A Message for the Season: Hope In Action
Hope Grows When We Work Together
Three Reflections on Hope
Like other visionary leaders, Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet (1971), sees hope as something to be lived, not sought after: “A lot of people think we find hope by marshaling evidence and proving there is grounds for it. But hope isn't what we find in evidence; it's what we become in action.”
David Korten, economist and author of The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community (2006) once said to a reporter, “The work that's involved in creating a new economy and a new human civilization calls us to be our most creative and innovative, and it puts us in contact with the world's most wonderful people. And it is a whole lot more fun and satisfying than allowing oneself to sink into depths of despair and cynicism.”
And it may have taken 28 years for it to happen, but finally there is language, from COP28, that calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.” Would we rather have seen language such as “rapid phasing out”? Sure. But we’ll take what we can get—and we’ll amplify this message!
Reflections on the Year
Tom Mikulka and Chuck Spanger have co-facilitated Third Act Maine since its founding in 2022. We thank them so much for an incredible first 18 months. So much organizing, so many actions, so many accomplishments! They each persevered despite feeling discouraged from time to time. (Chuck notes that Joanna Macy’s 2012 book, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience & Creative Power, has helped.) In keeping with Third Act’s democratic values, our steering committee is passing the leadership torch to Cletis Boyer and Marcia Taylor starting in January 2024. But first, here are some valuable reflections offered by Chuck and Tom as they look back on the past year.
There has been a good, steady presence at our protests this year—with numbers gradually growing. Our membership is growing even more rapidly, from about 100 people in January 2023 to over 850 people today. And we have organized the state into “hubs,” with lead organizers in Greater Portland, Midcoast, and the Farmington area. We pulled off major, well-organized, fun actions in Belfast and Portland on March 21, 2023 to protest big bank investments in new fossil fuel projects. The summer teach-in was successful and set an expectation for an annual get-together for Third Act Mainers.
Third Act Maine’s participation in the Pine Tree Power campaign this fall demonstrated that we can be depended on to show up and stand out. While the referendum failed, it nevertheless opened a critical discussion of the need to strengthen our energy infrastructure. Our participation also brought Bill McKibben to Portland, which was wonderful!
Recognizing the potential of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT), we have been active in several communities across the state in petitioning for cities and towns to sign on to this statement of intent. The City Councils of Portland and Belfast have officially signed on. We plan to continue this campaign in towns AND in faith communities—and hope for a resolution of support from the Maine legislature.
Thanks to the Communications Team, we have a robust newsletter and social media presence on both Facebook and Instagram. We are ending the year with some good coverage in local newspapers as well.
The best thing about 2023 was meeting many fellow travelers. We’re so much better at this when we work together!
Let’s Celebrate: 1,600 Institutions have Divested from Fossil Fuels
The Global Fossil Fuel Divestment movement just surged past a major movement milestone: 1600 institutional commitments, with $40.6 trillion in assets. Even in times of heartache, we find hope and resolve in our collective work to hold polluters accountable for their destruction, and to reclaim, repair, and rebuild healthy and safe communities. A list of the institutions and their commitments can be found here.
Midcoast Hub
On November 29 Midcoast Mainers held a letter-writing tea party asking Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm not to permit anymore LNG export terminals on the Louisiana Coast. We pointed out the fiercely warming climate and the danger of increasing the local pollution on what is already known as 'cancer alley' among the reasons for refusing permits to these 'carbon bombs.’ These factors make permitting decidedly against the public interest.
After the holidays, Third Act Mainers from Belfast and Camden will leaflet Camden shoppers underneath the large L.L.Bean logo at the Main Street Sports store. We believe shoppers will want to know that L.L.Bean uses Citibank as their credit card provider and that Citibank is considered to be the second 'dirtiest bank' due to its continued investments in new fossil fuel projects. Third Act Maine is asking L.L.Bean to use its influence on Citibank or switch to a new provider. In the meantime, customers are encouraged to use an alternative credit card for their shopping.
Greater Portland Hub
There have been many stand-outs at L.L. Bean in Freeport and Costco in Scarborough to protest these companies’ use of the Citibank credit card. Co-founder of Third Act Maine Tom Mikulka’s letter to the editor, explaining the importance of these protests against Citi, was published by the Portland Press Herald. We have also been standing out in front of the newest Chase Bank branch in Yarmouth. And the press is paying attention! Here is a recent piece from the Forecaster covering our actions.
You can add your voice to these campaigns:
L.L.Bean Campaign
Send a holiday greeting to Stephen Smith, LLBean CEO, encouraging him to pressure Citi to stop funding of new fossil fuel projects—and to make a public statement about his request. Address: Stephen Smith, EO, L.L.Bean, 15 Casco St., Freeport ME 04032 (Email us at ThirdActMaine@gmail.com to let us know how good it felt to send that card!)
You can join Bill Rixon and other Third Act Mainers Standing Out in December at the Flagship Store. Email Bill (rixon9@gmail.com) for days/times.
Costco Campaign
Stand out with us at Costco in Scarborough on Dec. l6, 12:30-1:45 pm. Meet up place is on Scarborough Downs Road at the entrance to Costco, between Payne Road and the rotary.
Sign the petition, “Tell Costco to Clean Up its Credit Card” as part of Third Act's national campaign.
Chase Bank Campaign
If you have a Chase credit card, cut it in half and send a photo of you doing this great act! (Email ThirdActMaine@gmail.com)
Member Profile: Tom and Kathy Mikulka
Anyone who’s been active in environmental issues in Maine is probably acquainted with Tom and Kathy Mikulka. They’ve been stalwart activists for fifty years.
In the mid-70s the Mikulkas were eager back-to-the-landers, living in Somerville and applying the principles of Helen and Scott Nearing in their lives. Kathy was a partner in Northeast Carry Trading Company, a hub for people learning to live closer to the land. Northeast Carry supported MOFGA’s (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) efforts to create the Common Ground Fair.
They also worked to pass Maine’s bottle bill, which was the second in the nation. “We’ve always been in tune with the environment,” says Tom.
In 2006, Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, further galvanized the Mikulkas. Tom and Kathy helped to pass South Portland’s “Clear Skies Ordinance,” which was endorsed in 2014 by the City Council. It stopped Exxon-Mobil in their tracks, confirming a community’s right to protect its citizens and the planet from some of the dirtiest of fossil fuels.
“The signs, the stand-outs, the demonstrations—it’s all education,” declares Kathy, a lifelong educator. At this point, she says, “I’m not burned out: I’m angry. We are all responsible for the climate emergency. What’s it going to take for a majority of Americans to wake up?”
Kathy is excited about building climate knowledge in faith-based groups. By making the faithful aware of Pope Francis’ October 2023 Apostolic Exhortation, (a follow-up to his Global Warming Encyclical released in 2015), she hopes to foster faith-based activism.
Tom, a career scientist, finds hope in the technological advances that could wean us from fossil fuels. “The solutions are here now,” he says. “In Texas, 63% of electricity is currently supplied by wind and solar. In France, scientists are exploring the possibilities of using newly discovered deposits of hydrogen. Hydrogen promises to offer a totally clean way to generate electricity, and to make steel and concrete. Making steel and concrete are currently two major sources of carbon emissions. The technology exists. We can do this!” Learn about the hydrogen project here.
When asked where she finds hope, Kathy quotes Joan Baez’s famous saying: “Action is the antidote to despair.” Kathy adds, “When you put your convictions into action, you meet passionate, like-minded people. You build community—and it’s fun!”
The Mikulkas have been ‘walking their talk’ since they were young adults, and show no signs of stopping! They would love for you to join them in the many activist and community-building opportunities that Third Act Maine offers.
Lovely profiles of the Mikulkas! Great overview of TAM's fantastic year of activism! OUR TIME IS NOW!
Great Newsletter!! thanks !!!