From the Spokesman-Recorder, by Chris Juhn, May 1, 2025.

On April 5, we were a supporting organization for the HANDS OFF protest and rally, joining an estimated 46,000 others. We listened to speakers decrying the Trump administration’s devastating pronouncements, projects and plans endangering individual, societal and environmental/climate well-being. Third Act members also passed out 2,000 handouts inviting folks to the April 19 Earth Day gathering.

On April 19, Third Act Minnesota was one of the sponsoring organizations for the People’s Earth Day,  a march and rally commemorating the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day. Carolyn Ham, Co-facilitator, gave a brief speech at the beginning of the march from the Wells Fargo Plaza to the Capitol steps. She called out the egregious harm to the planet that Trump’s policies will create and also reminded attendees that they have consumer power to stop the 4 dirty banks lending to Big Oil, by moving their money from Wells Fargo, Citibank, Chase and Bank of America.

We marched behind our Third Act Minnesota banner and talked to hundreds of attendees at our table at the Capitol. Many thanks to Amy Blumenshine, Rebecca Cramer and Nancy Rodenborg for assembling and staffing the table, and to several members for handing out invitational cards to “third actors” in the crowd, estimated at 15,000! Member Rick Gravrok brought along his giant bubble-making machine, and entertained the children.

Third Act Minnesota also attended the Stillwater EcoFair on April 26. Jeff Eisele organized the event. He and Dennis O’Brien talked to more than 35 individuals, couples and families about the climate crisis and the opportunities to respond through Third Act.

By Amy Blumenshine, Dave Mann and Nancy Rodenborg

April 22, 2025 at 9:00AM

Long ago when we were young — the dark ages! — we had no environmental protections. Factories and power plants spewed toxic smoke. Our rivers were treated like big, handy sewers. Fish kills were common and some rivers even famously caught fire! Oh, for the great old days!

The first Earth Day in 1970 signaled the citizen push for stewarding instead of damaging our earth. We were among the ordinary people who insisted on changes — and both political parties responded, forming the Environmental Protection Agency and giving it power. Due to massive political effort, we can still drink the water and breathe the air — mostly. We agree that the protections never went far enough. We were, after all, holding bake sales to finance battles against the deep-pocketed greed of fossil fuel corporations.

More recently we have made good progress on the transition to clean energy. That’s true in Minnesota, nationally and worldwide. But now President Donald Trump and unelected billionaires, who champion greed and a short-term perspective, are gleefully slashing these protections for the water and air and working to reverse the progress we’ve made.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, Lee Zeldin, noted in a press statement on March 12 that “Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.” He went on to lay out plans to, among other things, reconsider regulations of power plants and the oil and gas industry; reconsider the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that regulate coal-powered plants; reconsider the mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and reconsider the wastewater regulations for oil and gas development. These are only a few of many pollution controls he plans to weaken or destroy.

We seniors, in the third act of our lives, are addressing climate change by calling out the catastrophic consequences of removing climate protections. Unlike in 1970, we now have potent alternatives to burning up our planet with fossil fuels. Solar and wind power are both cheaper to build and won’t destroy the planet. And we really need these clean energies right away! Our headlines scream of climate emergencies: uncontrollable fires, unfathomable floods, tornadoes and windstorms — all so expensive that insurance companies charge exorbitant rates and even refuse to provide coverage.

The deal in Minnesota used to be that after we toughed out the harsh winter (which wasn’t a roller coaster of temperatures) we could count on enjoying the summer. Heat emergencies and extended droughts were uncommon. There was a comforting predictability to our seasons. And we never worried about summer smoke so thick we couldn’t breathe.

Surely you too have noticed the changes. We at Third Act Minnesota are channeling that inner anxious discomfort — not into lashing out at vulnerable scapegoats, but instead mobilizing to stop the plunderers. We know the original intent of Earth Day — citizens insisting that the life-sustaining capacity of our planet be protected.

Corporations won’t save us. They’ll look for ways to push the costs onto others, unless they are made to follow rules uniformly. Outrageously, per a recent federal offer to apply for exemptions, the most climate-damaging coal plant in our country, located in Colstrip, Mont., has applied for exemptions from the rules that others are following. What a perverse incentive!

We at Third Act Minnesota are reclaiming the original intent of Earth Day and working to stop the federal retreat from climate and environmental protection in every way possible. When we were young, we had elders beside us. Now it is our turn to stand as elders with young people. That is why we helped organize the People’s Earth Day march and rally this past Saturday where thousands, of all ages, stood together at the State Capitol on behalf of the planet.

Every day needs to be an “earth day” and we will continue to, in the words of John Lewis, raise ”good trouble” as long as our bodies and minds permit us.

Join us, in whatever way you can, as we reject the harmful policies of the current federal administration and work to build a future powered by clean energy. We want our grandchildren and all future generations to experience an abundant Earth.

There is no time to waste!

Credit unions originated in 19th-century Europe to serve working-class people who had limited access to banking services. Today, they operate globally, with over 85,000 credit unions serving more than 375 million members worldwide.

According to the Minnesota State Commerce Department, the purpose of a credit union is to promote thrift among its members and provide access to credit at legitimate interest rates. While this mission is important, it only scratches the surface. Credit unions are cooperatives—enterprises owned and operated for the benefit of those who use their services. They are considered a pure form of cooperative, operating mutually on both sides of the financial market. Licensed to serve all their members—both savers and borrowers—credit unions are member-owned, democratic, not-for-profit institutions that typically operate at the local level.

These qualities support environmental protection and help strengthen democratic engagement. Without shareholders demanding maximum returns, credit unions are not pressured to invest in harmful industries like pipelines, oil rigs, or large-scale mining operations. As a result, they rarely fund fossil fuel projects. Instead, their investments tend to focus on small businesses and community development initiatives. The returns on these investments benefit members directly, often generating symbiotic cycles of local economic growth.

In terms of democracy, change often begins at the grassroots level. Credit unions embody this principle: every member has a stake and a voice. With a transparent governance structure, members can track where their money goes and vote on the credit union’s priorities. Many even advocate for environmental initiatives within their institutions, promoting policies aligned with sustainability. This democratic approach has led some credit unions to adopt explicit sustainability charters—offering green loans (e.g., for solar panels or electric vehicles) or paperless banking options to reduce environmental waste. You can find information on local credit unions offering green loan programs here.

How to Join a Credit Union

If credit unions offer so many benefits, how does one become a member? Historically, membership was limited by specific eligibility criteria known as “field of membership” requirements. For example, the first credit union in Minnesota served only postal workers in Minneapolis—membership was based on occupation and location. Today, eligibility may still include:

• Employment at a particular company or agency
• Residence in a certain geographic area (city, county, region)
• Association with a church, labor union, or alumni group
• Family connection to an existing member
• Educational affiliation (school, college, or university)

However, many credit unions have broadened these criteria. Some allow anyone to join by first becoming a member of an affiliated organization—often a charitable group—for a small one-time fee (typically $5–$25). If you’re interested in a specific credit union, visit their website or contact them directly to learn about eligibility.

Conclusion

When it comes to aligning your money with your values, credit unions cannot be beat. That said, some community banks also uphold high ethical standards and community-focused missions. For example, Sunrise Banks is a Certified B Corporation in Minnesota with strong sustainability commitments. Considering this, it’s less about where you go than what you leave behind.

Soon, we will share information on how to “break up” with your current bank and transition to a more values-aligned financial institution. As with any breakup, the process can be messy—but ultimately rewarding. Until then, check out our Move Your Money webinars on socially responsible banking and investing.

Open the door slowly, oh so slowly.

I’m staggered to find myself looking at a single landscape that has emerged to threaten everything that I care about in one fell swoop: smart energy use, conservation of water, recycling metal resources and protecting farm land.

Just what are data centers about? Essentially they are large warehouses filled with computers that handle AI and our digital needs. A quick glimpse: 10 new data centers are being proposed in Minnesota. The largest is the size of 25 Target stores. Energy use of 10 data centers = energy use of ALL Minnesota homes. The proposed Farmington operation would use twice as much water as the whole city itself. Whoa …what?

Granted, there are promises to use sustainable energy to meet the huge increased need for electricity production but only good intentions there, no guarantees, no teeth so far. And the delivery, the grid, the extra lines? Who pays for these? And using less water is a goal, but again so far we have no identifiable requirements. Aside from construction jobs, data centers only add 20-50 long term jobs. Greenlighting these facilities is more like approving a bridge or a highway than any business. This is a complex and significant new issue.

As Minnesota citizens, it’s our job to insist that there be the best possible guidelines for this coming chapter.

Within the next five years we must bring our best minds to the job of striking the right balance between critical digital infrastructure and responsible use of public funds, precious resources and open land. We will need serious conversation and collaboration between many sectors.

Slow down, be smart, make educated choices Minnesotans.

— Karen Hannah, Stillwater

Minneapolis grandma and friend biking across U.S. for climate action

The energy transition away from fossil fuels has many benefits, including for Greater Minnesota

Dannette Knickmeier – long time communications team volunteer with Sierra Club North Star, talks about her experiences with Third Act and the Minnesota working group in the latest issue of the North Star Journal – Winter Edition.

Read her full article:
https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/nsj202412.pdf (Pg 17)

In Part #1 – You’ll learn about:

• Information on banking, credit cards, and insurance.
• Financial institutions that are primary funders of fossil fuel development.
• Financial institutions that use your bank deposits and insurance premiums to fund local ventures.
• How to move money from one institution to another, and how to achieve maximum influential effect.

Watch Part 1 (1 hr 34 mins)

In Part #2 – You’ll learn about:

• Short recap of the first webinar.
• Information about investment funds.
• How to find alternative investments on your own and through environmentally conscious financial advisors.

Watch Part 2 (1 hr 36 min)