350PDX Weekly Update – Decade of the Green New Deal – Jan 8 2020

Hi everyone,

This will be the decade of the Green New Deal, and there’s never been a more important time for a vibrant, bold, and courageous climate movement. At the same time, international conflicts loom. War with Iran would be a climate disaster, and it’s hard to think of a better example of our need to be focused on intersectional climate justice and to building a broad movement. Climate solutions and demilitarization must go hand in hand with adaptation to the scary new normal of climate disasters—like the horrific fires we’re seeing in Australia.

While this is undeniably a rocky start to the new decade, I remain hopeful. Despite Trump’s best efforts US emissions actually dropped last year. We saw unprecedented climate actions across the planet that show no sign of slowing down, and the climate crisis is a central issue in the presidential race. We have the momentum. It’s now up to all of us to do our best to harness it. Here’s to a 2020 in the streets!

Here’s your 350PDX weekly update.

Opportunities

• Volunteer Orientation

  TOMORROW Thurs Jan 9, 6:00PM – 8:00PM @ 350PDX, 1820 NE 21st Ave, PortlandLet’s turn those new year’s resolutions into action with our first volunteer orientation of the year! Come along to learn what we do at 350PDX, meet other new volunteers, and find out how you can plug into meaningful and powerful climate action.
  RSVP here!

• Fire Drill Fridays

  Fri Jan 10, 12:00PM – 1:00PM @ Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave, PortlandEvery Friday folks are assembling outside City Hall in an energetic and colorful vigil to keep the pressure on Mayor Ted Wheeler to shut down the Zenith tar sands terminal in NW Porland, and to raise awareness from people and cars passing by.

  Bring signs or banners, or just bring yourself. Among the many things such a sign can say is “Fire Drill Fridays,” “Stop Zenith Energy,” “No More Bomb Trains,” “Mayor & Commissioners: Stand Strong!” 2×3 signs are big enough to be visible to walkers-by and drivers-by.

• Washington County PlanetCon

  Sat Jan 11, 11:30AM – 2:00PM @ Quatama Elementary SchoolFor Washington County resident only —  More info here. Volunteers needed for the 350WashCo booth and battery sorting station – sign up here!

• Rep Janeen Sollman’s Climate Conversation with Rep Karin Power.

  Sun Jan 12, 1:30PM – 3:00PM @ Jessie Mays Community Center. 30975 NW Hillcrest Dr., North PlainsJoin the 350PDX Washington County team to stack this session!

• Metro 2020 Taskforce Meeting

  Mon Jan 13, 5:30PM – 9:00PM @ Metro Regional Center, council chamber, 600 NE Grand Ave, PortlandMetro Council wants to hear directly from the public about transportation investments that could be a part of a 2020 transportation funding ballot measure. The public is invited to comment at a special Metro Council hearing dedicated to testimony on the potential funding measure. Wear red! Contact Jessie (jessielucidamaran@gmail.com) if you want to learn more about the 350PDX Transportation Justice team.

• 350PDX General Meeting

  Tues Jan 14, 6:00PM – 8:00PM @ 350PDX, 1820 NE 21st Ave, PortlandJoin us for our monthly general meeting, where we’ll have an interactive deep dive into the Oregon Green New Deal, hear about the ongoing Chase bank campaign from our Divest Team, as well as have a few organization announcements.

  The meeting begins with a community potluck, so feel free to bring a dish or snacks to share, but you can also just bring yourself! We close the meeting with Teams Tabling, which is your chance to go and chat with members of all our teams to see what they’re up to and how you can get involved.

• Forest Defense Team Kickoff Meeting

  Wed Jan 15, 6:00PM – 8:00PM @ 350PDX, 1820 NE 21st Ave, PortlandCome along to the first ever meeting of the 350PDX Forest Defense Team! We’ll be giving an introduction to the relation between forests and carbon, and diving deep into the Forest Waters Protection Act – a ballot measure that Oregon will be voting on in November 2020. Want to make a difference in the climate justice movement, and also get the opportunity to be outside in the forest? This is the team for you!

• In The Blast Zone:  A Panel Discussion On Tar Sands-Oil-By-Rail

  Tues Jan 21, 7:00PM – 9:00PM @ Patagonia, 1106 W Burnside, Downtown PortlandThe tar sands of Alberta, Canada is the largest industrial project on the planet. Visible from space, this massive extraction project produces the most polluting and ecologically destructive fossil fuel, surpassing all other oils for total greenhouse gasses emitted.

  In 2018, tar sand came to Portland with the opening of the Zenith Energy oil terminal, which quietly turned an asphalt facility on the Willamette River into the first tar sands by rail export terminal on the West Coast. Join Center for Sustainable Economy and allies for a panel discussion from activists fighting tar sands by rail in the Pacific Northwest. Facebook Event here.

Thank you all for the work that you do, here’s to ten years of radical positive change,
Chris – 350PDX Volunteer & Communications Coordinator

P.S. We just changed our entire database, and this is the first email coming from it. I’m hopeful that the transition will be seamless, but if you have previously unsubscribed and you’re receiving this email, my apologies! You can unsubscribe below. Thank you!

P.P.S. Picture from Matthew Abbott/The New York Times