Amanda Starbuck

What Happened When Their Art Was Banned

9 artists talk to @nytimes.com about US censorship of their art.
Such a clear reminder of how vital artists are in holding space for truth, imagination, and resistance, especially with everything going on right now.

Financial Institutions - Science Based Targets Initiative The finance sector is key to unlocking the system-wide change needed to reach a net-zero global economy. The SBTi offers two science-based frameworks tailored to the sector.

sciencebasedtargets.org/financial-in...

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As voluntary initiatives get watered down, scientific clarity matters more than ever.
If you're working in finance, climate policy, or transition planning, this is a standard worth reading.

Link to the standard in next comment

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• The SBTi deserves credit here. They're staying committed to scientific pathways to NZ, being fair and clear in setting a global, independent benchmark while many other voluntary and regulatory initiatives are drifting away.

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• No financing or insurance of new oil & gas expansion is compatible with net zero. Not now. Not ever.
• FIs still claiming “engagement” with fossil fuel firms as their strategy must set a cut-off point by 2030. Financing expansion past then is not a “transition strategy”, it’s climate denial.

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I've reviewed the @sciencebasedtargets.org new standard for financial institutions. And a few points stand out very clearly. 🧵

Protecting American Energy From State Overreach By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose.

In case you missed it, Trump also signed an executive order today directing the AG to go after state and local climate policies. Potentially bigger deal than coal order, imo…
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Clean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024, report finds Thinktank says solar has been fastest-growing energy source for last 20 years, but remains dwarfed by hydro power

The world used clean power sources to meet more than 40% of its electricity demand last year for the first time since the 1940s, figures show.

The report found that solar farms had been the world’s fastest-growing source of energy for the last 20 consecutive years.

A multitude took to the streets of Buenos Aires to honor the National Holiday of Memory, Truth and Justice. This year's march is in the context of Argentina's government restricting rights and dismantling public bodies that investigate the former dictatorship’s crimes against humanity.

Something is definitely happening.

Corporate attempts to silence campaigners just hit a new low.

I stand in solidarity with @greenpeaceusa.bsky.social , I support free speech and the right to protest.

A Guide to the Birdsong of Migration An album of music inspired by the song of migratory birds of the Americas.

Thrilled to share "A Guide to the Birdsong" Vol.4!
This album pairs 10 musicians from the Americas with 10 threatened migratory birds, celebrating movement, adaptation, and resilience. Funds raised support bird and human migration NGOs. Bring it to life by backing the Kickstarter: bit.ly/43FoRk6

Just signed up for Break Big Biomass, hosted by @dogwoodalliance.org 🌿🔥 It’s about stopping dirty biomass & defending forests - especially urgent after Trump moved to expand logging in national forests.

Date: April 7, 7pm EST
Sign up: bit.ly/4i5BXM5

Hope to see many of you there.

🚨 New Filing in Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes Learn more.

🚨BREAKING: Ninth Circuit AFFIRMS lower court decision striking down Arizona voter suppression law H.B. 2492 which imposed unconstitutional and burdensome proof of citizenship requirements.

A big victory for our clients and the voters of Arizona. A stinging defeat for the RNC.

What's the Biggest Owl? Superb Owls with Bird Academy Which owl is the biggest? Smallest? Oddest? Cutest? Explore the winners of Bird Academy’s Superb Owl awards and discover owl species diversity worldwide.

For more Superb owls, check out @birdsoftheworld.bsky.social the Cornell Lab's video

academy.allaboutbirds.org/superb-owls/

they're fantastic!

Happy Superb Owl Sunday!
Here's a Burrowing Owl I met in Mar Chiquita, Argentina

Ever wonder what snow in the swamp would look like? This is 5 miles into the Louisiana swamps in the Atchafalaya basin... it's unreal... having lived down there for the first 28 years of my life, we never saw anything like this.

Smashed records.

Curtesy of Garrett Roberts.

Phoenix nears dry spell record as drought conditions worsen Arizona capital, made drier and hotter by climate crisis, edges towards longest streak without recorded rain

By me: There’s been no rain for 154 consecutive days in Phoenix - the second longest dry spell on record (160 days in 1972) - as drought conditions persist across Arizona.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Home | The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is a nonprofit organization that recruits and develops the next generation of Wildland Firefighters.

Looking to support the LA fire relief efforts?
I recommend The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program. We need more firefighters. FFRP recruits, trains and supports formerly incarcerated California firefighters to get professional careers in firefighting after their release.
www.forestryfirerp.org

Thanks for that link, interesting. Summarizing what I can see: bluesky rules against misleading electoral information, no misinfo about political candidates, and no impersonation. And there's a moderation team in place for that. But no rules prohibiting 'general' (ie not electoral) misinfo.

How does factchecking work here on bluesky?

Dogwood is Now Hiring a Gulf South Manager This position will work to address the forest and community harms of the wood pellet industry.

A great opportunity to work with Dogwood Alliance in the US Gulf South. Join a passionate and committed team doing high impact work to protect forests and communities from industrial logging.

Forest defense is one of our best strategies to combat climate change.

dogwoodalliance.org/2024/12/now-...

Albufera is my new favourite spanish word. It's a brackish lagoon, where freshwater meets the sea. And where I met this charming Elephant Seal.
@ Mar Chiquita on the coast of Buenos Aires

Wildfire climate connection Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States during the last ...

ABC, NBC & CBS dedicated about 16 minutes of airtime last night to the California wildfires without once mentioning climate change.

Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:

www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...

The combined net worth of America's twelve wealthiest people passed $2 trillion last year.

12 people. $2 trillion.

Meanwhile, U.S. homelessness increased 18% in 2024.

Our problem isn’t an issue of resources.

Our problem is ever-expanding wealth inequality.

Despite all these amazing & inspiring successes, I'm afraid I will conclude with a reality check.

Emissions reached a record high again this year!

Hundreds of billions are still being poured into new fossil fuel projects!

We're winning important battles, but losing the war.

These commitments were never genuine and never acted upon.

The real shift here is from lying to honesty

The books I read in 2024

My fav: Javier Zamora's Solito, about the journey he made into the US as a 9yo. Puts a human face onto the harrowing realities of migration.

And I enjoyed takes on electoral politics from 2 former bosses @nedhowey.bsky.social + @hackneyabbott.bsky.social

Recs for 2025?

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Climate scientists be like..