April Newsletter: Spring Break Edition

Dear Reader,

Happy spring break to, err, those who celebrate! Like the tulips and mosquitos in my garden, we are also back. Between launching a fresh Green New Deal Campaign, our Civic Action Team wrapping up their biggest year yet, and a shiny new website, we are as busy as bees.

As you buzz on through this newsletter, please note all of the seeds flowering – like the reopening of the retrofitted NE Branch of the Seattle library that we campaigned for in 2021, as well as what is withering, like Seattle’s transportation infrastructure as prophesied in the Mayor’s underwhelming and car-obsessed transportation levy.

As always, community submissions are welcome so if you have something you would like to share with the 350 Seattle community, please be in touch.

Housing is a Human Right & a Green New Deal Solution

Housing for all, and healthy climate-resilient futures: together with House Our Neighbors, we just launched a new campaign. We are supporting Initiative 137 to win permanently affordable, publicly owned green social housing that’s good for the planet and for our communities. So get used to saying “I-137” and check out our webpage for all the details.

First up, we are gathering signatures for I-137 this weekend at Cutie Fest.

April 7th: Signature Gathering at Cutie Fest
1:00 PM –  4:00 PM
Cal Anderson Park
RSVP here

This is just the first event of many, so if you cant make it but want to stay in the loop, keep an eye on this page or contact Aki.

Tell Washington State Department of Transit to Speed It Up

We need fewer fossil-powered planes  and better low-carbon trains   to help deliver equitable transportation in the era of climate emergency. Join us in demanding that WSDOT deliver faster Amtrak Cascades passenger train service that is long overdue. For years their plans have promised faster trips from Seattle to Portland in 2 hours 30 minutes, but they never delivered it. Now WSDOT’s new plan waters down these promises.

Please take a moment to send a message to WSDOT to recommit to 2.5-hour travel times between Seattle and Portland and to address the climate crisis with equitable transportation solutions.

The Aviation Team is continuing our work supporting community groups calling for the phase out of leaded airplane gas, ending deployment of false solutions like biofuels for airplanes, and we are supporting the coalition to end Blue Angels air shows during SeaFair. 

Join this week’s Team Meeting on Tuesday, April 9 at 7-8PM to learn how to get involved. Register here or contact Laura.SWCAA Listens!

Thank you to everyone who sent comments to the Southwest Clean Air Agency last month, calling out the omissions in Drax’s industrial wood pellet facility clean air permit application. Guess what? They listened! Citing “certain equipment that has not yet been reviewed” the public hearing was canceled, and Drax’s application will get a more thorough analysis. Woo hoo! But climate villains like Drax don’t give up easily, so keep those typing fingers (and public meeting feet) ready for when the public hearing gets rescheduled.

Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People Families Gathering

Save the date for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People (MMIWP) Families Gathering on Saturday, May 4th, at Daybreak Star Pow Wow Grounds.

We are looking for volunteers in the lead-up to and during the gathering. If you have gear you can loan or are available to support, please RSVP here.

We are joining MMIWP Families to bring continued awareness to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people, and to fight back against the perpetuation of colonial, gender-based violence across the United States and Canada, which is also directly connected to fossil fuel infrastructure and their “man camps”. This local event is connected to the National Day of Awareness for MMIW.
This is such a powerful event and we encourage folks to stand with Indigenous peoples on this issue.

Chiapas Education Project

On May 19th, the Chiapas Education Project is hosting a Gala and Regalia Fundraising Dinner and is looking for your old tech! Chris Esponda’s non-profit sets up labs in Chiapas schools for community use with donated and refurbished computers and projectors. This access to technology offers young indigenous people skills that can expand their opportunities in the poorest state in Mexico while also easing the burden on Mother Earth by upcycling our older tech. Maybe you have some computers, laptops, monitors, or phones lying around to donate?

RSVP to volunteer at the community fundraiser.

An Introduction to Climate-Safe Pensions

We are building support for a bill that would get our state pension fund to use its significant shareholder power to push banks and other big corporations to align their business practices with meeting the Paris Climate Accords.

Right now, we are focused on connecting constituents with their legislators to discuss supporting the bill. Join us for a fun and interactive info session and learn more about how you can get involved!

Intro to Climate Safe Pensions
Thursday, May 2nd 6PM
Zoom; RSVP here

Are you an educator, state employee, firefighter, or at any job with a Washington state pension? You can play a critical role in our campaign to get the WA State Investment Board to change how it incorporates climate financial risk into investments, and how the WISB votes on resolutions for climate action within banks and other corporations. If you are a WA public employee, let us know here.

Party Time with the 350 WA Civic Action Team

Phew – that was a fast legislative session and we worked so hard together.

Let’s gather on Zoom to celebrate our incredible, record-shattering year of advocacy (more folks took more legislative actions than EVER via our CAT campaign this year) and dive into our post-session analysis on what we won and what we’ll fight even harder for next year.

Thank you for being part of CAT this year!

350 WA Civic Action Team Party: Post-Session Recap & Celebration!
Thursday, April 11th, 6-7pm
Zoom; Register HERE

June Volunteer Night

Do you miss our old monthly community potluck, the “General Meeting”?! Are you ready to connect with awesome people organizing for climate justice in Seattle?

Are you curious about the organizers behind our 350 Seattle campaigns? Are you looking for a community of everyday folks building people power to organize Seattle to get off fossil fuels?

Then come to 350 Seattle’s Volunteer Night! We’ve hosted two of these gatherings so far and it’s been wonderful to reconnect and meet new faces too.

350 Seattle’s June Volunteer Night
Wednesday, June 5th, 6:30-8:30PM
Seattle Location TBD; RSVP here

Doors open at 6:30, bring a dish for the potluck if you are feeling festive. Open & welcome to all.

Antiwar X Climate

Two important events coming up this week with one of our team’s coalitions, the Seattle Antiwar Coalition. Learn more about the Antiwar X Climate team on our webpage.

First up: Monday, April 15-April 22 is a week of actions called Tax Day to Earth Day! About a dozen events are already scheduled across the state! Please see all the events listed on the WA Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition website. Beth and others are organizing a rally at Adam Smith’s office in Renton from 10:30-12noon on the 15th, Dan and Veterans For Peace – Daniel Ellsberg Chapter are organizing a rally from 12noon-1 PM on the 16th at Senators Murray and Cantwell’s offices at the Federal Building in Seattle, and Beth is also working with Meaningful Movies to host a film and panel event at 6PM on the 18th. These and more are on the WANW website.

Second: Saturday, April 13, 2:30PM at the Columbia City Library, is the “Standing Together” Discussion with Field Organizer Uri Weltmann. Standing Together is a grassroots movement of Jewish and Palestinian people in Israel calling for an end to the occupation and equality, peace, and social and climate justice. SAWC organizers Christa, Mary, and Dan agreed to host the event and are working with Diane Shisk of (WA Sierra Club and other organizations) to host this discussion.

Those Troublemakers

Next week is a great time for some fun with our friends, the Troublemakers!

First, on Wednesday, April 10th at 7:15PM, Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men will present Subverting Trouble: Learning from the Yes Men, a talk & training on their creative disruptions, with juicy lessons to spur our resistance. The event is at 350 Seattle Office, 5031 University Way NE. RSVP HERE

Second, on Thursday at 7PM (after the 350 WA Civic Action Team Party,) join Troublemakers in person for a party at Sole Repair on Capitol Hill! We’ll have a bit of a program, and be there to answer questions, but mostly this will be about getting to know each other. Please RSVP!

* All ages.
* Buy your own beverages at the bar.
* We’ll have light snacks.
* Masking appreciated. We’ll have multiple air purifiers and extra masks.

Third, on Saturday, April 13th from 3:00-6:30pm, there will be a Nonviolent Direct Action Training. Folks from all experience levels are welcome, this is a great time to meet other troublemakers and brush up on action skills! The training will be in person at Prospect Congregational United Church of Christ in Capitol Hill. RSVP to save your spot.

Join the 350 Seattle Book Club

A few months ago, someone asked the Electrify Seattle campaign Signal thread for book recommendations. As suggestions came in, we decided to read some of these books together! Thus, this book club.

How does it work?
Shockingly, we tend to read about movement work or climate justice. Also, despite the name, we’re not limited to just books. Suggestions for zines, documentaries, podcast episodes, and other kinds of media are welcomed. We set up our reading list a few months at a time so that people can decide in advance when they would like to join and can prepare accordingly.

We always look forward to new members. If you are interested in joining please sign up here.

We meet every other Sunday, 2:30-4:30 PM. We are now reading The Future Is Degrowth by Matthias Schmelzer, Aaron Vansintjan, and Andrea Vetter. Next up, we have Seattle From The Margins by Megan Asaka; and A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers.

Climate Action Families

Open to youth, parents, and friends –  Interested in taking action on climate in a family-friendly environment? Climate Action Families takes an intergenerational approach to climate justice. Our monthly meeting is a time for families and youth to come together, report back on projects and campaigns, learn about new ones, sing, make art, and create an Island of Sanity in a time of great change.

April Exploration: Can we save the world with a prank? We’ll be studying ‘Yes Men’ style actions! Come and learn with us!

Meetings include a potluck (5:30-6:30), icebreaker, games, music, art, friends, and learning! All ages welcome.

Our next Seattle-wide meeting is Friday 4/19 from 5:30-7:30 at Jackson Place Cohousing in South Seattle. RSVP and more info here.

Please pass along, and contact us here if you are interested in volunteering or partnering with our org!

Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date!

Climate Grief & Empowerment

So many of us long to take effective action on climate crisis and injustice, but become paralyzed with fear and grief with the vastness of the scope of these challenges. Finding tools to face, feel, and transform this overwhelm can be relieving, empowering, and transformative. Coming together in community practice can strengthen us and give us the energy to make change and be truly present to our families and world. Let’s feel, digest, and move through grief together at the next Climate Grief & Empowerment gathering, cosponsored by 350 Seattle and Climate Action Families.

Climate Grief and Empowerment Monthly Gathering:
Saturday, April 13th and Saturday May 11th, from 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here separately for each one you’ll attend.

Making Paper with Story Circle

Story Circle is a space to support creativity in the community; sharing art can form a network of reciprocity and healing. We come together to honor stories and the value of creativity outside of its commodification.

You’re invited to join us on Friday, April 26, from 6:30-8:30 PM for a Story Circle paper-making workshop! Event will be at the 350 Seattle office in the University Height building. Bring scrap papers of all colors (just no plastic!) and we’ll provide the rest of the tools necessary to turn our trash into treasure. Together, we’ll bring the homemade paper up to its drying stage, and then our hosts will hang on to it and have the dried paper ready for our next Story Circle session in May.

Message Story Circle to RSVP and to receive more details.

Artful Activism

Join the Artful Team and Alerts list. 

Sign up here to get info on upcoming community art opportunities.

Skills welcome and appreciated! AND… no art skills yet? no problem! Join us! We’ll teach you as you go! You’ll love to be part of making the art for our actions in a supportive, learning, fun, and connecting atmosphere with other people who care enough to show up, and who accept you as you are. Come have fun with us, building powerful beauty for the movement!

RSVP for Upcoming Art Builds!
April 27, Saturday, 12-4PM – Building inviting/fun cardboard house character prop/costumes for GND I-137; final touches for the MMIWP and GND banners; Troublemakers TBD for stopping Fracked Gas; batik team banners. Options include building cardboard house props, costumes, painting, penning, batiking, sewing, and more.

For those who want to be more involved, we are growing both our art build team and our art in action team, where teams of volunteer leads help others participate (with art leads support) to spread the love. Maybe you’re experienced in performance arts (theater, spoken word, music, dance, and beyond), visual arts (graphic design, painting, drawing, screen printing, building props, sewing, and so much more). Or maybe you are an organized person, or you like data and want to help with the imagery or photo library behind the scenes, or people with creative strategic humor and energy who like to brainstorm.  We also need people with other skill sets like DJs, snacks, setup and cleanup, de-escalation, and vibes watchers – is that you?

Whatever calls you to the Artful Team, this team is for you! Contact Lisa.

Put Art into Action – Want an important job at actions and events? We’re creating a team of interested people who can show up as able to set up/take down the art, invite people to participate and see that it’s displayed well. Please sign up to learn more!

Want to be a part of drumming to enliven our actions? We’ve got bucket drums ready to go for participatory community beats at actions, and Dakota is ready to lead us. Sign up here to drum with us!

Want to operate our Sound Equipment at events/actions?
Operation PAs, a soundboard, power stations, mics, and bluetooth devices. We are looking to train a bigger group of people so that someone is likely interested and available when we need sound at smaller events (some comfort with tech, no experience needed, var/hrs when you can) Contact Lisa.

Community Resilience

Help us create a more resilient activist community!

Do you have a skill or service you would like to offer at low or no cost to the 350 Seattle activist community as a way to take part in and support the work we do? No matter your strengths and skills, there is a place for you! Maybe you can offer tax prep help, a free acupuncture session, or pet sitting. All skills are welcome! Please fill out this form with your offerings, and we’ll reach out to confirm.

Please consider supporting local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses! Here is a list of some local community BIPOC businesses to support, with lists of others embedded!

Lastly, take a minute to bookmark our Community Activist Resource List, which is full of helpful resources. Feel free to share with others in our broader movement community who may be interested!

And finally, shoutouts to:

“I want to shout out Steph Haggerty for always bringing great energy to our Green New Deal campaigns! Steph is so kind and caring, always looking out for how they can support the team. Their enthusiasm for canvassing is contagious and it’s so fun organizing with them!” – anon

“Beth Brunton brought amazing energy and friendliness to our Monthly Sustainer Drive phone banking night. Thank you Beth for your enthusiasm and hard work and for making the phone banking fun!” – Grace

“The 350 Seattle research team! For spending weeks building a detailed power analysis of the new City Council – something that our community and partners can use to run more strategic, impactful campaigns. This team self-organized to learn new skills, dig deep into the data, develop an evidence-backed analysis and host a retreat to share their work. Props for taking the initiative, thoughtful approach and high-quality work. Y’all are leveling up 350 Seattle!” – Jess

And a final giant huge triple shoutout thank you from me to Dave Mccaul and Dante Garcia for all the work on our beautiful new website. It wasn’t quite a labor of love but it was definitely a labor of joy with you twos help. Thank you.

See you next month,
<3 Ben