This post is adapted from my 8/16/22 newsletter. Sign up here.
This week’s guest is the executive director of the Climate and Community Project, Johanna Bozuwa. She is here to help us make sense of the Inflation Reduction Act, the new congressional bill that manages to be the biggest US investment in climate yet, a colossal letdown, and for some communities an act of betrayal. We talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly, how we got here, and where we might go next. Check it out!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xkhSKW1plfVBd7kyM7E38?si=RST0sagxRt6IRMKPNjvmNg&nd=1
Or open on another app here: https://pod.link/1604296764/episode/531c167153953d325caeec9513ee43d0
I worked with Johanna a few times when I was an editor at In These Times, she wrote a few excellent articles about public ownership of utilities. It was a pleasure to speak with her again, in her new role at a climate justice policy org.
Speaking of the Climate and Community Project, two of my past guests are members as well, Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò and Thea Riofrancos. Both of their work comes up in today’s interview.
Last thing about this episode–thanks to my Patreon supporters for suggesting some questions for Johanna, they were very useful! If you want to occasionally contribute questions, get early access to episodes, or other perks, please consider signing up for a small monthly contribution if you haven’t already–it works out to about $1 per episode at the base level.
Book Club: We are one week away from our discussion of As Long As Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker! Reply to this email if you are not a Patreon subscriber but still interested in attending. Even if you do not have time to read the book, we still would appreciate your perspectives on the issues raised about indigenous environmental justice. You can prepare by reading a couple short book reviews (here and here) and/or listening to one of several podcast interviews she has done in the past.
And mark your calendar for Thursday, September 29 for our discussion of Octavia Butler’s The Parable of the Sower! 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Patreon supporters can also begin voting for our October book club.
The best thing I read all week: This Los Angeles Times article about what comes after the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the next decade will see a massive buildup of wind and solar plants, which have potential to face local backlash due to environmental or other concerns. Journalist Sammy Roth’s reporting, based on real examples, suggests that the best way to avoid this is to actively involve communities in a democratic planning process. It’s a solution that reminds me of my earlier episode with Rebecca Willis about how more deliberative democracy is needed to adequately confront climate change.
No new episode next week, but hope to see many of you a book club.
Thanks,
Dayton
Dayton Martindale 