350PDX Weekly Update – Another round of appreciations for Jordan Cove victory!
Hi everyone,
We’re still celebrating the Jordan Cove LNG win, and I wanted to give another round of appreciations to everyone in the 350PDX community who helped make this happen! We played an important part in stopping Jordan Cove, turning out Oregonians by the tens of thousands to write public comments, rallying in Salem and along the pipeline route, calling the Governor, and pressuring banks funding the project. We helped win permit denials that delivered major blows to the project, leading to Pembina finally calling it quits.
This win is a reminder of how we can use grassroots organizing to reach tangible goals that improve our communities for generations to come. In this campaign, we fostered connections with groups across the state. Together, we kept 15 coal-fired power plants worth of emissions out of the atmosphere, stopped a corporation from building a 230-mile fracked gas pipeline out of tribal lands, and protected the drinking water of over a hundred thousands people. When we do climate justice work together, following frontline leadership and those most impacted by the crisis, we can achieve great things. We will continue to work in coalition to stop fossil fuel projects, battle the Climate Crisis, and fight for an equitable future in Oregon.
Hear more about the Jordan Cove victory from Dineen, our Campaign Manager!
Take Action!
For quick actions like petitions, check out our Take Action Page. See here for our broader Volunteer Opportunities.
Pledge your support for grocery workers in our community!
Grocery workers of UFCW Local 55 voted for an unfair labor practices strike on Fred Meyer and Quality Food Centers (QFC) and are calling for community support. “Fred Meyer and QFC have repeatedly violated their legal duties to negotiate in good faith with Local 555, with the most blatant example being Fred Meyer’s refusal to provide information necessary for the Union to negotiate a new agreement and to process grievances. The way these employers have violated the National Labor Relations Act has left grocery workers no choice but to take action,” said UFCW 555 President Dan Clay. Pledge your support for grocery workers in our community!
Add your name to community letter from 50 BIPOC women – “We Won’t Surrender our Beloved City to People for Portland’s Bleak Vision”
Led by NAACP President Sharon Gary-Smith, Angela Uheberlau, the founder of Oregon Kids Read, and State Representative Andrea Valderrama of East Portland, 50 BIPOC women published an open letter in The Oregonian: “We Won’t Surrender our Beloved City to People for Portland’s Bleak Vision.” They are calling on Mayor Ted Wheeler, Commissioner Mingus Mapps, and Commissioner Dan Ryan to denounce the “People for Portland” dark money campaign for more police and shelter enforcement. Join the over 500 people who have signed on in solidarity!
Tell the Oregon DEQ to reject a pollution increase at PGE’s Carty Gas Plant
Portland General Electric (PGE) wants the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to approve a massive increase in air pollution from carbon monoxide and volatile organic compound emissions–both of which have serious health and environmental impacts–in an area that already has frequent air quality advisories and alerts. Will you stand up for public health and our climate and send a comment to the DEQ today?
Tell OPB to Drop NW Natural Sponsorship
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) has been a trusted news source in our community. That’s why it’s so surprising to hear that OPB is running sponsorship ads for NW Natural. When OPB promotes the use of fracked gas through ads that ignore harms to our communities, they lose our trust as listeners. Our public radio should not be promoting the fossil fuel industry. Join us in asking OPB to drop their NW Natural sponsorship.
Updates
Oregon Legislators support divestment and introduce 2022 bill
“Climate champion legislators Khanh Pham, Paul Holvey and Jeff Golden had an Op-Ed in The Oregonian, ‘Oregon must disclose and divest from fossil fuels‘ on December 8th, 2021 supporting our campaign. They stated, ‘That is why we are introducing a bill this upcoming 2022 legislative session to disclose Oregon’s fossil fuel holdings so the public can clearly understand our state’s financial and climate risks. We support the urging of Divest Oregon, a grassroots coalition representing unions with PERS members, racial and climate justice groups, youth leaders, and faith communities: the state must stop any new investments in the fossil sector and phase out current holdings in the next five years.'” – divestoregon.org
Portland Public Schools faces heat over climate policy revisions
Portland Public Schools are subtracting key pieces of climate action from their climate crisis response policy, despite students and stakeholders calling for them to take bolder steps. ‘I know there are challenges with budget. I know there are challenges with enacting this policy. That being said, we need to be bold and we need to be brave. We do not have a long time until our planet is devastated.'” – Danny Cage, a district student council representative for Grant High School, PPS policy committee member and climate activist. Read the full Portland Tribune article here.
The Quiet Culprit: Pension Funds Bankrolling the Climate Crisis
A new report from the Climate Safe Pensions Network by Third Rail Economy and Stand.earth chronicles how much United States’ top fourteen public pension funds have invested in fossil fuel assets – $81.6 billion! And this leaves out a large part of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System investment portfolio, which has not been fully disclosed. This report drives home that fossil fuel divestment is one of the best courses of action we have for battling the Climate Crisis. Read the full report here.
Oregon State University scientists call for Strategic Forest Reserves to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change
Oregon State University scientists released a study identifying 36 million acres of forests in the Western U.S. they recommend becoming Strategic Forest Reserves. If protected, these forests would substantially reduce carbon emissions, protect unique wildlife and biodiversity, and protect drinking water for local communities. These Strategic Forest Reserves would help us reach the Biden administration’s goal of protecting 30% of U.S. land and freshwater by 2030. Read the full study here.
Opportunities
Powell Butte 350PDX Community Hike
Sat Dec 18, 1:00-3:00pm, Powell Butte
The 350PDX Forest Defense and City/County Watchdog team are hosting a December hike at Powell Butte, 1-3pm on Dec 18. Reach out to Felice (202-494-2852) when you’re there for exact location!
Fall Training Series – Skilling Up For Climate Action
Join the last in a series of 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, 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
TODAY is the last of the 350PDX Art Sale!
Order before midnight today (Thursday, Dec 16) to guarantee your art pieces will arrive before Dec 25. These art pieces have been generously donated by 350PDX volunteers, staff, and supporters. 100% of the proceeds go towards our climate justice work so we can continue fighting to stop fossil fuel projects and build a just, equitable world. Help us raise $80,000 for our year-end fundraiser so we can continue growing our community and our work in 2022!
