project.

It is an unlikely centerpiece for a save-the-wetlands campaign: a patch of woods and swamps surrounded by strip malls and service roads on the densely populated, industrial northern shore of Staten Island. To nearby residents fighting to preserve it, the parcel is a bulwark against disaster. The 28 acres are part of a network of wetlands that in 2012 helped protect the area from the deadliest floods of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated New York City and killed 43 residents, more than half of them in Staten Island.

But the land’s developer has a different vision: a giant BJ’s Wholesale Club.

By Anne Barnard. Read the full article here.

Climate Week: Climate Justice through Racial Justice

Wednesday, September 23rd: The Intricacies and Intersections of Climate, Abolition, and Decolonization Webinar on  @ 6pm via Zoom. Click this link to sign up for the webinar.

The Racial Justice, Climate Justice Webinar will be an interactive workshop highlighting the intersection of abolition and climate organizing. Our webinar will kickoff with talks from two local climate organizers and then break out into small groups to discuss case studies.

TOPICS TO COVER:

  • Connecting Prison & Police Abolition to Climate Justice
  • Histories of Abolitionist & Climate Aligned Organizing
  • Renewable Rikers & New Jails
  • Pipeline Defenders & Standing Rock

Visit https://www.pcmny.org/ to learn more details of 2020 Climate Week events.

March for Climate Justice Through Racial Justice

Massive, deadly fires in Western States. New storms aiming at the Gulf Coast. Wildly fluctuating temperatures throughout the country. And we’re not even mentioning what’s happening in other parts of the world!

This coming Sunday, Sept. 20th, we will march under the banner of Climate Justice Through Racial Justice… and we hope you will join us. While the devastation caused by climate change is in the top of the news these days, the other crises have not diminished: COVID-19 has taken almost 200,000 lives in this country, police abuses and brutality are exposed every day, white supremacists and right wing militia are active, the economic crisis is impacting the lives of millions of people every day, and much more.

We march on Sept. 20th because we know all of these issues are connected. We know that dealing with the climate crisis boldly will not be possible without addressing racism and white supremacy directly.  Now is the time for action on our part to make our elected representatives take the actions so desperately needed.

For more details about the Sept. 20th march, including the demands, visit pcmny.org.

Let us know if you will join us by filling out this short RSVP form. Share this message widely. Help get the word out by using our social media toolkit.

We hope to see you on Sunday. And on September 23rd, 6-8pm, join us for “The Intricacies and Intersections of Climate, Abolition, and Decolonization,” an interactive workshop highlighting the intersection of abolition and climate organizing. Please register to receive the Zoom information.  PCM-NY Admin TeamLeslie, Kei, Laurel, Nancy, Marilyn, Allen and Denise

The Battle To Save The Graniteville Wetland Continues – An Update From Gabriella Velardi-Ward

By Staten Islander News Organization.

The Graniteville Wetland located along South Avenue in Staten Island has been a point of contention for residents who do not want the BJs Wholesale Club project to go forward. This project would cut down about 1,800 trees, and destroy the wetland that people living in the area, environmental conservationists, scientists, and others have stated protects the local area from flooding. Gabriella Velardi Ward of Staten Island Coalition of Wetlands and Forests has provided an update to the public, including things you can do and how to get involved.

Our Events

The Coalition for Wetlands and Forests hosts various events including fundraisers, educational forums, and walks through the wetland. Our next event will be an educational forum called Race, Class, and Climate Change. It is currently postponed due to covid-19. Please check back in the future to learn more about that event.

Explore the “Past Events” tab to understand what we have done in the past.