We told you April was going to be busy: Marches and a summit, actions and comment periods, town halls and carbon taxes, valve turners on tour and fundraising for allies, we’ve got it all!
GET TRAINED AND GET ACTIVE
In solidarity with the National People’s Climate March, we are part of Earth Day to May Day Action Week organized by the People’s Climate Movement, a coalition made up of a broad spectrum of local climate and labor groups.
The focus is on Climate Justice and the intersections of the many related issues our communities face. Workshops and trainings will take place between Earth Day, Saturday April 22, and May Day, May 1, with many cross-issue and climate justice workshops and an arts track.
We Resist, We Build, We Rise
Saturday April 29th
Seattle University
The site EarthDay2MayDay and the 350 Seattle calendar will be updated with details throughout April. RSVP to Kara to volunteer!
Need to stretch your legs?
There’s an independently organized march from Pioneer Square to Westlake Center:
People’s Climate Sister March
Saturday April 29, 10:00am
Occidental Square, 117 S Washington St, Seattle 98104
If you’re going to DC
Folks going to the National People’s Climate March can use this spreadsheet to share contact information.
And then join us on May Day
350 Seattle is proud to be joining the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights on Monday May 1, with a pre-rally for our Climate Contingent.
May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights
Monday May 1, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Judkins Park, 2150 S. Norman St., Seattle 98144
Details will be posted to the 350 Seattle calendar.
Peacekeepers wanted
Support immigrant-led organizing in Seattle! The May 1st Action Coalition is signing up 200 peacekeepers to ensure the safety of everyone at the May 1st march. To participate, attend one of these training sessions about immigrants’ rights:
Monday April 10th, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Sunday April 16th, 12:00 – 3:00pm
Saturday April 29th, 12:00 – 3:00pm
Training provided by the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (CARW). RSVP for location and details. Questions? Contact carwoc@gmail.com
AND ON EARTH DAY
Community outreach with Got Green
Join us on Earth Day, April 22 for a South-end door-knocking day, sharing resources and organizing the wider community to engage in Got Green’s work. This is a fun, non-fundraising event with one of our close Frontline Allies working for Climate Justice.
We’re also supporting the Green-A-Thon Fundraiser for Got Green. Can you help us reach and exceed our goal of raising $1,000 by April 22? A personal ask is the most effect fundraising strategy! Point friends to our team page and check out the details in their fundraising guide.
To join the outreach team or get help fundraising or just ask questions, contact Paul.
So, what about the March for Science?
It pains us to tell you, but there has been a rift between the March for Science organizers and local Climate Justice groups and allies in the People Climate Movement coalition, which includes 350 Seattle.
This Union of Concerned Scientists article (and the links in it) help explain what’s been happening around the country regarding the science march organizing. Sadly, we’re not unique here in Seattle.
Our Frontline Allies group will be meeting Thursday, April 13, 7:00pm in the Greenlake neighborhood to brainstorm how, or whether, 350 Seattle members will participate in an educational and movement-building way. If you’d like to participate, please RSVP to Diane. Scientists are especially welcome.
And if you’re planning on attending the march, please RSVP to Shemona.
WE ARE THE POWER
Want to get connected with smart local groups working on the most crucial issues facing Seattle? Here’s the event for you!
Community Power Summit: Building People Power in Seattle
Saturday May 6, 1:00 – 5:00pm
All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway East, Seattle 98102
Participating groups include Got Green?, 350 Seattle, Puget Sound SAGE, Tenants Union, One America, Transit Riders Union, Economic Opportunity Institute and Seattle Education Association.
There will be two rounds of workshops covering:
- Green jobs and energy systems that meet our climate goals
- Affordable housing under community ownership and control
- Protecting immigrant and refugee rights
- Alternatives to the auto including transit, biking and walking
- Just taxation and education
This is a free event! Register on the web site and share the event page.
And if those issues are your focus, consider joining the next Community Solutions Workgroup meeting: Thursday, April 27th, 6:30 – 8:30pm at the 350 Seattle office, 1919 E. Prospect, 3rd floor. To get on the email list, contact Emily.
TRUMP-PROOF SEATTLE
FACT: Washington State has the most regressive tax system in the country. FACT: Trump Proof Seattle is hitting the streets to change that!
Let’s pass a 1.5% income tax on Seattle’s wealthiest households to generate progressive revenue and help Seattle become a just, equitable and welcoming city for every member of our human family.
If you live in Seattle, you have a unique opportunity to tell Seattle City Council to pass an ordinance this year to fix our broken tax system that inequitably burdens low-income communities.
And winning in Seattle means we can lead the way and make sure that every wealthy citizen in Washington pays their fair share and end our State’s most blatant economic injustice for good. Want to get involved? Contact Kevin or learn more at a Town Hall near you:
District 6 Town Hall – Northwest Seattle
With Council Member Mike O’Brien
Friday April 14, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N 85th St, Seattle, 98103
Join organizations and residents as they discuss the importance of passing a progressive income tax on wealthy households with Council Member Mike O’Brien. Take action this year, Mike!
District 2 Town Hall – South/South East Seattle
Perhaps including Council Member Bruce Harrell. Maybe.
Friday April 20, 7:00 – 9:00pm
South Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St, Seattle 98118
So, neighborhood residents will be there to discuss the importance of economic justice. And community organizations Got Green? and S.A.F.E will join them… But will Council Member Bruce Harrell show up? Be there to find out!
WE DON’T WANT YOUR STINKIN’ FOSSIL FUELS
Keep It in the Ground is working to stop two huge fossil fuel projects proposed for Washington: the world’s largest Methanol refinery in Kalama, WA, and Kinder-Morgan’s tar sands pipeline in so-called British Columbia.
There are lots of ways to get involved! If you want to help fight the Kinder-Morgan pipeline fill out this volunteer form. To join our organizing committee fighting the Methanol Refinery in Kalama email Nick.
This month’s big events:
Tell Governor Inslee – No Methanol, No Pipelines
Wednesday April 12, 5:15 – 7:45pm
Pigott Auditorium, Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue, Seattle 98122
Giant methanol projects, increased tanker traffic, pipeline expansion – these projects effect all of us! Join us as we confront Governor Inslee at an event at Seattle University to demand he order a statewide environmental review of the world’s largest methanol refinery.
Seattle v. Kinder Morgan Fundraiser
Thursday April 20, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Ballard Elks Lodge #827, 6411 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle 98107
Join a community-building event led by the Lummi Nation. We will be raising funds, hearing from Native speakers, building a community art project, and more!
Methanol Town Hall
Monday April 24, 6:30 – 8:00pm
University Friends, 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle 98105
Come hear about a proposal for the world’s largest methanol refinery from experts and residents of Kalama who oppose it. We’re also working to organize a dinner or happy-hour with our friends from Kalama who are coming up. (Folks with posters, please note the corrected date!)
But wait, that’s not all —
Tesoro Anacortes Xylene Proposal
What does “Clean Products Upgrade Project” suggest to you? For Tesoro’s Anacortes refinery, it means producing xylene, a flammable petrochemical used to make plastic and synthetics, and exporting 15,000 barrels a day to Asia. UGH! That would bring an additional five tankers per month through the Salish Sea. WE DON’T THINK SO! Learn more here and then come to the hearing:
Skagit County hearing on the Draft EIS
Monday April 17, 4:30 – 8:00pm
Anacortes High School, 1600 20th St, Anacortes, WA 98221
Offer or join carpools here.
You can also submit comments online. The comment deadline is May 8.
Here are four key points:
- Any increase in greenhouse gases must be properly accounted for and fully mitigated.
- Current vessel traffic is already at an unsustainable level, so no increase is acceptable. Spill risk and orca impacts must be mitigated by, at a minimum, reduced speeds and tug escorts.
- Absolute assurance that no components of this project will be used to facilitate crude export nor will it lead to an increase in oil trains beyond current levels is required.
- The low sulfur fuel upgrades should be considered independently in an alternative that does not include the xylene plant upgrades.
Dress for success
Keep It In the Ground t-shirts are available online until April 23rd for a $10 donation. Available in yellow and green. Order with $5 shipping or pick yours up at the May 3 monthly meeting at University Friends.
And take the pledge
The PNW Pledge of Resistance is closing in on 2,000 signers. You can add your name here. Check out our direct action blog, which includes the post, Why Direct Action? The next training is April 23rd. More details on the Facebook event.
HELLO OLYMPIA–CAN YOU HEAR US?
The regular legislative session ends this month. So, find your Washington House legislator and give them a piece of your mind! For example:
SUPPORT HB 1646 (with caveat): We’ve been supporting this carbon tax since the beginning of the session, with the caveat that the reduction targets in this bill need to be consistent with returning our climate to 350 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere. The current language targets 450 ppm. Want to know more? Read our position paper. Stuck for now in the House Environment Committee, this bill is could end up as part of the budget negotiations later in an extended session.
SUPPORT HB 1611: As oil traffic is expected to increase significantly through the Salish Sea, HB 1611, the Oil Transportation Safety Act, is essential to improving environmental protections from oil spills. This bill addresses shortcomings in the state’s oil spill prevention program by improving safety requirements for water transport, including mandating tug escorts for oil-transporting vessels. It also tightens safety standards for pipelines and provides additional funding for the oil spill program administered by the Department of Ecology.
OPPOSE HB 1497: This bill uses tax payer dollars to fund new fossil fuel infrastructure and would cost almost $15 million. Oppose! Oppose!
Here are more opportunities to plug in and reboot the system:
Climate Action Political Advocacy
Monday April 10, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave SE, Sammamish 98075
With a second event in Lake Forest Park, Monday May 1, 7:00 – 8:30pm. Location TBD. For more info, contact Selden.
Beyond Capitalism Team Meeting
Saturday April 15th, 11:00am – 1:00 pm
Uptown Espresso Belltown, 2504 4th Ave at Wall St., Seattle 98121
Questions? Email the team.
Indivisible Town Hall
Monday April 17, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
More details here
And if you want to remind Olympia that yes, there’s one tax that’s very, very popular with people who want a stable climate, this one’s for you:
ACT Now! Lobby Day for a Carbon Tax
Thursday April 20
Carpools leave Seattle at 8:30am for a day of persuasion in Olympia.
More details here
DIVEST AND DEFUND
Seattle Divest
Over 500 employees have now joined the call for the City’s pension fund to divest from fossil fuels. If you are an employee or retiree you can sign the petition here. (Please forward the petition to friends or family!) We are also asking Mayor Murray to issue a public statement of support for divestment. If you can take two minutes to call Mayor Murray and ask that he support divestment that would be a huge help. Mayor Murray: 206-684-4000
#DeFundDisaster
Keystone XL
This week, after we wrote the resolution, Seattle became the first city in the country to signal that we won’t do business with any bank that supports the zombie Keystone XL pipeline. With Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. all following in Seattle’s footsteps and breaking ties with Wells Fargo over their DAPL-funding, we are once again inviting the rest of the country to follow Seattle’s lead.
PCC
Last week we also spoke with the CEO and Board of PCC about their ongoing relationship with US Bank, which funds tar sands corporation Enbridge to the tune of $2 billion. A values-based cooperative like PCC can do better than banking with tar sands supporters. Stay tuned for more updates on this.
VALVE TURNERS
BIG THANKS to all who attended Ken Ward’s trial, which resulted in a hung jury! Your steadfast support mattered deeply to Ken, and doubtless to judge and jury.
Wednesday April 12th: Disrupting the System – the Valve-turner Direct Action panel at UW. Moderated by Carlo Voli!
Disrupting the System Valve Turners Higher Education Tour – Additional April forums at Pacific Northwest colleges.
Wednesday May 3rd and May 22-24: Pack the courtroom for Ken Ward (re)hearing and (re)Trial to once more let judge and jury know this was a necessary action.
We need heroes to donate air or train miles to valve turners with out-of-state court dates. Mail shutitdowntoday@gmail.com if you have miles.
FRONTLINE
Frontline Allies and Undoing Racism
Join our workgroup as we examine the ways that white privilege and subtle forms of racism are unintentionally embedded in our climate work, and how we can become allies who effectively work across traditional divides to build the unified and powerful movement we need to stop climate chaos. Please RSVP to Mike to be part of this work group.
Black Lives Matter Book Club
Join us at our third study group meeting (Monday April 10, 6:30 for pot-luck dinner–snacks are fine–and 7:00pm for discussion). We’ll talk about “Citizen” by Claudia Rankine. We’ll also watch a video interview with one of the authors from the reading list. RSVP to Susan for location in Greenwood.
Also, two excellent solidarity actions:
Black Lives Matter March on Seattle 2.0
It’s time to stand up for justice:
Saturday April 15, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Westlake Park, 4th Ave and Pine St, Seattle 98101
RSVP to Lin for the 350 Seattle contingent, or Facebook join and share here.
Want to make and or knit a Black Beanie? Join the Yarn Army!
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network
The new Reporting Hotline goes live May 8th, and they need YOUR help! The new hotline is a safe, confidential service offered to people in Washington State to document immigration enforcement activities. It was created by the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, and is operated by a team of multilingual volunteers trained to triage and assist in responding to reported incidents. Volunteer Hotline Advocates are needed to ensure every call is answered!
Please circulate the Hotline Volunteer Description within your networks so folks can start applying.
EVERYTHING ELSE
Artful Activism
We’re building an artful leads and facilitators team at all levels and time commitments, as well as continuing to welcome a range of skill levels, from completely unskilled to artists, dancers, theater people, poets, and musicians of all ages. Connect and have fun, contribute to our imagery through brainstorming, art builds, and deployment at events! Please RSVP to Ellen to join the work group, and let us know of any specific interests or skills you have in arts or leadership.
Join us for art builds in April on Sundays, the 9th, 16th, and 23rd, noon – 8:00 pm! Details will be posted and updated on the 350 Seattle calendar, and notices will go out to the work group list. Please RSVP to Shemona for art builds.
Age 21-35? Want to intern with 350 Seattle through the UCC’s Justice Leadership Program this Fall?
350 Seattle is one of the placement organizations for the United Church of Christ’s Justice Leadership Program, a nine-month internship program for young people wanting to do social justice work and support a UCC community. Interns work with 350 Seattle 32 hours/week, their UCC placement 8 hours/week, and in exchange get free housing, a bus pass, healthcare, and a monthly stipend. Interested? Apply here.
Sharing Circle
Feeling stressed out or burned out? How are you coping (or not) with the new administration? What are you struggling with right now? What are some ways in which you are finding strength and personal resilience? The Sharing Circle is a place where we can momentarily rest from all the various actions we are involved in and reconnect with what is moving within us. Please contact Jared Howe if you are interested in joining this circle or to find out more. We will find a date and time that works best.
Brewing Resistance: Building Community Around Climate Change
Tuesday, April 18, 7:00pm
Optimism Brewing Company, 1158 Broadway, Seattle
Thanks, climate justice activists — keep it strong!
