Category Archives: Actions

Actions you can take to address the climate crisis

OCA Signs letter to DNC for a ban on fossil fuel executives, lobbyists in campaign and administration

You can Tell Joe Biden: Keep Fossil Fuel Influence Out

Dear Vice President Biden,

Congratulations on your nomination as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. As you have said, this is a historic time for our nation. Over 175,000 Americans have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the nation. Millions are rising up to demand racial justice and an end to white supremacy. Donald Trump has put our democracy on the line with his attacks on our right to vote and threats to contest the election. Meanwhile, the climate emergency is ravaging our country, as supercharged wildfires burn across western states, climate-intensified floods and derechos slam the Midwest, and sea level rise threatens our coasts. 

We want to thank you for your bold plans to combat the climate crisis and create millions of good-paying, union jobs in a clean energy economy. We applaud the ways in which you have put environmental justice at the heart of your plans, making sure that the communities of color who are on the front lines of this crisis are at the forefront of its solutions. Implementing your plans would be a major step toward putting this country back on track to meet our global commitments under the Paris Agreement while centering the communities most harmed by environmental injustice. 

Your leadership on climate and environmental justice is why we urge you to ban
all fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and representatives from any advisory or official position on your campaign, transition team, cabinet, and administration.

Continue reading →

OCA Signs Letter to Gov. Inslee for Whales

41 Organizations Ask Governor Inslee to Oppose
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 near Vancouver, BC

Read the letter to Governor Inslee | August 20, 2020

RBT2_41_orgs_ask_Gov_Inslee_to_oppose_8-20-2020Download

E-MAIL language and links to include in your own letter

rbt2-action-email-language-8-20-1Download

Ask Governor Inslee to say YES to Southern Resident orcas & NO to a new terminal less than a mile from WA State!

Sign the Petition to Governor Inslee

Get more information about the Roberts Bank Terminal 2

Continue reading →

Climate justice is racial justice.

A message from The US Climate Strike Coalition

On July 20th, we are mobilizing in solidarity with the S.E.I.U and the Movement for Black Lives in order to present a united front against injustice a month out from the Democratic National Convention. As environmental organizers, it is our responsibility to put action behind the phrase “Climate justice is racial justice.” Climate strikes in the past have done a fantastic job of worldwide attention. We must show the world that movements for justice are in unanimous agreement: Black Lives Matter and we will not stop until both our leadership, policy, legal systems, workplaces, and schools reflect this truth. On July 20th, we strike for these four demands:

  1. Justice for Black communities, with an unequivocal declaration that Black Lives Matter.
  2. Elected officials and candidates at every level must use their executive, legislative, and regulatory authority to ensure the safety of voters and workers given the pandemic.
  3. Corporations must take immediate action to dismantle racism, white supremacy, and economic exploitation wherever it exists, including in our workplaces.
  4. Every worker must have the opportunity to form a union, no matter where they work.

Find or host an event here

We’ve compiled resources for you to take action on Monday, linked below.
Kickoff call deck, recording.

How you can get involved on July 20th:

  1. Take the 8:46 Pledge.
  2. Host an event (in-person or digital). Events can include strikes, walk-offs, protests, digital events such as teach-ins, workshops and webinars and make sure to encourage attendees to register to vote in November!
  3. Apply for funding from the Youth Direct Action Fund to support your event.
  4. Attend an event in your area.
  5. Help promote the event on social media and through your email lists.
  6. Read the Black Leadership Toolkit to make sure your allyship is authentic and representative of the US Climate Strike Coalition’s theory of change.
  7. Attend office hours for more support.
    1. Tue, July 14th @ 7pm EST
    2. Wed, July 15th @ 9pm EST
    3. Thurs, July 16th @ 7pm EST

In solidarity,

The US Climate Strike Coalition

OCA joins the 350 Washington Network!

OCA members Ed Bowlby, Ed Chadd, and John Cambalik attended the virtual Retreat at which this Network was formally created.
The Network will help our group speak with a strong statewide voice but still leave us the flexibility to voice our own opinion.

Kudos to Grace Hope, our 350 PNW Organizer, and to Alec Connon,
who facilitated in stunning fashion!

You can be involved too! From 350 Washington

  • Join the 350 Washington Network listserv! This is our broadest communication platform, open to all active volunteers in the 350 Washington Network (email me pnworganizer@350.org to be added) 
  • Join the conversation! Our weekly 350 Washington Conversation series is open to all active volunteers in the 350 Washington Network and is where we build the relationships and connections that sustain our community. Weekly on Monday nights from 6pm-7:30pm PST. You can register here for this call, and attend the ones you’re available for.

Washington’s Environmental Justice Task Force

Dear Friends: 

Thank you for your ongoing interest and engagement in the mission of Washington’s Environmental Justice Task Force. Its body of work will provide a policy blueprint for how Washington State can provide the highest standard of environmental health protection to every resident.

Since September 2019, the Task Force has been collecting public input through regional meetings and drafting policies to fulfill the Legislature’s request to produce recommendations on how State Agencies can incorporate environmental justice principles into their work. These recommendations are due to Governor Inslee and the Legislature by October 2020. 

I’m pleased to share a draft of the recommendations on this Google Word document. Please identify yourself in your comments and provide them by July 27 so they can be considered before the Task Force’s last scheduled meeting on August 7. We encourage each of you to review these recommendations and leave any thoughts, concerns or suggestions for improvements in the document. These comments will be shared with Task Force members and guide the discussion the Task Force will have before finalizing them. 

We also invite you to a public listening session the Task Force will be hosting via Zoom on Thursday, July 16, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. to get your feedback on them.  

Meeting Details

Continue reading →

A Demand sent to Trans Mountain Insurers from OCA

To the CEOs of AIG, Chubb, Energy Insurance Limited, Liberty Mutual, Lloyd’s, Munich Re, Starr, Stewart Specialty Risk Underwriting, W.R. Berkley, Zurich, Amlin, ANV, Arch, Argo, Ironstarr, Lancashire, and QBE:

The 2019-2020 certificate of insurance for the Trans Mountain pipeline names your company as a provider of insurance coverage from August 2019 through August 2020.1  

We, the undersigned organizations, demand that you publicly rule out insuring Trans Mountain immediately. With the policy expiring at the end of August, now is the time to decisively say no to this destructive project.

Continue reading →

OCA Signs Letter to Big Oil: Protect the Arctic Refuge

OCA joins other groups to encourage the big oil companies of Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Hilcorp, and BP to not pursue fossil fuel development in one of our most majestic public lands in the nation – the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

Read the letter here . . .

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge is risky and unnecessary – it violates the human rights of Indigenous peoples, will exacerbate climate change in an area that’s already ground-zero for climate impacts and will cause irreversible destruction to a precious landscape. 70 percent of voters in the United States oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge. The case for protecting the Arctic Refuge is so clear that five of the six largest US domestic banks have announced they will not fund any efforts to drill in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, which is sacred to the Gwich’in people.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, which is endangering our health and economy, the administration continues to push forward with destroying majestic places. Drilling in a place as remote and pristine as the Arctic Refuge isn’t cheap, and by joining this letter, you have an opportunity to encourage oil and gas companies to publicly affirm that they will not drill in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.

In Solidarity with All Our Relations

The senseless, violent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many other Black, Brown, and Indigenous people of this country are merely the most recent, visible examples of systemic inequality and racial injustice in our country. These deaths and the depth of inequality they represent work against our mission to seek a safe, prosperous, sustainable future for us all. Organizations, including our own, working against climate change have an obligation to unequivocally condemn racism in all its forms and to work towards an equitable, livable future for all.

We need real, lasting change to stop acts of racism and violence against communities of color, as well as the unjust burden of climate change on poor and front-line communities. We stand in solidarity with all marginalized and oppressed members of our community in calling for accountability and justice for all, and we commit to engaging in critical self-reflection and active listening and dialogue with marginalized communities to learn how we can be part of the solution.

OCA Stands Opposed to the Keystone XL Pipeline

In solidarity with Indigenous communities, farmers and ranchers along the route, OCA is sending our protest banner to the Governors of Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska demanding they stop all pre-construction activity.

Background:

The movement against the Keystone XL Pipeline has successfully stopped the Trump Administration and TC Energy, aka TransCanada, from building this climate-destroying tar sands pipeline for years. But right now, amidst COVID-19, TC Energy is moving forward with plans to break ground on construction. While so many of us are sacrificing so much to protect our communities, TC Energy is planning to bring thousands of workers near Indigenous communities and rural towns that are already vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus with little access to healthcare facilities. Such blatant disregard for public health and safety is sadly to be expected from a company who would build such a life-destroying pipeline in the first place. We must act now and come together to demand TC Energy halt any construction.

‘Cancel KXL’ petition

Promise to Protect

OCA Endorses the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

THE FOSSIL FUEL
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

An initiative to phase-out fossil fuels and fast-track solutions

Climate change, like nuclear weapons, is a major global threat.

Bold and immediate action is needed to address the climate emergency.

The main cause of the climate emergency is fossil fuels.
Coal, oil and gas are responsible for almost 80% of all carbon dioxide emissions
since the industrial revolution.

Phasing-out fossil fuel production,
and fast-tracking progress towards safer and more cost-effective solutions,
will require unprecedented international cooperation in three main areas.

$170K grant will facilitate climate planning on the NOP

Once again, partnerships pay off: The Puget Sound Partnership, along with its local stakeholders’ group known as the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network, have awarded $170,000 to the North Olympic Development Council (a local coalition of governments, businesses, NGOs, and citizens) to develop multi-benefit local climate action plans that integrate with local governmental comprehensive and shoreline master plans, as well as other local recovery plans. This project builds upon a previous grant project that developed the Climate Change Preparedness Plan for the North Olympic Peninsula. Olympic Climate Action assisted with the application and will assist in the implementation as well, just as we did with the Climate Preparedness Plan.

Help the 350.org WA — Civic Action Team

Hello Climate Action Team!


1615: Climate calls made to legislators!
932: Climate comments left on bills!
2570: Climate emails sent to legislators!
5117: total legislator contacts made by the Civic Action Team in 2020!

9: Days left in the legislative session!

We’re now in the home stretch with a big cut-off looming on Friday at 5pm when bills must be voted off the floor. Ready to do some heavy lifting? Great!

House bills ready for a Senate floor vote

Here are two climate-related House bills ready for a floor vote in the Senate. Suction Dredge Mining protects salmon by regulating the awful practice of suction dredge mining, and Aircraft Noise Abatement provides mitigations for airport noise.

Please call these Senate Majority leaders and ask that these bills receive a floor vote:

Majority Leader, Sen. Andy Billig (D-03) — (360) 786-7604  — Andy.Billig@leg.wa.gov
Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Marko Liias (D-21) — (360) 786-7640 — Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov

Script : “Hello, I’m calling Senator [Name] because of his role in Senate leadership and I have two bills that I would like to see receive a floor vote. May I give you the bill numbers?”

Next let’s make sure that four bills in the Senate Rules Committee get moved to the floor…

House bills that need to be “pulled” to the Senate floor

Several House bills that you’ve promoted during these last weeks need your attention one more time! Natural Gas Transmission incentivizes utilities to fix methane leaks (duh!), GHG Emission Limits aligns our state’s reduction targets with current science, Commercial Property Clean Energy encourages energy efficiency retrofits of existing commercial buildings, and Urban and Community Forestry benefits impacted communities.

Please call and write these members of the Senate Rules Committee and request that these bills be pulled for a floor vote:

Vice Chair, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) — (360) 786-7664 — Karen.Keiser@leg.wa.gov
Sen. John McCoy (D-38) — (360) 786-7674 — John.McCoy@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-48) — (360) 786-7694 — Patty.Kuderer@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) — (360) 786-7628 — Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov

Script : “Hello, I’m calling Senator [Name] because they sit on the Rules Committee. There are several bills that haven’t been pulled to the House floor for a vote yet and it’s very important that they pass this session. May I give you the bill numbers?”

  • HB 2518, Natural Gas Transmission 
  • HB 2311, Greenhouse Gas Emission Limits
  • HB 2405, Commercial Property Clean Energy (C-PACER)
  • HB 2768, Urban and Community Forestry

Now, let your Senator know these bills need to pass before Friday’s cut-off. Click on each bill link below, verify your address (which can take two clicks on some devices), and ask your Senator to Please support this bill with your vote on the Senate floor . (Asking for a response gets a bit more attention.)

Suction Dredge Mining, HB 1261
Aircraft Noise Abatement, HB 1847 
Natural Gas Transmission, HB 2518
Greenhouse Gas Emission Limits, HB 2311
Commercial Property Clean Energy (C-PACER), HB 2405
Urban and Community Forestry, HB 2768

There, doesn’t that feel great? Now let’s do the bills in the other chamber…

Senate bills ready for a House floor vote

Here are three significant Senate bills that are ready for a vote on the House floor: Clean Car Standards makes more electric cars available, Sustainable Farms and Fields establishes a grant program for farmers sequestering carbon, and Accessory Dwelling Units increases affordable housing options.

Please call and write these House Majority leaders to ask that these three bills receive a floor vote:

Majority Leader, Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47) — (360) 786-7858 — Pat.Sullivan@leg.wa.gov
Majority Floor Leader, Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier (D-49) — (360) 786-7872 — Monica.Stonier@leg.wa.gov

Script : “Hello, I’m calling Representative [Name] because of his/her role in House leadership and I have three bills that I would like to see receive a floor vote. May I give you the bill numbers?”

  • SB 5811, Clean Car Standards (Zero Emission Vehicles)
  • SB 5947, Sustainable Farms and Fields
  • SB 6617, Accessory Dwelling Units

Next, let’s make sure these two bills get moved to the floor…

Bills that need to be “pulled” to the House floor

Here are two bills ready to be pulled to the House floor calendar, one banning offshore drilling and a new version of the Clean Air Rule Authority bill, arguably the most impactful climate bill of the session. 

Please call and write these members of the House Rules Committee and request that these bills be pulled for a floor vote:

Rep. Noel Frame (D-36) — (360) 786-7814 — Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33) — (360) 786-7834 — Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov

Script : “Hello, I’m calling Rep. [Name] because they sit on the Rules Committee. There are two bills that haven’t been pulled to the House floor for a vote yet, and it’s very important that they move forward. May I give you the bill numbers?”

  • SB 6432, Off-Shore Oil Extraction
  • HB 2957, Indirect Greenhouse Gases (Clean Air Authority)

Now let’s tell our Reps these five bills need to pass before Friday’s cut-off.

Click on the bill numbers below, verify your address, and ask both of your Representatives to Please support this bill with your vote on the House floor . (Asking for a response gets a bit more attention.)

Clean Car Standard (Zero Emission Vehicles), SB 5811
Sustainable Farms and Fields, SB 5947
Accessory Dwelling Units, SB 6617
Off-Shore Oil Extraction, SB 6432
Indirect Greenhouse Gases (Clean Air Authority), HB 2957

Last but not least, SB 5323 , Banning Single Use Plastic Bags , needs a final push. Click here , verify your address and ask both of your Representatives, Please support this bill and contact House Finance Chair Gael Tarleton to move the bill to the floor. (Asking for a response gets a bit more attention.)

Thanks for your hard work for these last weeks! And as always, please let us know what you did!

— Selden, David, and Katherine for the 350 WA Civic Action Team.

PS. So are we done?? Not quite! We expect some late-breaking opportunities next week to support bills exempt from this week’s cut-off. So don’t collapse from exhaustion just yet!

THE CHEHALIS AT A CROSSROADS

THE CHEHALIS AT A CROSSROADS:  PLANS FOR A FLOOD CONTROL DAM THREATEN THE HEADWATERS

If a dam is built, the populations of spring and fall Chinook that spawn above the dam site may go extinct

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is waterkeep-alliance.png
Twin Harbors Waterkeeper

Chehalis dam would not address all major storms,
nor regular, shallow flooding
State Environmental Review Process
SEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is chehalis-basin.jpg
CHEHALIS: A WATERSHED MOMENT OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Washington Department of Ecology – NEWS

Feb. 27, 2020 | Contact  Curt Hart, communications, 360-407-6944, @ecologyWA

Environmental evaluation for proposed Chehalis River flood reduction project ready for reviewPublic can review, comment on draft environmental study through April 27 

Continue reading →

OCA has Endorsed the National Fracking Ban Act

Now, here’s what we can do about getting it passed . . .

Hello everyone, thank you so much for endorsing the Fracking Ban Act introduced by Senator Sanders and Representative Ocasio-Cortez! My name is Thomas, I’m the National Climate Organizing Manager at Food & Water Action and I’ll be sharing update on the bill via this list.

This morning, we publicly released the letter with over 570 organizations signed on in support of the bill. The letter will remain open throughout the year, but is an incredible show of strength just two weeks after the bill was first introduced. Here are a few materials to share and promote:

Continue reading →

LSRD Breach Now! Rally — January 23rd

Facebook Event at Orca Oracle Bus Carpool — https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/a3uj90

Join advocates for salmon,
orcas,
tribal rights and
fiscal responsibility

to rally on the Washington Capitol steps,
Jan. 23, 2020 at 11 am

in support of breaching
the 4 Lower Snake River Dams (LSRDs) now. 

Gov Inslee is taking written comments on his “LSRD Stakeholder Study” through Jan. 24, but has no public meetings set around the Salish Sea, nor is he allowing any public comments at his 3 “Stakeholder Meetings” [set in Clarkston, Tri-Cities and Vancouver].

Speakers, signs and songs will let Gov. Inslee know that the time has come to breach these dams now based on science, economics and treaty rights!

No public comment is taken at the Stakeholder Meetings. 
The Stakeholder Rally welcomes open public comment. Come be heard and seen as
We the People advocate for saving salmon, orca, and taxpayer money.

More info and carpooling link will be available at the Facebook event

You may print and display the Stakeholder Rally Poster.

flyer-handout-1-2Download

FridaysForFuture demonstrations in PA

Every Friday at noon at the downtown fountain

#FridaysForFuture is a movement that began in August 2018, after 15-year-old Greta Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every school day for three weeks, to protest the lack of action on the climate crisis. She posted what she was doing on Instagram and Twitter and it soon went viral.

Greta decided to continue striking every Friday until Swedish policies provided a safe pathway to well below 2 degrees C, in line with the Paris agreement. Millions of people around the globe have joined Greta, committing to strike every Friday until real action is taken to halt our carbon output. 

In Port Angeles, in solidarity with this movement, we will be striking from noon-1 every Friday in front of the downtown fountain (First and Laurel Streets). We invite all to come join this international movement and add a presence and voice to our town and to the global consciousness around climate change. 

Things to consider from the FridaysForFuture.org website

FridaysForFuture: ActivismRiskZone

  1. Fridaysforfuture want you to only strike in a way, that you feel safe with.
  2. Many Fridaysforfuture strikers have a police approval for their strike.
  3. It is common for these approvals to only allow a quiet, sitting protest.
  4. A. ARZ: ActivismRiskZone is a working group aiming to support activism in risk zones. Use #ARZ_helps if a minor Human Rights violation occurs and you would like to lift awareness
    B. Fridaysforfuture are unlikely to be able to provide legal support if there are problems, so FFF advises strikers to liaise with local Non Government Organisations and email Arz@fridaysforfuture.org. These NGOs, for example, Amnesty, Greenpeace, 350, WWF, usually know local lawyers, who are well versed in protest situations.
    C. Recommended reading for ActivismRiskZone
  5. We are a peaceful and quiet striking organisation, but unfortunately we have already seen examples in some countries, where some individuals or organisations try to join a strike for the purpose of causing trouble. Please take care and prioritise your own safety.
  6. Fridaysforfuture recommends that all strikers at risk use anonymous style emails if you would like to be contactable from the map, e.g. FFF_happystriker@gmail.com

What is Fridays For Future?

#FridaysforFuture is a peoples movement following the call from @GretaThunberg to school strike.

Why are kids striking?

School children are required to attend school. But with the worsening Climate Destruction this goal of going to school begins to be pointless.
– Why study for a future, which may not be there?
– Why spend a lot of effort to become educated, when our governments are not listening to the educated?

The basics on how/when/where to strike

Greta requests that people strike infront of their closest town hall, every friday. With a sign, take a picture and post it with the hashtags
#Fridaysforfuture
#Climatestrike

How supporters can support

Many people do not think they can strike, i.e. they are worried about their school grades. The Belgium schools all used clocks which then ‘struck’ and then took a picture and this was there method to strike on November 30. Other groups have other ways to find a way to strike, even churches have their bells strike! Some empathy strike. All support is welcome.

If you post your work with the hashtag #FridaysForFuture and #ClimateStrike we will be able to find and share your excellent work.

OCA Joins 450 Organizations Calling for Action

Top 10 Climate Actions for the Next President’s First 10 Days in Office  
How Presidential Action Must Address the Climate Emergency

In a letter from Ben Goloff:

About the Plan: The Plan unpacks the top 10 executive actions—that do not require action by Congress—that the next President must take to tackle the climate emergency in her/his first 10 days in office. Uniting our voices now in demanding the next President take these necessary steps is essential to achieving climate leadership that meets demands of science and justice. While the plan is focused on what the President can do, it is designed to work with Congressional action, such as the Green New Deal, as well as action at the community, local and state levels. We’re reaching out to Olympic Climate Action because you have joined us on past petitions that form the basis of this plan, such as ending fossil fuel leasing on public lands.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The plan is designed as a c(3) activity. All organizations including 501c(3)s are able to sign on.

Original signatories include: Center for Biological Diversity, Climate Justice Alliance, Labor Network for Sustainability, 350.org, Greenpeace USA, Oil Change U.S., ActionAid USA, Center for Climate Integrity, Corporate Accountability, Earthworks, EcoEquity, Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth U.S., The Democracy Collaborative, NC WARN, Inc, and Rainforest Action Network.

We are grateful if Olympic Climate Action can join us so that we can urge for this bold Executive Climate Action Plan together. Please sign on by Dec. 5.

Ben Goloff
Climate Campaigner, Climate Law Institute
CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Black Friday Climate Strike in Sequim

Friday, November 29, 2019 • 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Verizon Store • 1241 West Washington Street, Sequim , WA 98264

Signs will be provided, but if you have the time and materials to make a big banner, we have some ideas! — Host Contact Info: Meigs1@yahoo.com — Dress warm!

Click to RSVP for this Climate Strike Event
Click here to join or offer a Carpool


Host Contact Info: Meigs1@yahoo.com

Comment on Lower Snake River Dams

Stakeholder process through
Governor Inslee’s questionnaire

Thanks to NOOP (North Olympic Orca Pod) for this info!

LSRD Online Engagement Questionnaire

Please respond to Governor Inslee’s “LSRD Stakeholder Survey” this week if possible.

Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder Process

Background info, including the link to the survey are here

Because Inslee’s consultants have made this process complicated, some folks may want more guidance in filling out the survey. Folks at DamSense have prepared a document as guidance, with the following notes: “Please use DamSense answers as a reference only. It is important that you submit your survey responses in your own words. Feel free to share with your colleagues and networks … We need everyone to complete the survey ASAP as the Draft report will be completed and available for public written comment mid-December,” though comments aren’t technically due till Jan. 24. Inslee’s consultants are planning to issue a draft report later this month for another round of public comments, so individual comments now are important for maximum impact.

LSRD Survey Questions & AnswersDownload

Here’s some guidance for the section on native cultural rights that’s stronger than DamSense’s comments: “The LSRDs were a major devastation to native rights and cultures. They destroyed salmon, steelhead, lamprey and sturgeon runs that tribes had relied on for thousands of years. The LSRDs reservoirs ruined riparian plant gathering areas for food and materials. Their reservoirs inundated tribal burial grounds, village sites and sacred areas. None of the affected native peoples were adequately consulted nor consented to the construction and operation of these dams in their traditional living, fishing, hunting and gathering areas.”

Though the Orca Task Force recommended a more scientific and fact-based LSRD analysis, Inslee’s consultant-heavy and complicated process appears to be political pandering to Eastern Washington, and far apart from OTF’s recommendations. But this process is what we have.

A message from the Office of the Governor

Continue reading →

Join Climate Strike Week on the Peninsula! Sept. 20-28

Greta Thunberg explains why we must halt business as usual

Beginning September 20, three days before the UN Climate Summit in NYC, young people and adults will mobilize for a week across the world to demand transformative action to address the climate crisis. Millions will take to the streets to demand a right to a future, and we’re inviting you to join us! Activities are planned for a solid week, all across the Olympic Peninsula…join one, or organize one yourself and let us know about it! We will update the list below as additional events get planned. Our house is on fire! There is no time to waste!

MSNBC, Georgetown University, and Our Daily Planet will lead up to this important week by hosting a two-day climate forum with the 2020 Presidential candidates Sept. 19-20.

Date

Time

Place

Event

Friday, 9/20

10 am

Port Townsend HS, Fir and F Streets, baseball field

Climate Strike Port Townsend: Student walkout at Port Townsend HS, Fir and F streets, baseball field–adults welcome

Friday, 9/20

5 pm

Port Angeles: Hollywood Beach, then the Gateway

Climate Strike Port Angeles: Rally/speakers/march/street art–bring signs, washable sidewalk chalk

Saturday, 9/21

All day

Peninsula beaches

International Coastal Cleanup

Saturday, 9/21

7 pm

Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

Screening of The Reluctant Radical, with Michael Foster of the Valve Turners speaking

Sunday, 9/22

4 pm

Webster’s Woods, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

Interfaith Earthcare Coalition Celebration–ceremony & prayer–bring a small vial of water from a natural source and a chair or blanket

Monday, 9/23

All day

Anywhere

“Call Jaime Dimon Day” on the Olympic Peninsula (CEO of Chase Bank, the largest funder of fossil fuel projects)

Tuesday, 9/24

3:30 pm

Sequim Av. & Washington St.

Climate Strike Sequim: Demonstration–bring signs

Tuesday-Sunday, 9/24-9/28

Various

Clallam Bay and Forks

Earth Strike West End: Discussions, action, and potluck

Thursday, 9/26

6 pm

Port Angeles Fountain, 1st & Laurel

Ukulele Flash Mob for Climate–bring ukes or other instruments and see link for song chart
  • Organizers are asking people to wear black and red.
  • Here’s the music Strike Song video:
    • We’re gonna Strike cuz our waters are rising
    • We’re gonna Strike cuz our people are dying
    • We’re gonna Strike for life and everything we love
    • We’re gonna Strike for you, will you Strike for us? (x2)
  • And here are some quick science talking points you can use when talking it up!

September 20th

Leviathans in the Harbor

More and bigger cruise ships are crowding coastal destinations. When is enough, enough? Who gets to decide?

by Brian Payton , August 27, 2019, Hakai Magazine 
‘Knoll Lowney, the lawyer representing the three plaintiffs who claimed they were victims of Carnival’s environmental violations, said, “Time and time again, Carnival has shown its contempt of environmental laws and the rule of law.”’

Are You in the Blast-Zone?

From Kevin Jones
NW Climate and Clean Energy Coalition co-lead

Background:  The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) has provided preliminary approval for the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Tacoma Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facility.  A public disclosure request has revealed that NW Pierce county, portions of SW King county and most of Vashon Island is in the blast zone, should the tank rupture and catch fire. 

Moreover, the Environmental Impact Statement actually concludes that use of LNG for shipping, the primary use of this facility, is actually worse for the environment than doing nothing.

Please act!

DNC votes down a Climate Debate

Today the DNC voted down holding a climate debate. Evan Weber of the Sunrise Movement was in the room and live tweeted the conversation. The link below is that thread.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1165334843221168128.html

Join Fridays for Future Seattle on 8/16 to stand with Zoe

When:8/16 at 1pm, Where: Seattle City Hall

Why: Every Friday from 1-2 a group, called Fridays for Future, of mostly youth Climate Strike in front of Seattle City Hall. They are asking extra people go out on 8/16 to show support for Zoe. Every week they use sidewalk chalk to show their message for climate action. This past week an adult handed Zoe a bottle of spray on chalk that turned out to be chalk paint. As soon as she realized they began making plans to clean it up, but the police intervened and took a 13 year old away in handcuffs.

U.S. Oil Refinery, Tacoma Water Quality Permit Renewal

Tell Ecology: No oil terminal expansion in Tacoma!

Fact Sheet for this Permit Renewal

Frequently Asked Questions about Effective public commenting

Comment Online

Use the online comment form

Comment by mail

Greg Gould
Industrial Section
P.O. Box 47600
Tacoma, WA 98504

Attend a related event

Aug. 7, 2019, 6:30 p.m. – U.S. Oil Refinery, Tacoma

Questions

Angie Fritz
 Communication and outreach lead
angela.fritz@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7393

Climate Strikes in September 2019

On May 24 the message from young people on #climatestrike in 133 countries got both louder and clearer: “The planet’s still burning. We’re not going anywhere. Who’s actually with us?” Join in this September 20 – 27

Pledge to join the climate strikes this September

The Three Causes of the World’s Four Big Problems

Deep Transformation, or What London’s Climate Change Protests Teach Us About the Future

umair haqueApr 22 – from Medium.com

It was a perfect spring day. I was trying to get home to Camden Lock from Oxford Circus, after meeting a few friends for coffee downtown. A siren’s blare cut through the noisy crowds. Soon enough, police had shut down Regent Street — and massed protesters, cheering, shouting, rebelling, thronged London’s busiest intersection, shutting it down.

I don’t know if you’ve heard elsewhere, but London’s seen protests day after day now — of a new kind. Organized by a group called Extinction Rebellion, the subject of these protests isn’t authoritarianism, fascism, extremism, Wall Street — it’s climate change.

Extinction Rebellion is, by my reckoning, the world’s first significant series of global protests about climate change. The first one to shut down a major city, to galvanize a people, to cut through the noise of capitalist mass media — and do what protests should do: make some noise.

Keep reading!

Join us in Port Townsend on April 20th

Things to remember:

  • Please wear black and / or bring a black umbrella
  • Pope Marine Park in Port Townsend. (across from City Hall)

Schedule 

12:30pm DamSense and Backbone set up ocra pattern layout.
1:00pm People assemble in the orca pattern layout.
1:15pm Mural assembled and speakers at the dorsal fin to speak.
1:15pm Drone flies over to take video/photo
1:45pm Orca mural wraps up. Participants gather for a group photo and sing “No More BS” lead by Karen Davis
2:00pm NOOP performs “Stayin’ Alive” and other routine. 
2:30pm Socializing and wrap-up. A canopy with table for information materials will be available. 

Students strike for climate on the Olympic Peninsula

Joining a round-the-world movement started by Greta Thunberg, students on the Olympic Peninsula walked out of classes to call attention to the greatest challenge to their future.

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/port-angeles-students-take-part-in-climate-protest/

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/port-townsend-students-strike-for-change/

Students at Port Angeles High School
Students from Port Townsend High School

Sunrise OP update

From Mike Ferguson, Sunrise Olympic Peninsula Hub coordinator:

Whew!  February was a very busy month for Sunrise and the Green New Deal!  Please take a moment to read our updates and commit to the simple actions we are asking of the community.  Here is a summary of what has happened locally and across the country this past month and what is coming up this month.

Continue reading →

Petition: Breach the LSRDs in 2019

Let’s get to 1 million signatures! Spread the word!

tinyurl.com/timeisout

Rep. Kilmer: listen to science, our young people, and your heart

It was back-to-back activism yesterday at Rep. Derek Kilmer’s office in Port Angeles.

First, the North Olympic Orca Pod hosted a die-in and delivered a letter outlining 23 scientific articles supporting the immediate breaching of the lower Snake River dams.

OCA members delivered our own letter to Kilmer and described the promise offered by the Green New Deal to remake the Lower Snake River watershed into a showcase for clean energy, green jobs, restorative agriculture, recreation, and carbon sequestration, rather than a cesspool for salmon mortality and methane production.

Orca Kilmer die-in
OCA delivers letter to Kilmer re LSRDs

Then, the new Sunrise Movement Olympic Peninsula hub hosted a meeting at Kilmer’s office to express concern that our Representative has had several months to ponder what Congress should be doing to solve the climate crisis, and has yet to speak or act. Time to step up!

Both groups asked to meet with Kilmer next time he’s home.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D2191180537801307%26id%3D2175936525992375&width=500

Sunrise comes to Port Angeles 2/27

Update from Mike Ferguson of the Sunrise Movement Olympic Peninsula hub:

2019-02-25 GND update

Several youth asked Sen Feinstein to support a Green New Deal

Her response was disturbing. If you would like to contact Sen Feinstein to comment on her response, her office number is (415)393-0707.

Breach the LSRDs now. Not next year. Now.

At the direction of our membership at our February 3 meeting, OCA sent letters to Governor Inslee, our District 24 State Representatives, and Rep. Derek Kilmer about both the necessity and feasibility of breaching the lower 4 Snake River Dams this year. Nothing would prevent this from happening if we recognized the true dire straits our Southern Resident Orcas are in, and none of the recommendations of the Governor’s Orca Task Force would have as immediate and beneficial an impact as this one thing. Here’s the letter we sent to Gov. Inslee:  OCA to Inslee 2-15-19

And here’s a letter being hand-delivered by our friends at the North Olympic Orca Pod to Rep. Derek Kilmer on Feb. 27:  NOOP to Kilmer 2-27-19

 

GND local update

From: Mike Ferguson <petitions4bernie@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2019 8:15 PM

Below are local actions to take and UPDATED INFO for events on the Olympic Peninsula to ensure the Green New Deal gets the support it needs. Continue reading →

Green New Deal petition

Tell Congress: Support Sen Markey & Rep Ocasio-Cortez’s resolution for a Green New Deal

This week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Senator Ed Markey have introduced twin resolutions to bring the Green New Deal to Congress.

These resolutions are the first that tackle climate change in line with what science and justice demand, and if we secure a critical mass of support, we can cement the Green New Deal at the top of the political agenda as we head into the 2020 elections. But resolutions are introduced in Congress every day, without our representatives ever hearing from constituents about them. That’s why we all need to tell our representatives in the House and the Senate: if you want to be taken seriously on climate change, you need support this resolution.

Click here to sign the petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-support-sen-markey-rep-ocasio-cortezs-resolution-for-a-green-new-deal?source=email&

Green New Deal

Join livestream kickoff watch parties for a Green New Deal, Tuesday, February 5, from 7-8:30 pm at the Clallam County Courthouse (use the after-hours entrance west of the flagpoles) or in Port Townsend at Rosewind Commons.

The most recent scientific consensus, including the federal government’s own National Climate Assessment, indicates a very short window for a transformation to a clean-energy economy. In response, activists are calling for a Green New Deal to transform our economy in a rapid and just manner, and Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are poised to release Green New Deal legislation in the coming days.

Early support for an ambitious bill like this is crucial, and climate activists plan to send a strong message to their members of Congress in the coming weeks. 

The Sunrise Movement, credited with putting momentum behind the Green New Deal concept, will lay out their game plan via livestream at this event, which will be viewed by thousands of people at more than 400 watch parties around the country. Participants can register for this event at https://actionnetwork.org/events/green-new-deal-kickoff-watch-party?referrer=olympic-climate-action-2&source=direct_link. For more information, contact OCA at olyclimate@olyclimate.org.

This event will coincide with the rescheduled State of the Union Address; we leave it to history to determine which event is the more momentous for our shared destiny.

Peninsula Daily News story

Investigate Ryan Zinke

Thanks for taking action on our petition:
Tell House Democrats: Investigate Ryan Zinke.

Here are some ways you can spread the word:

Email your friends or forward the message below.

If you are on Facebook,
click here to post the petition to your Timeline.

If you have a Twitter account, click here to automatically tweet:
Tell @HouseDemocrats: Stand with @RepRaulGrijalva & investigate Ryan Zinke for multiple legal & ethical violations. Sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/investigate_zinke?aktmid=tm84278520.pWC2I5&akid=a336364808.2494652.CIAYaA&t=1&source=conf via @CREDOMobile

Thanks for all you do.

– Josh

Here’s a sample message to send to your friends:

SUBJECT: I just signed this petition – will you?

I just signed an important new petition urging House Democrats to investigate Trump’s corrupt former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for multiple legal and ethical violations.

I think you should sign the petition, too: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/investigate_zinke?referring_akid=a336364808.2494652.CIAYaA&source=conf_email&aktmid=tm84278520.pWC2I5&akid=a336364808.2494652.CIAYaA&t=2

Petition demanding a real climate plan

Sunrise

Pelosi and Democratic Party Leadership: Democrats have the House. Now we demand a real climate plan.

 

Their future is in our hands

Please pay attention…please get involved in this most important decision-time for this nation…please get everyone you know to do the same.
A plea from our kids:
And a plea from our brothers and sisters under the sea:

Gather for orcas in Olympia Nov. 16

An important rally for the orcas is scheduled at the Capitol complex in Olympia on Nov. 16, 2-5 pm.  There will be representations of all 74 living wild Southern Resident Killer Whales, plus Tokitae, aka “Lolita,” held in captivity at Miami Seaquarium.

Nov 16 is when the Orca Task Force final recommendations go to Governor Inslee.  The rally is to support breaching the Lower Snake River Dams a.s.a.p. for the sake of our salmon and orcas!

There is a big need for people to hold one of the 75 orca replicas. Interested people should let the organizers know they want to hold an orca by posting on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/254931905370101/

Event poster:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JIu1idaBW6zNejmqu3igFrYRqz4uNc9I/view?usp=sharing

Here is a site for both drivers and passengers to carpool to the event: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/9yo54z

First American PAC promotes I-1631

First ad features Quinault Tribe executive director

The first commercial produced by the First American Project PAC, a coalition of Washington’s Tribes and allies, stands in support of I-1631. This unedited, long-form commercial features President Fawn Sharp of the Quinault Tribe. Multiple other leaders will be featured in the next two weeks in ads.

Continue reading →

How you can help 1631 NOW

From 350.org:
  1. Sign up for a shift to knock doors or make phone calls near you with other Yes on 1631 volunteers — find the next event here. (If you can sign up for a volunteer shift, this is where the campaign needs you most!)
  2. Sign up here to call voters from the comfort of your home.
  3. Join us in texting voters. Sign up for a texting shift here.
  4. Spread the word by emailing your friends using Voter Circle, a simple tool that lets you send personalized messages to friends who are registered to vote in Washington.

Poll: 1631 has Big Oil on the ropes!

This Elway poll has some good news for making carbon polluters accountable:

https://crosscut.com/2018/10/poll-nations-first-carbon-fee-leading-among-voters

This poll shows that:
 
1) I-1631 is leading among voters, and it’s clear that Washingtonians don’t trust big oil despite their $21 million in fancy advertising.
 
2) This election is going to be close, but we CAN win and defeat big oil and their money.
 
3) Undecided voters will come down to who they trust, and every conversation we have with our neighbors, our friends, and at the doors we knock on is essential to help us win.
 
This is a moment for us all to step up.  We have a lot of work to do in the next 25 days to connect with voters and remind them of the vision we all share for this state. With your help and all of our hard work, we can do this!

We can’t do this without YOU. Here are some of the ways you can help: 

Volunteer door knock – It is powerful democracy in action!  Big Oil is already spending more than $20 million to defeat us, but we have the Power of the People.  Please sign up for a shift here.

Calling voters who might need a nudge to vote – this is a huge priority for the campaign, and we need lots of help. We need to ensure these registered voters turn in their ballots. Here is the link for you to schedule yourself for a phonebanking shift (Human-to-human calls are a very powerful tool!) Here is the link to our dialer toolkit.  If you want to call from downtown Seattle this link has all of Washington Environmental Council’s phone banks for 1631, Sunday-Thursday.

Texting – We are doing texts to help Get Out The Vote. You can sign up for a texting shift here.

Small Business Endorsements -Do you know a small business owner you can ask? Maybe your favorite coffee shop? If you get a yes, be sure to fill out this form and we can get them a sign for their window.

If you want to help in a more substantial way by volunteering full or part time for the campaign, let me know! Or if you can host an organizer from out of town, please sign up here.

Go here to learn more about the YES on 1631 campaign, and its endorsers.

We Can. We Must. We Will!

Save our orcas, climate, and dollars: free the Snake!

At our August 5 general meeting, OCA members by consensus adopted a resolution calling for the immediate removal of the four lower Snake River Dams and their replacement by clean power. Removing the lower 4 Snake River Dams will benefit the Pacific Northwest in several ways:

  • Freeing the Snake River ensures restoration of fish populations and marine ecosystems. Lack of chinook salmon from the Columbia River system is a principal reason for the decline of the Southern Resident Orcas.
  • A flowing river will invite local community and tourist recreation.
  • Land reclamation provides ground for new agricultural development with its jobs.
  • Tax and ratepayers will no longer pay for unnecessary, underperforming dams and the future burden of maintenance costs. These dams have outlived their initial intended purpose and are becoming a cost-prohibitive maintenance issue.
  • Energy output from these dams is not required to support the grid, and subsidies to this inefficient technology suppresses available clean energy capacity.

DamSense.org/ – comprehensive, in-depth website devoted to the issue

Orca facts from the Center for Whale Research

Southern Resident Killer Whale Synopsis – Debra Ellers, North Olympic Orca Pod

The Case for Breaching the 4 Lower Snake River Dams – Orca Network

Comments to Orca Task Force from the President of Advocates for the West in Idaho

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of the L4SRDs – John Twa, Mechanical Engineer

Ratepayers subsidize dirty power from the L4SRDs while better green power is available

Seattle Times: Controversy over orcas vs. dams

Actions to save the Orcas, from 350 Seattle: Call Governor Inslee at 360-902-4111 and ask him to take action immediately. Thank him for working to protect orcas, and tell him you support stronger action, now, without delay:

  • Issue an emergency moratorium on new fossil fuel traffic in the Salish Sea.
  • Define a rigorous and mandatory ‘Oil Spill Clean Up Rate’ to stop Trans Mountain tar sands crude oil from coming through Washington State.
  • Stop fuel exports at March Point and Cherry Point, and the construction of the LNG facility in Tacoma.
  • Stand in support of Whatcom County’s existing moratorium on new fossil fuel infrastructure.
  • Call on BC Premier John Horgan take swift action against fish farms.
  • Restore Chinook spawning grounds by breaching of the lower four Snake River dams.

Online petitions:

Whom to call or contact and ways to provide your opinion: Sample comments and link here: “Public Feedback: Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force” https://bit.ly/2McBcFT

Governor J. Inslee
phone: (360) 902-4111
e-message: https://bit.ly/2F7AWDN

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GovInslee

 

Senator Patty Murray (425) 259-6515
fax: (509) 624-9561
e-message: https://bit.ly/2jsVl8T

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PattyMurray

 

Senator Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441
fax: (202) 228-0514
e-message: https://bit.ly/2lzQshJ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenatorCantwell

 

NOAA, Barry Thom (503) 231-6266

 

Please tell the Army Corps of Engineers to supplement the 2002 EIS promptly and use Alternative 4 to breach the 4 Lower Snake River Dams in 2018.

 

US Army Corps of Engineers (202) 761-0000

Lt. General Todd T. Semonite
Commander and Chief of Engineers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000

Northwest Division, USACE

Brigadier General Helmlinger
PO Box 2870
Portland OR 97208-2870
503-808-3800

Ask about climate at candidate forums

Coming soon is the time to exercise your democratic right to vote. Inform yourself (and others) about the candidates’ views on climate change and what to do about it. As has been noted elsewhere on this site, individual acts of conscience will simply not be sufficient to avert a catastrophic climate crisis in the coming decades; therefore we must muster the political will to take collective action, and this election will be all-important in forming that political will, at every level of government.
Questions to ask local candidates about climate

Let us know if you know about other upcoming forums!

Wednesday, October 3, noon, Rotary Club, Asian Buffet.
Candidates for Clallam County Director of Community Development Mary Ellen Winborn and Julie Gardiner.

Wednesday, October 3, 6 pm. League of Women Voters, Port Angeles City Council Chambers.
Candidates for Clallam County Director of Community Development Mary Ellen Winborn and Julie Gardiner. Candidates for Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols and Selinda Barkhuis. Candidates for Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict and James (Jim) McLaughlin.

Thursday, October 4, 7 pm. League of Women Voters & AAUW, Tri-Area Center, 10 West Valley Rd, Chimacum.
Candidates for District Court Judge Noah Harrison and Mindy Walker (non-partisan position). Candidates for County Prosecutor Michael Haas (D) and James Kennedy (D).

Tuesday, October 9, 1 pm, KONP Radio.
Candidates for Clallam County Director of Community Development Mary Ellen Winborn and Julie Gardiner.

Thursday, October 11, noon, Kiwanis Club, Joshua’s Restaurant.
Candidates for Clallam County Director of Community Development Mary Ellen Winborn and Julie Gardiner.
Thursday, October 11, 7 pm, League of Women Voters & AAUW, Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive.
Candidates for County Sheriff Joe Nole (D) and David Stanko (No Party Preference). Candidates for Public Utility District Commission District 3 Tom Brotherton and Dan Toepper (non-partisan position).
Tuesday, October 16, 6 pm, League of Women Voters, Peninsula College Forks.
Candidates for Clallam County District Court 2 Judge Erik Rohrer and John Black. Candidates for Clallam County Commissioner (District 3) Bill Peach and Howard (Mike) Doherty, Jr. Co-sponsored by Peninsula College Associated Student Council.

Tuesday, October 16, 7 pm, League of Women Voters & AAUW, Tri-Area Center, 10 West Valley Rd, Chimacum.
Candidates for 24th Legislative District Position 1 Mike Chapman (D) and Jodi Wilke (R). Candidates for 24th Legislative District Position 2 Jim McEntire (R) and Steve Tharinger (D).

Wednesday, October 17, 4 pm, League of Women Voters, Peninsula College Little Theater, Port Angeles.
Candidates for PUD Commissioner (District 3) Ted Simpson and Jim Waddell. Candidates for US Representative Derek Kilmer and Douglas Dightman. Co-sponsored by Peninsula College Associated Student Council.

Wednesday, October 17, 7 pm, League of Women Voters & AAUW, Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
Candidates for Board of County Commissioners Greg Brotherton (D) and Jon Cooke (R). Candidates for Congressional District 6 Douglas Dightman (R) and Derek Kilmer (D)—will only occur if Kilmer can attend (empty-chair debates not allowed by League).

Thursday, October 18, 6 pm, League of Women Voters, Port Angeles Public Library.
Candidates for Clallam County District Court Judge Dave Neupert and Suzanne Hayden. Candidates for State Representative Position 1 Mike Chapman and Jodi Wilke and Position 2 Steve Tharinger and Jim McEntire. Co-sponsored by North Olympic Library System.

Friday, October 26, noon, Soroptimist Noon Club, Joshua’s Restaurant.
Candidates for Clallam County Department of Community Development Mary Ellen Winborn and Julie Gardiner.

Salish Sea Day of Action coverage

http://www.ptleader.com/news/community-gathers-to-save-our-salish-sea/article_c1a50c38-bb9f-11e8-a30f-e7d966ce6d05.html

Save our orcas, climate, and dollars – Free the Snake!

At our August 5 general meeting, OCA members by consensus adopted a resolution calling for the immediate removal of the four lower Snake River Dams and their replacement by clean power. Removing the lower 4 Snake River Dams will benefit the Pacific Northwest in several ways:

  • Freeing the Snake River ensures restoration of fish populations and marine ecosystems. Lack of chinook salmon from the Columbia River system is a principal reason for the decline of the Southern Resident Orcas.
  • A flowing river will invite local community and tourist recreation.
  • Land reclamation provides ground for new agricultural development with its jobs.
  • Tax and ratepayers will no longer pay for unnecessary, underperforming dams and the future burden of maintenance costs. These dams have outlived their initial intended purpose and are becoming a cost-prohibitive maintenance issue.
  • Energy output from these dams is not required to support the grid, and subsidies to this inefficient technology suppresses available clean energy capacity.

https://damsense.org/ – comprehensive, in-depth website devoted to the issue

The Case for Breaching the 4 Lower Snake River Dams – Orca Network

Greenhouse Gas Impacts of the L4SRDs – John Twa, Mechanical Engineer

Green Power Is Available Now to Replace the L4SRDs–In Fact, Ratepayers Are Subsidizing an Inferior Technology –

Southern Resident Killer Whale Synopsis – Debra Ellers, North Olympic Orca Pod

Seattle Times: Controversy over orcas vs. dams

David James Duncan on Freeing the Snake River from Mark Titus on Vimeo.

Actions to save the Orcas, from 350 Seattle: Call Governor Inslee at 360-902-4111 and ask him to take action immediately. Thank him for working to protect orcas, and tell him you support stronger action, now, without delay:

  • Issue an emergency moratorium on new fossil fuel traffic in the Salish Sea.
  • Define a rigorous and mandatory ‘Oil Spill Clean Up Rate’ to stop Trans Mountain tar sands crude oil from coming through Washington State.
  • Stop fuel exports at March Point and Cherry Point, and the construction of the LNG facility in Tacoma.
  • Stand in support of Whatcom County’s existing moratorium on new fossil fuel infrastructure.
  • Call on BC Premier John Horgan take swift action against fish farms.
  • Restore Chinook spawning grounds by breaching of the lower four Snake River dams.

Online petitions:

Whom to call or contact and ways to provide your opinion: Sample comments and link here: “Public Feedback: Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force” https://bit.ly/2McBcFT

Governor J. Inslee
phone: (360) 902-4111
e-message: https://bit.ly/2F7AWDN

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GovInslee

Senator Patty Murray (425) 259-6515
fax: (509) 624-9561
e-message: https://bit.ly/2jsVl8T

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PattyMurray

Senator Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441
fax: (202) 228-0514
e-message: https://bit.ly/2lzQshJ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenatorCantwell

NOAA, Barry Thom (503) 231-6266

Please tell the Army Corps of Engineers to supplement the 2002 EIS promptly and use Alternative 4 to breach the 4 Lower Snake River Dams in 2018.

US Army Corps of Engineers (202) 761-0000

Lt. General Todd T. Semonite
Commander and Chief of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000

Northwest Division, USACE
Brigadier General Helmlinger
PO Box 2870
Portland OR 97208-2870
503-808-3800

Save our Salish Sea featuring singer/guitarist Dana Lyons, Sept. 15 in PT

Salish-Sea-Poster (002)

On September 15th, from 2-4 pm at Pope Marine Park in Port Townsend, there will be a free concert featuring singer/songwriter and guitarist, Dana Lyons.  He will be sharing his “Songs of the Salish Sea” focusing on the health and restoration of our important waterway.

Our local community is joining other communities around the bioregion to build broader awareness and advocacy for protection for our Sacred Sea and all living creatures. While the sea itself may separate us physically, we are uniting to face these growing threats together.  #WeAretheWater

The event will feature song, art and education integrated together to raise awareness of how we all can help Save the Salish Sea. Interspersed with Dana Lyons’s songs, leaders in the community will talk about the challenges the Salish Sea faces and how we all can protect it. The family-friendly event will also include inter-generational art creation and information tables. Speakers include Deborah Stinson, Mayor, City of Port Townsend; Laura Tucker, Climate Educator; and others.

The event is being organized by the Sierra Club North Olympic Peninsula Group, Local 20/20, QUUF’s Green Sanctuary Environmental Action Committee, and Olympic Climate Action in partnership with organizations throughout the peninsula.

RSVP here or on the Facebook event. Bring an umbrella, and a chair to guarantee yourself a seat!

And of course, please bike, bus, walk or carpool to the event if possible! The event is fully accessible.

Additionally, for those interested in direct action before the event, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is hosting an International Coastal Cleanup day from 12pm – 4pm on the same day, September 15th. Go to PTMSC.org for more information. 

CONTACT:   Cherri Mann, cherrimann@aol.com, 360-390-4877.

Rise for Orca and Climate Justice – Saturday, Sept. 8 – Port Angeles

Our action is part of a national day of observance sponsored by 350.org. and a prelude to the Global Climate Summit being held in San Francisco September 12-14. Activities include:

* Hollywood Beach Party, meet and greet, potluck/picnic

* Kids’ activities all day long (see press release below for details)

* Storytelling and music

* Orca vigil & Kayaktivists invocation

* Featured speakers at Feiro Marine Life Center:

  • Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, on the plight of the orcas.
  • Eric de Place, Sightline Institute, and Verner Wilson, Friends of
    the Earth, on fossil fuel impacts to Puget Sound & the Thin Green Line.

* Evening program at Elwha Klallam Heritage Center: Multi-media
presentation of The Road To Athabasca, a chronicle of an epic
bicycle journey along the route of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

This event is free, but donations will be collected to fund OCA’s activities and the opposition to the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Please RSVP here so we can add our numbers to the overall count of people who are gathering on this day for Climate Justice internationally.  You can also keep up to date on this event on our Facebook page.

Activity schedule

Speaker bios

Press release with more details

B&W flyer for the day’s events

Poster: Rising for Orca & Climate Justice

Poster: The Road to Athabasca

Rise for Orca and Climate Justice

* Part of a National day of observance sponsored by 350.org.
Prelude to the Global Climate Summit
being held in San Francisco September 12-14

* Beach Party, meet and greet, potluck/picnic

* Kids activities all day long

* Story telling and music

* Orca Vigil

* Kayaktavists Invocation ceremony asking protection for our waters and Orca

* Featured speakers: Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research.
Eric de Place, journalist, researcher
on fossil fuel impacts to Puget Sound, Verner Wilson of Friends of
the Earth, Gavin Wukttken of Point Defiance Zoo.

* Evening program at Elwha Klallam Heritage Center. Multi-media
presentation of The Road To Athabasca. A chronicle of an epic
bicycle journey along the route of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
401 E First St. Port Angeles. Doors 6:30. Show@7pm

This event is free. Please RSVP here so we can add our numbers to the overall count of people who are gathering on this day for Climate Justice internationally.  You can also keep up to date on this event on our facebook page.

#2 Final---12x18-Poster---Rising-for-Orca-&amp;-Climate-Justice---8-16-18-new-proof copy.

Bill McKibben: To slow down climate change, we need to work together

Candidate forums available online

Candidate Forum videos are going up on Peninsula Area Public Access’s YouTube channel as they become available. If you have not had a chance to see the candidates speak in person, check these out! Here is a link where you can check periodically to see when one a new comes online:

Peninsula Area Public Access – YouTube

Primary ballots went into the mail today!

A Plea for Initiative 1631

by volunteer Don Steinke, with the Washington State Sierra Club:

Can We Save Civilization As We Know It? A Plea for Initiative 1631

We’ve waited thirty years for Congress to act on global warming. We’ve waited enough. Some scholars are saying it is too late to save civilization as we know it, but I believe for the sake of our children we are obligated to do everything possible to save what we can. There is probably nothing more important you can do right now than to pass Initiative 1631.

Initiative 1631 will place a fee on large corporate polluters, such as refineries and power plants, and use the funds to invest in clean energy projects such as wind and solar while mitigating the impacts to low income households. We currently send billions of dollars out of Washington State each year for natural gas, coal, and oil produced in other states as well as Canada. Initiative 1631 will keep some of that money here to invest in local clean energy production.

Let’s get this initiative passed for jobs and clean energy!

Ask your candidates about climate

With primary election season coming around, it’s time to exercise your democratic muscles and get involved! One way is to inform yourself (and others) about the candidates’ views on climate change and what to do about it. As has been noted elsewhere on this site, individual acts of conscience will simply not be sufficient to avert a catastrophic climate crisis in the coming decades; therefore we must muster the political will to take collective action, and that is what politics is supposed to be about.

Questions to ask local candidates about climate

League of Women Voters candidate forums: July 16 in Port Angeles; July 18 in Forks

League of Women Voters candidate forum in Port Ludlow: Wednesday, July 18, 6-8 p.m. will bring together candidates for Jefferson County Commissioner, District 3: Greg Brotherton, Jon Cooke, Ryan McAllister and Craig Durgan at the Beach Club at Port Ludlow, 121 Marina View Drive .

Many civic groups, such as Norwester Rotary, the Port Angeles Business Association, and the American Association of University Women, also sponsor candidate forums–check their social media for schedules.

Tribes uniting to support I-1631

http://knkx.org/post/pacific-northwest-tribes-pushing-climate-action-launch-new-political-action-committee

A new coalition of tribal leaders, The First American Project, has come together to promote policies that protect the environment and human rights, and their first order of business is to pass I-1631, which would put a price on carbon in the effort to slow global warming.

Theresa Sheldon, a member of the coalition and former councilwoman with the Tulalip Tribes, says the people of Washington State “can show the country how we can make that difference for Mother Earth – and for all of our children who have yet to come – to ensure that they actually have rivers they can swim in, that they can fish in; air they can breathe in.”

On the board of the First American Project is chairwoman Frances Charles of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

I-1631 seems headed to the ballot

State initiative would put a fee on carbon and devote the proceeds to clean energy and climate protection

Olympic Climate Action has endorsed I-1631, the Protect Washington Act initiative. OCA joins Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Audubon, a coalition of Native American tribes and 200 other statewide organizations in our endorsement.

We cannot continue to treat our atmosphere as a sewer without incurring a deadly cost, one much greater than the cost of an emissions fee.

Links for more information:

Port Angeles commits to a climate plan

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/port-angeles-aims-for-climate-plan-in-2019/

In a 6-0 vote, the Port Angeles City Council at its meeting on 6/19/18 committed to devising a climate action plan in 2019 with help from a citizens’ committee.

Council member Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin noted that Port Angeles has heard from citizens [including OCA members] for many years on this issue, with little response, and has missed out on funding opportunities because of its lack of a climate action plan.

Port Angeles Community and Economic Development Director Nathan West committed City staff to full engagement in this process in 2019, noting a full plate of commitments already in place for 2018.

Schromen-Wawrin suggested that “we do this collaboratively with community stakeholders taking the lead with support from city staff and council.”

Once again, local communities are stepping in where the federal government has failed to act.

Clallam County Commissioners unanimously pass climate resolution

At their June 19th meeting, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2018-62, reinvigorating planning and action on climate, shepherded by Commissioner Mark Ozias.

In this resolution, the Commissioners note local impacts of climate change including “increased likelihood of storm surge and coastal flooding…low snowpack resulting in drought and water shortages…major fires…advance of invasive species, and ocean acidification.”

Clallam County had previously passed a Climate Action Plan in 2009, calling for an 80% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from County government operations by 2050, and a climate-preparedness resolution in 2016, but neither has led to significant action in recent years.  This resolution puts life back into County action on climate by:

  • Focusing on land-use planning via the County Comprehensive Plan
  • Updating the County’s 2009 Climate Action Plan and putting wheels under it
  • Engaging the broader community in a conversation about climate change and what to do about it at the local level.

OCA member Bob Sextro spoke in favor, saying, “The past 30 years have been very kind to us on climate change; the next 30 years probably won’t be. This resolution will help the County continue the dialogue, continue the action, and move forward.”

Thanks to Commissioner Ozias, the other Commissioners, and the OCA members who helped shape this resolution and move it forward. We look forward to working with the Commissioners and the community on these issues.

Clallam County Commissioners to consider climate resolution

At their regular meeting of June 19, 2018, starting at 10 a.m., the Clallam County Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution long in the making, shepherded by Commissioner Mark Ozias, to reinvigorate a Climate Action Plan passed in 2009. The draft of the resolution is here.

Passage of this important resolution is not guaranteed; your input may help sway the Board of Commissioners to support it. You can provide input:

  • In person, at the beginning or end of the meeting (agenda here–please note the instructions for speaking given at the end), limiting your comments to three minutes.
  • In writing, either by presenting it to the Clerk of the Board prior to or at the meeting (where you can also read it aloud), or by sending an email to the Commissioners by the prior business day.

BACKGROUND: Clallam County passed a Climate Action Plan in 2009, and a climate-preparedness resolution was passed in 2016 with OCA support, but neither has led to significant action in recent years.  Commissioner Ozias hopes to put life back into the CAP to quantify the actions the county needs to take and to engage citizens in dialogue about their concerns related to climate impacts and mitigation.

GUIDELINES FOR COMMENTS:

  • Speak from your own experience:  Why are you concerned about climate change? What would you like to see County government do about it?
  • The resolution itself has great talking points and is a good place to start.
  • It’s helpful if you can think of ideas that will motivate individual council members to pass the resolution and implement the CAP. In what various ways will the resolution help their constituents?
  • Commissioner Ozias reported that many County department heads are anxious to investigate ways they can help the county save money and reduce our carbon footprint. Getting climate back on the agenda should help to serve both goals.

Climate change is going to occur no matter what we do, but planning ahead can minimize its severity and maximize our resiliency.  Let’s do our part here to come to grips with this reality.

OCA endorses I-1631; time to gather signatures!

State initiative would put a fee on carbon and devote the proceeds to clean energy and climate protection

At its April 2018 monthly meeting, Olympic Climate Action (OCA) agreed by consensus to endorse I-1631, the Protect Washington Act initiative. OCA joins Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Washington Audubon, a coalition of Native American tribes and 200 other statewide organizations in our endorsement.

We cannot continue to treat our atmosphere as a sewer without incurring a deadly cost, one much greater than the cost of an emissions fee.

We must collect 270,000 signatures statewide by the end of June to get this initiative on the ballot, and residents of the Olympic Peninsula must do our part. To help this signature-gathering campaign, contact:

Links for more information:

Warrior Up! Rally on land & sea vs. Kinder Morgan May 20 in Seattle

The Kinder Morgan pipeline project can and must be stopped! Tar sands are one of the biggest climate threats we face, and Houston-based Kinder Morgan is trying to build a massive new pipeline through British Columbia to export this oil. They’ve encountered much more resistance than they expected so they’ve temporarily stopped investment and will decide whether to proceed on May 31. To send a big message to the company before that decision, there will be a huge indigenous-led rally on May 20th in Vancouver. They’ve asked environmental groups in Washington to help support them, so an event is planned that same day in Seattle with kayaktivists in the water and a big rally in Occidental Park. It’s family-friendly and everyone is welcome. This is a pivotal time to take a stand against this project!

Event registration: https://actionnetwork.org/events/seattle-vs-kinder-morgan?source=fbevent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1604045999711999/?notif_t=plan_user_associated¬if_id=1525283237248850

Poster: JPG – PDF

Support these climate-related bills now!

Consider sending a message SOON to our state legislators about these pending bills.

Sen. Kevin Van de Wege: kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Steve Tharinger: steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Mike Chapman: mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov

Dear 24th District state legislators:

At today’s monthly general meeting, the members of Olympic Climate Action took a consensus position to support these bills, which will help to pave the way to a safer, more just, and more prosperous future:

HB 1144: Strengthening the carbon-reduction targets to match the Paris accord

HB 2995:Updating the Renewable Portfolio Standard

SB 6081: Solar Fairness Act, encouraging distributed generation

2SSB 6269: Oil Spill Prevention Act

We urge you to help secure the passage of these bills.

 

Stop Kinder Morgan: Kickoff March 10

Indigenous-led resistance to the Kinder Morgan tar-sands pipeline will begin March 10 in Vancouver.

From: Victoria Leistman-Sierra Club [mailto:victoria.leistman@sierraclub.org]

(NOTE: Victoria helped organize our local Pull Together events last August in Chimacum and Port Angeles, to raise funds for the fight vs Kinder Morgan.)

ON MARCH 10th, KWEKWECNEWTXW BEGINS
An Indigenous-led Mass Mobilization to Stop Kinder Morgan

As you know, oil giant Kinder Morgan has been pushing a tar sands pipeline that would threaten the land and waterways of dozens of communities and First Nations. The proposed project would make the Kinder Morgan pipeline bigger than Keystone XL, and increase tanker traffic through the Salish Sea by 700 percent.

As Kinder Morgan’s expected construction date inches closer and closer, it’s time to continue to stand with the Indigenous communities that have been protecting this land since time immemorial – and put a stop to this project for once and for all. We have been invited by Coast Salish members, spiritual leaders, and youth to join with them on the land and to use our presence to stop Kinder Morgan for good!

Join them on March 10

Spiritual leaders and members are launching a point of frontline resistance in the escalating struggle to stop Kinder Morgan. Called Kwekwecnewtxw, which means “a place to watch from”, it will be grounded in Coast Salish spirituality and culture.

On Saturday March 10th, they’ll kick things off with a mass mobilization supporting Kwekwecnewtxw in the Metro Vancouver area. They are calling on us to join this action and send a clear message to Prime Minister Trudeau that he does not have consent to build Kinder Morgan.

Will you join on March 10th in a historic stand to protect the inlet and say no Kinder Morgan?

The details are still being finalized so make sure you sign up so we can get you all the information you will need for the day!

Last year, we partnered with First Nations who need help with the legal actions they’ve filed in federal court to stop Kinder Morgan on the Pull Together effort. Together with organizations in British Columbia and Washington state, YOU helped us to organize events, and bring communities together to raise these funds. We were successful in raising that money, and now Washingtonians have another opportunity to show up on the 10th!

Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tanker project poses unacceptable risks to our oceans and waterways, our climate, economies, and communities. If the project is allowed to move forward, it would threaten tribal rights, resident orcas, and salmon population.  It must never be built.

Join together with Coast Salish Water Protectors, allies and people from all walks of life as we challenge Kinder Morgan on the land together, in a powerful and creative non-violent action on March 10th.

See you in BC!

Victoria Leistman, Sierra Club
Organizing Representative – Dirty Fuels campaign

Bring: Make sure to bring your passport for when crossing the border. Dress for the weather and possible changes. Bring plenty of water, some snacks for the day, a hot drink in a thermos and anything else you think you might need to be prepared to be outside for a full day.

Carpool: Coordinate getting up there with other folks in your area via this carpool link:https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/h4j0ai

Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.

More info

Tell BOEM we reject offshore drilling

From Sierra Club:

Our coasts are too precious to drill!

RSVP now to join Sierra Club on March 5 to tell BOEM we reject offshore drilling!

We’ve never seen anything like this. Last month, Trump unveiled a plan to hand 90% of America’s coasts over to Big Oil – that means offshore drilling from Maine to Louisiana, and from Alaska down through California.

Drilling off the coast of Washington is a ludicrous idea, putting our coastal communities’ way of life at risk. Community health and safety and precious wildlife like orca and salmon have no price tag. We cannot afford to roll the dice for the interests of Big Oil.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is holding public meetings in coastal states this month. This is our chance to show them how deeply unpopular and destructive this plan is.

RSVP to join us in Olympia on March 5!

What: BOEM Offshore drilling public meeting

When: Monday, March 5 from 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
1:30-2:00 Keynote Speakers
2:00-7:30 People’s Hearing
3:00-7:00 BOEM Open House 5:00-6:00 Dinner provided

Where:  Red Lion Olympia, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502 (map)

Since the BOEM hearing won’t include oral public comments, we’re also having a People’s Hearing where testimony can be given, taken down by a stenographer, and submitted as official comments.

If you’re traveling to the meeting, we’ve reserved a discounted block of rooms at the Red Lion. Follow this link to reserve yours by March 1st.

Questions? Contact Victoria Leistman at victoria.leistman@sierraclub.org

RSVP and we’ll follow up with talking points and information about what to expect during the public meeting.

Even without a major disaster, offshore drilling is dirty and destructive. The combination of seismic blasts, increased traffic, and smaller spills would do irreparable damage to marine life and coastal communities.

This plan would also force offshore drilling on states that don’t want it. In fact, a bipartisan group of governors and coastal communities have explicitly asked Trump to leave their states out of his drilling plan – and he’s ignoring their wishes. Even the Department of Defense has warned that seismic testing and drilling could pose a threat to naval operations in the Atlantic.

The only people who want this plan are the oil executives who bankrolled Trump’s campaign and staffed his administration. We’ve beaten them before, and in 2018, we need to do it again.

Thanks for all you do to protect our coasts,

Victoria Leistman, Sierra Club
Organizing Representative
Dirty Fuels campaign

P.S. If you haven’t already submitted your comment to BOEM, please take a moment to share your thoughts and concerns about offshore drilling.

P.P.S Please share this with friends and family. The Trump administration needs to hear from as many people as possible.

Share this alert on Facebook

Share this alert on Twitter

Climate/Energy bills in the State Leg

OCA’s Executive Committee just sent these messages to our 24th District state legislators; we suggest you contact them as well, on this and other issues still pending in the Legislature:

Rep. Mike Chapman: mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7916

Rep. Steve Tharinger: steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7904

Sen. Kevin Van de Wege: kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7646

  • 3SHB 1144: OCA commends the State House for passing this bill which would revise the current state-mandated reduction limits to reflect current science concerning the level and rate of reduction that will be necessary to avoid catastrophic climate disruption.
  • SB 6203: OCA would support this carbon-tax bill if the tax were put back at $20/ton and exemptions were removed from the Transalta coal plant and other non-“Energy Intensive Trade-Exposed” (EITE) industries. We neither support nor oppose the current, watered-down version of this bill.
  • HB 2839:  OCA supported the original bill, which gives the Utilities and Transportation Commission authority to assess economic impacts associated with incremental increases in carbon dioxide emissions within a calendar year.
    • However, we do NOT support the added provision requiring that qualified biomass energy be considered a non-emitting resource. First, there is no question that burning material containing carbon will emit greenhouse gases, and even if in the long run the process were carbon neutral (which it is not), we face a climate crisis that is very much going to take place in the short run, and we need to reduce emissions as much as we can, as quickly as we can. Some argue that biofuel is carbon friendly because it displaces the burning of coal in power plants; this comparison is unfair because it compares to the most carbon-intensive energy source there is, rather than cleaner-energy sources. But even so, it is flawed to call biomass burning emissions-neutral. See the following links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/business/economy/next-renewable-energy-burning-forests-if-senators-get-their-way.html

Letter to the Senate on carbon neutrality of forest biomass | Woods Hole Research Center

EIA-biomass-effects-on-CPP-PFPI-Oct-2016.pdf

http://magazine.manomet.org/winter2012/biomass.htm

Clallam County considers climate action

At their work session on 2/12/18, the Board of Clallam County Commissioners discussed a resolution proposed by Commissioner Mark Ozias for Clallam County to take further steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Clallam County residents are urged to communicate with their Commissioners about this resolution. Public comment of a general nature is taken at the end of Tuesday weekly Commissioner meetings, which usually end in the late morning; or you can write to them at commissioners@co.clallam.wa.us.

Michael Clemens, who facilitates OCA’s Climate Action Planning committee, made this comment in support of the resolution at the regular Commissioners meeting on 2/13/18. If you’d like to join Michael’s committee, contact us.

Background: OCA presented these recommendations to the Clallam Commissioners on 5/1/17:

Clallam County should renew its commitment to climate action in several ways:

  1. Take steps to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, as the Board of Commissioners committed to in Resolution 27 of 2016.
  2. Take steps to minimize emissions of greenhouse gases, as described in the Board of Commissioners’ adopted Climate Action Plan of 2009, and broaden the approach to address the carbon footprint of the county as a whole, not simply County government.
  3. Include means for priority-setting, evaluation and adaptive management.
  4. Encourage cooperation among multiple players in the county, including cities, Port, PUD, College, tribes, as well as Jefferson County, perhaps using the North Olympic Development Council as a vehicle.
  5. Move forward via a combined effort of County government, other entities, and committed citizens.
  6. Look for innovative and integrated approaches to addressing climate change, by addressing community resiliency, public safety, energy, transportation, future infrastructure needs, economic development and other challenges together.

Legislators: enact a strong carbon tax

At our general membership meeting of 2/4/18, we agreed to send this letter to our state legislators urging action on a strong carbon tax. The time is now, and there is no time for half-measures or excuses. We urge individuals to write their own letters on this issue–your representatives need to hear from you!

Letter to 24th Dist. Leg. re carbon pricing 2018-02-04

Our legislators are facing many important issues, but frankly, none of these other issues will matter if we don’t get a handle on climate change. We need to change our current trajectory, strongly and swiftly, and with our federal government having abdicated responsibility for the future of human civilization, it’s up to the rest of us–states, Tribes, localities, businesses and individuals–to take matters into our own hands.
Please consider sending a letter of your own; your representatives need to hear from you!

Salish Sea lobby day Feb. 12

Salish Sea Protection – Lobby Day 2018

A day of action to protect The Salish Sea! Join Protectors of the Salish Sea and Students for the Salish Sea in a day of constituent conversations with decision makers about key issues threatening our Salish Sea and what it will take to let this beautiful region return to health. This session we are advocating:

  • Orca Whale protection policies
  • Against the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline
  • An immediate halt to work at the LNG facility being illegally constructed on Puyallup tidal flats until a proper EIS has been conducted
  • An immediate lease phase-out on all invasive Atlantic Salmon net-pens
  • Freeing the Snake River from the four lower dams
  • Respect forTreaties signed with Coast Salish Tribal Nations!

What: Salish Sea Protection – Lobby Day 2018
Date: Monday, February 12th, 2018
Register: salishsea.brownpapertickets.com/
Location: TBD
Carpool info: www.groupcarpool.com/t/5ups9x
Questions: chiara[at]studentsforthesalishsea.org

Let’s create a healthier Salish Sea together!

* S C H E D U L E *

8:30-10: Indigenous prayer with Protectors for the Salish Sea and briefing on Indigenous solidarity issues; followed by a briefing on up-to-date policy priorities list.

— During this portion each participant will receive a name tag, an itinerary for constituent meetings and folder with specific policy information —-

12:00 Students for the Salish Sea Kinder Morgan petition delivery to Jay Inslee!

10-4:15, meetings with Senators and Representatives!

If you register here we’ll schedule meetings with your representatives:
https://salishsea.brownpapertickets.com/

**Please let us know if this cost poses a barrier to you and we will do our best to accommodate.**

We’d like to arrange childcare for anyone coming with kids. Message us if this is your circumstance ♥

We will endure: the Climate Resistance

Now that the Climate Resistance event has happened, you can watch highlights here:

…or the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1EMCxtpyok&feature=youtu.be

With our federal government seemingly bent on cooking the planet for the sake of corporate profits, we have no choice but to take up the mantle ourselves:  as individuals, organizations, businesses, and local and state governments. It’s on us!

On January 31, we worked with 350.org to kick off a major campaign for 2018… 

Fossil Free US: How We Win from 350.org on Vimeo.

Fossil Free Fast: The Climate Resistance launched its Fossil Free U.S campaign, calling for an immediate halt to all fossil fuel projects with a fast and just transition to 100% renewable energy for all. OCA and other local groups hosted local kickoff watch parties in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend, watching Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben, and other forward-thinking activists speak about a vision for a healthy planet with justice for all, inspiring strong unified resistance against the current federal Administration’s endless attacks on the environment.

To connect with other local activists equally passionate about the work ahead to end oil addiction and transition the world to 100% renewable energy, contact us, and we’ll work together to help solve the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced.

For more information on the campaign, see https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/01/05/350org-launches-fossil-free-us-campaign-large-scale-event-day-after-state-union

Rally vs offshore drilling Feb 5 in Tacoma

Day of Action & Rally – No New Offshore Drilling – Tacoma – February 5 – 5:30 p.m.
Let your voice be heard . . . Say No, No, No!

The current administration wants to open 90% of U.S. coastal waters to offshore drilling between 2019 and 2024. It’s important to have a large turnout attending BOEM’s (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) revised program presentation and other events happening during the day. Make your voice heard and say no to this proposal that would be devastating to U.S. coasts.

Here’s all the details from our friends at Stand Up To Oil:

There is still time to RSVP to attend the Public Meeting about Offshore Drilling & People’s Hearing this coming Monday. We look forward to seeing you there!

Carpool Sign Up https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/y2mpin

Here’s our schedule for the day:

WHAT: Public Meeting about Offshore Drilling and People’s Hearing
WHERE: Tacoma’s Landmark Catering and Convention Center (47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402)
WHEN: February 5, 1:00 – 8:00 pm
1:00-2:00 Press Conference (Corinthian Room)
2:00-8:00 People’s Hearing (Corinthian Room)  – see detailed schedule below
3:00-7:00 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Open House
5:30-6:30 Rally and Dinner (outside Landmark Catering and Convention Center)
WEAR BLUE for clean water!

Please share the Facebook event.

People’s Hearing Program:

1:00-2:00 pm Press conference
2:00-3:00 pm People’s Hearing
3:00-3:10pm(approximate) Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaking
3:10-5:30pm People’s Hearing
5:30-6:30 pm Rally and Dinner (pizza)
6:30-8:00 pm People’s Hearing continued
Visit the Public Meeting hosted by BOEM, 3:00-7:00 pm                     

 Activities at the People’s Hearing to include:

  • Volunteer to sit on the People’s Panel to hear testimony
  • Make your Delegation sash or a sign for the rally
  • Take a photo in the photo booth and share on social media
  • Meet organizations

 HOW TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK

We’ll have signs directing you where to sign up – you’ll have the option to sign up throughout the day. Speakers will have 3 minutes to give testimony (subject to change based on the time and number of speakers). We will do our best to accommodate varied travel schedules. A stenographer will record your testimony to submit it to the BOEM as a written comment.

 Here’s a list of sample talking points and facts about the risks of offshore drilling – we’ll have copies at the hearing too. Find sample social media posts at the end of the document.

Bring additional snacks and water – we’ll serve pizza, but it’s a long day!

Questions? Contact Stina Janssen at stina@wecprotects.org or at 360-301-3340.

​Support by: Surfriders, Sierra Club, Stand Up to Oil, 350 Tacoma, Fuse WA, Washington Environmental Council, 350 Seattle, Backbone Campaign and more.

​Still can’t go to Tacoma? You can watch the live feed from home. (You don’t need a Facebook account for viewing ​at 1pm Monday)  https://www.facebook.com/StandUpToOil/videos/2027611667498271/

 

Formal public comment: You are encouraged to submit written comments to inform the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of specific issues, impacting factors, environmental resources, alternatives to the proposed action, and mitigation measures to consider in its analyses. BOEM prefers online comments. Submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=BOEM-2017-0074

Contributing Organizers: Sierra Club, 350 Tacoma, 350 Seattle, Washington Environmental Council, and Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association.

Climate Resistance kickstarts across the Olympic Peninsula Jan. 31

With our federal government seemingly bent on cooking the planet for the sake of corporate profits, we have no choice but to take up the mantle ourselves:  as individuals, organizations, businesses, and local and state governments. It’s on us!

Join us January 31 as we work with 350.org to kick off a major campaign for 2018… 

On January 31, Fossil Free Fast: The Climate Resistance launches its Fossil Free U.S campaign, calling for an immediate halt to all fossil fuel projects with a fast and just transition to 100% renewable energy for all. OCA and other local groups will be hosting local kickoff watch parties.

Join your neighbors and friends to watch Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben, and other forward-thinking activists speak about a vision for a healthy planet with justice for all. You will see a new path moving into the 2018 and 2020 elections with an emphasis on local action that will inspire strong unified resistance against the current federal Administration’s endless attacks on the environment.

Connect with other activists equally passionate about the work ahead to end oil addiction and transition the world to 100% renewable energy. Starting right here on the north Olympic Peninsula, we can work together to solve one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced.

For more information see https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2018/01/05/350org-launches-fossil-free-us-campaign-large-scale-event-day-after-state-union

Please RSVP to a watch party near you.

Port Angeles

Sequim

Port Townsend

If you can’t attend a watch party, you can livestream the national event from home by going to this link: https://gofossilfree.org/usa/. A recording will also be available afterward at the same link.

Climate Resistance kickoff Jan. 31

Fossil Free Fast: The Climate Resistance

On January 31, Fossil Free Fast: The Climate Resistance, launches Fossil Free U.S, a campaign led by 350.org, calling for an immediate halt to all fossil fuel projects and a fast and just transition to 100% renewable energy for all. We’ll be hosting local kickoff watch parties on the Olympic Peninsula.

See Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben, and a wide array of climate activists speak out on a vision for a healthy planet with justice for all. You will see a new path and be inspired to resist the current federal government’s endless attacks on the climate, with an eye toward the 2018 and 2020 elections and an emphasis on local action.

Connect with other activists equally passionate about this work in exploring how to end our oil addiction and transition our world to 100% renewable energy, starting right here on the Olympic Peninsula. Together we can work to solve one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced.

Please go to one of the events below for details and to RSVP:

Port Angeles

Sequim

 

Climate Countdown in Olympia Jan. 8

Let’s send a strong message to our state legislators that it’s time for real climate action, now!

Join with statewide 350.org groups mobilizing in Olympia for Climate Countdown: Day 1 on the first day of the 2018 Legislative Session, to let our representatives know we expect them to pass bold and meaningful climate legislation that has a chance of saving our future before it’s too late. (Of course, we can also thank them for past efforts to make Washington and the world a better place!)

OCA is arranging carpools and a van from Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend. Please go to the carpool link below to sign up. Let’s show that we’re serious!

Car/vanpool signup:  https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/y5drtc.

For more information, see the following:

Web Site: http://350seattle.org/climatecountdown/

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1969448093273005/

Click on “See More” at bottom of “Details” section for additional information. Also, check out the “Discussion” tab for comments.

Twitter: #ClimateCountdown

Continue reading →

Block the Gates – “No LNG in 253″

OCA members participate in the Lock-Down demonstration at the Port of Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas terminal construction site on December 18, 2017.

By OCA member Michael Clemens

On Sunday the 17th and Monday the 18th, the Puyallup Tribe sponsored a protest of the unpermitted LNG terminal in the Port of Tacoma. 350.org and many other groups were present to support the demonstration. Three activists from the North Olympic Peninsula car-pooled to Tacoma in support: Ed Chadd, Debra Ellers and myself, all three of us clad in orca suits and representing the North Olympic Orca Pod that Debra organizes. (They are still recruiting more pod members—see the NOOP Facebook page for more information.)

Arriving at the Tribal Youth Center Sunday evening, we were welcomed and fed, then briefed on the next day’s action. Accommodation was made for sleeping and we all got as much rest as you can before a big action! Monday morning we arrived at the LNG terminal before dawn to find every gate into the fenced construction site blocked, and the street leading to the main entrance made impassable by the demonstrators. Because it was a work day, some folks had to leave early. However, other arrivals filled the ranks and there was a continuous presence of at least 200 demonstrators. All sides in this action–demonstrators, police and workers–were civil with each other. As one tribal member put it, “We kicked butt today!”

On a personal level, I found a new appreciation for the spirit, commitment and bravery of our indigenous brothers and sisters in arms. Their straight talk about sustainability and care for the Earth is heartening. I am especially impressed with the spirit that comes through their songs, and I would recommend participation in future events to anyone who wants to do some good for the planet and for their own souls as well.

We blocked the gates!

On the morning of Monday, December 18, Water Protectors and community members gathered outside the Tacoma LNG facility to show opposition to Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) disregard for treaty rights and the health and safety of our communities and planet.

A contingent from North Olympic Peninsula representing OCA and the North Olympic Orca Pod were out there at the gates. Here are a few views from that day; peace prevailed, the workers went home, and the Puyallup Tribe’s treaty rights were asserted, backed by 200 supporters out in the street.

Our gratitude to these stouthearted protectors of the water.

For more info on this resistance:
https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/1106711546137018/

CALL TO ACTION: Block the Gates, Tacoma LNG

On the morning of Monday, December 18, water protectors and community members will gather outside the Tacoma LNG facility to show opposition to Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) disregard for treaty rights and the health and safety of our communities and planet:  https://www.facebook.com/events/766578836862331/

Let’s send a delegation from the Olympic Peninsula! RSVP HERE so we can organize carpooling. We are being asked to arrive in Tacoma the night before by 7 p.m., at the Puyallup Tribal Youth Center, 5803 N Levee Rd E, Tacoma, WA 98424. They’ll provide housing for us out-of-towners–bring your sleeping pad and bag.

Here’s a short video describing the opposition to this facility: https://www.facebook.com/NativeDailyNetwork/videos/696282730564422/

Clallam shoreline plan needs to consider climate change more seriously

At today’s hearing on Clallam County’s Draft Shoreline Master Program (September 2017, Ed Chadd submitted the following comments on behalf of OCA, urging greater consideration of climate change in shoreline planning in order to protect both the public and County government (news article here):

I am here representing Olympic Climate Action, a group of local citizens dedicated to researching, educating, and acting on the issue of climate change, with a distinctly local focus. We have a mailing list of more than 700, and our monthly meetings consistently draw 15-20 Clallam County residents concerned about climate change education, adaptation, and mitigation.  These comments on the County’s draft Shoreline Master Program reflect the consensus of our group, developed at these monthly meetings over the course of more than two years.

We believe one goal of the SMP should be to inform Clallam County residents of potential climate change impacts.  In a prior draft, Goal #13 was “To protect people and property from adverse impacts related to climate change and to promote resiliency in responding to climate change impacts.” We note with concern that this goal has been removed from the current draft, and we would like a clearly-stated reason as to why. Continue reading →

Banks: respect the planet & human rights; until then, we’re divesting

By consensus at our Oct. 1 meeting, OCA signed onto the Equator Banks, Act! petition, asking the major banks of the world to live up to their commitment to support people and the planet–it’s time to match their words with actions. The petition is below; you can sign on yourself at equatorbanksact.org.

We also signed on to the bank boycott organized by Mazaska Talks; you can sign on as an individual at https://mazaskatalks.org/move-your-money/

#DefundPipelines • #EquatorBanksAct • #FossilFreeSalishSea​

MAZASKA TALKS PLEDGE: “We pledge to not do business with the 64 banks funding new tar sands projects. Those of us who are current customers of the banks specified by Mazaska Talks pledge to break ties within 12 months, and to inform the bank of our reasons for doing so.”

Equator Banks, Act! Petition
Stop financing Climate Disasters
Respect Indigenous peoples’ rights and territories

This October 23-25, 91 banks will meet in São Paulo, Brazil to discuss their social and environmental commitments under the Equator Principles.

While these Principles are to ensure that adopting banks do not finance projects with a large negative impact on people and planet, Equator Banks continue to support projects that pose a massive threat to the world’s climate, such as coal, oil and gas extraction, transportation and power generation projects. Equator Banks also continue to finance fossil fuel and other projects that trample on the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples.

We are appalled that the Equator Principles as formulated today allow Equator Banks to finance projects that are a disaster for the world’s’ climate and for Indigenous peoples. For the Principles to be a meaningful sustainability commitment they need to be fully overhauled.

We therefore call on the Equator Principles Association…

 

Continue reading →

Mazaska Talks Day of Action Oct. 23

Wells Fargo, Paul 1.jpg

OCA joins Mazaska Talks Global Day of Action, October 23, 2017

Take action and participate with Olympic Climate Action in the global day of actions against major banks funding dirty oil-pipeline money.  This campaign is led by Mazaska Talks (“Money Talks” in Lakota), a coalition of grassroots Indigenous groups including the 121 First Nations and Tribes of the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion.  The campaign calls for individuals and institutions to close their accounts with banks that finance these pipelines, which trample on indigenous rights and threaten our climate, including the Kinder Morgan pipeline project, which would send hundreds of tar sands tankers through our local waters every year.

We will gather in peaceful protest at Chase and Wells Fargo branches*:

  • Port Townsend 9 – 11 am. Meet at traffic triangle at Kearney and Sims Way.
  • Port Angeles 12 – 2 pm. Meet at Civic Field parking lot, Race St and 2nd St.
  • Sequim 3 – 5 pm. Meet at Centennial Place, E Washington St and Sequim Ave.

(*U.S. Bank has partially stepped back from certain kinds of funding for pipeline projects, but they are still heavily involved in such projects and should be avoided as well.)

RSVP and get details here:

https://actionnetwork.org/events/defund-pipelines-nop

Flyer for this event–feel free to print and post or distribute

Chart: Does Your Money Fund Pipelines?

Broadside: Don’t Let Your Money Fund a Tar Sands Spill in the Salish Sea!

If you can’t join us, consider closing your accounts in these banks and asking that institutions with which you are involved (churches, nonprofits, taxing districts) divest as well. Also sign up for the Mazaska Talks Boycott of these banks and call for these banks to adopt principles of investment that help rather than tear apart our human and ecological community.

#DeFundPipelines

#EquatorBanksAct

#FossilFreeSalishSea

Why Divestment talk inset

RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/why-divestment

 

Olympic Climate Action,
North Olympic Peninsula citizens addressing the climate change threat

Territories of the kʷoʔlí·yot’ (Quileute), qʷidiččaʔa·tx̌ (Makah), nəxʷsƛ̕áy̕əm̕  (Klallam), & t͡ʃə́mqəm (Chimacum) peoples

#DeFundPipelines – join us on Oct 23

We are participating in the Mazaska Talks Global Day of Action on Oct 23 with actions opposing banks funding pipelines with branches in Port Townsend, Port Angeles, and Sequim.

Join our planning group!

Sign up for the event here

 

 

Cut off the money pipeline

Defund DAPL

Photo: John Duffy

Money talks.  One powerful method for protecting our water (health, climate) is for individuals and organizations to move their money out of banks that fund pipelines.

Join the Divestment Movement.  Its power comes from the collective will of the many.

If you are looking for information on how to do this,

Connect to the Defund DAPL or Mazaska Talks websites.

There you will find lists of offending banks and suggestions about alternative places to manage your money and accomplish good at the same time.

Stay tuned and mark your calendars: Oct 23 Global Day of Action vs offending banks …actions expected in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend. Join our planning group!

Pull Together: Keep Tar Sands Oil out of Our Water, Aug. 22-23

Local Groups Fight Pipeline with “Pull Together” Events August 22 in Chimacum ♦ August 23 in Port Angeles  ♦ August 24 in Port Townsend

DONATE TO PULL TOGETHER HERE

DONATE TO STAND WITH KWANTLEN HERE

Olympic Climate Action (OCA) joins with the Sierra Club, the Native Connections group of the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Port Townsend, Pull Together, and Stand with Kwantlen to present three nights of entertainment, food and speakers to educate the community about the hazards of the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion in British Columbia.

The pipeline, which would deliver tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to port in British Columbia, could increase oil tanker traffic in the region by 700% and would triple the amount of oil currently transorted. At 890,000 barrels a day, it would be bigger than both Keystone XL and the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Tar sands oil sinks rather than floats when spilled and would be virtually impossible to clean up. The spill threat and noise alone could devastate marine life, and the carbon released from burning this oil would compound the already dire consequences of climate change, which have brought this peninsula drought, burning rain forests and receding glaciers.

To fight this pipeline, a cross-border coalition of environmental, indigenous, and social-justice groups has formed under the name Pull Together. This name evokes the traditional canoes that generations of first peoples have used to transit the Salish Sea — the region that encompasses the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Georgia in Canada. Recognizing that the Salish Sea is a single ecosystem, groups on both sides of the border are recognizing their common interests in protecting this special place. Pull Together is raising funds for a lawsuit against Kinder Morgan based on indigenous rights to clean water, air, and land.

To help this effort, a coalition of local groups are hosting free entertainment / education / fundraising / activism events:

  • August 22, 6-9 pm, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 124 Center Rd., Chimacum. A veggie/fruit tray will be provided: food and drinks will be available for purchase.
  • August 23, 6-9 pm, Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, 401 E First St in Port Angeles.  The event will feature Indian tacos, entertainment, and door prizes including:
    • A wine basket from Harbinger Winery.
    • A Storm-Tech winter jacket with the Pull Together logo.
    • A framed 16 x 20 photo of the Salish Sea, printed on canvas, by art photographer Lindsey Aspelund.
  • August 24, 6-9 pm, Quimper Grange in Port Townsend. Donations will go to Stand with Kwantlen, a native rights group working to build a healing lodge in the path of the pipeline.

Keynote speaker at the August 22-23 events will be Eric de Place, Policy Director with the Sightline Institute, the leading expert on fossil-fuel export proposals and the threats they pose to our region and the planet.

The program for the August 23 Port Angeles event also features:

NOOP at Tacoma LNG 17362068_10154151870030448_1586903347031512565_n     michael_valve

    • A special performance by the North Olympic Orca Pod.
    • Vanessa Castle, Water Protector, activist and member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, will address threats to indigenous rights and sovereignty.
    • Michael Foster, member of the “Valve Turners” who shut down all major tar sands pipelines on October 11, 2016, will discuss the movements individuals can join to protect the local community and counter the interventions of Big Oil, Gas, and Coal.
    • Victoria Leistman, Sierra Club regional organizer who is working to stop proposed oil terminals across the region, will show the Pull Together video:

Pull Together Campaign from Made You Look Media on Vimeo.

Peninsula Daily News story

Poster for the Chimacum event

Poster for the Port Angeles event

Poster for the Port Townsend event

OCA Statement on draft Shoreline Master Program

On 7/5/17 OCA sent the following statement to the Clallam County Planning Commission concerning the Shoreline Master Program, updating our earlier comments on the previous draft of the SMP:

My name is Robert Vreeland.  I am a member of the executive committee with the Olympic Climate Action group which has more than 600 members in Clallam County.  We believe that one of the goals of the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) should be to inform Clallam County residents of potential climate change impacts.  This goal, pg. 1-18, was in an earlier draft but has been removed from the current draft.  The earlier draft Goal #13 stated “To protect people and property from adverse impacts related to climate change and to promote resiliency in responding to climate change impacts.”

At its recent meeting Olympic Climate Action agreed that in order to manage risk and liability, the County’s SMP should fully acknowledge the imminent potential for sea level rise.  Acknowledgement of climate change impact projections is particularly important to residents owning properties along low lying shorelines, Shoreline Residential – Intensive and Marine Waterfront Designations.  Some of these properties (e.g. 3 Crabs and Diamond Point) may be exposed to sea level rise and storm surge inundation by as early as 2030, based on projections in the Climate Change Preparedness Plan for the North Olympic Peninsula, Sept. 2015 (see http://www.noprcd.org/about2).  Given the existing technical studies and maps showing severe threats to dozens if not hundreds of low-elevation shoreline properties, often within 10-15 years, OCA believes County citizens could be financially liable for property losses to homeowners as well as home buyers if these risks aren’t clearly indicated in the most relevant County-wide planning document used to guide development and land use decisions.

The 2017 Draft SMP presently contains policies and a regulation regarding climate change and/or sea level rise and storm surge for: Restoration (pg. 3-32), Transportation (pg. 3-36), Buffers (pg. 6-1) and Regulations – General, 14 Shoreline stabilization (pg. 4-23).  We believe it is imperative that similar policies or regulations be incorporated for residential shoreline properties < 200 feet deep measured from the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) landward, given these properties have the smallest buffers for Minor New Development, 50 feet.  It may be appropriate to have similar policies/regulations for Shoreline Residential – Intensive and Marine Waterfront, Minor New Development on lots > 200 feet deep (75-foot buffers), as well as Major New Development and Shoreline Residential – Conservancy Minor New Development < 200 feet deep (100-foot buffer), if these properties are low-lying and could be potentially subject to sea level rise and storm surge in the near future.

Furthermore, “hard” shoreline armoring such as rip rap and sea walls, even if mitigated, will impact the neighboring properties, coastal sedimentation system, and nearshore ecology, and these risks need to be acknowledged in the SMP.  At the Clallam County Planning Commission meeting of 6/21/17, the consultant for Clallam County on the SMP mentioned that there are approximately 83 parcels in the 3 Crabs and Diamond Point areas that could be permitted to install hard armoring to protect their properties.

 

Walk to Protect & Restore Our Salish Sea

https://www.facebook.com/events/170422866830544/

One OCA walker’s diary

“I believe in the sun and the stars, the water, the tides, the floods, the owls, the hawks flying, the river running, the wind talking. They’re measurements. They tell us how healthy things are. How healthy we are. Because we and they are the same”

-Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Tribal Leader

The people of our Salish Sea are rising like the tide to protect what we love and cherish as sacred, to stand together like the trees and lift each other up and the “each other” includes our grandchildren’s grandchildren, the orca and salmon people, the tree and bird people and all the other animal people of our Salish Sea. To stand in solidarity with Salish Sea tribes to ensure their treaty rights are honored and respected and for other nations to have their unceded territories and natural laws honored and respected.

Continue reading →

While Feds fail, locals step up

President Trump’s withdrawal from our country’s commitment to the Paris climate accord has engendered both dismay and determination around the globe, and here on the Olympic Peninsula, Olympic Climate Action has joined that chorus.  Around the country, groups are now calling for their state and local governments to fill in the void of federal leadership by committing to meet the goals of the Paris accord.  Members of Olympic Climate Action have worked for more than four years to educate North Olympic Peninsula communities regarding climate change, and we have seen our Peninsula governments respond with serious efforts undertaken at the tribal, county, and city levels to incorporate sustainability into their operations and come to grips with the challenge of climate change.  While there is more work to be done, we want to take the opportunity at this critical point in history to applaud these local efforts and commit ourselves to facilitate them in any way we can, to, in the words of the Preamble to the United States Constitution, “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

We invite concerned individuals to join OCA’s Local Climate Action Planning Committee to help move these efforts forward.  Contact us at https://olyclimate.org/contact-us/.

Here are some links highlighting Peninsula governments’ actions to protect us from climate change:

Climate adaptation grant for North Olympic Peninsula

Sequim adopts sustainability resolution

Port Angeles adopts climate planning policy

Clallam commissioners adopt climate change work plan

Ozias commits to climate action

Climate activists & Peninsula officials react to Trump’s pullout from Paris

Jefferson County/Port Townsend Climate Action Committee

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe study of climate impacts and adaptation

Vigil for Paris Accord

Olympic Climate Action will hold a vigil for the Paris Accord on Friday, June 2, from 5 – 6:30 pm in front of the Federal Bldg. at First and Oak Streets in downtown Port Angeles.

We will be there to witness this tragic development and express our profound sadness and disappointment in the President’s decision.

Wear black and bring a drum and candle if you have one–we’ll have some there.

Without the federal government to protect us, it’s up to us make progress.

How Trump’s Paris Decision Hurts America, in 5 Graphics

We’re Already Moving Past Trump–NYT

SOS! All hands on deck!

President Trump is reported to be leaning toward completely withdrawing America from the Paris Climate Agreement. This would be one of the most foolish and reckless decisions of any President in history. Scientists estimate that this single act could result in an additional 0.5°C of global warming, which could make the difference between a difficult-but-livable planet and an unlivable one.

But until this decision is official (that could be soon), there’s still time for one last-ditch effort to sway the White House to avert this catastrophe-in-the-making.

Things to do right now:

1. Send an email to President Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis imploring them not to make the dangerous and ill-advised decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

2. Spread the word on social media.

Sign this 350.org PETITION by 5 PM Eastern time.

Click to share on Facebook

Click to tweet

Write a LETTER TO THE EDITOR

If you’re looking for the best articles to share on your social networks, here are some in Medium, Vox, and Reuters.

3. Get the phones ringing at the White House. Dial the switchboard at 202-456-1414  (9-4 Eastern time) and ask for the comment line (the switchboard can be easier to reach than the comment line). Or you can try the comment line directly at 202-456-1111 or 855-980-5634. (If you get a busy signal, it means the phones are ringing off the hook, so please be patient and try again.)

4. Comment online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact, or sign this petition directly to the White House.

5. Stay tuned for local rallies. We’ll discuss these at Sunday’s OCA meeting.

If Trump completely withdraws from the Paris agreement, he would be ignoring advice from his Secretary of State, Secretary of Energy, the Pope, his daughter Ivanka, the CEOs of major companies like Apple, Google, General Mills and even ExxonMobil and Chevron, our foreign allies and many others. Instead he’d be siding with hard-liners like Steve Bannon, EPA chief Scott Pruitt and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — all of whom are pushing to abandon the Paris accord. We cannot let this group prevail.

Legislators: Put a price on carbon now

By unanimous agreement at our meeting of 5/7/2017, we have sent this letter to our state legislators:

Senator Kevin Van de Wege

Representative Steve Tharinger

Representative Mike Chapman

Washington State Legislature

Dear State Legislative representatives from District 24:

Olympic Climate Action maintains a membership of more than 600 members from the Olympic Peninsula through email and other social media. Our membership promotes action by government at all levels to both mitigate climate change and prepare adaptation measures. We believe that the single most urgent thing we need to do as a society is to put a price on carbon that reflects its true costs and provides a disincentive for its use. Our membership has been happy to see a number of proposed carbon tax bills under consideration by the state legislature. Each has its pros and cons. In urging your own consideration, we would like to underscore the following concepts:

  • Urgency: Scientists tell us that we have precious little time to waste on converting to a clean-energy economy, and therefore we urge action on a carbon-pricing bill NOW. Economists seem to converge on an initial price at $25 per ton of CO2.
  • Efficacy: Scientists such as James Hansen, former NASA lead climate scientist, also tell us that to set a target that doesn’t risk the safety and well-being of the next generation, we need to aim for 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere by the end of the century, and that to hit such a target, we need to reach a 91% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our carbon pricing needs to aim for that target.
  • Support for mitigation: Use some of the proceeds to actively support the reduction of our carbon footprint through incentives, research, and infrastructure investment.  Explore the creation of a market for forest carbon sequestration.
  • Equity: Assure that those least able to deal with additional expenses in their budgets find relief; that poor communities least able to deal with cope with climate impacts are helped to achieve resiliency; and that workers in dislocated economic sectors are helped to find alternate employment.
  • Integrity: Construct the program in such a way that it does not lead to “leakage” of greenhouse-gas emissions to other states or countries.
  • Accountability and oversight: Ensure that taxpayers’ funds are spent both effectively and efficiently with broad benefits, including implementing the State’s Clean Air Rule.

In addition to carbon pricing, we also support these related initiatives:

  • Oil Transportation Safety (HB 1611) will help address a $3.6 million funding shortfall in state oil spill prevention programs, improve oil spill prevention for Puget Sound, and provide more public input on proposed oil pipeline projects. This is common-sense protection for our communities, and it comes under threat of vastly increased shipping in our waters.
  • The creation of an electric vehicle charging station loop around the Olympic Peninsula.  While such infrastructure will enhance our tourism business, it will also facilitate the conversion by local residents to electric vehicles.  We hope you will work with your colleagues to support General Fund investment in publicly-available electric vehicle charging stations, as well as the maximum allowable funding of EV chargers from the VW litigation settlement.

Please respond with your positions on these topics, or if you wish we’d be glad to meet with you to discuss these critical issues.

Sincerely,

The members of Olympic Climate Action, adopted unanimously at our general membership meeting of May 7, 2017

US Bank Updates its Environmental Responsibility Policy!

People over pipelinesRemember those cold days in February when people in Port Angeles and Sequim were protesting US Bank’s support of DAPL pipeline ?  Well, good news.  US Bank has revised its environmental responsibility policy to state that it will no longer directly fund any oil or gas pipelines! And any relationships with companies/people in the oil or gas industry will be subject to additional checks on the “potential impact on dependent communities and indigenous people.” Activism works!

This Saturday, May 20, from 11am-12 people will be going out to the PA and Sequim branches of US Bank, where we protested, this time to bring flowers and wave signs thanking them for listening to the people. Facebook event here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1348163088552428/

Here is an article: http://www.ecowatch.com/us-bank-divest-pipelines-2408440397.html

and their new Policy:  https://www.usbank.com/pdf/community/Environmental-Responsibility-Policy-Web-Final-April2017.pdf

Walk 4 the Salish Sea

Walk 4 the Salish Sea

This is one of the most important international/local issues we face now.  We encourage you to join in (for as much or as little as you can via any human-powered means of transport).  Or, if you can’t join physically, donate.

When: May 25-28, 2017
Where: from Victoria to Kinder Morgan Westridge Terminal, Burnaby

RSVP if you’d like to join the contingent from the Olympic Peninsula.

For official details and/or to donate, visit walk4salishsea.ca

For large version of the poster (5MB) click here.

People’s Climate March ♥ Olympic Peninsula ♥ April 29, 2017

“Our Peninsula, Our Future, Our Climate”

3:00 PM • Port Angeles City Pier

321 N. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, WA 98362

RSVP here

Contribute here

Map to parking and City Pier

Agenda of speakers and activities

March route

FAQ

Our banners – original artwork by Makah artist Micah McCarty

Video by James Cameron

Article by Bill McKibben

“Why I March”:  A Set of Short Videos

Article in Port Townsend Leader

Article in Peninsula Daily News

The People’s Climate March is a nationwide event to re-energize and build the movement for climate action in order to fight pollution, protect human rights, and transform our economy.

Here on the Olympic Peninsula, we have the opportunity to build a coalition of communities and cultures dedicated to a just transition toward community  resilience. Climate action here can mean moving toward stable jobs with good wages, building and retrofitting infrastructure to generate our own energy, increasing efficiency, and preparing for climate changes to come.

Together we can achieve a better future for us all. This is why we are concentrating our efforts into a joint march for the whole North Olympic Peninsula. This is our Peninsula, our future, and our climate.

In addition to climate action on the Peninsula, we stand up to protect the recently signed Paris accord, in which nations work together to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, and thereby hopefully sustain a livable planet. We reject the call by members of the current federal administration to pull out of the Paris agreement and unleash a new wave of unnecessary and lethal fossil-fuel extraction.

The Sierra Club North Olympic Group and Olympic Climate Action invite you to join us. Let’s march together for our future.  We have a great lineup of speakers and others to inform and inspire you!

We use non-violent means to achieve change. We are committed to nonviolence, inspired by the spirit of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and other peaceful protesters before us. No violence, no property damage. We believe that this approach offers the best means of creating lasting progress toward a just and healthy world.

Pcm2017-badge-v1

US Bank

OCA’s Message to US Bank Officials

On Saturday, Feb. 25th and March 4, concerned citizens and members of OCA  joined other groups around the country to speak truth to corporate executives of US Bank, which is one of the funders for the Dakota Access Pipeline.  A worldwide movement is calling to divest from these banks if they won’t withdraw their DAPL investments.

Keep it in the Ground

Keep it in the Ground

usbank2-800 usbank3-800Our group engaged –  and was engaged by – the passing public.  It was all good.

There will be another picketing this coming Saturday, March 11, from 11AM to noon in front of the US Bank at 134 E. 7th St. (at Lincoln) in Port Angeles, and at 101 W. Washington St. (corner of Sequim Ave.) in Sequim.

Join us.  Bring signs and dress for the weather.

You can click on any image above to see an enlargement.

 

 

 

Stand for Standing Rock

U.S. Bank, Port Angeles & Sequim

Saturday, March 4, 2017, 11 – noon

In response to the sudden announcement that the Trump administration plans to abrogate the Environmental Impact Statement process and bulldoze the sovereign rights of indigenous people at Standing Rock in order to push the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) through their ancestral lands, OCA, in partnership with the Clallam Progressives and the Racial Justice Collective, will picket outside the U.S. Bank branches in Port Angeles, 134 E. 7th St. (corner of Lincoln), and Sequim, 101 W. Washington St. (corner of Sequim Avenue).  Bring signs and dress for the weather.

U.S. Bank is among a number of banks financing DAPL, and a worldwide movement is calling to divest from these banks if they won’t withdraw their DAPL investments.  Seattle just passed a resolution to divest their accounts at Wells Fargo, another DAPL investor.  In Clallam County, several local governments bank with U.S. Bank.  Such demonstrations and divestment demands are being staged around the country.

This protest is not against our local bank branches, staffed by our neighbors and doing everyday community banking.  Rather, this protest is against their corporate executives, who often follow a very different agenda.  In coming weeks, we will start a dialogue about ethics and investments by individuals and institutions.

Here are messages from Sacred Stone Camp and the #NoDAPL 2017 Action Hub.  There the protesters are risking prosecution, jail, and worse to protect their sacred lands and water, and the water supply of millions.  We quite simply do not need any new pipelines, and the sooner we get onto clean energy, the better off we’ll all be.

Finally, a word from Arnold Schwarzenegger about an offer you can’t refuse!

Stand for Standing Rock

U.S. Bank, Port Angeles & Sequim

Saturday, February 25, 2017, 11 – noon

In response to the sudden announcement that the Trump administration plans to abrogate the Environmental Impact Statement process and bulldoze the sovereign rights of indigenous people at Standing Rock in order to push the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) through their ancestral lands, OCA, in partnership with the Clallam Progressives and the Racial Justice Collective, will picket from 11 AM till noon, on Saturday, February 25, outside the U.S. Bank branches in Port Angeles, 134 E. 7th St. (corner of Lincoln), and Sequim, 101 W. Washington St. (corner of Sequim Avenue).

This will be our third week of demonstrating, back by popular demand!  Bring signs and dress for the weather.

U.S. Bank is among a number of banks financing DAPL, and a worldwide movement is calling to divest from these banks if they won’t withdraw their DAPL investments.  Seattle just passed a resolution to divest their accounts at Wells Fargo, another DAPL investor.  In Clallam County, several local governments bank with U.S. Bank.

This protest is not against our local bank branches, staffed by our neighbors and doing everyday community banking.  Rather, this protest is against their corporate executives, who often follow a very different agenda.  In coming weeks, we will start a dialogue about ethics and investments by individuals and institutions.

Here are messages from Sacred Stone Camp and the #NoDAPL 2017 Action Hub.  There the protesters are risking prosecution, jail, and worse to protect their sacred lands and water, and the water supply of millions.  We quite simply do not need any new pipelines, and the sooner we get onto clean energy, the better off we’ll all be.

LETTER: Trump threatens to substantially turn back the clock on climate change progress

Peninsula Daily News

Tue Jan 31st, 2017 1:30am, Letters to the Editor

Far from making America great again, Donald Trump may in fact threaten human civilization by setting in motion runaway climate change beyond the capacity of civilization to cope.

The trickiest concept about climate change is the lag time between cause and effect, whereby we won’t see the worst of the impacts from our current behavior for many decades.

The science indicates that what we do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years is crucial, and if we don’t start acting decisively now, disaster awaits.

But what we will see of those impacts in the next few years, substantial as they may be, will pale in comparison to what’s to come a generation or two down the line.

Our president has called climate change a “hoax” and threatens to “cancel” the historic Paris climate accords and unleash a bonanza of oil and coal extraction that would dwarf the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines.

He has murmured about being “good stewards,” but his Cabinet nominations are down-the-line “climate skeptics” who risk turning the clock back to a place where we can’t afford to go.

Their proposed deregulation plans would discount the future and expose future generations to untold misery, undoing the substantial progress America has made toward a booming clean-energy economy, which truly would make America great again.

Tell Trump and the U.S. Senate that we need a leadership team that will carry us forward to this future, not send us backward.

For more information, go to http://www.olyclimate.org.

Ed Chadd,

Port Angeles

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ed Chadd is on the executive committee of Port Angeles-based Olympic Climate Action.

Rally vs Trump Nominees

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That pin in the upper left is us, not Victoria…in the entire Pacific Northwest, we and Seattle were the only places to hold “First 100 Hours” rallies to begin the resistance against the Cabinet nominees of Donald Trump.

Twenty-eight hardy souls were out in the middle of the street early this morning to spread the word, and we got much support from passersby.  More support than from the Port Commission, who said it was inappropriate to lobby other government bodies such as the U.S. Senate. This was just prior to a long discussion of whether they should lobby state government to extend the halibut fishing season!  Oh well, Profiles in Courage it wasn’t.

But the good news is that two out of three Port Commissioners acknowledge that human-caused climate change is a serious problem that must be seriously addressed.  That’s a good thing for our local community, as the Port controls some of the most vulnerable assets in Clallam County under the threat of climate change.

Pictures from the rally are on our Facebook page.

“Corral the Climate-Killing Cabinet”

Rally Jan. 23, 8 am – First and Valley Streets, Port Angeles

Climate action is under attack. The Trump presidency threatens to undo all our progress, and set the climate movement back years — years we can’t afford.  In the first 100 hours of Trump’s administration, join Olympic Climate Action and a nationwide resistance to oppose the Trump Administration’s aggressive attacks on our air and water, our economy, our health, our families, and our future.

On January 23 OCA sponsored a rally and sign-waving at First and Valley Streets in Port Angeles at 8 AM to kick off the resistance during Trump’s Presidency.  We brought signs and flags, and dressed warm!  We rallied early that morning because at 9 AM, we crossed the street to the Port of Port Angeles office to ask the Port Commissioners to join us in opposing a Cabinet made up of climate criminals.

See event poster here

It’s up to us to stop these attacks before they can really start.