Not Enough, But 2020 CLIMATE TOWN HALL/FORUM Hailed As Big Progress By Experts

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'A Year Ago I Wouldn't Have Believed It': Not Enough, But 2020 Climate Town Hall Hailed as Big Progress. "Gotta say that just seeing the words 'Climate Crisis' in red on screen is a victory for our movements." Common Dreams, Sept. 5, 2019.

Despite steady concerns that much of the news media—especially the corporate media in the United States—continues to downplay the far-reaching threat of the international emergency of rising air and ocean temperatures, climate campaigners and experts praised a town hall-style forum with 2020 Democrats candidates hosted by CNN Wednesday night as a hopeful sign of progress.

> "10, 5, even 2 years ago—these were fringe ideas for mainstream Dems. This is what shifting the Overton window looks like. So much love for the movement tonight." —Collin Rees, Oil Change International

"Gotta say that just seeing the words 'Climate Crisis' in red on screen is a victory for our movements," tweeted Canadian author and activist Naomi Klein as the evening of television kicked off and she praised the movement who pushed so hard for giving the issue the singular focus it deserves. "Finally the starting premise is correct and none of it would be happening without the work of millions."



-- CNN's marathon town hall Wednesday night, featuring ten of the top 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, "put the climate crisis closer to the center of a presidential election than ever before." (Photo: CNN)

Throughout the approximately seven-hour forum—with each of 10 candidates given 40 minutes to answer questions about the Green New Deal, fracking, nuclear power, the costs of transition, holding fossil fuel companies to account, how to offer justice to displaced workers and communities, and other key issues—the event had the desired result for many, regardless of the range of answers given, of putting the climate emergency front and center.

A year ago, there didn't seem like a chance in hell that this would be possible.

But thousands mobilized, and visited offices, and called, and sang, and tweeted, and sat in. That's what it takes.

Never doubt the power of organized ordinary people to do extraordinary things. https://t.co/WclshS2k5K

— Varshini Prakash (@VarshPrakash) September 4, 2019

"Lots could be critiqued tonight," said Justin Worland, a journalist for TIME magazine, "[but] it still feels remarkable to see 7 hours of largely substantive talk on CNN where science is taken as a given and candidates face good questions about solutions. A year ago I wouldn't have believed it; makes me wonder where we'll be in a year."

At the conclusion, highlighting multiple mentions of the direct connection between the climate emergency and Hurricane Dorian, Klein agreed:

Tonight was big.

2 yrs ago, as Hurricanes Irma, Harvey + Maria tore through islands and coasts, we heard from global media that it was insensitive to "politicize" disasters by talking about climate crisis.

Now, images of #Dorian2019 appeared throughout a 7 hr #CNNClimateForum https://t.co/1iJcelfaA7

#CNNClimateForum https://t.co/1iJcelfaA7

— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) September 5, 2019

Collin Rees, a campaigner with Oil Change International, expressed a similar sentiment:

Incredible to see @CNN asking nearly all candidates about banning #fracking & fossil fuel exports.

10, 5, even 2 years ago – these were fringe ideas for mainstream Dems.

This is what shifting the Overton window looks like. So much love for the movement tonight. #ClimateTownHall

— Collin Rees (@collinrees) September 5, 2019

Despite the progress signaled by CNN's forum—and a pair of similar events to be held by MSNBC later this month—climate crisis experts argue that what took place Wednesday night is the least that should be done when it comes to addressing the issue.

Margaret Klein Salamon, founder and executive director of the Climate Mobilization and author of the forthcoming book "Facing the Climate Emergency," applauded the coverage offered by the town hall but said, "It cannot be a one and done thing."...

More, https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/05/year-ago-i-wouldnt-have-believed-it-not-enough-2020-climate-town-hall-hailed-big
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~~~ Hopefully CNN will air this major event several times!! ~~~~

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1. K & R