It Takes a Village to Take On Citi
Whether at a Stand-Out or Signing a Petition--You Can Make a Difference!
All Eyes on Citi—at L.L. Bean and Costco
Many of us at Third Act Maine really like L.L. Bean and are excited that Maine’s first Costco is opening in Scarborough soon. But both of these companies have chosen to partner with one of the world’s worst banks—Citi.
If you use Bean Bucks at L.L. Bean, by using that Citi credit card you’re backing a bank that has provided more than $332 billion to finance fossil fuel companies since 2016. If you sign up for a new Costco membership and are enticed by their “come-on” offer of a new credit card, you’ll similarly be adding dollars to Citi’s coffers, inadvertently accelerating our climate crisis.
We believe we have a case to make because both companies espouse positive, environmentally friendly values. L.L. Bean’s healthy living motto, “Be an Outsider” is completely at odds with its support of Citibank. And Costco’s motto is “Do the right thing.” Hmmm!
L.L. Bean
We’re asking L.L. Bean to challenge Citibank about their financing of new fossil fuel projects. For the past two months, we’ve been on Main Street in Freeport, on the sidewalk in front of the flagship store—and also at the entrance to L.L. Bean’s corporate offices at Casco & Lower Main. How can you help?
Consider joining us in these stand-outs! Email Bill Rixon (rixonw9@gmail.com) the day before you’d like to come. (Usually 1:30 pm at the flagship store, and 7:30 at Casco & Lower Main on weekdays.) Bill has caught the attention of employees, including security guards and the CEO himself, who came out to talk with Bill on Oct. 17. See article here.
Join us in a postcard campaign to L.L. Bean’s CEO, Stephen Smith. We’ve already sent Stephen Smith two dozen postcards. We’d like to send him many more! Tell him how you feel about the "outside." Demand that he pressure Citibank to end their funding of new fossil fuel projects—and to make a public statement about his request. Address: Stephen Smith, CEO, L.L. Bean, 15 Casco St., Freeport 04032. Let us know how it felt to send that postcard: ThirdActMaine@gmail.com
Costco
The first Costco in Maine is slated to open on November 17 in Scarborough. Everybody who will be shopping there that day will need to become a member, and will receive a pitch about the virtues of Costco’s credit card—which is with Citi. How can you help?
Stand out with us on November 17, 10 am - noon (and probably longer). Email Chuck Spanger (charlesspanger@gmail.com) for the rendezvous location.
Sign this petition from Third Act (national). It only takes a second. Yes, this campaign against Citi is national, being taken up by thousands and thousands of Third Actors across the country!
Pine Tree Power: Vote Yes! on 3
We’ve organized stand-outs and participated in events across the state in support of Pine Tree Power. In terms of money spent, it’s truly a David and Goliath kind of story. CMP has poured so much money into advertising (often making false claims), compared to the grassroots work of Pine Tree Power. We’re delighted that a Third Act Mainer, Marnie Sinclair, in Damariscotta organized a stand-out in support of Pine Tree Power on the Damariscotta - Newcastle bridge. There was great energy on this occasion, and they received lots of waves and beeps of support from motorists. By popular request, another stand-out will take place on the bridge on Sunday, November 5 at 1 pm.
Greater Portland Hub
Your last chance to stand out with Third Act Maine in support of Pine Tree Power in Greater Portland with us is coming right up at 7:30 am this Friday morning, November 3. We’ll have signs and will be waving to drivers at Franklin and Somerset Streets in Portland in advance of the November 7 election. Join us! Email Kathy Mikulka (kmikulka@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Farmington Hub
Third Act Maine Farmington is wrapping up many of its fall goals, including:
Standing out at TD Bank on Main Street in Farmington
Regular tabling at the Saturday farmer’s market
Letter-writing campaign to TD Bank’s head of U.S. operations
Encouraging students at the University of Maine Farmington to join us in various actions by tabling in the UMF student center, while also helping with voter registration and providing handouts about the Nov. 7 ballot initiatives.
Reaching out to students at the University of Maine Farmington, informing them of our actions, enrolling them as new voters and answering their questions about ballot initiatives
Our big push for November is to visit every business in Farmington and surrounding communities wearing Third Act Maine nametags. We have prepared a letter for business owners about their banking options. If they could transfer funds out of TD Bank and express their concerns to TD Bank representatives in the process, we could have a major impact.
Midcoast Hub
Third Act Maine Midcoast collected over 150 signatures in support of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT) and presented them to the Belfast City Council, which voted in October to formally endorse FFNPT. Residents in the Camden area are signing petitions for their state representatives to support FFNPT. And across the Midcoast Hub, residents are being asked to urge L.L. Bean to drop its use of the Citi credit card.
Member profile: Cletis Boyer
Third Act Maine member from Belfast, Cletis Boyer is focused on the future. A retired teacher and self-described leftist, Cletis has long been paying attention to the issue of climate change. For the past 15 years he has been a member of Maine’s Senior Colleges, taking classes and teaching two courses, both on climate change. It was Bill McKibben’s Maine Senior College Network lecture that prompted him to look into and to join Third Act Maine.
Cletis’s climate-change activism draws energy from his concern about the world his grandchildren, now in their 20’s, will inherit 60 years from now. In 2083, 33 years past 2050 (the goal set for global net zero emissions) they will be his age. What is the hope that their world will be as stable and comfortable as the world we live in today? Cletis makes a pragmatic distinction between hope and optimism, saying “Hope always exists because humans created the (now problematic) social structures, and therefore we can change them. Optimism requires a belief that we will be successful in reaching our (best possible) goal. I'm not at all optimistic, but our efforts should let folks post 2050 avoid the worst possible scenario now foreseen. So change what we can while we can.”
When asked what he would change if given the power to change anything about our world, Cletis focused on the central role of capitalism in causing climate change. He replied, “As I'm convinced we don't live in the Anthropocene, but rather the Capitalocene, I'd get rid of capitalism. Some form of eco-socialism will have to emerge.”
Although Cletis might not think of himself as having a story that others might learn from, we would respectfully disagree. There is wisdom in his insight that we should “change what we can while we can.” an insight reminiscent of Teddy Roosevelt, who reminded us to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” While Cletis and Teddy might have disagreed about capitalism, they are in agreement about our obligation to do what we can for as long as we can.
For Your Listening Pleasure
Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer formed an American folk duo who sang together for just a few years (1998-2001), releasing some beautiful songs. This song, Gentle Arms of Eden, comes to us as a recommendation from a Third Act Mainer. Here is the refrain:
This is my home, this is my only home
This is the only sacred ground that I have ever known
And should I stray in the dark night alone
Rock me goddess in the gentle arms of Eden
Please feel free to recommend photos, songs, poems, or cartoons for a future newsletter. Email ThirdActMaine@gmail.com.