DECEMBER 2024 UPDATES & EVENTS

Hi Everyone,

December is here, and we’re excited to bring you all the latest updates and news from 350PDX. There’s so much to share this month, but before we jump in check out our 2024 Highlight Reel & read about all our wins here!

Rage, Rejoice, Resist: A Holiday Fundraiser for 350PDX and Breach Collective: Join us this Saturday at 7:00pm at Worker’s Tap for a fun end-of-the-year celebration with dessert, drinks, karaoke, a raffle with great prizes, and exciting speakers. Have fun while supporting the local climate justice movement! You won’t want to miss this…

Join the 350PDX Board!

Are you passionate about making a difference in our community? 350PDX is recruiting new members to join our board. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply, as we strive to reflect the richness and diversity of the communities we serve. We’re also interested in individuals with experience in finance to help guide our organization’s fiscal health and sustainability. Interested? Please reach out to: Devyn@350pdx.org More info here.

Volunteers!

Are you interested in getting involved at 350PDX? Please join us for our December volunteer orientation! The orientation will be led by our Community Engagement Manager, Katie Hutchinson. You’ll get the chance to meet other new volunteers, see our office and workshop space, and explore more how to get involved! Join us, Tuesday, December 17, 6:00-8:00pm, at the 350PDX Office, 3639 N Mississippi Ave. RSVP here. We’ll start with some pizza and wine/beer/soft drinks, and then have an intro training that covers what we’re all about. Please reach out with any accessibility needs, including dietary restrictions. Email katie@350pdx.org with any questions.

Team Updates and Upcoming Events

 

Arts Team

The Arts Team build is Sunday, December 8, 1:00-4:00pm, at the 350PDX workshop, 3639 N Mississippi. We’ll make more brooms for the 350PDX art fundraiser, finish our butterflies, and discuss further work on large-scale climate puppets using strategies we learned at the Donovan Zimmerman/Paperhand Puppet Project workshops. If you weren’t there, check out this video and article from KOIN 6 News! Please reach out to Donna Murphy and let her know if you can join us for the build.

And don’t forget that our Annual Art Sale is on Wednesday 12/18, 6:00-9:00pm, at the 350PDX workshop, and wiill feature gorgeous original work by Carson Ellis, Phoebe Wahl, Barbara Ford, and many more!

We’re still seeking donations of artwork of all kinds! The pieces can be climate-themed or explore any other subject. If interested in donating art, please use this form!

Climate Policy

We’re excited to move into 2025 with two strong opportunities for climate policy advocacy: the new Portland city council and mayor provide an exciting space for collaborative action, and the Oregon legislature will hold its long session with several meaningful opportunities to bring climate justice to the forefront.

Are you interested in meeting with your city council members, the mayor, and your legislators with us? Do you want to learn more about the important issues we’re working on at the state level? Sign up to be part of a group we’ll call on first. Together, our voices can show incredible support for climate justice in Portland and Oregon in the coming year!

 
Cimate Protection Program restored
The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) of the Department of Environmental Quality reinstated the Climate Protection Program (CPP) in November! This landmark policy will reduce large polluter emissions by 90% by 2050, and 50% by 2035 (learn more). Fossil fuel companies filed a lawsuit to remove this program, but statewide organizing through the Climate and Economic Justice Coalition mobilized a massive outpouring of grassroots support for protecting it. You all spoke up, wrote in, and showed up to make sure the CPP was reinstated—and we won! Take a moment today to send a letter of thanks to the EQC commissioners and Governor Kotek for their part in restoring the CPP.
 
Apply to join the City of Portland’s new Sustainability & Climate Commission (SCC)!
Earlier this year, we advocated for a strong SCC at the City of Portland, and now applications are open to serve on this volunteer commission! The commission will focus on environmental justice and keeping the city accountable to our climate goals. 20 Commission seats are available, including 4 dedicated youth seats (ages 16–24). Application deadline: January 17. More info here. Learn more about the SCC here.
 

Forest Defense Team

Shade Equity Campaign: We’re happy to announce that the City Council voted unanimously to make the Large Tree Amendment permanent!  Several years ago, this amendment changed the Tree Code to add more protection for trees over 20 inches that are at risk of being cut for new development. However, this was not a permanent amendment and had to be renewed every 5 years. It was due to sunset at the end of December and many members of the Forest Defense Team testified about the importance of not only renewing the amendment, but also making it a permanent part of the Tree Code. We’re so glad that the Council heard us and agreed.Community Confluence Conference: 350PDX is co-sponsoring this day-long gathering on Saturday, December 14th hosted by our allies at Bark.  The event will include panels, keynotes, a silent auction and a dance party!  The theme for the conference is “Tools for Change” and focuses on issues that a budding environmental justice advocate should know about engaging with nature and policy alike. 350PDX’s Forest Climate Manager Brenna Bell will be giving a keynote address on the past, present and future of forest defense on the Mt. Hood National Forest. Hope to see you there!Get Involved:  The Forest Defense team meets on the first and third Monday of the month. We’re excited for our fourth annual Forest Defense Team holiday party on Monday December 16th from 6-8 pm at the 350PDX office. This is open to all team members, or folks interested in joining. We’ll have a potluck, white elephant gift exchange, games and plenty of fun! If you want to get connected with the team, please contact team co-leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org), or Forest Climate Manager Brenna Bell (brenna@350pdx.org).

 

 

Fossil Fuel Resistance

Historic Pause in DEQ’s Comment Period on Zenith Energy: Last month, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) conducted a surprise inspection at Zenith’s McCall dock—the same dock Zenith unlawfully connected to in 2021. During their visit, inspectors discovered Zenith had done “more expansive” construction work than expected. The following day, citing the need for additional information before proceeding with Zenith’s air quality permit application, DEQ announced they are pausing the comment period and canceling the two public hearings. We are awaiting to hear the results of the inspection at Zenith and what comes next. 

This is a very big deal and an encouraging sign that regulators are taking our concerns seriously. DEQ even attributed this pause directly to our engagement in this process: “I really thank the community for their continued engagement and support in this permitting process. You know, it was their questions and comments that led us to further investigate,” said Lisa Ball, air quality manager in DEQ’s Northwest Region. “I just really hope that they can see that the information that they provided to us was helpful and it really led us to take action.” (OPB). This is a major testament to all of our dedication and determination over the years to stop Zenith. To learn more, you can read about this news in The Mercury, OPB, The Oregonian, KOIN 6, and The Portland TribuneAnd check out photos from our Zenith Rally here!

Businesses Against Zenith Energy: Are you (or someone you know) affiliated with a local business who would be interested in joining the movement to Stop Zenith? We have an exciting opportunity for local businesses to get involved in this campaign! Businesses can sign this letter to DEQ and the Portland City Council to urge the State and the City to hold Zenith accountable. Feel free to forward and share with businesses you’re connected with, and if you’d like to get involved in helping us outreach to local businesses, join the FFR team!

Get Involved: The FFR team’s last meeting of the year is on Tuesday, December 10 at 5:30 pm at the 350PDX office (3639 N Mississippi Ave). We will have holiday treats and snacks, and will be celebrating our great work in 2024 and brainstorming our goals for 2025. This is a great meeting for new folks to join! Hope to see you there. To get connected with the team, reach out to Dineen: dineen@350pdx.org.

 

Washington County Team

Our team hosts frequent sign waving and film events, tabling for climate justice in the neighborhood, and lots more! We are invested in shaping local and State policy and frequently connect with our elected officials to discuss climate priorities. At our our last online meeting, we supported sharing and emotional processing of federal election results, and celebrated happier election results at the state level. We will meet in person on December 14 in Beaverton. Please join us. For location, please send a note to debbygactivism@gmail.com. Regular second Tuesday online meetings will resume in January. We always welcome newcomers to our monthly 6:30pm second Tuesday (online) meetings and at all our events. If you are in Washington County and would like to receive updates from us, please sign up HERE. You can also like our Facebook page for updates.

SW Neighborhood Team

Happy Holidays! Now is the time to start planning for climate action in 2025. You can begin by joining the 350PDX Southwest Team; especially if you live in neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland, from PSU to Hillsdale, Multnomah Village, Bethany, Beaverton and Lake Oswego. We meet monthly on Zoom to plan for in-person actions, presentations, and discussions in our communities. Learn more at 350PDX Southwest Team. Sign up on the 350PDX Volunteer Interest Form and indicate that you are interested in joining the group, or reach out to Pat at patk5@msn.com to learn more. Get involved! (1) Participate in our monthly online planning meetings. Next meeting is Monday, December 9th at 6:30 p.m. (2) Join our weekly street corner demonstrations. (3) Sign up to distribute yard signs promoting Climate Action Now! at community events.