Day 3 of the legislative session and here is what we have done together already!
27: Climate calls made to legislators!
25: Climate emails sent to legislators!
52: total legislator contacts made by the Civic Action Team in 2020!
We’re thrilled to be off-and-running on the new session. And we’re thrilled to now be emailing you from our new 350WA.org listserv! It works the same as the old one, and now we’re all on one statewide list! Exciting!
Here are three bills that are getting an early start in what will be a fast moving session:
Community Solar, HB 2248
This bill expands access to renewable energy through community solar projects, with 40% of each project going to low-to-moderate income participants. What’s more, utilities should be on board because it helps them meet clean energy requirements passed last spring.
It’s getting a hearing in the House Environment Committee on Thursday, January 16 at 8:00am.
Five members of the Committee are already co-sponsors of the bill, so let’s rally the support of four of their colleagues:
Rep. Matt Boehnke (R-8) – (360) 786-7986 – Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Keith Goehner (R-12) – (360) 786-7954 – Keith.Goehner@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Jared Mead (D-44) – (360) 786-7892 – Jared.Mead@leg.wa.gov
Rep. June Robinson (D-38) – (360) 786-7864 – June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov
Script: Hi, I’m calling to ask Rep. [Name] to support HB 2248, Community Solar. I really like how it’s extends the benefits of renewable energy to people who can’t afford to put solar panels on their house, or who live in apartments. And it has bipartisan support, which is refreshing! Will Rep. [Name] be supporting it?
Next, here are two bills coming up for votes on the Senate floor that will send them to their first House committee:
Zero Emission Vehicles,SB 5811
This bill will expand the selection of electric vehicles in Washington state, which also helps the used EV market. It’s coming up for a floor vote in the Senate, so this is easy: to support this bill, click here, verify your address and ask your Senator to support the bill with a Yes vote.
Sustainable Farms and Fuels,SB 5947
This bill creates a grant program to support sustainable farming practices that sequester carbon. We like it because it addresses climate change, supports rural communities, and strengthens our state’s farming economy. To support this bill, click here, verify your address and ask your Senator to support the bill with a Yes vote.
Thanks everyone! This session, we are recording our collective impact.
Can you please take a moment to let us know what actions you took?
— David, Katherine and Selden for the 350 WA Civic Action Team
PS: Check out the new 350 WA website: www.350wa.org !
Category Archives: Actions
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.
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
- Fridaysforfuture want you to only strike in a way, that you feel safe with.
- Many Fridaysforfuture strikers have a police approval for their strike.
- It is common for these approvals to only allow a quiet, sitting protest.
- 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 - 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.
- 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!
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!
Please respond to Governor Inslee’s “LSRD Stakeholder Survey” this week if possible.
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.
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
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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!
