11/11/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Veterans for Peace would like to RECLAIM ARMISTICE DAY. They decry the rebranding of a Peace day to a Military day. This year they ask you to live up to your rhetoric by disclosing the carbon impacts of military operations & taking meaningful action to address the climate crisis. Please look into it.

            It looks like your COP27 speech went well. Thanks for reiterating our, as of yet unfulfilled 2021, pledge to provide $11.4 billion in international climate finance annually by 2024.

According to the CSM, Egypt is one of the thirstiest places on the planet where farmers are struggling to grow their crops. Canal improvements could limit evaporation & leaks may, but Egypt doesn’t have $$ to invest in those projects. Let’s see what we can do to help.

I hope you will look at the art in the venues at COP27. I am intrigued by Polish “fusionist,” Kasia Molga, who put her tears into tiny bottles with algae in an exhibit called, “How to Make an Ocean.” Another piece, “Bodies Joined by a Molecule of Air, “ looks like lungs, but is actually tree branches. I hope these images move you to make climate change one of your priorities.

As you consider priorities, I hope that Burma moves higher on the list. Reading today’s piece in the NYT by Nilar Thein might help in that regard. Her narrative about her daughter’s life as the child of activists is coupled with the plea to “urgently & aggressively take up the cause of Myanmar’s people & ensure that any efforts to restore democracy are guided not by ineffectual ASEAN — but by the civilian leaders of Myanmar who were chosen by the people.” I hope her piece motivates you to recognize the NUG.

Enjoy your travels,

RCA