Climate Justice - Greenpeace
Letter to Magali Rubino
March 6, 2021
Dear Magali Rubino:
Your recent reporting on the Climate Justice action success related to Greenpeace France's efforts is so heartening! It comes to my attention in the nick of time!
Just this morning I was made aware of your reporting through a forwarded link from a friend that described a victory that Greenpeace France and other environmental groups were responsible for achieving! Bravo to them!
Thank you for your reporting. It came at a critical time for an effort I am at the center of currently.
The Emergency
1500 Ancient Oaks are on Death Row in France. They need a stay of execution.
Yesterday the French press reported with great fanfare, completely devoid of any mention of the cost to biodiversity and climate or recognition of dissension that 1500 Ancient Oaks will be cut down by the end of March to rebuild the spire of the Cathedral of Notre Dame post the fire in 2019.
Yesterday, the first eight trees were identified and reported on in the French press. This was the occasion for fanfare reporting with many participating dignitaries’ images accompanying the article. You may visit our website to read the article which heads the site: https://savetheancientoaks.netlify.app
Time is critical. It is my assessment that the specific information about what trees and from exactly where they will be culled, has been kept out of the news until yesterday. News has been vague, though the decision to reconstruct the spire using the exact building materials the original spire consisted of was announced July 9, 2020. The specifics were left in the ethers and to one's imagination that thrills to the thought of restoration of a beloved iconic monument so violently taken down: but at what cost if original materials (read Oaks) are used? There are many other materials, recyclables, eco-friendly resources, that could help restore this Cathedral leaving the Oaks in the groves they belong in.
The Guardian broke the story of impending cutting of the 1500 Ancient Oaks in a February 16, 2021 article. It is how I became aware of the situation.
France on hunt for centuries-old oaks to rebuild the spire of Notre Dame
Up until last night my attention and the attention of others I am working with has primarily focused on creating a website overnight for: raising awareness; providing easy action steps one could take via our website; and collaborating through our various networks to create a groundswell of disturbance and objection globally—all tied in some way to protecting biodiversity, recognizing the profound disruption of habitat and climate this decision represents and calling us all to a higher consciousness that protects the Earth.
We will release a 3.5 minute video in the next few days that we hope invites a swelling of protection and appreciation for the role Ancient Oaks provide as a Keystone species--avoiding a forced choice--the Cathedral or the Oak trees.
However, for me, the tide turned with the reporting by the French press yesterday. An additional urgent step needs to be taken. Execution is on schedule for next week for the 8 Ancient Oaks reported about yesterday.
Legal intervention at this juncture, because specific trees have been identified for cutting down next week, has the potential to be doable quickly to achieve a stay of execution for these 8 Oaks and their relatives (based on the precedent you reported upon).
Greenpeace involvement now seems critical to me. Your reporting on the precedent on the Climate justice decision brought this home to me.
I am aware that reaching out to you in this way is not the usual route to first get attention to a situation like this. But time is so short and there is such danger and impending dire consequences. And you have the contacts that would take more time than we have to identify given the urgency. And, serendipitously the link to your article came this morning as I had been brewing on how to proceed next given the short time available. So, I am hoping you might feel moved to help in some way.
Would you consider sharing the letter (attached) I wrote last night to Greenpeace USA with your contacts, including parties you consulted to bring this victory to the eyes of the world? And anything in my letter to you that might create an urgent interest others would want to pursue, like Greenpeace France?
I am grateful for your reporting and for the successful judgment Greenpeace France was at the center of recently. It just may make a difference for these 1500 Oaks slated for execution to the profound detriment of biodiversity which deeply affects climate stability. Thank you for whatever you can do and your patience with my coming directly to you!
Respectfully,
Sharon Simone
Personal website if needed:
http://www.headwatersproductions.com