Texas Green New Deal Mobilization Campaign
The Texas Drought Project has mounted several successful large-scale campaigns over the last few years. All the progress on those campaigns and our work on ongoing campaigns are due entirely to the combined efforts of many people who joined our campaigns.
Since early 2019 our primary focus has been the organizing around the Green New Deal.
One component of this work is our Texas Climate Resolution, which we will be delivering to our elected representatives after getting signatures from communities and organizations all over Texas.
Read Texas Drought Project’s Texas Climate Resolution here
WHY GET INVOLVED?
The scientists tell us we’re running out of time. We have delayed and delayed doing what is necessary. Unless we do what must be done during the next four years or so, we won’t be able to do anything except simply witness what happens to Texas, to us, and to our children.
THE POSSIBILITY
If we act effectively and quickly, not only can we drastically reduce the damage to our crops, land, economy, homes, and families. We can heal Texas land, transform our energy system, transition our economy, and create new jobs – including new jobs for our fossil fuel workers who contributed so much to Texas. We must create education and employment opportunities for these workers, good jobs that offer benefits and union options.
THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT
The window of opportunity is open NOW to make the possibility become our reality for Texas. Science says that window shuts in 2024.
The immediate strategic opportunity is to mobilize Texans to get our Texan Congress members to influence Biden to include what must be done in his climate bill.
Biden wants his climate bill passed in the first 100 days of his administration.
The time to take action in our Texas Congressional districts is now!
This requires considerable outreach and advocacy. Help of all sorts is needed—calling allies, data entry, coalition-building, phone banking, and more…
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Click here to get in touch and discover YOUR role in our Texas Green New Deal Mobilization Campaign!
Join The Sunrise Movement. They have led the way on the Green New Deal. When the GND was first introduced and opposed by Rep. Pelosi, Sunrise occupied her office! Several months later Sunrise activists bussed in to Kentucky to occupy Sen. McConnell’s office!
Recently Sunrise activists made over 800,000 phone calls for Rep. Markey, a similar number for the campaign of Mike Siegel in Austin, and have been the difference maker in many campaigns all over the US! After the vote concludes, they will turn their attention directly to the Green New Deal.
Young people and those young at heart, you are great matches to consider joining Sunrise Texas chapters/hubs in Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley or almost wherever you live.
2019 Green New Deal Campaign Work
The Green New Deal (GND) you’ve been hearing about is the best national climate effort we’ve ever had. However, since the concept first gained national attention in late 2018 there have been a number of different versions such as those of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, VP Biden — until he renounced it — and the THRIVE Agenda.
The Texas Drought Project is working with many local groups and individuals in 12 Texas congressional districts to get support for the Green New Deal.
So far, Texas Representatives who have endorsed the GND or THRIVE are
In Austin: Rep. Lloyd Doggett
In San Antonio: Rep. Joaquin Castro
In Dallas: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
In Houston: Rep. Shiela Jackson Lee and Rep. Al Green
In El Paso: Rep. Veronica Escobar
Those who have not yet endorsed the GND are
In Houston: Rep. Garcia and Rep. Fletcher
In Dallas: Rep. Allred and Rep. Veasey
In the Rio Grande Valley: Rep. Vella and Rep. Gonzalez
We’d like to ask that you call and thank Rep. Jackson Lee, Rep. Green, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Castro, Rep. Escobar, and Rep. Doggett by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
Then call the other Texas Congress members to urge them to embrace the GND, THRIVE Agenda, and a ban on fracking, because Biden’s current climate plan does not even mention it.
Whatever you prefer doing, we need your help, no matter where you are in Texas. If you’re comfortable talking to allies on the phone, doing data entry or something else, there is a place for you in this campaign. Contact us today to help out!
For more information on the Green New Deal, check out our Resources page.
Some of Our Recent Campaigns
2018 – The Ban Fracking & Ban Fossil-Fuel Donations Campaign
Our goal was to add two planks in the Texas Democratic Party—one to ban fracking and the second, a ban on fossil-fuel donations.
Our ban on fracking resolution passed in over 90% of the Senate District and County conventions that voted on it and the ban on fossil-fuel donations passed in 60% of the local conventions! The planks faced opposition from fossil-fuel interest and their friends at the State Convention from fossil-fuel advocates within the Party, and we came very close and so we know it’s in our reach to win on the same issues via the Green New Deal!
2017 – The Austin 100% Renewable Energy 2030 Campaign
We organized with other groups and pushed the Austin City Council to adopt a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy. Our most effective strategic tactic was a major phone banking effort, which turned out over 300 supporters. The vote failed for our goal and now our Texas GND Campaign asks for the same type of emissions cut as the warnings from our best scientist have grown. We know more phone bankers and more calls can make a difference for the GND!!!
2016 – Texas Democratic Convention Resolution Campaign
Thanks to over 100 committed volunteers, over 65% of the delegates signed our resolution. This was achieved in only eight hours despite very active opposition. Imagine what we can do in 100 days!
2015 – The Texas Global Climate Resolution Campaign
The Texas Drought Project organized over 1000 people and obtained the signatures of 228 Texas organizations on a strongly-worded resolution supporting bold, swift action at the Paris Climate Conference which our friends and City Council members Lesley Poole and Brigid Shea delivered to the Paris UN Climate Conference. The organizations included five labor unions, the Lone Star Sierra Club and all the Texas big green groups, the Texas Farmers Union, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, many faith organizations and others like Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the League of Women Voters of Texas.
Smaller Projects
Lake Houston Fracking
We helped to pull together a coalition to stop possible fracking on the shores of Lake Houston, Houston’s primary water source.
Statewide Civil Disobedience Campaign
We organized a number of CD trainings in Austin, Houston, and College Station.
El Salvador
In 2018 and 2019, we worked with Salvadoran activists in Sister Cities International and CRIPDES – a coalition made up of 350 villages and towns – to find ways to help the people of El Salvador deal with a record drought.
Waco Gas Plant
We worked with Waco activists to stop a gas plant build and to get the Waco city council to sign contracts for renewables.
Texas Drought Project and Texas Harambe Foundation do not engage, participate, or intervene in political campaign activity, and do not endorse or oppose any candidate for office.