350PDX Weekly Update – Climate In The Debate – Sept 30 2020

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Hi everyone,

For the first time in 12 years, the moderator of a presidential debate asked a question about climate change last night. Climate change was the focus of an unusually substantive, approximately 10-minute portion of the otherwise raucous 90-minute presidential debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden — about equal to the time devoted to the issue in all presidential debates after 2004 combined and the most time ever spent on the issue in a single debate.

Climate change was not one of the pre-announced debate topics, an omission that sparked substantial criticism and public pushback from advocates and lawmakers and activists. Recent polling also showed 74% of voters want to see debate moderators ask climate questions.

It’s a travesty that it’s taken this long to have the climate crisis recognized in these debates, and the debate itself was about as dysfunctional as our current political system, but it’s a small glimmer of progress, testament to the grassroots movements fighting across the country. In troubled times we should take the small victories when we get them.

Here’s your 350PDX weekly update!

  • 350PDX Training: Climate Movement 101
    Thurs Oct 8, 6:30PM – 8:30PM, OnlineJoin us for our revamped training for new volunteers joining the climate justice movement, or for longstanding folks who want a refresher on our theory of change and how the climate justice movement is going to win! Hear about how we got here, where we’re going, and what we plan to do about it, and then find your place in 350PDX or the broader movement for social and climate justice! Register here.

Actions

All these actions and more can be found on our website’s Take Action page – 350pdx.org/action

  • National Chase Takeover

    While climate crisis-fueled wildfires burned throughout our region, the fossil fuel industry continues to permit, build, drill, mine, and dig new projects, moving us in the complete opposite direction. JPMorgan Chase continues to be the world’s largest funder of the fossil fuel industry, pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the industry just since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2016. That’s why groups across the country are amplifying a mass call-out of JPMorgan Chase right now, by leaving online reviews of every branch nationwide! 

    Join us to Takeover Chase! We’re calling out Chase branches across the country because people need to connect their local banks to their international counterparts that are funding the climate crisis. The two aren’t separate, and the fewer people who open new accounts with Chase the better. We need to do everything we can to cut off the supply of money that enables the fossil fuel industry to operate with impunity — the less money they have, the sooner their influence will wane.

    This national campaign was headed up by our very own 350PDX Defund/Divest team. Amazing work!

  • 34 days until the election – join 350PDX’s Get Out the Vote Elections Team

    350PDX is a 501c3 organization, which means we cannot endorse specific political candidates. But we also know that our democracy is at stake, with rampant voter suppression, voter intimidation, and attacks on USPS happening across the country. So we’re ensuring that as many people as possible are registered to vote – and then turning them out to the polls on Election Day on November 3rd. We’re partnering with other 350 local groups in key swing states, and together we’ll reach as many voters as we can, calling and texting them with important information on voter registration and vote by mail – then reminding them to cast their ballots when it counts. But it will only work with volunteers like you. After you sign up, we’ll send you a weekly email with phonebanking events happening with our 350 partners every day of the week – so you can engage when it works best for you. Sound good? Sign up here!

  • DEQ and Climate Need Our Help

    DEQ is currently receiving public testimony concerning the cap-and-reduce program, which is part of the Oregon Climate Action Plan (OCAP) under Executive Order 20-04. The DEQ has set three hearings for October and we need Climate conscious Oregonians to show up and, if you can, testify!

    The Governors executive order directs state agencies to take actions to reduce and regulate greenhouse gas emissions. One major component of the OCAP is a directive for the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to set up a new program to “cap and reduce” the climate-harming pollution released by Oregon’s largest polluters. By no longer allowing these major polluters (like oil companies, fossil gas companies, and industrial manufacturers) to spew unlimited amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, this new policy can help transition Oregon to cleaner ways of powering our economy and communities.

    We need a large turn out for DEQ’s Town Hall meetings on October 1st, 8th and 14th.

    Click here to register to attend one or more of the Town Hall meetings. You’ll receive information on how to participate in the Town Hall, as well as talking points for providing public comment. Please show up to the Town Hall to show DEQ the breadth of support for ambitious climate action now!

  • Stop the Kalama Methanol Refinery

    As wildfires exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels ravage our region, a plan to build the world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refinery on the Columbia River carries on. The Kalama methanol refinery would use more fracked gas than all of Washington’s gas-fired power plants combined. This project would be an outright disaster for our climate and our communities and it must be stopped. We’re in a crucial comment period this month and need your help to make sure we stop this project.

    The Washington Department of Ecology recently released a new draft analysis showing that the Kalama methanol refinery would be a major climate polluter—one of Washington’s most significant sources of pollution. Unfortunately, the study also relies on an speculative and unenforceable market analysis to support this dirty, climate-wrecking proposal. Join us and urge Ecology to deny this project and to reject false claims from Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW), the refinery’s backer: Write a comment against the Kalama methanol refinery now.

Resources

  • Online Course: Digital Security for Protesters

    With protests underway around the globe, activists are facing new challenges and heightened digital tracking and threats from state actors including the police, white supremacists and others. Take this short, free, online course to learn more about this important topic.

  • 10 things you need to know to stop a coup

    While keeping people focused on a strong, robust election process is a must, we also need to prepare for a coup. We have a president who has openly said he might not respect the outcome of our election. We have to be ready if he claims victory before votes are counted, tries to stop counting, or refuses to accept a loss.

  • Lee van der Voo on the landmark legal fight against climate change

    For the past five years, 21 young people from across the country have wended their way through the court system as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the federal government. They allege their constitutional rights to a livable planet have been violated and are demanding intervention from the courts to implement a climate remediation plan across 10 federal agencies and offices nationwide.

  • Video: The Race Class Narrative

    “A messaging framework to engage the base, persuade the middle, and alienate the opposition. All too often, progressives are asked to keep issues of racial justice and economic empowerment separate — or to remain silent about the former at the risk of alienating the mythical middle we’re told we must appease.”

Opportunities​​​​

  • Stronger Than Storms: Climate and Just Recovery ForumTONIGHT Weds Sept 30, 5:00PM – 6:00PM – OnlineFrom 350.org – Around the world, hundreds of millions of people are on the frontlines of the fossil-fueled climate crisis. Whether it’s hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, or floods, science has shown that climate change is making extremes of weather far more destructive. Our movements need to rise together to support and protect one another and to hold the climate criminals in the fossil fuel industry and government accountable. This virtual townhall will bring together representatives of climate impacted communities to share stories and connect the dots between our struggles.

    Register here – IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be simultaneous Spanish-English interpretation and CART closed captioning in English on this call. Información en Español.

  • How to Beat an Election-Related Power Grab
    Thurs Oct 1, 4:30PM – 6:30PM, Online – register here
    Tues Oct 6, 4:30PM – 6:30PM, Online – register here    Join George Lakey, with Zein Nakhoda for this 2 hour training on what we can do to prepare for a potential coup in the upcoming presidential election. The good news is that coups have been fought off and defeated many times in the past around the world by spontaneous people powered mobilizations, and we have the advantage of having 5 weeks to prepare ahead of this election.See more trainings related to this topic here – including ‘Unarmed Civilian Protection and Accompaniment by Teams’ and ‘Active Bystander Intervention by Individuals’.
  • Environmental Injustice: Part 4 of the Racial Justice is Climate Justice SeriesThurs Oct 1, 6:00PM – 7:00PM – OnlineThe final installment of this series (see the other recordings and resources here), this time on environmental injustice. Speakers from Tacoma LNG Resistance on Environmental Injustice. These webinars will have closed captioning and a recording of the call will be available after each webinar.
  • Stop Funding Tar Sands: Digital RallyFri Oct 2, 11:00AM – 12:00PM – Online

    Tar sands is one of the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuels on our planet. Pipelines like Keystone XL, Line 3, and Trans Mountain are disastrous for people and the planet. They’re built on Indigenous lands without consent, endanger the safety of Indigenous women, and poison nearby communities.

    That’s why on Friday, October 2nd, we’re partnering with Stop the Money Pipeline and Indigenous frontline leaders from across the country to organize Stop Funding Tar Sands, a day of solidarity with frontline and Indigenous communities fighting back against Tar Sands pipelines including Line 3, Trans Mountain, and Keystone XL.

  • Protecting Votes & Building Power: Climate Justice & the ElectionWed Oct 7, 5:00PM – 6:00PM – Online

    Part of the 350.org Solidarity School, tune into this mass call to hear the national strategy for protecting the results of this election and ensuring climate justice is part of it. Register here.

  • Portland Black Lives Matter Protests
    Every day @ across the city – details here
    Click here for our advice for showing up to protestThere are events all day every day, in a whole range of different neighborhoods and at a whole range of different levels of risks – from standing on street corners waving signs in the middle of the day, to COVID-safe car caravans slowly parading around the city, to late night protests downtown. Some events are only being planned or details released less than 24 hours in advance, so if you want to be in the loop, join our Signal chat (by filling in the Volunteer Form here!) The Signal chat and the Volunteer form is also good if you want to find a buddy to go protest with!2nd Year Memorial for Patrick Kimmons
    TONIGHT Wed Sept 30, 6:00PM
    Food, speakers, music and more

    Safety on Transit For BIPOC Youth
    Thurs Oct 1, 5:00PM – 7:00PM
    YEJA and BRU are partnering with Trimet to facilitate safety discussions around public transit. This is something for BIPOC youth only to participate in.

    Disarm PSU Back to School Block Party
    Sun Oct 4, 11:00AM – 2:00PM
    Come celebrate the disarmament of PSU’s CPSO, reimagine, and move forward! Join us for an afternoon of speakers, performances, and art-making culminating in a short march. Bring a clothing item or blank tote bag for screenprinting. Please wear a mask!

    Silent Voices Film Debut Screening
    Tues Oct 6, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
    Film screening both online and in person with location TBA

Thank you all for the work that you do, stay safe, we’re all in this together,
Ashley, Chris, Chuck, Dineen, Indi, Lucy – the 350PDX staff

The DEQ and Climate Need Our Help! 350PDX Weekly Update – Preparing for the Election – Oct 7 2020