Everyone loves climate activism when it's on the screen. Everyone loves the idea of heroism for a collective future as long as it's convenient. The easy roads are behind us now - it's past time to make noise.
On Thursday February 1st, climate activists from Extinction Rebellion Boston (XR) disrupted a Q&A session with Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, which took place after a screening of the documentary "Inundation District". The documentary is a frank look at the future of the Seaport District of Boston, which is built at sea level in a flood zone, without zoning or other measures needed to withstand the rising sea level and more intense floods caused by climate change.
Disrupting the post-film discussion, one activist stood up from his seat in the audience and asked Climate Chief Hoffer what actions the Healey administration will be taking in response to the facts gleaned from the documentary the Climate Chief and activists had just watched together. Once the question was asked, other activists in the audience stood, revealing themselves to be wearing small banners with messages like, "2050 is too late" and "Chief Hoffer, Do Your Job." Meanwhile, another crowd of fellow activists stood outside the large windows of WBUR CitySpace holding banners reading, "No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure".
Climate Chief Hoffer deflected the question, saying that "I can't think of a more robust strategy than we have right now for decarbonization." The representative from XR Boston reiterated our demand that the Healey administration ban new fossil fuel infrastructure, including airport expansions and new building gas connections. He emphasized that banning new fossil fuel infrastructure is a small first step to the necessary goal of zero carbon emissions by 2030. Hoffer refused to comment on the "net zero by 2030" state commitment, and activists continued to question her until moderators ended the panel.
How can "leaders" watch climate documentaries like Inundation District and completely miss the point? How can any of us ask them easy questions and pretend that we're doing everything we can do? We are in a climate emergency. We need immediate radical change. We need No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure.
Full article here: https://xrboston.org/press/xr-boston-disrupts-screening-of-climate-documentary-demands-climate-chief-hoffer-immediately-ban-new-fossil-fuel-infrastructure/