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Hi Everyone,<\/p>\n
Welcome to our now-monthly 350PDX newsletter, featuring team updates, action opportunities, upcoming events, and more!<\/strong><\/p>\n As election season heats up, 350PDX is working hard to connect you with city council and mayoral candidates, as well as with critical climate issues in our region. Recent events have included city council candidate forums, a teach-in on false climate solutions, and a unique kayak tour of the Portland Harbor<\/a>.<\/p>\n This month\u2019s newsletter is bursting with more exciting events, and we look forward to seeing you at one\u2014or all! Join us in making a difference!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Forest Defense team helped organize a great False Climate Solutions teach-in on Tuesday, September 24 at the Climate Justice workshop. In collaboration with the Pacific NW Forest Climate Alliance, we hosted Thomas Joseph, Carbon Pricing Educator from the Indigenous Environmental Network, Julia Bernal, Director of the Pueblo Alliance and New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition, and Brenna Bell, 350PDX Forest Climate Manager.\u00a0Each speaker highlighted a different false climate solution \u2013 carbon offsets, \u201crenewable\u201d hydrogen, and industrial biomass energy \u2013 and came back to the same theme: capitalism and colonialism are at the root of the climate crisis and the only real climate solutions are ones that move away from these systems. We look forward to more collaboration with Thomas and Julia.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, September 25th about 60 people braved the rain and protested the timberland investment conference, Canopy (formerly \u201cWho Will Own the Forest\u201d), at the World Forestry Center. With songs, chants and speeches, we let them know that just greenwashing the name and rhetoric of the conference does not mask its true intent to transform more land and natural processes into money. A wet and lively time was had by all!<\/p>\n It\u2019s time for our quarterly Shade Equity Social and you\u2019re invited! On Tuesday, October 15th we\u2019ll be hosting an Election Edition of the Social in which we\u2019ll discuss the Shade Equity Platform<\/a> (and which candidates have signed on), how to talk about this issue \u2013 and ranked choice voting \u2013 with our friends and neighbors, and plans for continuing to make shade equity an important issue after the election.<\/p>\n The social is from 6:00-8:00pm pm at the Climate Justice Workshop (3639 N. Mississippi); food & drink and childcare will be provided. \u00a0Please register here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Join folks from around the country on October 21 for the Break Big Biomass: National Call to Action<\/a> from 5:00-6:30pm. 350PDX has joined organizations from around the country to envision and plan this exciting online event that will feature elected officials, community leaders from the Gulf South to the West Coast, and issue experts who will detail industry impacts and raise the alarm about the biomass industries\u2019 current US expansion plans.<\/p>\n We will also be calling people to action! Each participant will receive an \u201caction packet\u201d designed to get folks involved in the work to fight the expansion of industrial biomass energy facilities, like the Drax export facility proposed for Longview. Register for the day of action webinar today<\/a>!<\/p>\n Get Connected<\/p>\n The Forest Defense team meets on the first Monday of the month in person and the third Monday online, from 6:00-7:30pm. If you want to get connected with the team, please contact team co-leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org), or Forest Climate Manager Brenna Bell (brenna@350pdx.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n With changes to Portland\u2019s government structure and voting system, 350PDX has been hosting events to educate city council and mayoral candidates on climate issues, organize climate justice voters, and create spaces for voters and candidates to discuss these topics.\u00a0Recent highlights include:<\/p>\n Climate and Environmental Justice Tours and Info Sessions for Candidates<\/strong>, most recently: a September 21 Portland Harbor Kayak Tour & Info Session<\/a>. Thanks to Mosquito Fleet, Portland Harbor Community Coalition, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Braided River for joining us on stage and sharing their work!<\/p>\nClimate-focused City Council Candidate Forums with candidates who have met the small donor match threshold<\/strong>:<\/address>\n To see video of your district\u2019s forum, check out our blog<\/a>. To see a comprehensive list of recent and upcoming events, our Climate Justice Platform, and soon-to-released Voter Guide, check out our 2024 climate justice voter page<\/a>.\u00a0We will be unveiling our Climate Justice Voter Guide on October 15, right before ballots are mailed out!<\/p>\n It was inspiring to witness everyone who spoke up and wrote in about restoring the Climate Protection Program! Members of our Climate Justice Policy Team showed up for the virtual hearing on August 21 and the virtual and in-person hearing at the Department of Environmental Quality on September 26. Our team members attended Electrify Portland to help generate written comments. Together with other organizations that make up the Coalition for Climate and Economic Justice, we generated hundreds of written comments to show that Oregonians care about doing our part to protect our region and our planet, reducing emissions from major polluters, and centering environmental justice through the Community Climate Investment portion of the policy. Major polluters\u2014oil and gas companies\u2014put up strong opposition, so every voice speaking up for a healthy and equitable community is crucially important.<\/p>\n The long and winding saga of the I-5 Bridge Replacement project continues: a public comment period is open from now until November 18, 2024, with the opportunity to comment on the new Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. This bridge needs upgrades to make it earthquake safe, but we also want to make sure it minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, does minimal damage to river ecosystems, and does not harm the health and homes of people living near the bridge. Mark your calendar to attend our testimony training with the Just Crossing Alliance on November 11. Click here<\/a> to learn more, including how to submit your comments!<\/p>\n Mark your calendars for a mayoral forum on October 20<\/strong>, 6:30-8:30pm <\/strong>featuring several candidates who have met the small donor match threshold. We\u2019ll send out more information soon with a location and other details.<\/p>\n Our October Action Night<\/strong> will be on the 23rd at our 350PDX workshop, 3639 N Mississippi Ave. We\u2019ll have printed copies of our Climate Justice Voter Guide for you to peruse and to take some home to share. We\u2019ll offer training on ranked choice voting, so bring your ballot if you\u2019d like, and we\u2019ll help demystify the new format! Engage with your community to discuss district candidates, environmental justice, and how we can transition our city towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all. RSVP<\/a> so we know how many people to expect, and sign up if you\u2019d like to help!<\/p>\n We have an excellent group of students joining our staff this school year to help us track bills, coordinate campaigns, and assist with communications! Please join us in welcoming the following students: Sima Fasihi, Max Hanley, Andy Laurila, Emma Niemela, Santiago Nolasco Galicia, Alex Silva, Liz Zlobinsky.<\/p>\n If you would like information about opportunities for students such as internships, practicum, field experience, or work study, please contact Cherice Bock (cherice@350pdx.org).<\/p>\n We have company coming! The Arts Team has an Artbuild coming up, October 13, 1:00-4:00pm, at the 350PDX Workshop (3639 N. Mississippi Ave). That Sunday we\u2019ll be cleaning up the place, pushing our mural along, and preparing materials for our visit from Donovan Zimmerman and Paperhand Puppet Intervention<\/strong> in November! Come to talk, snack, and help us! Please let Donna know if you\u2019ll be there: murph1949@aol.com<\/p>\n Save the date! 350PDX is hosting an evening with Paperhand Puppet<\/a> Intervention with Donovan Zimmerman, and will include an Artbuild afterwards. November 15th, 7:00pm. Sliding scale admission, $10-15, all proceeds go to 350PDX. Thank you, Donna, Lauren, Dannika, Allison.<\/p>\n Our team\u2019s main focus right now is gearing up for the upcoming DEQ Comment Period on Zenith Energy\u2019s Air Quality permit. Soon there will be an info session we can attend to ask questions ahead of the comment period, and in November there will be 2 in-person public hearings where we will be calling on you to join us in submitting testimony and showing up to the rallies right before the hearings. Stay tuned for comment and testimony writing workshops, and more!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Last Friday, we co-hosted an amazing event featuring TN Rep. Justin Pearson. Thank you to all who attended this hopeful and inspiring evening. You can watch the recording of this here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get connected:<\/p>\n The Fossil Fuel Resistance Team\u2019s next meeting is on Tuesday, October 8 at 5:30 pm on ZOOM. Please email dineen@350pdx.org<\/a> for the link. Our next in-person meeting is on Tuesday, October 29 at the 350PDX office and there will be Halloween treats! <\/strong>New to the team and want to have a new member orientation? Reach out to Dineen at dineen@350pdx.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 350PDX Southwest Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland, from PSU to Hillsdale, Multnomah Village, Bethany, Beaverton and Lake Oswego. We meet monthly on Zoom to plan for in-person actions, presentations, and discussions in our communities. Sign up on the 350PDX Volunteer Interest Form and indicate that you are interested in joining the group, or reach out to Pat at patk5@msn.com to learn more.<\/p>\n Here are some ways to get involved:<\/p>\n 1. Participate in our monthly online planning meetings. Next meeting is Monday, October 14th at 6:30pm.\u00a02. Sign up to distribute yard signs promoting Climate Action Now! at community events.\u00a03. Join our weekly street corner demonstrations.<\/p>\n Team members will be tabling at the Hillsdale Farmers Market on Sunday, October 13th to distribute signs to residents who support Climate Action Now! Do you have a highly visible location for a yard sign? Interested in scheduling a \u201cHow to Save Our Planet\u201d presentation which is available to groups and community organizations? Please contact Pat (see email above).<\/p>\n The Washington County Team gathered on Saturday, September 7 for our summer community potluck. While enjoying camaraderie, we decided that our primary goal would be to get out the vote for progressive candidates at every level. Our next monthly zoom online meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 8. We\u2019ll share about the recent Legislative Days sessions and efforts on the CPP rulemaking.\u00a0Our next sign-wave will take place on Saturday, October 19 from 11am-12:00pm. Check our Facebook page for details.<\/p>\nTeam Updates and Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n
FOREST DEFENSE TEAM<\/h2>\n
Forests over Profits mobilization<\/h4>\n
Shade Equity Social<\/h4>\n
International Day of Action to Break Big Biomass<\/h4>\n
Climate Policy<\/h2>\n
Climate Justice Voter & Candidate Update<\/h4>\n
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Great Support for CPP!<\/h4>\n
I-5 Bridge Replacement public comment period<\/h4>\n
Save the dates!<\/h4>\n
Introducing Our New Student Team<\/h4>\n
Arts Team<\/h2>\n
Fossil fuel Resistance Team<\/h2>\n
SW Neighborhood Team<\/h2>\n
Washington County Team<\/h2>\n