I wrote this letter to the CEO of Bank of America using the tools from Stop the Money Pipeline.
I am writing to you today because I am a customer who is greatly concerned about Bank of America’s role in exacerbating the climate crisis.
I have been a customer with Bank of America since it bought out Seafirst Bank here in Seattle. I have always had good service at the bank. I had my mortgage with B of A and I have a credit card still. I have moved most of my money out of my Bank of America account into a credit union because of the fossil fuel financing that Bank of America does.
I take the climate and ecological crisis very seriously. We are not going to see the effects, we already are. Instead of getting off fossil fuels in the 70’s or even the 90’s we have continued down the path to extinction. The climate group 350.org is named for the parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that would have been a safe upper limit. We are at 421 ppm and the number is going up, not down. We cannot lower carbon emissions by continuing to fund fossil fuel projects. That is like trying to empty a bathtub with a teaspoon while the tap is still on full blast.
I was extremely alarmed when I found out that Bank of America has provided more than $232 billion in financing to the fossil fuel industry over the last six years since the Paris Agreement.
This is an irresponsible and unsustainable way to do business, and it means that Bank of America is complicit in the climate impacts that threaten millions of their customers’ homes, communities, and livelihoods. George Monbiot says we are nations of altruist governed by psychopaths. In our democratic/capitalistic country, you are governing our money. Are you a psychopath?
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad freeI recently signed a letter with thousands of other customers asking Bank of America to immediately stop financing fossil fuels and deforestation.
Bank of America claims that it puts its customers first. You have a responsibility to listen to our concerns and to truly live by ethics that you claim to uphold. It is overdue for Bank of America to show true leadership on climate action.
Stop the Money Pipeline provides all the materials you will need. From their toolkit:
‘Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citibank are the four largest financiers of fossil fuels and deforestation
in the world.
That’s why Customers for Climate Justice is organizing thousands of their customers to collectively demand that these four banks immediately stop funding climate chaos. We are supporting customers to put as much pressure on their financial institutions as possible: by writing emails and making phone calls to CEOs, talking to branch managers, and organizing other customers in their area.’
If you bank with any of these four banks, take the first step and sign on to the open letter. I did it last night and it took me about 20 minutes. It is an easily customizable letter.
If you are feeling disempowered, this is an easy way to take action. No more excuses. Do it.
Andrea
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This post was previously published on Age of Awareness.
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