Peaceworks
has embarked on a campaign, “Vote for the Climate.” Our aim is to focus
attention on where the candidates stand on the critical issue of climate
change. This is an existential threat, with a very tight timeline. By any
rational measure, the climate crisis should be a top tier issue for candidates
and voters alike.
Unfortunately, many candidates are not even mentioning the challenges—or the
opportunities—that this crisis presents. Climate change is ignored in many
candidates’ stump speeches, and it doesn’t even show up in the issues sections
of many candidates’ websites.
Candidate Positions Handout:
While Peaceworks does not endorse, support or oppose candidates for office, we
do educate as to where the candidates stand on issues that concern us. We
recently published a handout that outlines the positions and track records of
Donald Trump and Joe Biden. In doing this we drew heavily on research done by
another non-partisan, non-profit, and also have shared links to the candidates’
positions as outlined on their own websites. You can find this handout if you
click HERE.
We attempted to ascertain the positions of candidates for Missouri Governor,
for Congress from the Fourth District and for state Senate for the 19th
District and have shared these on the same handout.
Zoom Interviews:
We also invited all 12 candidates running for contested positions on the Boone
County Commission, and for state legislative districts in Boone County to
participate in short Zoom interviews on climate concerns.
To date, six of the 12 have agreed to be interviewed. We have reached out to each
of the other six by postal mail, e-mail and Facebook message. One declined,
saying they were too busy and the other five have ignored our repeated invites.
Perhaps that would change if a sufficient number of voters were to ask them to
address the climate crisis and how we should respond.
Here are the races we’ve included:
Boone County Commission:
Southern District:
Fred Parry No
response.
Justin Aldred Click HERE.
Northern District:
Tristan Asbury No response.
Janet Thompson Click HERE.
Missouri General Assembly:
District 44
Cheri Toalson Reisch Declined due to
busy schedule.
Jacque Sample Click HERE.
District
47:
Chuck Basye No response.
Adrian Plank Click HERE.
District
50:
Sara Walsh No
response.
Kari Chesney Click HERE.
Missouri State Senate:
District 19:
Caleb
Rowden No response.
Judy Baker Click HERE.
What
You Can Do:
Of course, assuming you are eligible, you can vote for the candidates who
represent your perspective on climate change and other critical issues. But
this is just the beginning. Between now and election day there is much to be
done. You can volunteer with Peaceworks in our Vote for the Climate campaign.
We would love to have more canvassers, so, if you’re game, please give us a shout.
If you find candidates who represent your point of view, you can possibly
volunteer with their campaigns. This also is an ideal time to reach out to the
candidates. Those who’ve shared their perspectives can be thanked for sharing
their thinking. They also can be encouraged to consider taking stronger
positions and/or doing more to make climate change a central focus of their
campaign.
This is also an ideal time to share your concerns with those candidates who are
not responding or laying out a strategy to address the climate crisis. They
really do need to hear from us, so please consider taking just a few minutes to
question them and encourage them to recognize that climate change is an
existential threat and action is needed now.
With your participation, when election day comes, the climate will be a winner.
