Author and climate activist Mark Dunlea will speak about his new book, Putting out the Planetary Fire: An Intro to Climate Change & Advocacy (Big Toad Books, 2023), at the James Connolly Social Club in Troy, NY on Saturday, September 30 at 4:30 pm.

Dunlea’s book provides a factual introduction to many of the issues central to climate debate: Renewable Energy, Environmental Justice, Reparations, False Climate Solutions (nuclear, carbon capture), Real Life Barriers, carbon pricing, Green New Deal, crypto mining, plastics, and military. The second half serves as an organizing guide to the basics of advocacy, from lobbying to litigation to direct action.

Mark Dunlea has been an environmental activist for half a century since his co-founding of NYPIRG while a student at RPI and Albany Law School. After more than thirty years as an anti-poverty organizer, he became a full-time climate activist a decade ago. He helped organize the 400,000 person People’s Climate March in New York City and co-coordinated the effort by 350NYC and others to divest the NYC and NYS pension funds from fossil fuels.

A co-author of the initial call for a Green New Deal in the U.S. in 2010 for the Green Party, he has led efforts to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030; enact a carbon tax; promote a Just Transition; and halt new fossil fuels. The book is an outgrowth of a college class he taught on Climate Change and Advocacy.

Paperback copies of Putting Out the Planetary Fire: An Introduction to Climate Action and Advocacy can be purchased through Amazon Books. A free web version is available on GELF’s website.

This event is free and open to the public. The Jimmy  – the social club’s bar – typically opens around 6:00 p.m., at which point guests of the club will need a member sponsor.

The James Connolly Social Club is a private membership club for residents of the Capital District of New York who want an organizational home that reflects their political and social commitments to collective action, mutual trust, and solidarity.

James Connolly was an Irish republican, socialist, and trade union leader who lived for a short time in Troy, Rensselaer County, NY.

The James Connolly Social Club is located at 386 1st Street in Troy. For more information visit the James Connolly Social Club website.