Tag: Bank of America

#FossilBanks No Thanks

Taking the fight to #fossilbanks

April 9, 2019

Get Excited — It’s shareholder meeting (AGM to our friends in Europe) season; And this year we’re taking the fight to some of the biggest #FossilBanks and investors on the planet.

You may remember a few weeks ago when a coalition of friends (including 198 methods) released a big report showing that global banks have invested $1.9 trillion in fossil fuels. Now, those same banks, and the pipeline companies they finance are holding annual shareholder meetings and we’re ramping up the pressure to demand they #Divest from fossil fuels and climate chaos as part of a Green New Deal.

The first events start this week in Seattle and Charlotte (amongst other places) check it out and sign up to join and event near you.

OR – if you can’t make it to an event or there isn’t one planned near you right now – click here to chip in $1.98 or more to help us challenge these banks and corporate frackers in front of their shareholders with daring and creative protests.

These protests are part of a big, international, coalition that’s working to make the climate crisis a real, immediate concern for big banks and investors. Because to stop a further climate chaos, we urgently need to bring the fossil fuel era to an end. But only massive public pressure will make banks divest from pipelines, fracking wells and other climate-wrecking industries. So we need your help and participation to build that pressure on the Fossil Banks.

So what’s our plan? We’ll be all over this spring protesting at shareholder meetings. Check out some of the upcoming events or visit our Facebook page to see and RSVP:

  • April 10 – Charlotte NC and all over the Country protesting at Chase and Wells Fargo branches, in particular.
  • April 24 – Bank of America Shareholder meeting in Charlotte NC; and
  • May 7 – Dominion Shareholder Meeting Columbia SC

Lots more events are being planned – so stay tuned and drop us a line on Facebook, on Twitter, or right here on the good old fashioned website if you have an AGM/Shareholder meeting you want help planning!

Image courtesy of Fund Our Future

US banks are the worlds biggest funders of dirty fossil fuels

Fossil Banks invest $1.9 trillion in climate change

March 21, 2019

It’ll come as no surprise to regular 198 methods readers and activists that since the Paris climate agreement was signed in late 2015, global banks have invested $1.9 trillion in fossil fuels. About half of it going to companies like Energy Transfer Partners, Transcanada, and others investing in a massive expansion of fossil fuel projects at exactly the moment climate scientists tell us we have 12 years to radically reduce emissions.

It’s all in the new report Banking on Climate Change: Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2019 by Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Sierra Club, Oil Change International and Honor the Earth, and endorsed by more than 160 organizations ― including us!

Can you help us fight back? Click here to host or attend one of dozens of protests at local bank branches on April 10 and call out banks dirty investment in climate chaos.

In 2015, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon supported the Paris Climate agreement and pledged and investment strategy “consistent with a pathway toward low greenhouse gas emissions.” But the report shows he’s been anything but consistent. In fact, Chase is the number one bank investing in fossil fuels with $196 billion invested in coal, Arctic oil and gas, fracking, tar sands, and other fossil fuels ― in the last 3 years alone!

Lots of European banks like BNP Paribas and ING Bank have taken steps to limit their funding of new fossil fuel projects. But US Banks are continuing to spend $1.9 Trillion on new fossil fuel projects ― and what’s worse, their investment in climate chaos is actually increasing.  

But if we act together, we can make a difference. The Dakota Access pipeline got $2.5 billion of its $3.8 billion in total funding from banks like Chase and Wells Fargo. Without those loans, they simply wouldn’t have enough money to build new pipelines, coal terminals or fracked gas facilities.

So thousands of us joined forces to move our money, demand better banking and #DefundDAPL. Now, I need your help to take action again. Here’s how:

  1. Check out the report and share it with your friends online.
  2. You can share it on Facebook, on Twitter, or email this page to your friends.
  3. Join us as we take action across the country to deliver the message loud and clear that funding climate disaster will not be tolerated.
US Banks are the worlds biggest funders of Dirty Fossil Fuels
TD bank protest

We’ve gone big, now it’s time to bring the message home:

October 20, 2017

Thanks again for being one of the now more than 100,000 people worldwide (!) who have signed on to demand that the Equator banks stop funding climate disasters and respect indigenous rights. Now, it’s time to deliver:

Can you RSVP to host or attend a delivery event with us next week as our big, indigenous-led coalition delivers our message to banks all over the world? Click here to get started.

TD bank protest

Next week (October 23-25) there will be actions at local bank branches in various places in the world, and we want to show the strength of our numbers. Activists will be showing up at local bank branches, representing the greater audience holding banks accountable, and asking whether companies like Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase and others will follow BNP Paribas’ lead and #DivestTheGlobe.

Dozens of events are already planned that you can attend or participate in. Or, if you don’t see one near you, sign up to host: Our partners at Mazaska talks have made everything easy for you with simple downloadable materials and toolkits, and online event tools. All you have to do is grab a couple of friends, head to the nearest branch of one of our 90+ target banks and deliver a letter. Or, get as creative as you like – plan a rally, shut down 100 banks in a single day, meet with a local Mayor or elected official to talk about divestment — It’s up to you!

Get started now by clicking here to find or and plan your local #DivestTheGlobe event.

See you in the streets,

Drew and the 198 methods to stop a pipeline crew.

PS – It’s not too late to invite friends to sign the petition! Share this link before Monday to make sure everyone’s comment is included in the delivery events: https://petitions.signforgood.com/EquatorBanksAct/?code=198m