In western Germany in a town near the French border called Luzerath, massive earth-movers are in the process of enlarging Europe’s biggest coal mine.
Thousands of miles away in the Amazon jungle, loggers are clear-cutting an ancient forest in Indigenous territory and turning it into grazing land for cattle.
The connection between these two climate-destructive projects, and hundreds of others like them around the world, is a company called BlackRock. The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock employs a PR department that seeks to portray the company as a climate change champion.
If only it were true.
Researchers have used publicly available data to show that BlackRock invests billions of dollars in new fossil fuel projects and tropical deforestation. They are greenwashing to the contrary. The level of cynicism within the firm resulted recently in BlackRock’s director of socially responsible investing resigning and writing a scathing critique of the company in The Economist magazine.
That’s why, as you are reading this email, I’m standing with more than 50 people of faith from around NYC. We’re in front of BlackRock’s New York City headquarters. We are calling on them to stop investing in new fossil fuel and deforestation projects.
While we are praying, will you call BlackRock? It will take three minutes max - the number is 212-810-5300, and below my signature, you’ll find everything you need to say.
This may be the first time you’ve called a finance firm about climate change. This may feel strange.
I also know that when people of different religions pull together for the right reason, the universe shifts.
That’s why I’m praying here in Manhattan.
It’s why I hope you’ll make the call.
Let’s join together. Will you add your voice?
In solidarity,
Rev. Chelsea MacMillan
Climate Finance Organizer
P.S. Here’s what you can say when calling BlackRock (212-810-5300)
Say your name, then “I am calling to ask BlackRock to exclude fossil fuels from active funds, invest in clean energy, make climate safe-funds the default for active funds, and adopt a policy by and for Indigenous peoples.”
If you cannot get through on their phone line, try again. If you still can’t get through, leave a comment with the message above on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/BlackRock/
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