“It’s difficult to overstate the seriousness of the environmental threats coming from this administration. We have never had a head of the EPA so hostile towards the mission of the agency, and never had a President so unwilling to make decisions based on science and law.”
– Kate Hudson, Waterkeeper Alliance
KingstonCitizens.org’s recent community educational forum “PART II: On Climate Change, Energy and Infrastructure” was at capacity. Our special guest Kate Hudson of Waterkeeper helped participants understand better what was a stake today and what citizens can do.
VIEW video from the event.
Please be sure to visit our upcoming SCHEDULE to learn more about future community educational forums.
Special thanks to Kate Hudson for her generosity in sharing her knowledge as our guest panelist; Peter and Julie at Church des Artists for their space, kindness, and for making this video; and, to all of our KingstonCitizens.org volunteers for their assistance.
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Resources:
VIEW: KingstonCitizens.org’s “Trump Administration Initiatives and NYS Local/State Policy and Laws”
8:46 – 11:25
Introduction: On KingstonCitizens.org’s Community Educational Forum Series
11:27 – 15:50
Introduction: Kate Hudson
“Give us a background on how you came to the work in NYS?”
15:52 – 17:12
Kate Hudson on SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act), unique to New York State.
17:13 – 18:54
“What other states have the equivalent of SEQRA in the Nation and what is NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)?”
18:55 – 24:23
Kate Hudson discusses her work while at Riverkeeper that include Fracking, Pilgrim Pipeline and Anchorages as well as her work now in Colorado for Waterkeeper.
24:24 – 31:52
“Lets look at what’s happened since the inauguration, starting with Scott Pruitt, who now heads the EPA.”
“It’s difficult to overstate the seriously of the environmental threats coming from this admin. we have never had a head of EPA so hostile to the mission of the agency and never had a president so unwilling to make decisions based on science and law.”
“Congress has a role to play. They can refuse to enact whatever it is the President (via executive orders), which have no legal effect. Executive orders are wishes or direction. The recently released budget has no effect until it is passed by Congress. We have the potential in this room, in this state, in this country – to influence Congress. That is where we need to focus our efforts.”
31:55 – 34:48
Discussion on citizen lawsuits against the federal government and the attorney general of NYS.
34:49 – 40:45
“What do Trump’s budget plans indicate about environmental protection in our country?”
40:46 – 44:00
“One of Trump’s initiatives speaks to canceling billions of payments to UN climate change programs and use these “savings” to fix America’s infrastructure. What does this all mean?”
44:01 – 45:54
On budget cuts that impact the environment including brownfield programs, state grants for brownfields, drinking water grants, etc.
45:56 – 51:56
“Can you describe the Congressional Review Act?”
51:57 – 57:05
“What can be done on a national level?”
“We are watching you. We are not going to stop and we will remember come election time.”
57:06 – 59:18
“What can we do in NYS?”
59:19 – 1:02:48
“Speaking to the law, SEQRA is going through changes currently. Can you speak to that and how can citizens participate?”
Comment period for proposed SEQRA revisions VIEW
1:02: 49 – 1:07: 15
“In order to push back, we have to understand how we got here. It’s a long game that we are fighting. What’s at stake is a huge amount of money in fossil fuels. It is all about money and power.”
Recommended reading:
1. “This Changes Everything” by Naomi Klein VIEW
2. “Dark Money” by Jane Mayer VIEW
1:07:20 – 1:09:00
On gerrymandering and the NYS Census.
1:09:01 – 1:14:01
NYS residents exercising their power as it pertains to oil pipelines. Support passage of Skartado’s legislation. “NYS Transportation Corporation Law” VIEW
1:14:02 – 1:19:06
“In closing, what is going on right now is a wake-up call that we all needed. I think that the relationship between first nation communities and the earth water – air – the nature of that relationship and its importance is critical. Earth, plants, animals and water were not just put here for human beings. This is fundamental, the connection that first nations have with their earth. They are teaching us how we need to respect, protect and preserve all of these if we are to survive. I urge you all to become water, creature, forest protectors. Every sort of protector we can possibly muster.”