By Olivia Rynberg-Going, NWPC Political Planning and Action Intern
Young Women in Glasgow
The United Nations is hosting a global warming conference in Glasgow, Scotland this week. This year’s meeting is often referred to as: “COP26” because the international event’s formal title is “the Conference of the Parties”, and they are celebrating their 26th year of convening.
More than 130 heads of state and thousands of diplomats will spend over two weeks discussing how they can pivot away from using fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions. John Kerry – the United States climate envoy – called COP26 the planet’s “last, best chance” to curb fossil fuel emissions and mitigate the effects of further climate-related disasters.
The conference will continue through Friday, November, 12, but the biggest accomplishments have already been realized. More than 100 countries agreed to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. And on Wednesday, some of the world’s biggest investors, banks, and insurers promised to help companies and countries reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Despite this, environmentalists and activists have expressed some disappointments. First, the guidelines of these new agreements aren’t specific enough. Second, many feel that their voices aren’t being heard. The contrast between climate activists and elected leaders has always existed, but this year the asymmetry is particularly stark. Somini Sengupta summarized it best in her article for the New York Times: “Those with the power to make decisions about how much the world warms in the coming decades are mostly old and male. Those who are angriest about the pace of climate action are mostly young and female.”
This week, the streets of Glasgow were filled with young women. They protested in the streets carrying signs, picketed outside of COP26, held their own conferences, and participated on panels.
Greta Thunberg, 18, is a Swedish climate activist who gained international recognition for her school strike outside of the Swedish parliament in 2018. Thunberg spoke at a panel discussion on Thursday, and addressed a crowd of gathered strikers on Friday.
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, 24, is a climate activist from the Philippines who co-founded Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP). In an interview last Friday she said, “When I hear leaders say they want to listen to our generation I think they’re lying to themselves.”
Vanessa Nakate, 24, is an activist from Uganda. She founded the Rise Up Movement, and was one of the few youth voices represented at COP25. Nakate centers her activism around the African continent. On a panel this week, Nakate said, “even right now, it’s already evident that the climate crisis is ravaging different parts of the African continent.”
Other big names present this week include Dominique Palmer, age 22, a British climate activist with Fridays for Future International – a youth led movement started in August 2018 in response to Tunberg’s global movement. And Mya-Rose Craig, also known as “Birdgirl” – a 19 year old British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmental activist, writer, speaker, and broadcaster.
Jill Biden’s Vaccine campaign
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy visited Franklin Sherman Elementary School on Monday. Franklin Sherman Elementary, located in McClean, Virginia, was the first school to administer the polio vaccine to students in 1954.
At the time, polio was often referred to as “infant paralysis” because of its propensity to affect young children. Our nation’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was paralyzed by polio as an adult. In 1952, one year before the polio vaccine was developed, the U.S. reported 57,879 cases of polio. By the year 1960, the U.S reported only 3,190 cases. Thanks to the availability of the polio vaccine, and the patriotism of those children and adults who agreed to be vaccinated, the U.S eradicated polio by 1979.
Today, COVID-19 has killed over 757,000 Americans, including at least 700 kids under 18. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been available for Americans older than 16 since December, 11 2020. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for Americans ages 12-15 in May, 2021. On November 2, 2021, the CDC recommended low-dose Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5-11.
Many school districts are scheduling vaccination drives similar to the one held at Franklin Sherman Elementary on Monday. White House officials say that Monday’s visit is the start of a national movement spearheaded by Dr. Biden to persuade parents and guardians to vaccinate their children. Later, Dr. Murthy and Dr. Biden addressed the students and parents of Franklin Sherman Elementary. Dr. Murthy said, “The truth is that Covid is not harmless in children. We have tragically lost hundreds of children to the pandemic.”
Today, 58.5% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 63.7% have received at least one dose. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey published last month found that 27% of parents said they would “definitely not” vaccinate their children, and 33% said they would “wait and see”.
To those parents and guardians worried about the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Biden is sympathetic. In her speech on Monday, Dr. Biden listed the many ways that parents keep their children safe everyday, from cutting grapes in half to wearing seatbelts in the car. Dr. Biden says, “This vaccine is the best way to protect your children against Covid-19. It’s been thoroughly reviewed and rigorously tested. It’s safe. It’s free, and it’s available for every child in this country.”
Gwen Carr: Mother of Eric Garner
Gwen Carr is an activist, public speaker, and author of This Stops Today: Eric Garner’s Mother Seeks Justice After Losing Her Son. A judicial inquiry into the death of Eric Garner concluded last weekend after two weeks.
Eric Garner – father of six, grandfather of three – was killed on Thursday, July 17, 2014. Two New York City police officers used a prohibited chokehold on Garner as they attempted to arrest him in Staten Island. In a viral video captured during Garner’s last moments he can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe” eleven times.
Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who used the illegal chokehold, was fired from NYPD in 2019. Sgt. Kizzy Adonis lost 20 vacation days due to charges made that she failed to supervise the arrest. While Adonis was present on the scene, she testified in court that Sgt. Saminath, “was responsible for whatever took place,” although he hadn’t arrived until later.
The motive behind Garner’s arrest has been repeatedly called into question.The officers first approached Garner because Officer D’Amico (Pantaleo’s partner) claims he saw Garner sell two loose cigarettes from 350 feet away, a distance equivalent to a football field, or a New York City block. Eight New York residents’ testimony goes against D’Amico’s. After Garner’s death, news outlets including the New York Times reported on Garner’s sealed arrest history. This leak violated state law, but as of November 8, 2021, no further action has been taken.
Gwen Carr and other New York activists had advocated for years for a formal inquiry into Garner’s death. Because of COVID-19, the inquiry was held virtually. While many officers testifying were able to get paid time-off, Carr was not. Gwen Carr listened to all 8 days of testimony on son’s murder from her desk, at work. Of the experience, Carr said, “It’s not easy. It’s frustrating to watch this inquiry, because it’s a mockery of what it should be.”
Gwen Carr is a member of Mothers of the Movement, a group of women whose Black children were killed by police-related violence. Other members include: Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown; Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice; Maria Hamtilon, mother of Dontre Hamtilon; and Geneva Reed-Veal, mother of Sandra Bland. Recently, Mothers of the Movement have joined other community-based activists in encouraging Black voter participation.
Olivia Rynberg-Going is a current junior at Smith College, double-majoring in Government and the Study of Women and Gender. On campus, she participated in Smith’s Student Government Association as both a senator and director of elections and appointments. Her favorite policy areas include reproductive rights, 20th century SCOTUS decisions, voting rights, elections, and most of all: campaigns. Outside of politics, Olivia has a deep love of true crime, geography, and farm animals.
