350PDX Weekly Update – Eco-fascism on the rise… – August 14 2019

In the past month, the United States has been ravaged by a series of shooters influenced by the far-right. An increasingly dangerous pattern in these shootings is the influence of eco-fascism on the shooters (re: El Paso, Christchurch).

Eco-fascism is a form of environmentalism influenced by Malthusian theory and the idea that we must “get rid of people” to protect our ever-dwindling resources. See this article for a deeper look into the growing white nationalism and environmentalism.

We can’t let the far-right co-opt our environmental struggle. Fighting for climate justice means fighting for racial justice, migrant justice, and economic justice. Fighting for climate justice means fighting for an anti-fascist future for all of us.

This Saturday far right groups will descend on Portland, and anti-fascist counter-protesters will be there to meet them. These protests have often turned violent so be careful if you’re downtown on Saturday. For a peaceful way to show solidarity there is The Exchange: A Multicultural Day Market happening in SE Portland from 12-6pm.

Here’s your 350PDX weekly update!

Remember to check out the Volunteer Boards for all our current volunteer opportunities, including Tasks, Roles, Representing 350PDX, Stuff we need. And let me know any suggestions or additions!

Updates

• Last Weekend at Alberta Street Fair

  The wonderful Eileen, Amy and 10 other signature gatherers collected 869 petition signatures for the Stop Zenith campaign. Incredible work, thank you amazing volunteers!
  Want to do tabling and outreach like this? There are loads of opportunities! Let chris@350pdx.org know!
  

• In The News: Revealed: FBI and police monitoring Oregon anti-pipeline activists

  “Law enforcement groups, including the FBI, have been monitoring opponents of a natural gas infrastructure project in Oregon and circulated intelligence to an email list that included a Republican-aligned anti-environmental PR operative, emails obtained by the Guardian show.”

  Oregon’s public officials should be focused on how they can protect our communities from the Jordan Cove fracked gas project, not work hand in hand with the private fossil fuel corporation backing it by spying on our community.

  We won’t back down. We’ll continue to work in coalition with groups across the state on building momentum to stop Jordan Cove once and for all.

  TAKE ACTION – Call Governor Kate Brown (503-378-4582) to tell her what you think about this news that Oregon public officials are working to silence our communities and to ask her to stop Jordan Cove for good.

Requests

• Help Needed: Permits and Logistics for Climate Strike

  Do you have experience running events, getting permits, or being involved with big public mobilizations? We need all hands on deck for the next month to make this Climate Strike as good as it can be, and the more help we can get the better. Contact misha@350pdx.org and let them know that you can help. Thank you!

• Help Needed: Food Trucks or Food Donations Assistance

  Do you have a connection to someone with a food truck, or a restaurant who might want to help provide food for striking young people and adults on Sept 20 or through the week of action? Or do you want to do outreach to food trucks to see if they’d be willing to help? Please let me (chris@350pdx.org) know!

• Help needed for the Multnomah Days Parade!

  Want to march in a parade raising awareness of the Climate Strike? This is your chance! Marching in this parade with the 350PDX Southwest Team is a wonderful opportunity for someone new to the movement and for seasoned veterans both to practice having a visual impact in support of the Climate Movement. The parade is just a 20 minute walk and hundreds will see our message.

  When – Meet at 9:30 AM, Saturday, August 17. (Parade begins at 10:00 AM)
  Where – Meet across the street from the defunct Andy’s Garage located at 7991 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, 97219
  Contact – Bob Kaminski, robertwkaminski@gmail.com; Text: 510-610-1705

Opportunities

• Climate Strike Webinars from 350.org

  To help prepare for this major mobilization and to share skills, provide key tools and resources and the support of peer learning, 350.org are putting together a great training series of five webinars. Interested in skilling up? Register here. All webinars at 5pm and run for 1.5 hours.

  – TONIGHT August 14th: Centering Equity & Justice (including how to best support youth leadership) in Climate Strike Organizing

  – August 21st: Communications & Digital Tools for Climate Strike Organizing

  – August 28th: Utilizing the Strikes to Build Our Movement: Strategies for Leadership Development & Plugging People In Post-Sept 20th

  – September 4th: Know Your Rights to Stand Up for Climate Justice! (with the Civil Liberties Defense Center)

  – September 11th: Opportunities & Challenges: Bring your ideas and questions around Sept 20th-27th Organizing

• August Volunteer Orientation

  TONIGHT Wed Aug 14, 6:00PM – 7:45PM @ 350PDX Fellowship Room, 1820 NE 21st Ave
  Come and learn about climate justice, how people power is changing the world, how you can get involved, and meet other cool people in the climate movement. For those completely new to the climate justice movement, or those wanting a refresher. Looking forward to meeting you! Please RSVP so we know how PIZZA to buy. Thanks!

• Climate Justice Knows No Borders: Portland to the Philippines

  Thurs Aug 15, 7:00PM – 9:00PM @ Social Justice Action Center, 400 SE 12th Ave
  Join PCHRP (Portland Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines) for this open house. The Philippines was just named the deadliest country for environmental defenders with 30 killings in 2018 alone. As one of the most biodiverse and resource rich countries in the world, the Philippines is a target of foreign mining, logging agricultural industries committing corporate theft and perpetuating the global climate crisis.

• Facilitating Just Organizing Spaces Training

  Sat Aug 17, 3:00PM – 5:00PM @ 350PDX, 1820 NE 21st Ave
  This training will share information about how to plan a meeting, facilitate a meeting, and provide space for feedback and conversations about skills folks have in the room. More info here!

• Civil Disobedience Workshop

  Sat Aug 24, 10:00AM – 3:00PM @ SE Portland
  Another opportunity to join Bonnie McKinlay’s excellent training. This is a great introduction to civil disobedience and is relevant for those who may wish to someday risk arrest, those who want to support others risking arrest, or just for those who want a greater understanding of why civil disobedience is an effective tactic. RSVP for location details -> contact Bonnie: (503) 705-1943, or goto350pdx@gmail.com

Thank you all for the work that you do, and for being part of this notorious and nurturing movement,
Chris – 350PDX Volunteer & Communications Coordinator