Welcome to our monthly newsletter, where we highlight some of the amazing work our volunteer teams have been up to and how you can take action!
FEBRUARY TEAM UPDATES
Want to get involved but not sure where to start? Fill out the Volunteer Form
Fossil Fuel Resistance Team
Our team continues to work together with our partners on our 3 main campaigns: fighting Zenith Energy’s dangerous oil-by-rail facility, fighting the GTN Xpress fracked gas pipeline expansion, and advocating for a clean air standard at Multnomah County. This past month, we co-hosted the 12th Rumble on the River Community Forum, which focused on how nuclear energy is not a climate solution. There were over 100 people in attendance! If you missed it, you can watch the recording of this great panel on our Youtube channel. It’s a great time to join us!
Virtual Rumble on the River Educational Community Forum — Feb 22 at 7:00pm – save the date
Join us virtually on Thursday, February 22 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm for a special panel on the Risky Reality of our Toxic Mix in the CEI Hub. Over 1000 hazardous materials storage containers at local industries in Multnomah County are in danger of leaking in an earthquake because they were not built to seismic design standards. Those holding hazardous gases may release toxic plumes into the air that can be life-threatening; plumes will be carried by the wind to other locations. Other hazmats may spill onto soil and water with dire environmental impacts. Panelists will present on the toxic plume issues from the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub and what we can do about it. Save the date – webinar registration link coming soon!
In the meantime, please sign this petition from our partners at Tank the Tanks for Community Safety in the CEI Hub.
Communities in the Blast Zone coming together
Do you live in the blast zone of Zenith’s oil trains? Use this map to find out. If you do, call and write to the City of Portland and share that you live in the blast zone and are concerned for your safety. You can also pick up a yard sign to have in your front yard or apartment window to educate your neighbors about the blast zone and what they can do to #StopZenith. Send an email to stopzenith@350pdx.org to coordinate receiving a yard sign from one of our team members.
We’re also helping folks hold Neighborhood Parties to educate their community about the issue, reach out to dineen@350pdx.org and liseb
Take action: Fight for Clean Air in Multnomah County
Multnomah County has a huge opportunity to fight back against the gas industry and enact policies that ensure cleaner and safer air for us all to breathe. The problem? They’re stalling, and need to hear from us to take this bold action. Join us in calling and emailing Multnomah County Commissioners to say we need Clean Air Quality Standards NOW! Learn more here.
Want to come testify to the County about this issue? We will help you come up with a 2-minute testimony you can share. Meetings are Thursday mornings at 9:30 am. Reach out to Dineen at dineen@350pdx.org to learn more about how you can support.
GET CONNECTED: Our next meeting is in person on Tuesday, February 13 at 5:30 pm, on Zoom. It’s a great time to join the team! Reach out to Dineen and Melanie to get plugged in and schedule an orientation meeting: dineen@350pdx.org, me
Forest Defense Team
Shade Equity Social — March 11, 6-8pm at our office (3639 N Mississippi Ave) – Please register for the event
We’re hosting another Shade Equity Social on Monday, March 11th from 6-8pm, and you’re invited! At this Shade Equity Social, we’ll celebrate Portland’s urban forests and share information & ideas about how to grow a more climate resilient and equitable urban forest. At our last Shade Equity Social in October, 50+ folks dug a little deeper into the (perceived) tension between building more housing and maintaining our urban forests — summarized in this helpful synthesis. Thanks to all who attended!
A key issue that arose at several Shade Equity Socials is that many of our goals would be easier to realize with more urban forests & green infrastructure champions on the City Council. Our March Social will both build on these discussions and move beyond discussing into making actionable plans for engagement in the upcoming local election. Please note 350PDX is a 501(c)(3) org so the conversations will not focus on supporting particular candidates, but rather how to make urban forests a meaningful campaign issue. Food & drinks provided. Families are welcome & child care provided.
Policy Team
350PDX’s newest volunteer-run team — the Climate Justice Policy Team — is building on the work of the City/County Watchdog Team and 350PDX’s work to advocate for strong legislation that moves us toward a just and sustainable future. This month, we are focused on passing climate justice bills in the Oregon legislative session. We’ll be hosting lobby days, and mobilizing the climate justice community to make calls and email our legislators until the session ends on March 10.
Take action to pass bills for climate justice this legislative session
The 2024 Oregon Legislative Session has started! Now through when the session ends on March 10, it’s critical we make it clear to legislators that we need them to pass key climate justice bills, and prioritize climate justice in Oregon’s budget.
More opportunities:
- Read more about the bills 350PDX is supporting this legislative session and more opportunities for action on our 2024 Legislative Priorities page.
- Tell your legislators to pass HB 4083 – THE COAL ACT (CLEAN OREGON ASSETS LEGISLATION)
- Sign up to receive action alerts during the 2024 Oregon legislative session so you know when and how to make your voice heard in the ways it will make the most impact.
- Did you miss our How a Bill Becomes a Law Training? Check out the recording of the training here so you feel informed to participate in this year’s legislative session with us.
- Ask 3 friends to join you in contacting your legislators!
GET CONNECTED: Reach out to Cherice (350PDX Policy Manager) at cherice@350pdx.org to join our meetings, or sign up here to join the Policy Team.
Arts Team
The 350PDX Arts Team January artbuild took the day off, due to the weather on January 14. So the art build planned for Sunday, February 11 is especially important — we’ll catch up with the scheduled tree puppets’ rehabilitation, complete Mr Capitalist puppets, and other timely tasks, as well as moving supplies into our new space, practicing drums, and discussing ideas for Earth Day. Reach out to Donna at murph1949@aol.com if you are planning to come to the the artbuild this Sunday.
GET CONNECTED: Can you join in? We hope so! Get in touch with Donna, murph1949@aol.com, or any of our leads– Donna, Dannika, Lauren, or Allison. Our artbuilds are every second Sunday of the month.
Creative Team
The Creative Team uses storytelling to make the climate justice movement irresistible. We’ve finished gathering submissions for a writing and art contest we’re hosting with the Breach Collective, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Here Together Oregon — Flash Futures PNW: A Climate Fiction & Art Contest. Now we’re working on selecting submissions to add to a zine that we’ll be publishing in the spring! We’re also excited to support the Forest Defense Team in further developing their messaging for the Ax Drax campaign
GET CONNECTED: Fill out this form to get on our creative roster, or reach out to Julia at julia@350pdx.org to get involved with the team.
SW Team
Welcome to the Southwest Neighborhood Team, which includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. Do you want to bring awareness of climate change to your workplace or community group? We can bring a one hour presentation to your Brown Bag at work, or to your civic or social group? Consider scheduling one of our series of presentations on themes that include: How to Save Our Planet, How to Replace Fossil Fuels, How to Rewild Our Planet, and How to Save Our Oceans. To schedule a presentation, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.
Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in February, raising awareness of the climate emergency. These sign-waving events take only one hour of your time, once a week, and we reach hundreds of commuters. Street corner demonstrations in February are scheduled for every Monday from 12 noon – 1 p.m. at SW Terwilliger Blvd. and SW Taylors Ferry Road. Street parking is available or take the bus or ride your bike. We have extra signs to share.
GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly meeting on Monday, March 11th, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Zoom. A link will be sent out to SW Team members prior to our meeting. To get involved in our outreach actions, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com, or visit https://350pdx.org/campaigns/
Washington County Team
Our team hosts monthly sign waving and film events, tabling for climate justice in the neighborhood, and lots more! At our upcoming monthly online meeting on February 13, local activist Beth Genly will brief us on Divest Oregon’s new COAL Act, and we’ll discuss other bills coming forward in the Legislative Short session. Our sign waving team expects to be in action in Hillsboro on Saturday, February 17 from 11am to noon – check our Facebook page for more details. We are beginning work to partner with local groups to create an Earth Day event, and we are discussing whether to continue our work on public film events.
GET CONNECTED: We always welcome newcomers to our regular monthly 6:30pm second Tuesday (online) meetings and at all our events. Our next online meetup will be on February 13. Contact Debby (debbygactivism@gmail.com) for the address if you’d like to attend.
Brooklyn Neighborhood Team
The Brooklyn Neighborhood Team works to mobilize people in our community towards climate justice initiatives. Some of our projects include mobilizing people in the movement to Stop Zenith Energy, supporting a new cargo bike sharing scheme in the neighborhood, and amplifying clean air issues.
GET CONNECTED: Join our Brooklyn Climate Action Team mailing list here to get 1-2 emails a month with local action alerts. Know someone in our neighborhood? Forward this email onto them! Any questions, contact chris@350pdx.org.
Outreach Team
The Outreach and Organizing Team expands and develops the climate justice movement over time, and finds creative ways to expand outreach, training, and leadership development. Interested in joining? Please fill out this Doodle Poll by Sunday, February 11th for the first Outreach and Organizing meeting this February!
GET CONNECTED: Reach out to kiera@350pdx.org and we’ll loop you in!
