350PDX Weekly Update – Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Oct 6 2021
Hi everyone,
Monday October 11 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and this is the first year the day is recognized by the State of Oregon after the legislature passed a bill in the spring.
Indigenous peoples have long led the fight to protect Mother Earth, and a key path forward for the climate movement is to center Indigenous knowledge and keep fossil fuels in the ground. From Standing Rock, to Line 3, to Jordan Cove LNG, Indigenous resistance is more important than ever, and it’s crucial that the larger environmental movement center the leadership of Indigenous people.
350PDX is based on the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and other tribes who have lived beside the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for generations upon generations. The deep scar of colonization has caused and perpetuated systems that have given us the climate crisis we face today.
Source: https://native-land.ca/
Monday kicks off a week of action and nonviolent civil disobedience in Washington DC to end fossil fuels. Closer to home, here are some ways you could spend your Indigenous Peoples’ Day:
Virtual Indigenous People’s Day Celebration 2021/Portland Indigenous Marketplace
Oct 11, 10:00AM – 7:00PM, Facebook event here
REMEMBERING – Weaving Program in Observance of Indigenous People’s Day (in person)
Oct 11, 6:00PM – 8:00PM @ Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave
Native Made Pop-Up
Oct 14, 4:00PM – 7:00PM & Cully Farmers Market
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350PDX October General Meeting
TONIGHT Wed Oct 6, 6:00PM – 7:30PM, Online, register here
Join us for this month’s General Meeting which is open to all and is a great place for new and existing volunteers to meet staff and other volunteers, come and hear what the other teams are up to, and to do a deep dive into a topic.
This month we’ll be exploring our Defund/Divest team’s new statewide campaign – Divest Oregon: Reinvest in a Fossil-Free Oregon: a statewide coalition of organizations pressuring and persuading the Oregon Investment Council, including the State Treasurer (and gubernatorial candidate) Tobias Read, to end new investment in fossil fuels, transparently phase out current investments by 2026, and reinvest in climate-safe investments using a social justice framework.
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Actions
For quick actions like petitions, check out our Take Action Page. See here for our broader Volunteer Opportunities.
The Oregon Treasury has the responsibility of investing our state’s public money, and right now billions of dollars are invested in the fossil fuel industry. Not only is this morally unconscionable in this time of a rapidly worsening climate crisis, it’s also an irresponsible financial investment for Oregonians. Oregon should be at the leading edge of climate-safe investments to support a sustainable future for us all.
Our Defund/Divest team is a part of the newly-launched Divest Oregon campaign, working to get the Oregon Treasury to divest their holdings in the fossil fuel industry. Will you join us by writing to Treasurer Tobias Read and all members of the Oregon Investment Council? Once you’ve sent that quick email, join us in calling the Treasury:
Treasurer Tobias Read: 503-378-4329
Treasury Main Office: 503-378-4000
Treasury Tigard Office: 503-431-7900
Sample script:
“Hello. Thank you for taking my call. This is ____ from ____. I’m concerned about how the Oregon Treasury is investing our funds. I am a [PERS member, Oregonian, union member, etc.]. The funds of PERS and the Oregon Treasury are at risk. Those funds should be put into climate-safe investments that increase our resiliency as a people and as a state.
Treasury needs to act: 1) No NEW investments in fossil fuels should be made since they pose a financial, health, and climate risk to Oregonians. 2) Disclose Oregon Treasury fossil fuel holdings, and 3) phase out all current fossil fuel investments and move to climate-safe investments using a social justice framework. I will be watching to see how the Treasury responds to these requests. Thank you for your work to make the Oregon Treasury climate. Again, this is ____ from _____ and I can be reached at _______ for a response.”
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Survey: Getting Involved in the City of Portland Charter Review
Every ten years, the Charter Commission meets to review Portland’s Charter (city constitution) and recommend changes that impact all Portlanders. This is known as the charter review process and it is happening right now. The recommendations made by the Charter Commission have the potential to make your voice heard and strengthen our democracy. The 350PDX City/County Watchdog Team is working with the Coalition of Communities of Color to get community engagement on this process. Click here to take the survey by Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
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Opportunities
- 350PDX Volunteer Orientation
Thurs Oct 14, 6:00PM – 7:30PM, Online, register hereA great place to get started with 350PDX – hear what we’re all about, meet some cool people, and start finding your place in the climate justice movement here in Portland! - Go Zero Tour 2021
Virtual Tour Webinars – Oct 12th & 14th, 10 AM, register here
In-Person Tour – Oct 16th, 10 AM to 2 PM, register hereResidential buildings account for almost a quarter of all energy usage in the state of Oregon, and zero energy home design is an important strategy in climate adaptation. Join Solar Oregon for a hybrid virtual and in-person exploration of zero energy and “path-to-zero” homes across the state: the Go Zero Tour 2021 presented by Energy Trust of Oregon. This event is part of Sustainable Building Week, with virtual event dates on October 12th & 14th, and the in-person tour on the16th.This year’s tour is brimming with possibility. Explore a mix of new and retrofit homes, including single family, multifamily, tiny home, and affordable housing, and learn the value of electrification, energy resilience, and energy efficiency. Discover the surprisingly simple, accessible, and innovative strategies for getting to zero energy.
- Fall Training Series – Skilling Up For Climate Action
Join these free trainings offered for all 350 groups across the country, whether you’re brand new or a longtime activist. Register and you’ll receive slides and recordings afterwards too, even if you can’t make it. More info on all the trainings here.All trainings are Saturdays 11:00am – 1:00pm:
– Saturday, Oct 16th – Climate Justice: Principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, intersections between climate and social justice movements, how to identify and address white supremacy culture and inequity in our groups and work.
– Saturday, Oct 30th – Strategic Messaging: Why storytelling and messaging are essential to our work, how to create a just and equitable narrative that supports campaign strategies using non-extractive storytelling, and best practices for communicating our message.
– Saturday, Nov 20th – Organizing and Movement Building: Why build a movement? How to recruit, engage, and onboard new volunteers, develop volunteer leadership, and build community.
– Saturday, Dec 4th – Strategic Campaigning: How to choose a campaign, map out decision makers, allies and opponents, plan campaign goals, timeline, and roles, and select effective tactics using a justice and equity lens.
– Saturday, Dec 18th – Policy Advocacy: How to advocate, how legislative bodies work, and how to influence elected officials–with examples from local affiliates to demonstrate common tactics and best practices. - Portland Black Lives Matter Protests
Throughout the week @ across the city – details here
Click here for our advice for showing up to protest
Thank you all for the work that you do, stay safe, we’re all in this together,
Chris, Dineen, Gaby, Indi, Jana – the 350PDX staff
