A tiny fish, the Delta smelt, became a misunderstood symbol of California water policy. A California-based scientist who studied the impacts of dairy farming on water and air quality explains why the smelt is significant for understanding water quality in the Delta, and a major driver of California water shortages: Big Ag.
On January 6th, we sent our petition to President Biden, calling on him to declare a climate emergency before he leaves office. One day later, the climate emergency came to the people of Los Angeles county, in the form of unprecedented wildfires. We again call on President Biden and the Democratic party to make a very clear and public statement connecting the ways climate change has made catastrophes like this more intense and more frequent.
Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island activists went to the Ecological Society of America conference this month. We made a lot of new friends, a fair amount of noise, and a little good trouble as we worked to grow the movement confronting the intersecting climate and extinction crises.
We teamed up with XR LA for an action just outside the doors of the ESA2024 conference, calling on ecologists there to join us in action. We scientists have the privilege to know, and therefore the duty to act, on climate change.
Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island joined local climate activists at Synergy Oil and Gas in Long Beach to protest illegal drilling. SRTI experienced again the solidarity and joy of working to protect local residents and indigenous rights, while a conveniently out-of-order stoplight in front of the protest led to increased public visibility of the issue during rush hour traffic.