Hanover County Democratic Committee

The Case for Climate

by Bonnie Wood

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “Current national climate plans – for all 193 Parties to the Paris Agreement taken together – would lead to a sizable increase of almost 14% in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. Getting to net-zero requires all governments – first and foremost the biggest emitters – to significantly strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions and take bold, immediate steps towards reducing emissions now.”

The latest report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that if we are to limit global warming to around 1.5 degrees Celsius, greenhouse gas emission levels have to peak by 2025 and be reduced by a quarter by 2030. The report pointed out that it is not for a lack of money, knowledge or technology; it is politics that is standing in the way.

Climate change always takes a backseat to other issues that appear to be more immediately pressing, but we can no longer keep kicking the can down the road. The time to act is now. The United States is the second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. We owe it to the world and future generations to take accountability for our actions. This is why climate change policy needs to take center stage in the midterm election. It is entirely on the next class of legislators to pass meaningful and bold climate change policy.

Local Democratic Party organizations can create the groundswell and be the driving force to make climate change the most important issue of the election. We are the ones who volunteer, fund-raise and show up to every election. We can shape the narrative and policy goals of our politicians. Economic, political, and social instability will only be exacerbated by the devastating impacts of climate change.

Our house is on fire; all other problems that exist within the house are dwarfed by the fact that the house is on fire. Gas prices, inflation, the pandemic, inequality, healthcare and education, while they are important issues that need to be addressed, none of those problems will matter if Earth is uninhabitable.

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Parent Category: About HDC

COFFEE IS BREWING!

All Democratic Women are Invited!

Join us on Tuesday, May 17 for our Hanover Democratic Women's Coffee Caucus gathering at the home of June Bohrer at 9396 Blakeridge Ave., Mechanicsville, 23116. This is an evening coffee, and June will welcome us at 7 p.m.

Our special guest will be Herb Jones, our exciting Democratic challenger who is seeking to unseat Republican Rob Wittman as Virginia's First District Congressional representative in this fall's elections. Please join us to learn more about this retired veteran, former New Kent treasurer and current businessman.

Our Coffee Caucus gatherings are great for social networking and informal fellowship with like-minded women from all over Hanover about current political activities and how we can work together for our Democratic ideals.

For more information, please contact Diane Neergaard at daneergaard@comcast.net or 804-304-1951.

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Parent Category: About HDC

Inclusion, Leadership Focus of May HDC Meeting

Join us for our May Hanover Democratic Committee meeting when we will hear from University of Richmond professor Kelly Merrill on the vital topics of leadership, activism and inclusion. The meeting will be in-person at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14 at the Iron Horse Restaurant, 100 S. Railroad Ave., in Ashland.

Kelly has also taught at Randolph-Macon and other institutions of higher learning. She is widely regarded as a talented facilitator on the kinds of difficult conversations we confront today on issues such as diversity and inclusion. For more on her, check out the UR website.

If you cannot join us in person:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85699040716?pwd=cGtvK0IwbkpZcjFmUUVSS0NPZ0FXdz09
Meeting ID: 856 9904 0716
Passcode: 890597

By Phone
+1 301 715 8592 US

Live Streamed on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8XYH_xdXqcH1xE4kBoXiA

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Parent Category: About HDC

NEW MOON BASH: The Best Ever!

by Toni Radler

The speakers stole the show at the HDC's annual fundraising event, the New Moon Bash on Thursday, April 28. More than 150 people attended the event held at beautiful Oakdale RVA, an event venue west of Ashland.

Pat Hunter-Jordan, president of the Hanover NAACP, spoke passionately about the challenges Blacks have had in Hanover and about how they continue to face those challenges. She reminded us that social justice doesn't come cheap or easy. She roused us all to continue to fight for the rights of minority groups and never to turn our backs on "good trouble."

Chris Piper, former director of the state department of elections, warned us to be on guard and be prepared to defend the right to vote in upcoming Hanover elections. Chris told us that, “Virginia is a model for the nation on how to conduct free and fair elections.”

Our keynote, Sen. Louise Lucas, raised the roof as she described going to the mat in the recent General Assembly to defend progress made by Democrats in the past two sessions, progress now being challenged by Youngkin Republicans. She urged us to fight for those rights at the polls, in our schools, in the workplace and in our communities. She promised to go anywhere and make every effort to win back the House and governorship. “If you need my help, call me. I’ll be there.” She was an amazing speaker.

The real attraction of the event was the reunion of Hanover Democrats who haven't been able to meet in such large numbers for the past two years because of COVID. It was so good to be together.

A shoutout to the volunteers who worked hard to put on the New Moon Bash is in order, especially to our Master of Ceremonies John Suddarth, HDC's fundraising chair who led the planning for the Bash. And a special shoutout to Andrea Ferment, owner of Honey Girl Flowers, who donated her time and talent to create spectacular flower arrangements for the tables. And to Amy Cheeley for her beautiful graphic design on the invitations and printed materials at the event. The Premiere Trio with John and Jeanette Creger and Bob Saydlowski performed at the cocktail party before the opening of the New Moon Bash.

The Bash is held each year (with the exception of the past two years, due to COVID) as the HDC's major fundraising event. This year, the New Moon Bash raised almost $10,000 to help support local and statewide candidates.

Thanks to all who supported this important fundraising event. A special “Thank You” to our New Moon Bash Committee and our Volunteers:

The New Moon Bash Committee

John Suddarth, Chair
Caroline Cooke
Tom Hicks
Rachel Levy
Joette Mitchell
Mary Anne Pugh
Toni Radler

Our Volunteers

Don Barth
Donna Barth
Colleen Berry
Fi Berry
Michael Brooks
Wendy Brooks
Rita Dowling
Betsy Farley
Louise Evans
Larry Fellerman
Sandy Fellerman
Claudia Hicks
Mary Knight
Jonathan Knight
Stan Scott
Annette Sirica
Woodi Sprinkel
Sigrid Suddarth

RACHEL RESPONDS

A recent story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch essentially copied and pasted a press release from Del. Buddy Fowler without fact-checking it and without including our own Rachel Levy, who is running in the new 59th House of Delegates District, which includes most of Louisa County, western Hanover County and the town of Ashland, and several precincts in the Brookland and Fairfield Districts of Henrico. The incumbent of the 55th failed to disclose that he does not live in the newly redrawn 59th District, and he has not filed paperwork for a campaign in any event.

Rachel handled it well by contacting the reporter and sending a statement announcing her candidacy. The T-D is behind a firewall, but if you have access, you can read the story at this link.

Visit Rachel's website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Parent Category: About HDC