Welcome to the 350PDX newsletter, where we highlight action opportunities, upcoming events, and more. But first — a reminder to join Portland youth this Friday, September 15, to strike for the climate!
Join the Portland Youth Climate Strike!
THIS Fri, Sept 15, 11:00am-2:00pm — at Portland City Hall (1221 SW 4th Avenue) – learn more here
Portland Youth Climate Strike (PYCS) organizers, in collaboration with over 30 Oregon organizations, are striking for the climate in Portland, Eugene, Salem, and Bend. Hundreds of youth will walk out of school across the state and hosting a climate justice action that all are invited to join, regardless of age.
This action is also in solidarity with a global mobilization of climate actions during the weekend of Sept 15-17, where millions of people around the world will take to the streets to demand a rapid, just, and equitable end to fossil fuels. Join us!
In gratitude,
350PDX Staff (Anissa, Brenna, Cherice, Chris, Dineen, Eloise, Kiera, & Julia)
Take Action
For quick actions like petitions, check out our Take Action Page. Take the Pledge of Action for more updates.
Tell the DEQ to prioritize climate justice through the Climate Protection Program
In Dec 2021, the OR Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) passed the Climate Protection Program (CPP) — an ambitious plan that requires 50% emissions reductions in Oregon’s largest polluting facilities by 2035, provides direct economic and environmental benefits to frontline communities, and more. Frontline communities and other stakeholders provided strong community input on the CPP when it was initially passed. But during the rule-making process to implement the plan, community-based and environmental justice groups have not been included, and the rules that the DEQ are proposing for the CPP are missing key climate justice elements.
Join us in reminding the DEQ that Oregonians care about environmental and climate justice. Write a comment telling DEQ we want the CPP to focus on the original goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, providing meaningful investments to benefit Oregonians, and holding big polluters accountable.
Please make a brief comment to the DEQ before September 22 at 4pm or provide spoken testimony at a DEQ hearing on September 18 at 4pm. Learn more and take action here!
Protect the Portland Clean Energy Fund!
The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) was a huge, BIPOC-led win for climate justice here in Portland. Through its Climate Investment Plan (CIP), PCEF invests $750 million over five years in green jobs and healthy homes for all residents of Portland, especially those who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, racism, and displacement. The CIP has been developed through extensive community engagement led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities (BIPOC).
Now, all Portlanders need to come together again to make sure we protect this critical fund! On Wednesday, Sept 20, from 3-5pm — Portland City Council has a hearing on PCEF’s Climate Justice Plan. Join us in attending the hearing to show City Council that the plan has strong community support. Learn more here about joining the hearing virtually, signing up to testify in person or virtually, and other details.
Events & Opportunities
Protest the “Who Will Own the Forest” Conference
Wed Sept 27, 12:00PM – 5:00PM (note the updated time!) — Portland World Forestry Center (4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland), learn more here
Join us in converging at Portland’s World Forestry Center for a demonstration confronting Wall Street capitalists and putting them on notice that managing forests to maximize profits and stall climate action will be met with increasing resistance. There will be speakers, music, marching bands, theatrical performances, art & creative resistance, and more – come out to show these Wall Street elites that extractive forestry and false solutions are risky investments in the face of staunch grassroots opposition! Check out this episode of Coast Range Radio, where our Forest Climate Manager Brenna Bell talks about the action!
Join the “Forests Over Profits” Conference
Thurs Sept 28, 10:00AM – 5:30PM — at First Unitarian Church of Portland (1211 SW Main St, Portland), learn more here
Join the Forests Over Profits conference! Communities and forests need real solutions to the climate emergency, industrial logging, and colonial land grabbing. In contrast to the corporate ‘Who Will Own the Forest?’ conference, communities and activists will come together to elevate real solutions and the need for fundamental systems change in the face of capitalist exploitation and the climate & biodiversity crises. We’ll learn from speakers & panelists about approaches to forest management that support ecosystems, empower communities, and grow climate resilience, including from the Land Back movement and Indigenous land management systems, community forestry & land trusts, and sustainable forest management.
350PDX Volunteer Orientation
Tues, Oct 3, 6:00-8:00pm — 350PDX office (3625 N Mississippi Ave) – learn more here
Come and hear more of what 350PDX is all about, meet some staff and volunteers, see our office space, and explore more how to get involved! We’ll start at 6pm with some pizza and wine/beer/soft drinks, and then have an intro training that covers what we’re all about. We’ll do some group exercises to get you practicing some of your new skills, and we’ll finish with some time to chat one on one about getting more involved or get your remaining questions answered. This will be an indoor masks optional event. See full accessibility information here, and feel free to email Chris (chris@350pdx.org) with any accessibility needs.
350PDX Book Club: Regeneration
Wed, Oct 11, 6:30-8:00pm — 350PDX office (3625 N Mississippi Ave) – learn more here
The 350PDX Book Club meets every 2 months and discusses the most important books of our time, alternating between fiction and nonfiction. Next, we’re reading and talking about “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation.” Our next meeting is Weds Oct 11, 6:30 – 8:00PM — Sign up to our book club list here, or reach out to chris@350pdx.org.
350PDX Outreach Team Training
Thurs, Oct 12, 6:00-8:00pm — 350PDX office (3625 N Mississippi Ave) – RSVP here
Join us for our first Outreach Team Training!! Learn how to talk about 350PDX and the climate justice movement, and best practices for flyering, wheat pasting, tabling, community presentations, and house parties. For the last half hour, we’ll be posting upcoming event flyers around a 2 block radius of our office. Attending one of these sessions is suggested before joining our Outreach Team. This will also be a food and drink potluck! We’ll provide a main dish and some beverages (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) and please feel free to bring other food and beverages to share!
350PDX October Action Night
Wed, Oct 18, 6-8pm — 350PDX office (3625 N Mississippi Ave) – RSVP here
350PDX has monthly, in person gatherings in our offices where you can take action, meet other folks in the climate justice community, and learn more about our campaigns and how to get involved! Food and drink is provided. At this October’s action night, our main programming will be a presentation to inform us about the harm created by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum and why we should care about free trade agreements in the climate justice movement!
Resistance, Resiliency, & Revelry – 350PDX 10-Year Anniversary Party
From halting drilling efforts in the Arctic and organizing a 20,000 person climate strike, to fighting for our forests and stopping dozens of new polluting fossil fuel projects across the region, it’s now been ten years since 350PDX formed as a grassroots organization for climate justice. There’s a lot to celebrate! Join us on Thursday, November 2nd to celebrate a decade in the climate justice movement. All are invited to this celebration of movement-building for climate justice in Portland! Past, present, and future volunteers and community members will gather for food, art, music, and other activities, building together to create a world free of exploitation and oppression.
With gratitude,
350PDX Staff (Anissa, Brenna, Cherice, Chris, Dineen, Eloise, Julia, Kiera)
