350PDX Weekly Update – Welcome New Staff Members to the Team!

Hi everyone,

We are overjoyed to announce that we’ve added two brand new staff positions to the 350PDX team! This past year, we’ve made big strides in our campaigns, from achieving a major win against Zenith Energy to helping pass the 100% Clean Energy for All Bill. We’ve tackled new projects, built out our teams, and recruited new volunteers who’ve made all this possible. We’re expanding our staff team to continue this important work and grow our organization in preparation for what we’re sure will be another big year.

Join us in welcoming our new Forest Climate Manager, Brenna Bell, and our new Communications Manager, Julia Fritz-Endres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenna Bell (she/her) – Forest Climate Manager

“Raised on Muckleshoot Prairie in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, a land of both towering trees and expansive clearcuts, Brenna started advocating for forests in 1997. Her journey of advocacy took her up to tree sits, into lumber mills, across timber sales, though law school, to meetings, rallies, webinars and more . . . all with a focus of shifting forest management away from commodity production and towards ecological restoration. Along the way, she fell in love with dead trees, forest fires, and learned that Pacific NW forests are some of the best carbon sequestering ecosystems in the world. And learned that snow packs and glaciers are rapidly melting and, if we don’t change forest management, Oregon might start running out of summer water.

The more she learned about forests and climate change, the more Brenna‘s work shifted to focus on that intersection. In 2020, while staff attorney for Bark, Brenna helped launch the Pacific NW Forest Climate Alliance, bringing together over 60 groups across the NW to share resources and take action improving forest management to build climate resiliency and mitigate climate change. She’s thrilled to build capacity for 350PDX‘s Forest Defense Team as the Forest Climate Manager, and looks forward to changing both laws and culture to value Oregon’s forests for more than profit.

Along with loving forests, Brenna also loves long bike commutes, raising dairy goats, talking about death, figuring out how to share life with her intentional community, and being a mom to two awesome kids who are scared about climate change.”

You can reach Brenna at brenna@350pdx.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Fritz-Endres (she/her) – Communications Manager

“Julia grew up in a small town in Massachusetts where she gained a deep sense of connection to the natural world. Like many other young people, she also developed a fear of climate change – how it would impact her generation’s future and forever change the forests she loved. She moved to the Twin Cities to study climate science and policy at Macalester College, and soon found a home in the local climate justice community. After discovering community organizing, she didn’t feel so alone in the face of a terrifying future. Julia spent over three years mobilizing people to take action in the Stop Line 3 movement and taking action herself. She was also part of the core planning for actions like the Treaty People Gathering, where thousands participated in civil disobedience.

While in Minnesota, Julia volunteered extensively with MN350, worked as a Pipeline Resistance Coordinator for MN Interfaith Power & Light, completed a service year with MN GreenCorps to further the City of Saint Paul’s climate goals, canvassed for the 2020 General Election, and organized with the Sunrise Movement Twin Cities hub. Julia believes we must follow frontline leadership to dismantle all systems of oppression and build new systems that are healing and regenerative. She is honored to be able to continue that work with 350PDX. As a Communications Manager with 350PDX, she coordinates email blasts, newsletters, social media, web content, and press relations.

After work, you can find Julia going on runs in the woods, reading science fiction, writing poetry, and hanging out with her cats, Turkey and Goose. You can reach her at julia@350pdx.org”

Learn more about all our staff members here.

Actions

For quick actions like petitions, check out our Take Action Page. See here for our broader Volunteer Opportunities.

Stop Oregon’s Free Pass for Fracked Gas Polluters: Submit a Comment Today!

Right now, the State of Oregon is writing the rules for a new policy called the “Climate Protection Program.” Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, this plan is falling far short of its lofty name – carving out significant loopholes that will allow Oregon’s top polluters to continue polluting largely unabated.
The “Climate Protection Program” from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) would…

… grant a wholesale exemption for fracked-gas power plants

… favor lower costs for polluters over the health and safety of those who suffer the most from the climate crisis and pollution: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, and rural communities

… ignore DEQ’s goal of protecting frontline communities from greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, like smog-forming pollution from fracked-gas power plants

This is unacceptable. The State should be protecting Oregonians from the impacts of climate change, not giving fracked gas polluters a free pass. Your voice is critical to help Oregon get on track for the bold climate action we all need. Submit a comment urging the DEQ to make the “Climate Protection Program” live up to its name

State of Oregon: Time to Divest from Fossil Fuels

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 the Oregon Investment Council and calling the Treasury?

Sidewalk Vigil for Climate Action Now: SW Portland

Every Friday in October, 7:45PM-8:45PM, corner of SW Garden Home and Oleson Road

Join a group of climate activists who gather every Friday in October, calling for bold climate action. Contact Emily (503) 545-1513 for more info or just show up! More info here on the actions on Fri, Oct 22, and Fri, Oct 29.

Rally for Trans Existence

Sat Oct 23, starts at 11:00AM, Colonel Summers Park

For the second year in a row, over 100 anti-trans bills have been proposed, legalizing discrimination against trans people of all identities. 40 states are trying to take away the rights of trans people. Come learn more, and join the fight for trans existence. Food and water provided by mutual aid groups. The march will not be permitted, plan accordingly. Wear a mask. We keep us safe.

SW Team Divest from Fossil Fuels Protest: Beaverton

Fri Oct 29, 4:30PM-5:30PM, Beaverton Town Square (11601 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton, OR)

Join 350PDX’s SW Team at Beaverton Town Square for Divest from Fossil Fuels – a protest in solidarity with Youth Finance Alliance’s global protest bankrolling of Oil and Gas operations. Gather in front of the Wells Fargo Bank at Beaverton Town Square.

Witches Paddle Action with XRPDX

Sat Oct 30, 11:00AM, between SE corner of OMSI parking lot and Tilikum Bridge

Put on your costume and cast a spell to protect the environment! We will gather between the SE corner of OMSI parking lot and Tilikum bridge at 11:00AM. We will educate spectators at the Witches Paddle about Zenith Energy and actions to make sure the permit denial stays in place, raising awareness around climate change leading up to the COP26 meetings. The theme is scary climate nightmare. For more info on carpooling from the OMSI parking lot and other details, email info@xrpdx.org.

Updates

 

Over 650 arrested for People vs. Fossil Fuels week of action

Last week, Indigenous communities and allies mobilized climate activists from around the country to show up at Biden’s doorstep. Over 650 people were arrested outside the White House as part of this historic week of action. Their demands were clear: that Biden upholds Indigenous sovereignty, declares a climate emergency, and ends the era of fossil fuels once and for all. Learn more here.

Indigenous-led resistance to Thacker Pass lithium mine continues

Indigenous activists continue to resist the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine project in Nevada. The mine would destroy sacred land, including the site of a 1865 massacre where over 31 Indigenous people were killed. Learn more about the history of the movement to Protect Thacker Pass here and follow @PeopleOfRedMountain on Facebook for more updates.

Reed College takes steps to divest from fossil fuels

Influenced by students organizing for climate justice on campus, the Reed College Board of Trustees voted to take steps in divesting from fossil fuels. Read the full Oct 11 announcement here.

Opportunities

 

EcoFaith Recovery Metro Portland Cohort Events

• Multi-Faith Prayer Vigil – Mon Oct 18, 12:00PM-1:00PM, Wells Fargo Center (SW Columbia and SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR)
• Third Tuesday Zoom Gatherings with EcoFaith and Oregon IPL/EMO – Tue Oct 19, 6:30PM-8:00PM, email RevJanet@ecofaithrecovery.org to RSVP or learn more
• Eloheh Volunteer Day and Tree Planting – Sat Oct 23, 9:00AM – 4:00PM, email RevJanet@ecofaithrecovery.org to RSVP or learn more

Portland Rising Film Showing of Cooked, Survival by Zip Code

Fri Oct 22, 7:00-9:00PM, online – details here

Join Portland Rising for an online showing of the movie Cooked, Survival by Zip Code and the discussion to follow. This timely and powerful documentary challenges our use of the term “natural” disaster and demonstrates how, by ignoring racism and poverty, we fail to properly prepare for future disasters.

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.

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,
Brenna, Chris, Dineen, Gaby, Indi, Jana, Julia – the 350PDX staff