0:24 Anne Hidalgo Compte certifié @Anne_Hidalgo

 

Hi @BillPeduto, #Paris has a message for you and to all the people of #Pittsburgh. #FromParisWithLove #ParisAgreement #Trump

 

Anne Hidalgo‏ Compte certifié @Anne_Hidalgo 1 juin

Les villes appliqueront l’Accord de #Paris, quoi qu’il arrive. #AccordDeParis #Trump #Climat

Open Message to Mayor Bill Peduto:

Dear Mayor Peduto,

On behalf of the Mouvement des Français de l’Étranger (MDFDE) and all our Green Citizens friends worldwide, I wish to express my sincere congratulations to you and your wise constituents for your inspiring leadership in fully supporting the #ParisAgreement and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, President of @C40Cities and @AIMFrancophones.

As a proud French-American, I thank you very much for reminding us all that, YES, just like for all American Mayors rightfully elected, the Mayor of Pittsburg, PA, is, without a doubt, fully in charge of his own City’s destiny.

Like President Barack OBAMA said it first – loud and clear – two years ago when he signed the #ParisAgreement: There is No Plan B. There is no Planet B. There is no turning back. No additional option: All nations, all communities must unite in saving Planet Earth.

Your stand with Paris and the rest of the civilized world in the fight vs. climate change is especially meaningful to me because it shows, once again in History, how, in the darkest times, Pittsburgh and the Great State of Pennsylvania respond to human crisis and emergencies like climate change, world famine and poverty by joining great international causes.

Indeed, following WWII, 70 years ago, American journalist Drew Pearson, fed up by the division over U.S. aid to Europe in the Truman administration and the Republican controlled Congress, launched “The Friendship Train,” a grassroots relief initiative in cooperation with the National Association of Mayors, which raised over 40 million dollars in aid for war-torn France and Italy traveling across the country from Hollywood to New York City. On December 20, 1947, the much-needed food, medicine and supplies arrived at the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris via Le Havre, France.

Pittsburg and everyone in Pennsylvania was there to answer the call (please see Pennsylvanian Dorothy R. Scheele’s website “The Friendship Train of 1947” to learn more about it):  http://www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org/friendship-train-history-pennsylvania.htm

With last but not least my Pennsylvanian friend, Gabrielle Griswold, now 91-year young, whose own mother had served France right after WWI, who worked for American Aid to France, Inc. (originally American Relief for France) in Paris, France in 1947-1948, taking a very active part in the Friendship Train with Drew Pearson (please read the moving story of this great Pennsylvanian lady here): http://www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org/friendship-train-history-france-memories.htm

And because History has a very sneaky way of repeating itself and we all have a duty to educate ourselves as well as the new generation of French, Americans and global citizens, and never stop defending Freedom, our civil liberties…

I am very pleased to solicit your support for our #MDFDEFriendshipMerciTrain70, a huge project to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the American Friendship and French Merci Trains – the Gratitude Train sent by France to the United States in 1949 to thank Americans for their help and sacrifices during both WWI and WWII – and the 75th Anniversary of the Voie de la Liberté/Liberty Road in New York City in 2019.

Our honorary President is the Comte Gilbert de Pusy La Fayette, direct descendant of the Marquis de la Fayette, French Father of American Liberty, for whom Edouard de Laboulaye, Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel and the People of France gave America the Statue of Liberty.

I will personnally contact every other State, town and city that took an active part in the legendary “Friendship Train and Merci Trains” to also get on board schools, veterans, cultural and artistic associations later on this year. Until then… Thanks again, Mayor Peduto and everyone in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania (with a special hello and thanks to the Pennsylvania Branch of the 40 & 8 Society and American Legion and Everyone at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation & the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum for their service and in preserving their Merci Train boxcar and memories) for your help and friendship. Until we get a chance to meet and maybe plan a very special “Pittsburgh and Paris rally!” Go Pittsburgh! Go Steel City!

Sincerely yours,

Elisabeth Jenssen Founder & President

Le Mouvement des Français de l’Étranger (MDFDE) French and Francophones Abroad
Chair, #MDFDEJeSuisLadyLiberty131

Chair, #MDFDEFriendshipMerciTrain70
Contact: elisabeth.jenssen@francaisdeletranger.org
Twitter: @lemdfde
https://www.facebook.com/Mdfde
https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/

Links: https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/en/2017/06/02/mdfdeusa-dear-world-may-we-all-be-bartholdi-mdfdejesuisladyliberty131/

https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/en/2017/06/02/mdfdeusa-dear-world-may-we-all-be-bartholdi-mdfdejesuisladyliberty131/

https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/en/2017/05/04/mdfdeusa-wwi-live-from-austin-texas-all-aboard-the-merci-train-mdfdefriendshipmercitrain70-2/

https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/en/2017/03/22/mdfdeusa-wwi-centennial-happy-97th-anniversary-40-8-mdfdefriendshipmercitrain70/

https://www.francaisdeletranger.org/en/2016/12/20/mdfdeusa-all-aboard-the-american-friendship-train-1947-2017-kudos-to-the-late-drew-pearson-mdfdejesuisladyliberty130-131-mdfdefriendshiptrainmercitrain70/

 

Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum

40 & 8 Boxcar

This 40 & 8 Boxcar is one of forty nine cars that comprised the Merci or Gratitude Train, a gift to the American people from the citizens of France.  Pennsylvania received it at a ceremony in Harrisburg on February 6, 1949.  All forty-eight states received a boxcar filled with gifts, ranging from humble offerings to priceless art and antiques. The District of Columbia and the Territory of Hawaii shared the forty-ninth car. Gifts of sacrifice from individuals conveyed each donor’s depth of gratitude to America for liberating France in two World Wars and for sending the friendship train. A $40 million food relief effort carried out by American volunteers in 1947, which saved many French citizens from starvation.

The 40 & 8 Boxcars, so named because of their capacity to hold either 40 men or 8 horses, transported soldiers and horses to and from French battlefields during World War I. Many World War II soldiers rode the boxcars as well. The Merci Train boxcars now stand as a tribute to the sacrifices and bravery of American veterans who served in France in two World Wars and as a symbol of friendship and gratitude between the people of the United States of America and the Citizens of France.

Executive Order

City of Pittsburgh

Office of the Mayor

Subject: Reinforcing Pittsburgh’s Commitment to the Global Partnership on Climate Change

Number: 2017-08

Date: June 2, 2017

By Direction of: William Peduto, Mayor

WHEREAS, climate change is a worldwide problem recognized by government, business and academic leaders;

And WHEREAS, protecting our planet is of utmost importance to our children and grandchildren, who are at threat of living in a world with dangerous increases in temperature, coastal destruction and violent weather events;

And WHEREAS, 195 countries, including the United States, vowed to address climate change in agreements reached in Paris in December 2015 (the “Paris Agreement”);

And WHEREAS, the Mayor represented the City of Pittsburgh in Paris as part of a global coalition of mayors who recognize the catalyzing potential of urban areas to significantly curb emissions;

And WHEREAS, a more sustainable future will increase our economic competitiveness as a region, not detract from it;

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh paid a heavy price for our history of heavy industry, including remediating decades of pollution to our neighborhoods and hillsides and overcoming a collapse of our local economy;

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has been a shining example of what the Paris Agreement could mean for governments seeking to revitalize their environment and promote and strengthen their economy;

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has long been at the forefront of local government and individual citizen activism to protect our environment, from the nation’s first local Clean Air legislation passed by Mayor David Lawrence in 1949 to the worldwide environmental advocacy of Rachel Carson,

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has been building upon our decades of commitment to climate change, continuing with our adoption of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan in 2008 which is now undergoing its third update (the “Climate Action Plan”),

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh actively participates in the 100 Resilient Cities program, attempting to make our residents ready for the environmental, social, and economic disruptions of the future;

And WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has created and adopted a P4 framework which establishes the benefit for people, the shared responsibility for the place we call home, the stewardship of our common planet and the need to measure performance as way to advance improvement;

And WHEREAS, President Donald Trump’s unfortunate action yesterday of seeking to withdraw these United States of America from the Paris Agreement, constitutes a serious dereliction of our moral duty to the planet, threatens the legacy of a sustainable environment for our children, weakens our nation’s global and economic leadership at a crucial time in our history, and leaves it to mayors, in a global partnership of cities, to take immediate and permanent action;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, William Peduto, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the City Charter and laws of the City of Pittsburgh do hereby direct the following actions.

1. The City of Pittsburgh hereby endorses and remains fully committed to the principles of the Paris Agreement.

a. As a member of the Mayor’s National Climate Action Agenda (NNCAA), we join with 81 other cities and 39 million Americans in reaffirming our commitment to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

b. Working with the other members of NNCAA, the Chief Resiliency Officer of the City is empowered to undertake additional actions to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target.

2. The City of Pittsburgh hereby endorses and remains fully committed to our Climate Action Plan and our 2023 target of Greenhouse Gas reduction.

3. The City of Pittsburgh hereby endorses and remains fully committed to the Global Compact of Mayors, including the reduction of Greenhouse Gases 20{4d24daa5a359aa22e51c71c531e935ff229d31c7c5eb0da4885e362fa152ead6} below 2003 levels in the City.

4. The City of Pittsburgh hereby endorses and remains fully committed to our 2030 objectives, as announced during the Paris summit:

• Achieving 100 Percent Renewable Electricity Consumption for Municipal Operations

• A City Wide Zero Waste Initiative to divert 100 Percent of Materials from Land Fill

• Fifty percent energy consumption reduction city wide

• Development of a Fossil Fuel Free Fleet

• Divestment of the City’s Pension Assets from Fossil Based Companies

• Fifty percent water consumption citywide

• Fifty percent transportation emissions reduction city wide

5. The City of Pittsburgh hereby endorses and remains fully committed to quantifying the impact of the City’s work in reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and building a more sustainable City.

a. Through the completion of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan 3.0, the Chief Resiliency Officer shall coordinate and document the impacts of GHG reduction and air quality improvement effects of the initiatives already happening across the City of Pittsburgh’s departments and associated authorities, including but not limited to:

• The advancement of Carbon Neutrality objectives within the City

• Implementation of Building Energy Benchmarking and Transparency

• Identification, Development and Procurement of Local Renewable Power

• Adoption of industry leading energy efficiency standards for buildings

• Electrification of transportation systems in conjunction with renewable energy sources

• Implementation of the Pittsburgh Green First Green Infrastructure Plan

• Support for the weatherization and maintenance of Pittsburgh housing stock to help our elderly and vulnerable populations

• Collaboration with local utility partners to reduce product loss and enhance delivery of service for customers and build resilience in energy networks

• Protection and regeneration of our natural environment through land conservation, park preservation and urban agriculture

• Support for transit oriented development and location efficiency to encourage modal choices for all people

• Partnership with private and institutional building owners to reduce peak loads and manage energy resources efficiently

• Transition of the City of large-scale fleet operations to electric or other renewable power resources.

• Encouragement of adoption of electric vehicle technologies by citizens

• Reduction in the City’s consumption of materials, development of opportunities to foster new economies through the reuse of materials and the recycling and repurposing of materials to new uses.

All City departments and authorities under the Mayor’s jurisdiction shall work cooperatively to ensure the success of the missions outlined above. Independent agencies, City-affiliated entities, and City-related institutions are also strongly encouraged to work to help advance these efforts and adopt similar initiatives, where applicable.  All actions and outcomes shall be in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until amended or rescinded in writing by the Mayor.