A life lesson

Oil shimmered in the pot where three test popcorn kernels from the cupful clutched in my hand were heating up.  It shouldn’t have been a surprise when they popped, but my startle sent kernels everywhere.  Many fell into hidden spaces, including a few forgotten on the stove, until they burst into flames and set off the fire alarm.  (Seems like an analogy to something important, but what?)

Those inconvenient hidden kernels were sure to cause trouble, but everything was happening too fast to think.  As usual, my mother’s voice from the past came to the rescue.  “Time to calm down and clean up.  Let’s make a plan.”

Using the guide: Climate-Friendly Finance Options for Michiganders

Cleaning up on behalf of the planet requires being calm and making a plan to scour those places where the fossil fuel industry’s dirty money is hiding.  What could be more calming than an informational step-by-step guide created by people who share your goals and live in the same state (of Michigan, not of panic)?  Time to open Third Act Michigan’s Climate-Friendly Finance Options for Michiganders.

In just two pages, it explains the enormous carbon footprint your money might be making in the hands of banks and credit cards that fund the fossil fuel industry.  Then, it snatches you from the brink of despair with ideas to rescue your money, with Michigan-friendly tips about aligning your dollars with your values.  The third page offers a plan:   ‘Steps to Change Your Bank and Credit Cards.’

Step one: Sign The Pledge! 

Step one of the change plan is to sign The Pledge!  The link will take you to Third Act Banking on our Future Pledge page.  You can use the guide without signing the pledge, but providing your input gives Third Act an idea of how the campaign is going.  Required personal information includes name, city, zip code, and email (phone number optional).  You can’t move forward without coming clean if you’re in cahoots with one of the really naughty banks, but you don’t have to admit which ones to submit the form.

After you hit submit, you will be directed to an information-packed Frequently Asked Questions page.  Also, look for a friendly reflex thank you email with ideas to spread the word and reassurance that you just contributed a small act that makes the larger impact more significant.  See, calmer already.

Thanks for your interest and action,

Carolyn G.

Next episode – taking step 2 toward cleaner finances.  In the meantime, please share places where you’ve found fossil fuel-supported dirty money hiding in your life.

Across Michigan, there were more than 50 protests in locations ranging in size from tiny crossroads towns to large metro areas. The crowds were peaceful, good humored and joyful in demanding that Trump and Musk take their “Hands Off” our government, social security, Medicaid, VA, and more. Even small towns in Trump country, like Bad Axe in the Thumb, had 200 folks turn out. Michigan’s largest was in Detroit (10k), where demonstrators marched down Woodward in Midtown. Lansing (7k), Grand Rapids’ downtown (4k), and Ferndale (2k) hosted events too. Statewide, we had a fun, heartwarming and hopeful display of solidarity among people of all ages, across all kinds of divides.  Protest actions also took place in Holland and Muskegon.

The Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti protest attracted 4K people! It was organized by Third Act Michigan, the County Democratic Party, Ann Arbor Indivisibles, and other groups.

Some of our favorite signs:

• “It’s so bad even the introverts are here”
• “Worst sequel ever”
• On a dog: “Dogs against DOGE”
• “Honk if you’ve never drunk-texted war plans”
• “O Canada, we hate him too!”
• Held by a small girl: “It’s time to use my OUTSIDE VOICE”
• A drawing of overlapping circles. One circle is “The Darkest of Times” and the other is “The Dumbest of Times.” The overlapping section is labeled, “You Are Here.”

The events generated a surge of optimism and an awareness that while there is a daunting amount of work to do together, we know now that we have millions of Americans with us in this fight.

Please share your experience of the April 5 “Hands Off!”  We’d love to hear more!

The journey started in the days of my innocence, when Third Act (TA) still lay in wait on the road ahead.  For the first time in my adult life, I was without a paying job, so I set my sights on saving the planet.  There was much to be proud of—an electric car, a modest lifestyle, and fiscal responsibility that would have made my mother proud. 

Except, my community-minded Mom wouldn’t have liked what my money was doing after all.  The Fossil Fuel industry wasn’t just messing with the planet; it was disrespecting my mother!  It was time to show them who’s boss, but how?

It’s been a fumbly-bumbly path, of which I’m only on the first steps.  This blog is to share my ongoing experience in the hopes of making the path smoother for others.  Thankfully, there’s a freshly minted roadmap from Third Act Michigan (TA MI) to follow.

As we skip along it, I will bare all, the good and bad, hoping that you will return the favor by doing the same.  (To be clear, I’m only talking about credit cards and banking.  Don’t be creepy.)

This installment is dedicated to breaking up with my Costco Citi card.  Even before TA, I became aware that Citi card was a no-no.  It was a difficult one to let go.  The perks with Costco were worth a few hundred dollars a year for me.  So, I chose to think of giving up that cash as a contribution to a healthy planet.  Still, I will miss the annual thrill of getting a check for money that is mine but feels like a gift. 

 First, I needed to find a replacement card.  After a few bewildering online searches, I came across bank.green.  Squeaky clean angels sang.  The site told me that Amalgamated Bank has a sterling reputation and offers a credit card, so I went for a card that says ‘amalgamated bank rewards’ on the front.  But on the back?  Fine print —this card is issued by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO).  But who reads the fine print?  I signed up.

It took 4 months to clear all the automatic payments and subscriptions from the Citi card.  It was simple to remove it and make my new credit card the preferred payment method with Costco online.  I wrote a paper letter to Citi Bank explaining that I was breaking up because of their relationship with fossil fuels.  But then…

As I started working with the TA Michigan (TA MI) Climate Finance liaison, I had to question whether my new card was truly fossil-free.  A deeper dive on bank.green on FNBO came up with ‘Sorry, we don’t know enough …’ and a suggestion to contact FNBO and ask.  Now, I am one of those people who really hates phone calls.  It feels like conflict.  But this journey is about the planet and my mother, so I called. 

The person who picked up the call was lovely.  She contacted a manager who checked the website and couldn’t tell if they invested in fossil fuels.  There was a 2022 mention of investing in solar and recycling, but no specific mention of fossil fuel.  I asked for the number of someone who could answer the fossil investment question.  A second manager was involved but couldn’t see how such information could be had over the phone. 

Hmmmm. Time to try again, this time using TA MI’s guide.

Thanks for your interest and action,

Carolyn G.

While breathlessly awaiting the next blog installment, please share your wishes and/or experience breaking up with a credit card.

Episode 2 is here.