Transcripts For LINKTV Democracy Now 20140922

Next generations come to stay to take a stand against those try to take our Ancestral Lands. Were here because it is going to take all of us, not just the Indigenous People, but everyone in the whole world to come together to save our water. We will take you to the streets of the peoples climate march and then as the family of john didoon rockefeller announces it will stop investing in fossil fuel companies, we will look at the growing Divestment Movement. Fuels and from fossil invest in a Clean Energy Future, benefiting the worlds majority is no longer acceptable for any from to seek to Profit Industries that threaten our values. Move your money out of the problem and into solutions. We will hear a message from South African Archbishop Desmond tutu and speak to Scott Wallace of the Wallace Global Fund that is spearheaded the Divestment Movement in the Foundation World. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. As many as 400,000 people turned out in new york city on sunday for the peoples climate march, the largest environmental protest in history. The turnout far exceeded expectations, with a massive crowd filling the streets to demand action on Global Warming. Other marches and rallies were held in 166 countries. More protests are planned today. Climate activists are gathering this morning in Downtown Manhattan for a mass sit in dubbed flood wall street. The march was time to coincide with the United Nations Climate Summit in new york on tuesday. New figures show global emissions of Greenhouse Gases rose last year to record levels. Greenhouse gases increased 2. 3 overall. U. S. Emissions were up 2. 9 after declining in recent years. The head of the talks, the obama ministry confirmed it will not pledge any new money to a global fund helping poor nations deal with Global Warming. In a move coinciding with the Climate Summit, the heirs to the Rockefeller Oil fortune are announcing they will divest their 860 Million Charity from fossil fuels. Theyre part of a coalition of over 100 institutions and wealthy individuals who have joined a campus led movement to purge their investment portfolios of assets tied to fossil fuel companies and to instead invest in cleaner alternatives. We will have more from the peoples climate march as well as divestment in the Foundation World after the headlines. 49 turkish hostages have returned home after three months in captivity by the militant Group Islamic state. The hostages were kidnapped in the iraqi city of mosul in june. Turkey is provided no details on how they were freed, but denies paying a ransom or making any deal with the isis captors. The hostages release comes as more than 130,000 Syrian Kurdish refugees have fled syria into turkey since friday, fleeing an isis offensive. The United Nations says it is one of the largest lies of Syrian Refugees since the civil war erupted three years ago. To launch airnues strikes targeting the Islamic State in iraq as it moves to bring the war to syria. On sunday, the sms under to the United Nations said other countries have signed on for the expanded offensive following an International Summit last week. , more than 40 countries spoke half the the mr. Neil level, the french last week joined, mission strikes in iraq for the first time. Yet the saudis who have come out and offered training bases for the moderate opposition, now that congress has approved the program the president put forward. Were seeing a diverse range and forms of support and a commitments are coming in every day. That Samantha Power speaking on meet the press. The Yemeni Government has signed a peace to with the shiite Houthi Rebels after days of fighting that killed dozens of people and displaced thousands more. The agreement calls for an immediate ceasefire and a process for forming a new government. It is unclear if the houthis will relinquish a number of major advances nationwide, including the seizure of key government buildings in the capital. Rallieds of people have in moscow to oppose russian involvement in ukraines civil war. More than 3000 people have died since fighting between Ukrainian Forces and russianbacked separatists erupted in april. A crowd of up to 20,000 turned out for sundays march, chanting slogans including no to war. Thoughlence has slowed, not ceased, since a truce was reached earlier this month. Do United Nations says the deliberate sinking of a migrant maltaff the coast of earlier this month could amount to mass murder. As many as 500 people reportedly killed. Denouncing the attack, United Nations refugee agencys looks person Rupert Colville called for those responsible to be brought to justice. To literally ramming a boat full of hundreds of defenseless people is a crime that must not go unpunished. Were looking at what amounts to mass murder in the mediterranean. Not be anyn should less rigorous just because the victims are foreigners and the crime took lace on the high seas. Yet very few people who kill, rape, or robert migrants during the journeys rarely end up in court. Many had paid thousands of dollars to sneak out of gaza for the europe bound ship. Another 15 palestinian migrants from gaza reportedly died in another ship sinking the same week. And iraq war veteran has been detained after pulling off an unprecedented Security Breach at the white house. The secret service says Omar Gonzalez jumped a fence and sprinted across the north lawn, making it all the way to the front of the white house where he entered through an unlocked door. He was immediately taken into custody with authorities seizing a knife. Gonzalez reportedly served at least one tour of duty in iraq. His family says he posttraumatic stress disorder. Another intruder was arrested after trying to breach the white house grounds on saturday. The secret service says it has launched a review of its security procedures, calling gonzalezs entry into the white house unacceptable. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We turn now to the peoples climate march. Organizers estimate as many as 400,000 people marched in new york sunday in the largest climate protest in history. Turnout far exceeded expectations. Other marchers and rallies were held in 166 countries. More protests are planned today. Climate activists are gathering in Downtown Manhattan for a mass sit in dubbed flood wall street. The actions are timed to coincide with the United Nations Climate Summit taking place here in new york on tuesday. President obama and over 100 other World Leaders are expected to attend. Sundays events in new york began with an indigenous sunrise ceremony in central park will stop indigenous activists led the march. Aaron mate was in the streets. Where the front of the peoples climate march. Divided intos been different groups and at the front are indigenous and frontline amenities most impacted by Climate Change. Most impacted by Climate Change. Im an organizer with the Indigenous People social movement. Really,oday are going really well. We have tens of thousands of not hundreds of thousands of people on the street. We frontline indigenous communities from communities disproportionately affected by president obamas energy policy. We have leaders fighting fracking, tar sands, pipelines, all kinds of pipeline fighters from across the continent. Were organizing in solidarity with First Nations who are trying to stop tar sands expansion at the source. We are to send a clear message to president Obama Stephen harper, and the rest of the World Leaders that we need legally binding mechanisms on Climate Change right now. If they aint going to do it, the people certainly well. Were here to march for the next seven generations and take a stand against Big Oil Companies that are coming through our territories and trying to take our Ancestral Lands and destroy us. Were here because it is when you take all of us, not just the Indigenous People, but everyone in the whole world to come together to save our water. We are here on the march. Were marching because were fighting for Climate Justice and fighting because in december, the next cop will be in our country. Were preparing the people summit. The next march is december 10 inlima. Were asking the peruvian government, even if there taking pictures here your ban kimoon, theyre not in the kind of commitment in the country. Fightd to fight here and in our country. This is a global fight. What do we stand for . Peace and justice. Here have about 300 strong of our young people. We are Human Rights Organization located in williamsburg, brooklyn. Fromof our people are puerto rico and the dominican republic. Need the powers that be to come together with our people and really make decisions that are about preserving our earth. My name is carlos garcia. Represent 54,000 new york state employees for professional scientific and technical workers and were here to say to the u. S. Government and new york state government, lets take care of our climate and take care of our environment. Im with the gymnastic National Workers alliance with the new york Domestic Workers here today. For here, we are here because as Domestic Workers, it is time to clean up the climate mess. Domestic workers have been part of the struggle for a long time. For those of us who are Migrant Women workers, we often come what climateof crisis has done to our home country. We have come upon a huge contingent of young people, many carrying signs reading youth choose Climate Justice. Obama, we dont want no climate trauma. Im here from the university. What does your sign say . From Climate Change. We believe our university should sell off all its investments in the fossil fuel industry. That is coal, oil, natural gas tar sands and reinvest in clean, renewable alternatives. I am 16 from boston, massachusetts. As a youth, i feel like every youth should be a part of this because it concerns them and their future. Whether or not they can live 20 years from now with Climate Change. I feel it is important for me to be here. Weve through this march, tens of thousands are out in full force. Coming across all sorts of diverse groups. Whats the number one way to fight, change [indiscernible] we have everybody from hindus, catholics, protestants, atheists are marching together in a group. From rockaway beach, an organizer with rockaway wildfire. Sandy devastated the rockaways peninsula. We know Climate Change is being exacerbated by all of the systemic profiteering that is happening throughout our world. It is time for that to stop. Ed, it havent been involv is time to get involved because the is affected militarists. Im a phd student at Dartmouth College and im here because i care. The banner on which the scientists are marching is the debate is over . Yes. There is always a debate to be had on the edge of a large topic, but the called action is very clear. Were in a block of demonstrators under we know who is responsible. Campaigners, peace and justice groups, those who are organizing against the groups they save holding back progress. Im here with the flood wall street contingent. Were calling on people to do a mass sit in on the financial district to highlight the connections between corporate financing ande bankrolling of Climate Change, the financing of politicians who will not bring meaningful legislation to the table. Were blocking the process of bringing [indiscernible] some of the voices from the 400,000 strong peoples climate march here in new york. A special thanks to aaron mate and Elizabeth Press in the streets for democracy now globalin exclusive threehour broadcast on television, radio, and the internet sunday from right were the march began. Guests included the musician Angelique Kidjo. And was born in west africa raised there and every time i go back, all of the tommy hear from the women who sell and the markets how hard it is for them to have more and more good to sell because of the climate changing. Does who are paying the price of Climate Change . The women of africa. Theyre the ones who cook the food and make the balance between the family, community, and their own children. The scarcity of food is linked to Climate Change. How are we going to see the next generation . It is becoming more and more complicated. We dont have the food we need, another to sustain our life. Is there any chance you could sing a song for our viewers and listeners all over the country and all over the world . Well. Look into this camera heres the microphone. Dousing the first song i sang when i was six years old, where we use the drums and invite everyone to listen to a message and be part of that message and part of the change. It goes like this [singing african song] thank you so much. Grammy awardwinning musician Angelique Kidjo could also and oxfam ambassador. We will go to break with her and then more voices from the march also finally, the Foundation World is beginning to the vest from fossil fuel companies. We will bring you more. Stay with us. [music break] Angelique Kidjo performing for a steering democracy now live broadcast sunday. Performing for us live on democracy now on sunday. She is the unicef goodwill ambassador as well as and oxfam. Epresentative to the world as we continue our coverage of the peoples climate march here in new york will stop organizers estimate some 400,000 people took heart. Democracy now a threehour broadcast on the historic march. From the launching point of the march. We are going to turn to highlights from that special. Just before the march began trying to be independent senator Ernie Sanders of vermont who is considering a run for the white house in 2016. About 1000 vermonters and 400,000 americans that understand that Global Warming is real, it is already causing devastating problems in the United States and around the world and it will only get worse if we do not act aggressively to cut carbons and transform our Energy Systems away from fossil fuels to Energy Efficiency that is sustainable. It is a huge issue. We have to act. And one ofhe signs the mantras is, we need system change, not Climate Change. Of course you need Climate Change. The scientist committed he tells us we have in their opportunity to move. You also have to change the system. Among many other things, one of the reasons we are virtually no republican in congress, we have not acknowledged the reality of Climate Change. Youre not going to change politics in america unless we deal with the Koch Brothers and billionaires who are trying to buy elections. If we live in a society which is based on simply purchasing, purchasing, purchasing, more and withoutelopment understanding sustainability, in a longterm problems. How do you deal with money and politics . You overturnll, his Disastrous Supreme Court decision called Citizens United, which dave a green light to the Koch Brothers and billionaires to buy elections. The second thing how do you overturn it . Through a strong grassroots movement. We had a vote over the go that the media forgot to cover. Vote over a week ago that the meter forgot to cover. Number two, in my view, public funding of elections. It is not appropriate that people have the money or support the people have money can buy elections. The issue of whether you will run for president and what that means for president ial candidate to be here at the climate march. Number one, will you be running for president . I would be here no matter what. I have been involved in many, many years. It is no secret im giving thoughts to the possibility of running for president. That decision will not be made for little while. You were speaking at an event last night. The question of whether you would be running as a thirdparty candidate or as a Democratic Party candidate for president. There are advantages and its advantages of going both routes. Very difficult. On one hand, there is a lot of unhappiness with the Democratic Party and republican party. More more people are looking for alternatives. On the other hand, from a practical point of view, putting together a 50state independent clinical infrastructure isnt so easy, either. Mostly here today, im just delighted that we going to have hundreds of thousands of people who say enough is enough. Do you think president obama is doing enough around the issue of Climate Change . I think he is trying. I would not say he is doing enough. He can and should do more. At the major impediment right now is not obama, it is the republican party. We have to call them out. We dont do it enough. These are people who do not even acknowledge the scientific reality because they beholden the big energy money and corporatists. If you are president , what would you do about Climate Change . We would move very aggressively to transform our energy system. We can do this, amy. There is unbelievable opportunity in terms of weatherization and Energy Efficiency. The theology is there now for massive efforts in terms of solar, wind, thermal, biomass done properly. We could really do it. Clearly, it is a global problem. What we could do within the United States is providing technology and support for other countries around the world. This is a crisis and we have to address. It there are scores of buses coming in from vermont. Maybe the most per stay cap in the entire country. Governor shumlin recently said he would consider the state divesting from fossil fuels, a call being made by 350. Org and other vermont resident Bill Mckibben, your neighbor. I think it is a great idea. We went through this with tobacco and south africa. I think it is a great idea and i applaud the governor. You have been listening to senator bErnie Sanders. But right now to lay out the scope of what is taking place today in this historic moment is Bill Mckibben, the founder of 350. Org, one of the organizations that has organized this mass march today. Bill mckibben, welcome to democracy now amy, thank you so much for being here and documenting what is going to be a pretty remarkable day. There hasnt been a political gathering about anything that is this large in this country for many years. I think what it demonstrates is Climate Change is that the obsolete chip now a peoples consciousness. I want to ask about this announcement that mayor de blasio of new york has made around new york citys commitment to dealing with Climate Change, and how significant it is. It is on the front page of the New York Times today. I think i see it right over there. Im going to see if i can get a copy. It says, and sweeping effort to reduce this in terminal impact, new york city is planning to overhaul Energy Efficiency standards of all its public buildings under pressure private landlords to make similar improvements. It is a pretty interesting number. Initiative is part of a pledge to be announced before the yuan, summit tuesday to decrease Greenhouse Gas emissions by 80 by 2005 levels. The u. N. Has pointed to that rate of decrease as a desired target for developed countries to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. The significance is new york would become the largest city in the world to make the commitment according to mayor to blog seo de blasio. This is a good sign about what happens when people get together and ask for things. It is a good thing to have a sio it takese blad it seriously and goes to work on it. The real point of this is if we assemble enough people and enough movement, then we can match the money that the fossil fuel industry has. That is all they have. They launched the argument 20 years ago about Climate Change, but they won the fight because they are more money. We have to assemble what we do have, warm bodies. There are a lot of them out here today. You said the Koch Brothers together are the richest person on earth . And not only that, theyre more than willing to spend some percentage of that wealth making sure nothing ever changes. There is one study visit of Keystone Pipeline built, they would make another 100 billion, the two of them. You are from vermont. We just spoke to senator sanders. He may run for president. But you also come from a state where there will be scores of buses that are coming here. More than 1000 vermonters heading down. I heard there were 23 buses, people feel the trains and everything else. Vermont is definitely in the house. Arrived fromrain california yesterday. Buses are coming from wisconsin and minnesota. It is going to be mildly chaotic here on Central Park West for an hour or two, some people just have to be calm and cool and collected. Newoure anywhere near york him he should be here because this is history today. But governor shumlin has said he will consider divesting the state from fossil fuels. It is something you have been demanding. Absolutely. Universities and pension fund, but governor shumlin, the first governor to say he is going to divest his tape from fossil fuels what does that mean . It would be a very big boost to what authority the fastestgrowing divestment group. States and universities, churches, should not be invested in companies that are wrecking the planet. It is financially unwise because if we ever do anything about Climate Change, they will be out of luck, but it is morally possible. You cannot complain about the fact hurricane irene is wrecking vermont is also investing in the copies that are bringing you hurricane irene. Were joined by Elisabeth Yan from up roads. Russell joined by Bobby Kennedy junior, longtime environmental lawyer. Bobby, if you could step back right there and stand right there is we do this makeshift staging for a protest that is not exactly makeshift. This is in the planning for how long . We have been working diligently for eight months. Thats Bobby Kennedy, talked about why youre out here today. I was here in the 1970s. I remember what it was like. [indiscernible] a lot of people said, theres nothing we can do about it come it is just the way the industry works. We put 20 million americans onto the street that year. 10 of our population. 1000 demonstrations like this across the country. It is part of american history. That is the outpouring of democratic [indiscernible] over the next 10 years, we passed 28 major environmental laws. Were try to do the same thing today. American politics is driven by two courses, when his intensity and the other is money. The Koch Brothers have all the money. Theyre putting 300 billion this year and are effort is top the climate fall. We have is people power. That is why we put this demonstration on the street. What do you think your father would say . Verythink you would be disturbed about what is happened to american democracy. I think you would be horrified by the Citizens United case and the subversion we have seen of our democracy in this country. The ignorance and greed by big coal. It is not the way america supposed to work. Were supposed to be an example of democracy for the rest of the world. Democracy and the environment are intertwined. [indiscernible] as you are speaking, Bobby Kennedy, the march looks like it has launched. Elizabeth, you have to leave as well. But if you could just say final words about this Global Nature of this protest. Absolutely. Were people marching all over the world in solidarity with new york city today. It is really exciting. People from the global south, europe, all over. This is a big loud noise were sending out to the world. Thank you so much. Were summoning people to speak to today. Thank you, elizabeth. Now were joined by an unusual man, his name is District Attorney sam sutter. He is a massachusetts District Attorney who in the last year has been involved with prosecuting environment list named ken ward and j ohara. Maybe you can describe what it is you did over a year ago and then why youre standing today with the man who prosecuted you. Trucks certainly. A year ago we took a 32 foot boat anden lobster blocked a cargo ship carrying coal in order to try to stop it. Can you describe the moment that day . It was a Beautiful Day and we were in the Little Lobster boat in somerset massachusetts and his huge freighter was coming on go. We were anchored there for most of the day pretty much blocked the call for the day and ended up working with the coast guard and working with the local police and eventually, finding ourselves in court about two weeks ago where we met mr. Sutter. Did you just made outside of the courtroom today . No, no, we met that day, but then we have gotten a know each other over the last couple of days. Were sort of forging an alliance of sorts. Obviously, their action, technically broke the law, but we found the perfect solution that they. Dismiss the criminal conspiracy reduced the other charges to a civil infraction. Now it is a question of what we do going forward. As i said, their right as rain on the issue. So did they open thei your eyes . You are the District Attorney. These guys stopped 40,000 tons of coal from coming into one of the largest regional coal plants in the area . It is a nonviolent case. With gangee cities violence and gun violence. Were done a lot to reduce it, but it is still there. It was in a prominent case. I press secretary kept saying, this is a big case. I didnt really focus on it until about a week before the trial. And when i did, i mean, i think the science is reaching a point as far as Global Warming that it is overwhelming. You have to be a modern day letter to not see what is happening. What are we going to do about it . That is why i am here today. Your marching together in a massachusetts delegation . I believe so. Absolutely. Did you think this day would ever come . It is pretty surprising, but i think we as activists, people of faith who care about this stuff out and do something bold and create the space for others to be bold thank you all for being with us. I want to thank you District Attorney sam sutter as well as jay and ken. As we turn right now on the corner of Central Park West to sting. Thats right, the musician sting. Nice to be here. What are you doing here . Im with the Indigenous Group here. Ive always been at the forefront of the struggle. The message has always been the same, the planet is in danger and you better wise up. Very, with very well financed, organized campaign. So complacency at the behest of Oil Companies and its propaganda. We have to do something. Today is the day. Y march with Indigenous People . People certainly know you as a musician, but you are also a major Global Environmental activist. Conditioners the Indigenous Peoples message has been consistent from the beginning saying, we are in danger. Them in their homeland and dangers as an new york city. It is the same planet. It is a simple message. That is why am with them today. You spend time with World Leaders who are in awe of you. What do you tell them . I dont think that rock out to you. What do you tell them . What im telling you now, listen to the people who know, the Indigenous People. Do you think president obama is doing enough . No, i dont think anyone is doing enough, frankly. We need to pool our resources to make Sustainable Energy a reality. The world is full of energy. We do more than just a boil out of the ground and as for the climate. Britain is your home country. None of us are doing enough. We need the government to step up to the plate. There is a u. N. Climate summit on tuesday. Theres concern about the level of corporate involvement. A lot of corporations will pretend theyre try to save the planet, but are doing the opposite. Patience with that whitewash. You have to be careful. Theres an interesting irony as the gathering is here at Columbus Circle and it is the Indigenous People of the world who are leading this march and will be passing the Christopher Columbus statue. Were joined right now by sonia of culture strike. You are wearing a tshirt that says undocumented, unafraid, unapologetic. Of the dreamerto and immigrants rights movement. How does that relate to Climate Change . I am here with culture strike. On migrant justice. One of the things we wanted to showcase is Climate Change affects migrant communities where there is a forced migration happening. We want to acknowledge that. But also say, we are here, unafraid and here to fight for mother earth. Were standing in front of a large group of people who are Holding Signs in the shape of like preservers. We are going to see if right now we can get someone to come over. Excuse me, can you come over . Can someone come over and talk about why youre here . Can someone come over and talk about why youre here . We have a woman who says redfern houses. By giving your name. My name is kimberly. I live in queens. We did not get that much of an impact as down the beach of rockaway, but were here for everyone. Sandy. What does Climate Change mean for you . Climate change means to me, my grandchildren may have to may not have the same things i was able i took advantage of. They not have to come outside and masks. I matters in my grandchildren and everyone elses grandchildren can live a good life and have legs and all that good stuff. Thank you very much. What is a doctor like you doing in the streets of new york . There are several doctors here because this is a Global Warming is a health crisis. We saw tens of thousands of deaths from cholera related to to out to bloom, dinged a fever moving to higher elevations, people die in new orleans because of her hurricane. Theres no way to help your system could deal with this problem alone. We need to working to stop Global Warming now. Trex company i feel very robinson and the foreign minister of the marshall islands. I love the vote to democracy now nice to see you. Why are you here . As we can with a lot of them love you all over the world to come out and demand better leaders change course. Leaders andoa with they had tears in their eyes and times. The situation has become so serious. It affects everywhere now. Were not on course for save the world. We have is, some in todays time. The leaders of the world have to have the pressure not just in new york at all over the world today. What the marshall islands. Six feet above sea level sitting the middle of the pacific will stop one of the five most Vulnerable Countries in the world. Sayingd ms. Robinson and we consider this to be a wonderful occasion to be able to tell the world that the problem of Climate Change is now and we must deal with it now. I see a woman who has made history right behind us. Is the first socialist city councilmember in seattle. Talk about why you come from seattle. Mainly because this is an forlutely distort weekend the budding movement against Climate Change. Thousands of people are here marching together in solidarity shows there more than ready for collective action. What we were talking about last night was this collective action needs to be channeled into really radical militant nonviolent Mass Movement that will raise concrete political demand. What do we need to really fight Climate Change . We need an and the fossil fuel use, Rapid Transformation of the Global Economy and Renewable Energy and expansion of mass transit which will generate millions of unionized living wage jobs. But to make all of this happen, we need Huge Movement to put intense pressure on the establishment and not expect they will do it. We know they havent been doing it. They explained why that is so. Why havent Climate Summit after Climate Summit solved the problem . Because the billionaires who own the Oil Corporations have no incentive to of knowledge, change because if they did, that would mean giving up their ideology, giving up the system that benefits them. Lets see who is next. Come on over. Why dont you introduce yourself. Stand right here. Is name what are you doing here . Were at the climate march. Here that yought have a notebook ,pen, and a tech reporter that says indy kids. How old are you . I9. Im interviewing people for the newspaper. Can you read me a little from your note . These are your questions . Can you read me what your first question is . Why are you here at the peoples climate march today . And what do you think could be accomplished with this march . And have you ever been at a march like this before . And have you . No. Just some of the voices from the 400,000 strong peoples climate march. Visit democracynow. Org for the full exclusive threehour special from the launch of the march that took place on sunday here in new york city. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. To foundationsck are divesting their assets from fossil fuel companies. We will speak with a representative of one of the foundations that spearheaded this movement. Stay with us. [music break] young shared his song with democracy now ahead of sundays People Climate march. You can listen to the full song at democracynow. Org. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. As we turn now to the growing fossil fuel Divestment Movement. The rockefeller family, which made their vast fortune on oil, has announced it will begin divesting from fossil fuel companies. The Rockefeller Brothers fund is joining other foundations and wealthy individuals today to announce pledges to to vest a total of 50 billion from fossil fuel investments. Together these institutions hold over 50 billion in total assets. In a statement, stephen heintz, and air of standard oil tycoon John D Rockefeller said according to the global divest coalition, more than 650 individuals and 180 institutions have pledged to divest from fossil fuels. This morning, billionaire environment list tom steiner announced he will divest as well. The rockefellers will officially make their divestment pledge at a News Conference today. South african Archbishop Desmond tutu will deliver a video message at the event. Change theme to profit incentive by demanding the liability for unsustainable environmental purchases. Encourage governments to stop accepting funding from the fossil fuel industry. Such funds erode governments managingilities as custodians of our world. From fossil fuels and invest in a Clean Energy Future benefiting the worlds majority. It is no longer acceptable for any of us to seek to profit from systems and industries that threaten our values. Move your money out of the problem and into solutions. That a South African Archbishop Desmond tutu. For more, were joined by man who lives happier in south africa and half year. Were joined by Scott Wallace, cochair of the Wallace Global Fund, which has coordinated the to vest invest effort to recruit foundations to to vest. The Wallace Global Fund supports Many Organizations including democracy now Scott Wallace is an attorney who is rigorously served as Legal Counsel on the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on juvenile justice and the Senate Committee on veterans affairs. He is also the grandson of henry wallace, who served as Franklin Roosevelts Vice President and rifle president in 1948. All you do. For today, youre going to be making a major announcement with the rockefellers and other heads of foundations about divestment. Talk about what youre going to be doing. Were going to be announcing this afternoon that 50 additional foundations are divesting, representing 50 billion in total assets. Over 600 individual investors with tons of money. This is building on the movement that started on College Campuses and that Bill Mckibben and so others greatly mobilized yesterday to take the streets. The foundations that have invested in Climate Solutions with their grant dollars are finally deciding they also have to invest the entire endowments with her problematicals. Speaking with the Student Movement that launched this, i want to turn to one of the people i spoke to yesterday in the peoples climate march. I interviewed a student lex barlowe. It is an organization that has been in the works since the beginning for the very first conversions in 2011. Convergence in 2011. Were trying to coordinate all of the over 400 divestment campaigns that we have against fossil fuels on our campuses across the country. We are really excited to be here at the march today. False of feel divestment has created a Huge Movement. Fossil fuel divestment has created a Huge Movement. On gettingy working our students and line with the Climate Justice messaging. We really believe students have created a movement out of finding this way to leverage the power as students and how they in specifically be solidarity with front line communities at their universities instead of just going to these communities and going to see what they can do, how they can take action right now on their campuses. That is a yale student. Yale has announced they will not divest, unlike stanford, that made a major decision recently. Scott wallace . Stamford is one of the growing number of universities that has decided under pressure from the students and the board of trustees and people, graduates, who have demanded it, to get out of fossil fuels. That is to find is getting out of the 200 top dirtiest polluters. And to invest in good clean energy solutions. Lets talk about the divest invest part. Divest, many might say, so what . You have a lot of money in the longterm, and the fossil fuel companies have much more. Matter . Really what is your response to that . It is an environment of in economic and moral issue. We have to make a pariah out of these companies. We have to send a message. It is also good financial sense. We got out five years ago. Completely divested from fossil fuels and invested in clean energy solutions. We are ahead of where we would have been. We are doing better. It is because the market is starting to understand that all the reserves that are on the books of exxon in the major Oil Companies cannot be burned. Their capitalization reflects these huge reserves that are still in the ground, and we are now realizing the financial analysts are realizing, they cannot take them out of the ground. They cant bring them. The valuation of the companys is tromping. So, the next decade or value of the stocks will continue to plummet and the value of the alternatives, solar and wind, now competitive with oil and gas, will make those stocks more valuable. A lot of heads of foundations were listing right now, Pension Funds who might be listening by be saying, you cant be serious. You can actually make money off of divesting from these extremely lucrative investments . Absolutely. I would say to the universities and the trustees and the foundations that are concerned about losing money, concerned about risk, i would say if you like risk, if you want risk, then stay in fossil fuel. That is the risk alternative. If you want a solid financial future, stick to stop or youre not going to get sued when the deepwater horizon blows up in the gulf and youre not going to lose your market value because of oilstranded assets and coal that has to be left in the ground because we cannot afford to burn. You know desmond tutu well. Talk about the other aspects, dimensions, of this movement, the moral dimension, the comparisons to the Divestment Movement in south africa. As Archbishop Tutu pointed out in a Statement Released a couple of days ago, and you can find this on the website divestinvest. Org, he looks at this as a human rights challenge. From living in africa for the last 10 years, we see the consequences of Global Warming are visited on the people that have the least to do with creating a. The most vulnerable in the lowlying areas without the homes that are Strong Enough to resist flooding in the people who dont have the money to deal with the drought and the famine that comes with Global Warming. And that is desmond tutus concern. This is a practice of the developed world, which is visited upon the less developed world. The headline of the New York Times today, about the from piece of their website, heirs to the oil fortune join the divestment. John d rockefeller built a vast fortune on oil and now his heirs are abandoning fossil fuels. Exxonmobil, direct descendent of John D Rockefeller, then pulling out of fossil fuels . It is huge. It is the definition of irony. To have standard oil, exxon, the heirs saying, we have to move on. And they can. If they would transition to clean energy sources. As i say, theyre becoming competitive in pricing, so i dont know why bps to say they were beyond petroleum. They havent acted on that. I think the point of this movement is to issue a challenge to the companies and as archbishop talks about, we should have some accountability from is copies for the harm theyre doing. And tom stier is going to divest . I believe who is marching yesterday. Brother. Our koch he is the leader of the billionaire movement to try to push back against what the Koch Brothers are doing. Flowpeople talk about the of money, oil money into elections in corporate money. He is right and Bobby Kennedy is right with but major hedge fund. I think he is completely gotten out of the hedge fund,ut he now runs this movement this movement that invests in politicians that are going to make a pledge to do something about Climate Change. Next 10, i think it is Climate Solutions. He is making a huge difference. Hes tried to inject electoral politics into this. Offinally, the issue foundations actually making money off of divestment. What are the kinds of companies you are investing in or areas you are investing in as you pull out your full investment from fossil fuels . Youre talkingcoal . Coal, oil, and natural gas. Fracking, the whole works. Anything that comes from fossils. Wind,ing in solar, biomass. You can buy shares in tesla, the motor trend car of the year. You can make a lot of nice money off the clean energy solution. I think what is so magical about this movement is it is led by ordinary people. It is led by the students who were out there marching yesterday. A 401 k ,who owns pension fund, who is an alumnus of university, writes a check occasionally to them, has any sort of mutual fund investment, you can go to your advisors, go to your fund and say, i want out of the dirty stuff. I want you to set up a clean energy fund. I want a vehicle where i can. Xpress my values consistently everybody can put that kind of pressure. I love that students, the kids, are getting so engaged in this. Scott wallace, thank you for being with us, cochair of the Wallace Global Fund which is coordinated divest invest effort to recruit foundations to divest. He is also the grandson of henry wallace, who served as Vice President for Franklin Delano roosevelt and ran for president himself in 1948. That does it for the broadcast. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. Email your comments to outreach democracynow. Org or mail them to democracy now p. O. Box 693 new york, new york 10013. 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