Continued…

 

The Democratic Party Platform, described as “the ideas and beliefs that govern our party as a whole,” declares the following:

 

“Climate change poses an urgent and severe threat to our national security, and Democrats believe it would be a grave mistake for the United States to wait for another nation to take the lead in combating the global climate emergency. According to the military, climate change is a threat multiplier that is already contributing to new conflicts over resources, catastrophic natural disasters, and the degradation of vital ecosystems across the globe. While Donald Trump says that climate change is a ‘hoax’ created by and for the Chinese, Democrats recognize the catastrophic consequences facing our country, our planet, and civilization.

 

We believe the United States must lead in forging a robust global solution to the climate crisis. We are committed to a national mobilization, and to leading a global effort to mobilize nations to address this threat on a scale not seen since World War II.”

 

For you to refuse to host a debate on the “climate emergency” despite the Democratic Party being formally governed by its commitment to leading a “national mobilization” to “address this threat on a scale not seen since World War II” defies common sense.

 

We respectfully insist that the DNC reverse its decision and commit to hosting at least one, if not more, of its presidential debates dedicated solely to the global climate emergency.

 

Sincerely,

Alan Minsky, Executive Director
Progressive Democrats of America

Russell Greene, Senior Strategic Advisor, Progressive Democrats of America &
2016 Democratic Platform Committee Member

Andrea Miller, Executive Director
People Demanding Action

Tom Weis, President
Climate Crisis Solutions

Bill McKibben, Founder
350.org

Annie Leonard, Executive Director
Greenpeace USA

Susie Shannon
Democratic National Committee Member, California

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Civil Rights & Climate Justice Activist

Josh Fox, Oscar Nominated Emmy Winning Filmmaker &
2016 Democratic Platform Committee Member

Naomi Klein, Author

Avi Lewis, Filmmaker

Margaret Klein Salamon, Co-Founder
The Climate Mobilization

Ezra Silk, Co-Founder
The Climate Mobilization

Alexandria Villaseñor, Founder
Earth Uprising International

Russell Gray, Co-Founder
Extinction Rebellion US

Erich Pica, President
Friends of the Earth Action

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director
Food & Water Watch

Lindsey Allen, Executive Director
Rainforest Action Network

Kieran Suckling, President
Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund

Professor William J. Snape, III
American University Law School

Tim DeChristopher, Fellow
Climate Disobedience Center

Mark Z. Jacobson, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Stanford University

Demond Drummer, Executive Director
New Consensus

Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Policy Director
New Consensus

Peter Kalmus, Climate Scientist & Author

Patrick Carolan, Founder, Global Catholic Climate Movement & Executive Director
Franciscan Action Network

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Founder and Director
The Shalom Center

Joel Segal, National Director
Justice Action Mobilization Network

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, Founder & CEO
Revitalization Strategies

Thom Hartmann, Host
Thom Hartmann Program

RL Miller, Political Director
Climate Hawks Vote

Stephen M. Kretzmann, Founder and Executive Director
Oil Change

David Braun, Director
Rootskeeper Action