Perhaps it is the time of year, but I'm feeling a growing awareness...an awakening. After all, next Friday is the solstice and the days will begin to grow here in the Northern hemisphere. But the hope I'm feeling comes from young people and those willing to hit the streets to urge a fundamental change. The Climate Summit COP24 took place this week. Many people are objecting to the corporate influence and are trying to jettison the overlords influence in a climate strategy. Young Greta Thunberg was inspiring. So is the Sunrise movement in our country, and extinction rebellion in the UK. Then there's the yellow vest movement spreading in the EU and around the world. There's a new movement - Progressive International

The time has come for progressives to form a grassroots movement for global justice: to mobilize workers, women and the disenfranchised all around the world behind a shared vision of democracy, prosperity, sustainability, and solidarity.

There's a new fairly progressive president in Mexico, AMLO. And though Brazil has declined to host the next COP meeting, Costa Rica has stepped up to host and set an example!

Costa Rica has a plan to go fossil-free beginning next year, becoming the first decarbonized economy in the world. Costa Rica already generates more than 90 percent of its electricity using renewable energy. In 2017, it went 300 days on clean energy alone.

(I believe Bhutan has already gone carbon negative)

Bernie and Yanis introduce the idea of an international alliance of progressives...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o33zTYk5YIc (24 min)

...and another clip from Bernie's summit a week or so ago w/ AOC and the Green New Deal...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL5ucB3AbUs (20 min)

The resolution says funding will come primarily from the federal government, “using a combination of the Federal Reserve, a new public bank or system of regional and specialized public banks, public venture funds and such other vehicles or structures that the select committee deems appropriate, in order to ensure that interest and other investment returns generated from public investments made in connection with the Plan will be returned to the treasury, reduce taxpayer burden and allow for more investment.”

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/this-radical-plan-to-fund-the-green-ne...

Last Monday in DC over 140 were arrested in protests calling for Democratic leaders to create a plan to decarbonize the economy (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/climate-activists-storm-capitol-hill-dem...

With support for a Green New Deal growing rapidly at the grassroots, in Congress, and among potential 2020 presidential candidates, over 300 local elected officials from 40 states threw their support behind the bold proposal in an open letter released on Friday, declaring that it is "time to end the era of fossil fuel production and build our clean energy future together."

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/14/grassroots-momentum-surges-...

The Yellow vest movement in France provides many important lessons.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/12/14/taking-french-lessons-powe...

On the last day of the COP, more than 150 representatives from movements across the globe came together in protest at the "corporate-captured U.N. climate talks"
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/14/stand-people-not-polluters-...

Greta Thunberg's TED talk from last month echos much of her COP speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAmmUIEsN9A (11 min)
She suggests we change the rules....

Graeme Maxton agrees we need radical change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayr5qNDsHmo (8 min)

Chris Hedges explains how change is coming at the end of an empire ruled by idiots
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/reign-of-idiots/

However we face blow back from our own governments. The Canadian Postal Workers want to go green, but face an uphill struggle with their own government. (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/canadas-government-rejects-postal-unions...

It is always one step forward, two steps back.

A federal appeals court rebuked the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for allowing an energy corporation to move ahead with its plan to build a pipeline that would cut across two national forests and the Appalachian Trail—arguing that the agency put two energy companies' profits ahead of its own stated mission of protecting the nation's forests.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/14/quoting-dr-seuss-court-thro...

Will this week's ruling against Obamacare promote medicare for all? That's my hope.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/15/federal-courts-disastrous-a...

Foreign Policy...
still presents many challenges in the US with our war machine generating massive profit for the 1%ers. Medea Benjamin discusses the US-Saudi war on Yemen and attempts by peace activists and Congress to stop the conflict. At least there is finally some discussion.
https://therealnews.com/stories/how-us-saudi-war-turned-yemen-into-the-b... (video or text)

Oliver Stone discusses the challenges telling the real story of US aggression
https://therealnews.com/stories/oliver-stone-american-war-state-has-the-... (video or text)
Oliver Stone speaks about the life and legacy of dissident journalist and historian William Blum, who documented US war crimes and CIA interventions across the planet
https://therealnews.com/stories/oliver-stone-remembers-anti-imperialist-...
The NYT smeared Blum in its obit.
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-new-york-times-shameful-obituary-o...

Are we seeing a replay of the Cuban missile Crisis? Russian bombers come to Venezuela.
https://therealnews.com/stories/russian-bombers-landing-in-venezuela-a-r... (video or text)

BDS is here to stay despite Israel's efforts to suppress the movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPe4nkSabIc (8.5 min)

So I'm feeling hopeful and hope you have the same sense of things as well. No we're not going to see instant change like we need. Oil production isn't going to stop in the short term. In fact I bought gas for less than $2 per gallon yesterday. The planet is probably past the tipping point, but at least there is an effort...young people rising up, nations like France demanding less inequality. Venezuela standing up to the United Snakes aggression. Yes we must be aware of the horrors, but we should also take heart from the young folks fighting the systemic injustice and inequities in our world.

I look forward to your take on the weeks news in the comments below!