It’s me, Ben – your winsome newsletter editor. I’m back on the keyboard, ready to hurl links, updates and morsels about the Seattle climate activist scene onto your desktop.
As the evenings grow shorter and I defiantly squeeze one more week out of my cutoff shorts, I am marveling at how much we did together this summer. This August alone, despite the smoke and heat, we delivered a dynamite report about building electrification and asset ownership of downtown buildings, cancelled the blue angels, generated hundreds of letters to Senators Murray and Cantwell in opposition to the GTN Xpress pipeline and canvassed across the city. We even got a new table for the office.
Onward to: The September Newsletter, Mushroom Season Edition! We got rallies, parties, action alerts, art builds, book clubs and more. It’s going to be a busy autumn, and I am looking forward to foraging for good trouble with you.
SOLIDARITY BUDGET LAUNCH PARTY
Join us and the Seattle Solidarity Budget Coalition today (09/09) from 1-4PM at the Rainier Playfield in Columbia City for the launch of our 2024 Solidarity Budget demands.
We demand the City of Seattle provide the residents of our city with basic guarantees for living and quality of life. The city has prioritized punishment in an attempt to mitigate social issues, when services and access to resources are what have been proven to not only mitigate, but remediate circumstances that currently lead to contact with police and the punishment system. We demand the following guarantees:
- Basic Income Guarantee
- Housing Guarantee
- Health Guarantee
- Transportation Guarantee
- Communication Guarantee
- Climate Action and Resilience Guarantee
- Care Guarantee
- Food Guarantee
- Living Wage Guarantee
Come to learn more about how we can have all of these nice things. We will have food and music too.
Solidarity Budget Launch Party
TODAY, 1-4PM, Rainier Playfield, Columbia City
Solidarity Budget Volunteer Orientation
September 14th, 6-7:30PM, online
RSVP here
RALLY TO END FOSSIL FUELS
In advance of the UN Climate Ambition Summit, thousands of people are gathering in New York City on September 17th for the March to End Fossil Fuels. Thousands more will participate in sister actions across the country and the globe, including in Seattle on September 17th.
Join us in Seattle to demand President Biden take determined action to end fossil fuels by stopping new fossil fuel projects, phasing out oil and gas drilling on our public lands and waters, and declaring a climate emergency to turbo-charge a just clean energy future. There will be music, art, powerful speakers and street mural making at this family friendly action!
Seattle Rally to End Fossil Fuels
Sunday, September 17th, 2-4PM, at Seattle Center
RSVP here
ELECTRIFY SEATTLE
As of today, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has not sent the plan to move Seattle’s big buildings off fossil fuels (aka the BEPS policy) to City Council. With this delay, it’s unlikely we will see action during this Council session and are expecting the policy to come back when the new Council is seated in early 2024.
Delay doesn’t help us stay healthy through heat waves and smoke. Delay doesn’t create good green jobs. Delay doesn’t curb Seattle’s fastest growing source of climate pollution. Delay does serve Seattle’s billionaire landlords and big polluters – who can continue to keep polluting for profit and passing the costs of climate change onto our communities.
Our Electrify team is frustrated and disappointed – but also fired up. This fight is now beyond the BEPS policy. We’re in a moment where City leaders can get away with delaying climate action to push their personal political agendas. But the climate crisis is bigger than any politician, and we need a new political common sense in Seattle.
With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the federal government has made historic, trillion-dollar investments in climate action. But just like with the original New Deal, implementation is up to local governments – whether we see transformative local investments or big corporations scooping up public dollars depends on whether our cities are ready to act. It’s up to cities like Seattle to seize this opportunity, and we need a Mayor and City Council who can be the visionary leaders the climate crisis demands.
NO NEW WAR ON DRUGS
You may have heard that the 1980’s-style War on Drugs bill is back at City Council. This legislation criminalizes drug use in public — targeting houseless people and disproportionately impacting Seattle’s Black, Indigenous and poor communities. It would increase prosecutions for drug possession, increase the jail population, increase overdoses and overdose deaths, and greatly worsen racial disparities in all of the above.
We think this policy is a nightmare and are showing up at City Hall on Tuesday to make sure the Mayor knows it too.
Tell Seattle City Council to vote NO to a war on drugs!
Tuesday, September 12th, 9:30AM at City Hall
Sign up to speak remotely here. Remote sign-up opens at 7:30 AM, here are step-by-step instructions
Show up to City Hall (600 4th Ave) in person. In-person sign up opens at 9:15 AM.
For more info about Mayor Harrell’s attempted new war on drugs and our community and to get involved, check out this call to action.
SAVE THE DATE: INTERTWINED 2023
Mark your calendar and get ready to party—Intertwined is back and it’s a special one. On Saturday, November 18th we’re gonna celebrate our 10th birthday! So let’s do it right with music and fun and a feast together. Let’s cheer our resilient community’s hard work and accomplishments, and the incredible grassroots momentum we’ve built this year and over the past 10 years!
We are looking forward to seeing you in November! Joining together in a community is the best. Stay tuned for more details to come. Sponsorship packet here, or email Shemona.
Intertwined: Annual Fundraiser
Saturday, November 18, 6:00PM
Metropolist, 2931 First Ave. S, Seattle 98134, + livestream
AVIATION TEAM
The Aviation Team is excited to host “Mode Shift to Passenger and Freight Rail as a Climate Solution”, a presentation by the Climate Rail Alliance and other organizations at our next meeting. We will be learning about * Energy efficiency of passenger and freight rail compared to cars, trucks, planes.
* Potential for electrification via catenary (high voltage lines), avoiding over-reliance on batteries.
* Differences among “high speed rail” options.
* Competing ideas for transportation solutions in WA as we enter the climate crisis, and the barriers rail advocates are facing.
All are welcome to attend; you don’t have to be an Aviation Team member. You can get the link by registering here.
Contact Laura for more information or to get involved with other Aviation Team activities.
Mode Shift to Passenger and Freight Rail as a Climate Solution
October 10th, 7-8PM
RSVP here
WHO OWNS THE FOREST?
On September 26-28th, Portland is dishonored to host the poorly named “Who Will Own the Forest?” conference, which brings together some of the biggest climate polluters, corporate forest clear-cutters, and false climate solutions peddlers in forestry. Capitalist investors grow profits, not forests.
Join us Wednesday, September 27th for a massive demonstration at the World Forestry Center to show these Wall Street elites that we won’t let our forests, communities, and climate be sacrificed for the rich to get richer.
On Thursday, September 28th, come to the Forests Over Profits conference to learn about real alternatives to corporate, profit-driven management, including Land Back and other indigenous land management systems, community forestry & land trusts, and sustainable forest management.
Forests Over Profits! Rally + Conference
September 27th – 28th, Portland, OR
RSVP here, more info here
ANTIWAR X CLIMATE TEAM
The AntiWar X Climate work group explores the intersection of US militarism and the climate crisis. We are currently meeting twice a month with other organizations to “dis-invite” blue “angel” fighter jets from Seattle’s annual Seafair. Contact Mary for meeting schedule.
Last month, we picketed Seafair and our organizing seems to have hit a nerve!
We are also working with Washington Against Nuclear Weapons (WANW) to raise awareness of the threat of nuclear weapons and the ongoing impacts of the nuclear weapons industry – globally, nationally, and in Washington state. Join us on September 26, 4-5:30 pm, in front of the Henry Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle, with an anti-nuclear weapons message for Senators Cantwell and Murray. Other protests will take place outside the offices of Congressional Reps in Renton, Tacoma, Everett, possibly Kirkland – and other locations around the state.
Signs and leaflets will communicate the following demands:
* an end to $1.7billion rebuild of the US nuclear arsenal
* the renewal of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)
* the advancement of the U.N. Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Send a letter to your federal electeds demanding compensation to victims of nuclear weapons testing and uranium mining.
Defuse Nuclear Weapons Global Day of Action
September 26, 4-5:30PM, Henry Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle
More info
FEDERAL TEAM
We just received a tip that Sen. Cantwell intends to formally submit a letter of concern about the pipelines approval to FERC. This is the first time Washington senators have spoken out about the pipeline. This wouldn’t have happened without the hundreds of you that sent messages to Senators Murray and Cantwell. Gratitude and thanks, people power works!
Federal Team Meeting
September 13th, 5PM
If you’re not already on the Federal Policy email list and want to join this meeting, you can get on the listserv here. You will then receive the Zoom link for the meeting. We hope many of you will join us as we think about new ways to organize and engage or Congressional representatives in the coming year. We want to shake things up a bit!
350 WA CIVIC ACTION TEAM
We are gathering up community momentum to pass sound and just climate policy in Washington State! This is our state legislative campaign shared between all eleven of the 350 WA groups.
The 350 WA CAT is returning for our 8th (?!) year of advocacy, and our core crew of ~30 experienced volunteers are excited to welcome you, along with 350 Seattle staff member Grace Hope (they/them). Come join our New Volunteer Launch call to learn about our plans for the 2024 WA Legislative session and to connect to volunteer roles with our Teams.
We’ll spend October-December training and preparing to mobilize tens of thousands of legislative advocacy actions on climate and justice bills during the January-March 2024 WA Legislative session.
350 WA CAT: New Volunteer Welcome Launch
Tuesday, October 17 @ 6-7:30pm
RSVP
CLIMATE GRIEF AND EMPOWERMENT
Sometimes finding motivation for climate action can be tough, especially when the weight of climate grief is heavy. Processing those feelings in connection with others is a great way to open up space for inspiration and empowerment.
How are you feeling about climate change these days? Are you even letting yourself feel? Or is it too big to process? Being overwhelmed by climate-related emotions is a shared reality. We can continue to act from a grounded state when we process these experiences together. You are invited to feel, digest, and move through grief together at the next Climate Grief and Empowerment gatherings.
Climate Grief and Empowerment Monthly Gathering
Saturday, September 9th, and Saturday, October 14th, from 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here separately for each one you’ll attend.
CLIMATE ACTION FAMILIES
Our friends at Climate Action Families are working with other family groups in the PNW to empower youth to help accelerate home electrification and support the rapid transition to renewable energy. CAF is pulling together a new Healthy Homes for All campaign and are looking for people to join a workgroup to design and implement this campaign. CAF needs researchers, policy experts, designers, educators, artists – all skills welcome.
To join the team, email Grace.
ARTFUL ACTIVISM TEAM
Join Art Builds and Screen Printing parties in September!
*Sign up here for the Art in Action team to help deploy art at actions or public events.
*Sign up here to join an art build, and help build the art for beautiful community actions and events.
Solidarity Budget Launch BBQ Saturday
September 9th, 11:30 – 4pm, Rainier Playfield, 3700 S Alaska St, Seattle, WA 98118
Putting funding for smart social and climate justice guarantees into the city budget. Get to know the campaign, help with public block printing, and finish our giant banner. (Help with set-up and painting from 11:30-1, event begins at 1pm with block printing).
Seattle Rally to End Fossil Fuels
Sunday, September 17th, 2-4pm (set-up from noon) Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109
Join us to set up imagery, paint the street outside Seattle Center, and/or help participants do block printing.
More info and RSVP
Orange Shirt Day Every Child Matters March
Sunday, September 30th, noon – 4pm (set-up at 11am) Federal Building to Westlake.
Raise awareness about abuses of Indigenous Children.
Batik banner waxing for Solidarity Budget
Saturday, Sept 23rd, 12-4PM
Location TBD, outdoor weather permitting
Batik banner waxing and other arts needs for Solidarity Budget
Saturday, Oct 7th, 12- 4PM
Location TBD (likely Fremont), outdoor weather permitting
Join the Artful Team and Alerts list. Skills welcome, but not required. We look forward to welcoming you into a supportive and collaborative community.
We are growing both our art build team and our art in action team, where teams of volunteer leads help others participate. Maybe you’re experienced in performance or visual arts? Maybe you are super organized and want to clean up our photo library?
Whatever your skill set, the Artful Team has a place for you! Contact Lisa to get involved.
Photos & Videos wanted for our digital library
Did you take photos at a recent 350 Seattle event, art build, or action? Submit your best images to our Photo Library to share them with our community and for use in our organization’s storytelling. Here are our guidelines and the email address for submitting photos to our library editors.
For videos, check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for event content, DIY Art how-to videos, recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and awesome trainings.
THE PEOPLE’S ECHO
The People’s Echo is a healing centered song collective based on Coast Salish lands and have all sorts of events coming up! Also they have a whole book of songs and it’s amazing.
Black, Indigenous, & People of the Global Majority (BIPGM) Songcatching
Monday, September 18 | 6:30-8:30pm
Kenmore
More Info and RSVP
* Welcoming all BIPGM folks to join us for this special Songcatching Circle hosted by People’s Echo organizer Jess Rene.
Uprooting Whiteness
Monday, Sept 18 | 6-8pm | in person
Sign up to receive address
An embodied & song-infused anti-racist space for white and white-passing folks.
More Info and RSVP
Monthly Songcatching with The People’s Echo
Monday, September 25, 6-8pm
Kenmore (location varies)
Facebook Event
The HeART of Organizing: Arts & Social Change
Tuesday, September 26, 6-9 pm
The Collective, 400 Dexter Ave N ste. #100, Seattle, WA 98109
* Join us for an evening of inspiration, featuring a panel of local artists & changemakers, as well as potent performances demonstrating the power of art to influence social change.
Buy your ticket ($15-35)
Share & RSVP on Facebook
SEATTLE SONG CIRCLES GOOGLE CALENDAR. This calendar houses all the community song circle events happening in the Seattle area.
**To learn more and stay updated about our upcoming monthly songcatching groups, please fill out our songcatching interest form.**
Stay connected to The People’s Echo for updates on community singing opportunities!
Linktree | Song Book | Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram
For questions, email thepeoplesecho@gmail.com
ANNOUNCING: ELECTRIFY BOOK CLUB!
Connect, learn, and build community with other Electrify team members! This is seed work – planting ideas and growing relationships that will sustain our community organizing in this campaign and beyond.
Last month, we read Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes, and Linnea wrote a review! Here’s an excerpt of Linnea’s review:
“Relationships of care at the heart of this book. By refusing to abandon others and instead care for them, we are resisting a system that would rather we are fearful of each other and become indifferent to each other’s disposability. One example the authors give of the central role of care is in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, how mutual aid organizations sprung up to take care of each other while the Trump administration denied the crisis and refused any aid. It makes me think of the fires in Maui and how once again, relationships of care have sprung up to aid the victims, including here in Seattle. Relationships anchor us in the meaning of the work and build trust in one another. For me, it was the relationships I began to form at the Planet to Win book club in 2022 that motivated me to reject my own cynicism and get more involved with 350 Seattle.”
This book club is self-organized and we are building this model as we go & grow. We choose what books to read together, share facilitation and all contribute to good discussion! We meet every other Sunday, with a hybrid offering. In person at Cal Anderson Park and on zoom.
Fill out this short google form to join the club!
What we’re reading:
* The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas
* The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save Our Earth by Red Nation
When we’re meeting:
Sunday 9/24, 2:30-4 (The Intersectional Environmentalist, Ch 3 – End)
Sunday 10/8, 2:30-4 (The Red Deal, Beginning – Part 1)
Sunday 10/22, 2:30-4 (The Red Deal, Part 2 – End)
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Our community resource list encompasses some of the vast number of resources available in the Seattle area for 350 Seattle and the general community. Check out the resource list and share with others who may be interested.
Do you have a skill or service you would like to offer at very reduced or no charge to the 350 Seattle activist community as a way to take part in and support the work we do or do you know of BIPOC businesses in our community who might want to be added to the list linked here? All skills welcome.
Please fill out this form with your own offerings, or with other local Black, Indigenous, or People of the Global Majority (BIPGM) businesses we could be patronizing, or other entries we should add to the general resource list and we’ll get back with you! Thanks!
SHOUTOUTS
“Shout-out to Celeste Ets-Hoken from the federal policy team for her steadfast work addressing the intersection of climate and agriculture. Her deep knowledge has been so helpful to our team!” – Selden
Shout out Hannah Krieg’s banger article in the Stranger, “Mayor Harrell Delays Climate Action He Already Weakened”, which heavily features our report, Who Owns Downtown Seattle.
AND FINALLY,
As an antidote to the end of summer blues, I highly recommend mushroom foraging, and for the fungus lovers amongst you, I am pleased to report flushes of lobster and chanterelle mushrooms have arisen. If you reply to this newsletter, I might even tell you where I found them.
Thank you,
– Ben
