2020 may be the most consequential year ever, in a historical moment when our years are all strikingly consequential. We’re excited about the possibilities it presents locally and nationally, and gearing up to fulfill them as best we can. But meanwhile, there’s more good learning and good work in this one, and a little time for reflection too.
INVASION
A day’s drive north of Seattle a major struggle over pipelines and land rights has been unfolding for over a decade. In this era of “reconciliation” indigenous land is still being taken at gunpoint. INVASION is a new (18 minute) film about the Unist’ot’en Camp, Gidimt’en checkpoint and the larger Wet’suwet’en Nation standing up to the Canadian government and fossil fuel corporations who continue colonial violence against indigenous people.
Free film screening and panel discussion. Our guest speakers include Matt Remle, Rachel Heaton, Paul Chiyokten Wagner, Dakota Case and supporters who have spent time at the Unist’ot’en Camp. Discussion will be based around how to support the Wet’suwet’en struggle, and local indigenous struggles.
If you can’t attend the event, you can still support the movement by donating, spending time at the camp, or hosting a film screening in your own community/neighborhood.
Invasion: A film about the Unist’ot’en struggle for self-determination
Hosted by Mazaska Talks and 350 Seattle
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30–8:00pm
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave, Seattle 98122
Shareable event page here.
For questions about the event, accessibility or to volunteer, please email Sulakshana.
And whether you attend the Seattle screening or not, please join us as we discuss the camp while also learning about the history and culture of the Muckleshoot people.
Invasion at the Muckleshoot Cultural Center
Hosted by Muckleshoot Culture Program and 350 Seattle
Tuesday, December 17, 6:30–8:00pm
Muckleshoot Culture Building, 39009 SE 172nd Ave. Auburn 98092
Shareable event page here.
LOVE BOAT? WE THINK NOT!
The Port of Seattle’s proposing another cruise ship berth at Terminal 46, but we’re not on board. Cruise ships are the antithesis of decarbonization, fueled with one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on earth — heavy fuel oil. We know fossil fuels need to stay in the ground, so why would we expand this unnecessary and polluting industry that exists solely for entertainment and luxury, in complete denial of its impacts on climate and sensitive environments?
At a time when vessel traffic noise is crippling the ability of critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales to hunt salmon, and the pollutants that have bioaccumulated up the food web are damaging their ability to survive and reproduce, introducing more toxins and more mega-ship traffic into their habitat could push these iconic animals closer to the brink of extinction.
So, please join us for the next Port of Seattle Commissioners meeting. Public Comment is given at the beginning of the meeting. Come speak from the heart!
Port of Seattle Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, December 10, 12:00pm
Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle 98121
To join our maritime workgroup or to join the multi-org coalition forming to stop the expansion at T46, contact Stacy.
TRANS MOUNTAIN
We’re headed up to Vancouver, British Columbia for a solidarity rally with the Indigenous nations who are in court to stop the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Bring your voice to support the Federal Court of Appeal cases by Coldwater, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations against the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Family friendly!
Indigenous Legal Challenges Solidarity Rally
Monday, December 16, 12:30–1:30pm
Georgia and Howe Streets, Vancouver, BC
More details here and carpooling here.
And thanks for all your help making Pancakes over Pipelines a huge success! We raised over $20K Canadian and $35K US including a matching donation for part of it. All proceeds will go to Pull Together to help First Nations in this critical round of legal challenges. Want to chip in? Donate here.
TACOMA LNG
In the upcoming days or weeks, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) will announce a final permit decision for the proposed Tacoma LNG fracked gas storage, refinery and bunkering facility. Although they announced their intent to approve the permit before the most recent public comment period even opened, this fight is far from over!
The data used in PSCAA’s analysis is over a decade old, relies on industry data and impossible-to-enforce conditions such as all the gas for the lifetime of the project coming from only one area in Canada. The agency has also refused the numerous requests made by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to engage in meaningful consultation.
Please join us at the next PSCAA board meeting for public comment. Wear red in solidarity!
PSCAA Board Meeting
Thursday, December 19, 8:45am
1904 3rd Ave, Seattle 98101 (Lower level)
Missed our meeting last week on how to be part of the LNG fight from right here in Seattle? Contact Stacy for more info or to join one of our LNG work teams such as Solidarity Action Planning, Social Media Support or Community Engagement!
CHASE OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS
The campaign to stop JPMorgan Chase from funding climate disaster is popping off all over the nation. This month, there were major actions targeting Chase in Washington DC, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon and more. We’re not quite ready to share all the details with the world yet, but let’s just say we have a feeling that this campaign is going to take off on a whole new level very soon. Fill out this form to stay up to date with our Chase campaign.
SEATTLE FOR A GREEN NEW DEAL
Since we’re coming up to the end of the year, let’s review our progress in 2019, shall we?
We gathered over 10,000 signatures from Seattle residents in support of a Seattle Green New Deal, and nearly 250 Seattle-based organizations and community leaders endorsed the call. In response, we saw the City Attorney publicly commit to taking legal action against the fossil fuel industry, a Green New Deal Community Oversight Board was created, and the City Council unanimously passed a resolution committing to creating a transformational Green New Deal that will eliminate climate pollution by 2030, address current and historic injustice and create thousands of good jobs.
2020 here we come! To get involved, sign up here.
KEEP THE IRP!
What’s an IRP? Why, that’s the bi-annual Integrated Resource Plan that electric utilities like 58% fossil-fueled Puget Sound Energy use to explain how they’re going to power their customers and implement necessary legislation like the Clean Energy Transformation Act, which calls for carbon accounting and addressing equity concerns.
After cancelling this year’s IRP, the Utilities and Transportation Commission proposes to reduce the frequency of planning session from every other year to once every four years. Wait, what?
Sure, public regulators are spread thin trying to put our new clean electricity law in place, but these planning sessions are nearly the only oversight and watchdog opportunities the public gets!
So, take two seconds to make sure the public keeps this critical oversight function: Submit a comment here.
And bonus points for personalizing your comment with the words transparency, accountability, trust, stonewalling, and “utilities should disclose their models and data to technical advisory group members who sign non-disclosure agreements, as is done in other states”!
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Our Equity and Inclusion workgroup (the next iteration of Frontline Allies) continues to deepen our undoing oppression and equity work across the organization. We have 6 co-leads on 4 teams: Solidarity, Equity Filter, Education, and Hiring, all of which have set ambitious but achievable goals for the year. Our workgroups are working closely with frontline communities on climate related issues like stopping pipelines or refineries and launching Seattle for a Green New Deal. We’re developing more trainings and an equity lens to ensure that work is widespread and successful.
We’re looking for folks to join the Solidarity Team to focus on networking with majority frontline community groups on justice issues that share the same root causes as the climate crisis. Examples are immigration, prisons, militarism, and requests for support to stand up to oppression and racism is various forms.
See our new “350 Seattle in Solidarity” calendar and our Facebook Group for upcoming educational and solidarity events and join our workgroup discussion list!
No experience needed, just a desire to learn alongside us, but if you have skills in undoing oppression or equity work, please let us know! If you’re interested in anti-war solidarity, please contact Kara or Anna. If you are interested in getting involved in other crucial solidarity work for our climate movement, please contact Lisa.
SOLIDARITY
Climate Emergency Declaration. On Thanksgiving Day, The Protectors of the Salish Sea visited Jay Inslee’s home on Bainbridge Island to pray and ask that he declare a Climate Emergency and use his executive power to terminate fossil fuel expansion in the state.
Please lend your voice by signing and sharing their online petition.
For more about this prayer-led movement, check out this beautiful video by Jenna Mason. If interested in volunteering at the prayer camp in Olympia or from afar, please fill out this online registration form. To be added to the updates list for upcoming actions, please email the Protectors, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. To donate to the camp, see the equipment needs list or make a financial donation here.
About the missing. Learn about the intersectional issues that contribute to Native people going missing and being murdered at rates higher than any other demographic. It will be a night of amazing panelists and speakers, families speaking out about their experiences, and discussion of the work being done to combat this issue of MMIP.
Amplifying the Voices of Missing & Murdered Indigenous People
Hosted by: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People & Families, Mazaska Talks, Unkitawa and Seattle Human Rights Commission
Thursday December 12, 5:30–9:00pm
Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle 98101
Shareable event page here. To volunteer at this event please email Ahlay.
ANTI-WAR SOLIDARITY
As part of 350 Seattle’s solidarity work, we have joined two local anti-war coalitions: the Seattle Anti-War Coalition (SAWC) and Washington Against Nuclear War (WANW). Both groups are focused on our region’s significant role in the U.S. military-industrial complex, including building and readying nuclear weapons. Nuclear weaponry has direct connections to climate, including destructive mining practices, the potential for ecological catastrophe, and health consequences to communities surrounding nuclear weapons manufacturing and testing sites. We are working on both learning and educating others about how war fuels climate change and how climate change fuels conflict.
How to Plug In
Seattle Anti-War Coalition: Attend monthly anti-war protests outside the Federal Building in downtown Seattle on first Tuesdays, 11:00am–1:00pm (or as much of that time as possible). The November SAWC rally focused on the US role in the atrocities happening in the Philippines. The December rally focused on the US role behind the coup in Bolivia.
Washington Against Nuclear War: Participate in organizing phone calls (no more than once a month); participate in political advocacy by calling and writing your representatives about key pieces of legislation.
Contact Kara or Anna for more info.
TIME TO MAKE THE CALL ON TRADE
Word on the street says there’s huge pressure on Nancy Pelosi from moderate Democrats to allow a vote on Trump’s USMCA, or NAFTA 2.0 in the next two weeks. This deal would continue to allow fossil fuel companies to sue Mexico over environmental policies and continue the trend of climate polluting industries moving to Mexico, where standards are weaker. Until trade deals include enforceable climate standards, the work we do here in the US will be insufficient.
If you are in one of these Congressional Districts, please call your rep and tell them to oppose the climate-killing NAFTA 2.0:
Derek Kilmer, (253) 272-3515
Adam Smith, (425) 793-5180
Kim Schrier, (425) 657-1001
Suzan DelBene, (425) 485-0085
Rick Larsen, (425) 252-3188
CIVIC ACTION TEAM
Get your phones ready, we’re gearing up for the 2020 legislative session in Olympia! And you know what that means: It’s almost time to start calling our legislators to make sure they are making climate justice a top priority this session! Sign up here to join our Civic Action Team and receive regular updates and calls to action throughout the session. Then, mark your calendars for 2020:
2020 CAT Kick Off Webinar
Sunday, January 12, 7:00pm
We’ll discuss the bills that we’ll be championing and a few tricks of the legislative advocacy trade. RSVP here.
Youth Climate Lobby Day
Friday January 24, 10:00am–3:00pm
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia 98501
Shareable event page here.
And in other exciting news, we can share that we’ve been talking with many of the ten other 350.org-affiliated groups in Washington State and we’re hoping to partner with some of them on our Civic Action Team work this year. 350 WA? Stranger things have happened…
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
Transpo meeting is a Zoom call now! Second Monday of the month, 5:00–6:00pm. This month we’ll be discussing upcoming #ClaimTheLaneForClimate actions, leadership opportunities in Transpo, MASS coalition work for 2020, transpo bills in the upcoming state legislative session, and Orca for All.
Transportation Team Monthly Meeting
Monday, December 9, 5:00–6:00pm
Online: https://zoom.us/j/397697975
For phone call-in info, or to get involved but can’t make the meeting, email Alice.
Been wondering about leaving your car behind more often? New to the transit system? Trying to find safe routes to bike? Give one of our Transpo #CarlessInSeattle coaches a call! Experienced transit riders and bike riders can tell you about safe routes to bike, or where to find frequent and reliable transit. Email Andrew to get connected with a coach.
Orca for All, the campaign to get employer funded transit passes for more people (and ultimately free transit) needs our love at city hall:
Orca for All
Thursday, December 12, 1:00pm
Seattle City Council,
Shareable event page here.
And if you can’t attend, can you still take a minute to sign the petition and email Seattle elected officials in support?
Regional Clean Fuel Standard. Given that the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has used out-of-date science to evaluate Tacoma LNG, can we expect them to do a good job lowering the carbon intensity of fuels for vehicles in the Puget Sound region? Study up here, and then join scads of your concerned fellow citizens at the public hearing on the draft rule at the Washington State Convention Center.
Public Hearing on a Regional Clean Fuel Standard
Thursday, December 19
Rally, 11:00–11:30am
First session, 12:30–4:30pm
Second session, 5:00–8:00pm
Washington State Convention Center, Room 2AB, 705 Pike St., Seattle 98101
Shareable event page here.
ARTFUL ACTIVISM
We welcome all skill levels in any art form, and have lots going on to jump into, from occasional participation to leadership opportunities. Join online here or come to art builds whenever you can! They are fun, no-skills-needed community gatherings with food and good connections.
If you’re a skilled artist (visual, theater, dance, music…) and want to apply your skill or show others how, please let us know! Contact Lisa.
PEOPLE’S ECHO
You do NOT need to be a singer to sing. We are louder when all our voices join together as one. The People’s Echo is teaching songs written for this political climate.
Every successful social movement has had song. Come learn a few to carry in your back pocket! You never know when it might come in handy!
Our upcoming song teach-ins are held at All Pilgrims Church (December 18, January 23, February 13, March 5 and April 23). Contact Ahlay for more info.
BE WELL
Community Resilience is here to assist individuals in finding ways to contribute to our efforts in working towards climate justice. The climate movement requires many skills and talents. Can you offer a service to benefit our community? Do you have skills which can help our organizers take care of their basic needs (e.g. healing modalities, computer help, haircuts)? The broader our skill sets and resources are, the stronger our chances are of success. Contact Ahlay.
DROP IN, HELP OUT
Looking for an easy way to help out at 350 Seattle? Curious about other ways to get involved?
Join us on the third Wednesday of every month to meet others and help out with all the small things that keep 350 going! Tasks range from phone calls to data entry to arts and crafts.
350 Seattle Drop in Hours
Wednesday, December 18, anytime from 3:30 to 6:30pm
350 Seattle, 1127 10th Ave E. Suite #1, Seattle
Shareable event page here. Questions? Contact Meg.
That’s it for 2019! As we know you know, 2020 is going to be a critical year… so rest up and get ready.
