Are you ready to protect the climate?
Now more than ever we need a people powered movement to take on corporate polluters and climate deniers.
There is so much work to do and many ways to engage!
- Make sure you’re on our email list. We’ll keep you current on what’s going on.
- Check the calendar for upcoming events and immediate ways to plug in. Add your voice, and connect with others. We’d love to meet you in person!
- Sign up on our Volunteer page. See where you would like to contribute. Whether you have 10 hours a week or an hour a month, 350PDX is people-powered and your contribution is valuable!
- Donate money. It takes money to keep our office open, pay staff, and fund the incredible actions and campaigns our volunteers run.
350PDX condemns police brutality and white supremacy in all its forms.
/in Announcements /by Anissa350PDX is proud of the work we did to build an inclusive and just Climate Strike Rally and Festival. However, we live in a judicial system that targets and harms black and brown bodies, and 350PDX took on the responsibility of creating a safe and free environment for the youth to exercise their rights in, that included securing permits for the rally, march, and festival. Still, we know that with permits comes police presence, and for many in our community, the presence of police creates neither a safe nor a free environment.
Knowing this, we worked to minimize the presence of police and other types of uniformed responders. With the community in mind, we created a policy that on the festival grounds, police and first responders would only be allowed to enter the event when called in response to an emergency. Volunteer staff were instructed to notify attendees before the arrival of police and first responders, to accompany them at all times to limit contact between them and the community, and had identified safer spaces for community members to gather if they did not feel comfortable being near police and first responders. In accordance with this policy, volunteers did turn away three police officers that had entered the festival grounds without invitation or permission.
We sincerely apologize to our black and brown community members who were unsafe or felt unsafe at the Climate Strike Rally. Right now, we are currently working behind the scenes to support the students and their families who were targeted by police violence at the Strike on Friday, September 20. We are working to provide the type of support that is desired by these students and their families, such as legal and financial support. We encourage the rest of the community to join us in offering this support and we will broadcast to the community ways to do so when and if it’s appropriate.
We know that we can always do more to counter white supremacy in our work, and limit the risks that black and brown people experience at the hands of police. We want to share this resource about “How Videos of Police Brutality Traumatize African Americans and Undermine the Search for Justice,” as we recognize that many videos have been shared of the incident on Friday. We understand this is coming from a genuine place of concern for these students’ safety. “Yet because the images of police violence are so pervasive, they inflict a unique harm on viewers, particularly African Americans, who see themselves and those they love in these fatal encounters. This recognition becomes a form of violence in and of itself—and even more so when justice is denied.”
With that in mind, 350PDX pledges to do the following at any upcoming action we hold:
We know that our community requires us to be accountable. We are working hard to ensure that any actions of police brutality are interrupted, that police are held accountable for their violence, and that white supremacy is dismantled in our own organizing.
In solidarity with black and brown people,
350PDX Staff
350PDX Weekly Update – 2 weeks until Climate Strike! – Sept 6 2019
/in Newsletters /by Chris PalmerHi everyone,
Are you feeling it? In the book This Is An Uprising this is called The Moment of The Whirlwind. When hundreds or thousands of people are pouring their effort, energy and passion into one new, exciting, and powerful thing. It is in these times that we can significantly build our movement, broaden our movement, and win historic campaigns. It is exciting to be here with you, and I’m glad you are a part of it.
Here’s your 350PDX weekly update!
I’m temporarily dispensing with my usual Volunteer Boards to present our new Climate Strike Volunteer Opportunities board. Lots of stuff to do, and all hands needed on deck!
Updates
New Flyers & Posters – Climate Strike
You can pick up flyers and posters tomorrow at the Sierra Club (1821 SE Ankeny) where an Art Build will be happening tomorrow (Saturday) between 1.30pm – 4pm. Or come into the 350PDX office Mon-Fri 9-5, or text Chris (971-712-4152) to get some delivered to you!
See the Outreach Guide here, and download and print flyers yourself here.
I have printed thousands of flyers but I keep running out because you volunteers are so amazing at giving them out. I’m running out of money in the outreach budget to print more, so if you would like to donate to get more flyers and posters printed please let me know at chris@350pdx.org and we can make that happen. Thank you!!
Requests
Comfort Captains! Help us make the festival sittable!
The Climate Strike Festival is taking place outside OMSI near the river, which is an idyllic general location, but the specific lot we have has a gravel floor. Not the most pleasant for sitting on! We will have enough chairs for workshops and general sitting, but to make this a comfortable, fun, enjoyable festival, we need comfortable seating! Do you have access to beanbags, outdoor carpets, cushioned chairs, sofas, straw bales, fake grass, or anything to make it nicer? We can set things up the day before so you can drop anything off then and pick it up after the festival is over. Any questions let me know – chris@350pdx.org. Thanks!
Volunteer on the day – Climate Strike
One of our biggest needs right now is for folks to step up and take a shift volunteering on the day. This is a grassroots, non-corporation-funded festival and we’ll need to pull together as a community to make it happen. It will be scrappy, but through that scrappiness it will be powerful and beautiful. Sign up here.
Share the fundraiser on social media – Climate Strike
The scale and scope and the timeline we are putting this Strike Rally, March and Festival together is unprecedented for 350PDX, and to make it happen we need your help. Please take a moment to share the youth’s fundraiser on your Facebook, Twitter or just email it to your friends, and write why this personally matters to you. See the fundraiser here. Thank you!
Opportunities
Civil Disobedience Workshop
TOMORROW Sat Sept 7, 1:00PM – 6:00PM @ NE Portland
Another opportunity to join Bonnie McKinlay’s excellent training. This is a great introduction to civil disobedience and is relevant for those who may wish to someday risk arrest, those who want to support others risking arrest, or just for those who want a greater understanding of why civil disobedience is an effective tactic. RSVP for location details -> contact Bonnie: (503) 705-1943, or goto350pdx@gmail.com
Portland Youth Climate Council – Portland Tree Code
Wed Sept 11, 9:30AM @ City Hall Chamber, 1221 SW 4th Ave, Portland
Support our Climate Strike youth colleagues in the PYCC. Wear Green. “If you or I want to cut down a tree, we must pay a fee to acquire a permit. Owners of commercial and industrial land do not. That means they are allowed – by the City – to cut down trees whenever they want without protection for those trees. We will be asking the city to change this.”
Know Your Rights Training
Wed Sept 11, 6:30PM – 8:30PM @ Cramer Hall Room 271, PSU
Learn what your constitutional rights are and how they apply to protest, direct action and demonstration. Learn the “magic words” to say while interacting with law enforcement in order to keep you and your friends safe. We will walk you through the legal system and what to expect if you are arrested. Finally this training focuses on ways the government and law enforcement try to suppress our movements, and how you can stay resilient to repression.
Beach Party to #StopJordanCove
Thurs Sept 12, 5:30PM – 7:30PM @ Poet’s Beach, west side of Marquam Bridge
Join us for a Beach Party to take action to protect the Southern Oregon coast from the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal! We will give you more information about the Coastal Zone Management Act review of Jordan Cove LNG and help you write comments to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development asking them to deny Jordan Cove LNG. Facebook event here
Thank you all for the work that you do, and for being part of this organized and Oregonian movement,
Chris – 350PDX Volunteer & Communications Coordinator
350PDX Weekly Update – Strike Countdown! August 28 2019
/in Newsletters /by Chris PalmerHi everyone,
The Amazon is on fire, and the DNC voted against allowing a Climate Debate, but at the same time presidential candidates are coming out with frankly amazing climate plans, and our local movement is growing in number and energy every day. In many ways we’ve never been closer to a climate justice revolution, and I’m so glad you’re here with us.
Here’s your 350PDX weekly update!
I’m temporarily dispensing with my usual Volunteer Boards to present our new Climate Strike Volunteer Opportunities board. Lots of stuff to do, and all hands needed on deck!
Updates
Climate Strike Outreach
We have a big stack of flyers and posters here in the office just waiting to get handed out! Come in any time 10-5 Mon-Fri and pick up as many as you’d like, and we also have a team of volunteers who are happy to deliver flyers to you outside of work hours and all over the Portland metro area! Text Chris 971-712-4152.
Also check out the website for a load of outreach advice and printable flyers and posters.
Labor Day Solidarity
Mon Sept 2 is Labor Day, and with the labor movement-inspired Climate Strike looming, this is a great opportunity to show solidarity and form closer connections with our friends in the labor movement.
1. Attend the Labor Day Picnic at Oaks Amusement Park 10am-5pm (Facebook event)
2. Volunteer at the picnic for the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) – RSVP and more details here
ClimateStrikeOregon.org is live!
An amazing volunteer, Dustin, made this amazing website where all events in Oregon on Sept 20 and during the week of action can live. Please share it far and wide!
If you know of any events happening as part of the week of action that aren’t on this website, please ask them to register their event on the site, so they can get some widespread publicity from all the outreach we’re all doing!
Requests
Festival of Dankness – Climate Strike Volunteers
On Saturday Aug 31st we’re partnering with a beer festival and we have the opportunity to do lots of outreach to the 500-1000 attendees to turn them into 500-1000 climate strikers. We need your help to do this! This means talking to beer drinkers about the strike and just having conversations with folks about how they feel about the climate crisis and offering them opportunities to get involved. You’ll get trained up on how to do this! I’ll be there and so will a few other 350PDX staff and volunteers, and if you join us you’ll get beer, an invitation to a big volunteer party next week, and a fun Saturday afternoon. 2-7pm but come for any of those hours. Let Chris know! Chris@350pdx.org or 971-712-4152 (text is best)
Climate Strike Help Needed
Check the big growing list of stuff to help with here! We’ll also need help on the day, and I’ll send a separate dedicated email about that soon! But if you can’t wait, give me an email and I’ll make a note!
Fundraising – Climate Strike Help Needed
The ideas are in place and the whole strike is coming together, but we need money to pull this thing off! Are you a fundraising pro, or even a development beginner? Contact Ashley@350pdx.org, or come to the mass meeting tonight (see below) and join the fundraising team!
Graphic Designer – Climate Strike Help Needed
We need to make a site map for the Climate Strike Festival, for the permit and also so festival-goers can find their way around. Got these skills? Contact Sarah – sarah.lou.carlberg@gmail.com
Fall Development Intern
Join 350PDX as a development intern and learn all about our climate justice work, while learning critical research, marketing, writing, and fundraising skills. Apply here, or pass it onto folks who might be interested!
Opportunities
Climate Strike Mass Meeting
TONIGHT Wed Aug 28, 5:30PM – 7:30PM @ 350PDX Fellowship Room, 1820 NE 21st Ave
Join us tonight for our next Climate Strike Mass Meeting, where youth organizers will present their plan and give tangible ways for everyone to get involved.
This is a working meeting, where we’ll hear the plan for Portland’s Climate Strike, directly from youth organizers, and then get down to actually doing the organizing to make it happen. You’ll be able to join working groups and teams, such as Arts, Outreach, Programming, Logistics, and Development.
Civil Disobedience Workshop
Sat Sept 7, 1:00PM – 6:00PM @ NE Portland
Another opportunity to join Bonnie McKinlay’s excellent training. This is a great introduction to civil disobedience and is relevant for those who may wish to someday risk arrest, those who want to support others risking arrest, or just for those who want a greater understanding of why civil disobedience is an effective tactic. RSVP for location details -> contact Bonnie: (503) 705-1943, or goto350pdx@gmail.com
Thank you all for the work that you do, and for being part of this necessary and noisy movement,
Chris – 350PDX Volunteer & Communications Coordinator
Attentive Silence: The role of listening in the environmental justice movement
/in News /by nicoleI’ve always been slightly obsessed with listening or making sure that I listen well, do not interrupt, and in general, do not occupy undue space in a conversation. In a world that privileges originality and assertiveness, listening to understand what someone is saying, rather than listening to respond, or come up with a unique perspective or interjection, has become a lost art.
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