Jeanne,
What disasters will this new year bring? Now, now—set aside those grim thoughts for a moment, and remember the weekend’s sunshine! It’s…
GO TIME FOR SEATTLE’S GREEN NEW DEAL
This fall, our Solar Schools campaign won $18M for clean energy commitments in the Seattle Schools levy proposal. Woot!
Now it’s time to get out the vote and make sure the levy passes on February 8th!
By passing the Seattle Schools levy, we can fund first-in-the-nation clean energy investments in public schools. We can reduce climate pollution, build climate resilience, and create pathways to good union jobs that directly benefit SPS students and their families.
To win, we need YOU–getting the word out about Seattle’s Green New Deal, the February 8th special election and why it’s so important to fund clean energy in our schools.
Get Out the Vote for a Green New Deal!
Tuesday, January 25, 7:00–8:00pm
Online, register here.
Ready to jump in and volunteer? Join a team and get trained on core organizing skills like 1-1s, outreach, facilitation, and event planning!
Green New Deal Volunteer Orientation
Monday, January 17, 7:00–8:00pm
Online, register here.
All are welcome, no experience required!
STAY HOUSED, STAY HEALTHY
40 organizations including 350 Seattle signed this letter asking new Mayor Bruce Harrell to extend Seattle’s eviction moratorium. With Omicron surging, Federal child tax credits just over, King County’s emergency rental assistance program suddenly and unexpectedly ending, and many still struggling to catch up on rent, an end to the eviction moratorium would be a cruel start to the new year. Ask the Mayor to extend the moratorium until the end of the public health emergency.
TACOMA LNG RESISTANCE
Last November, the long anticipated court ruling for the Tacoma LNG facility by the Pollution Control Hearings Board sided with Puget Sound Energy, but this fight is far from over. Last month the Puyallup Tribe and Earthjustice filed an appeal and the case will be heard in a higher court, so keep the prayers and thoughts coming! The appeal process might take up to a year to complete.
LNG Resistance Team Meeting
Thursday, January 20, 12:00pm
Online, register here.
Our LNG Resistance team is continuing to meet every other Thursday. Although we can’t work to influence the legal appeal, there is organizing we can do to minimize some of Puget Sound Energy’s harms and political influence on our region.
PSE will soon file a request with the Utilities and Transportation Commission to raise rates for residential gas and electric customers to recoup the construction costs of the Tacoma LNG facility, even though the main purpose of the facility will be for maritime fuel and many families are already struggling to pay their utility bills. Written comment link and virtual hearing date coming soon!
Our Resistance team will also be supporting the East King County Public Utility District campaign that could replace PSE as an electricity provider with publicly owned power for 120,000 customers via the following 2022 ballot initiative…
EAST KING COUNTY PUD CAMPAIGN
Our friends at 350 Eastside are helping lead a campaign to replace Puget Sound Energy’s fossil fuel intensive and expensive electricity service for homes in East King County with publicly owned power. Signature collection will begin later this month, with the goal of putting the initiative on the 2022 November ballot. And here’s some good news: the campaign can collect the necessary 30,000 signatures electronically!
PSE has already begun a greenwashing and misinformation campaign, mailing glossy brochures to people in the proposed service territory. We know from prior attempts in other counties that PSE will use scare tactics and their deep pockets to try and squash any attempt to create a public utility district.
Let’s help East King County overcome Puget Sound Energy’s underhanded tactics and dirty electricity!
Sign up to receive campaign updates. Donate to the cause. Volunteer to help with signature collection, social media amplification, encouraging businesses and community groups to endorse the campaign, and more.
STATE ENERGY CODES
The opportunity to update and improve our building energy codes to incorporate the latest technologies comes up only once every three years. Take action to electrify our buildings and transition our economy away from fossil fuels: Tell the statewide Building Code Council to support new codes to help build an all electric future!
GAS GRINCH
The “natural” gas industry spends millions to deceive and convince the public that their gas is clean, safe, and a bridge fuel to a renewable future—we know that’s not true and that it also harms communities, but the PR campaigns are effective at fooling the public. The Gas Grinch plans to continue helping dispel these myths by handing out fliers in Seattle in busy public areas! Email Stacy to get involved.
STOP THE HELICOPTERS
“We need a solution that will protect the airspace above Snoqualmie Falls, similar to the airspace restrictions in place over National monuments. We need immediate action in order to ensure that the 2 million plus individuals who visit our sacred site each year are kept safe.” – Snoqualmie Tribal Councilmember Christopher Castleberry. Learn more here.
To file a complaint with your concerns about inappropriate air traffic at sacred Snoqualmie Falls, please visit this FAA Hotline Reporting Form, select “General Public”, and then “Other”.
Thank you.
CRUISE-FREE SALISH SEA
Throughout the pandemic, cruise companies have tried to minimize the perceived risks of continuing business as usual. Recently the on-board infection rates have skyrocketed and every cruise ship currently operating with passengers in the U.S. has active cases on board. According to the Washington Post, “Last week, the CDC warned all travelers, including those who are vaccinated, to avoid cruise ships. The advice came after the agency said the number of cases skyrocketed from 162 in the first two weeks of December to 5,013 between Dec. 15 and 29.” And those results are despite protocols and promises of safety by the cruise ship companies.
Putting profit over people and common sense leads to disastrous results. We see these same empty promises regarding the impacts of these fossil fuel-intensive mega ships on climate and water quality. We see other harms, such as the impact of ship exhaust on public health and the exploitation of onboard workers, being ignored completely. It’s time for the Port of Seattle to start working on a transition away from this harmful industry to a cruise-free Salish Sea.
Want to get involved? Fill out this volunteer form, email Stacy, or follow Seattle Cruise Control on Twitter and Facebook!
MARITIME SOLUTIONS
Last month, our Maritime Solutions Team took part in the webinar From Land to Sea: Building Sustainable Maritime Futures, co-hosted by the Pacific Coast Coalition of Seafarers, 350 Seattle, Seattle Cruise Control, the ShipItZero Campaign, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Climate Action Families. Check out the recording here!
Want to get involved with the Maritime Solutions Team? It’s easy, join our next planning session:
Maritime Solutions Team Planning Session
Tuesday, January 18, 7:00pm
Online, register here. Questions? Email Stacy.
Harbor Island Superfund Site
It’s time to resist the EPA’s proposal to dial back its cleanup plan—stay tuned for upcoming info sessions and public comment period! In a recent Seattle Times article, Lynda Mapes writes, “Managers at the EPA, Port, city and King County—the responsible parties in the cleanup—have argued that goals set in 2014 for the Lower Duwamish Waterway cleanup, right upstream and now underway, are unrealistic. They have discussed weakening levels for PCBs, arsenic, dioxins and furans.” (Our emphasis.) You can find more info here, and we will continue to update that doc with ways to take action.
City of Seattle Industrial and Maritime Strategy
To meet land use goals, the city is studying changes to its Comprehensive Plan policies and industrial zoning regulations, with a comment period running until January 31st.
The city is hosting two public meetings for people to provide comments:
Industrial and Maritime Strategy
Tuesday, January 11, 10:00am
Wednesday, January 12, 6:00pm
More information and hearing links available here.
We know that comment periods can be hard to navigate, so we urge you to attend this advocacy training hosted by ShareTheCitiesActionFund.org:
DEIS Industrial & Maritime Strategy Advocacy Workshop
Tuesday, January 11, 7:00pm
Online, register here.
You can also learn more in this toolkit. Your participation can make a difference!
SHIP IT ZERO
Missing those sleigh bells? You’re invited to relive the holidays with this uplifting video of holiday-themed action at Target Headquarters!
Then, help keep the holiday cheer alive by flooding the inboxes of Target executives! It only takes one click to send your ShipItZero Holiday Wishlist to Target’s CEO!
Together with the ShipItZero crew, we’re building a movement to demand some of the most profitable and powerful retailers like Amazon, Ikea, and Target take responsibility for their toxic and climate-cooking dirty ship pollution.
AVIATION TEAM
Our Aviation Team had much to celebrate in 2021. As part of the King County International Airport Community Coalition, and with help from your emails, we won an agreement not to expand Boeing Field! This year, we’re aiming for similar success against plans to vastly expand the number of flights at SEATAC.
We are helping both King County and the City of Seattle do a better accounting of aviation emissions in their climate plans. With the Maritime Team and other groups, we are considering legislation to make protecting the climate a part of the Port’s mandate, perhaps in conjunction with a “Green Amendment” to the state constitution. We challenged misinformation and damaging policies related to the climate impact of aviation at Port of Seattle meetings, Adam Smith’s Congressional Town Halls, FAA hearings, and innumerable other commission meetings.
We’re gearing up for an even more engaging and effective year in 2022 and we would love to have your help! Contact Laura to get involved!
JUST TRANSITION IN TRANSPORTATION
The Just Transition in Transportation campaign is fighting against the business-as-usual expansion of highways and organizing to build a more equitable transportation system in Washington.
This story isn’t new, and you can help tell it! Host a screening of Ramps to Nowhere, a film about the successful fight against highway expansion that would have torn apart neighborhoods throughout Seattle in the 1960s and 1970s. Afterwards, have a discussion with friends and neighbors about how we can continue this work in our communities today. Learn more here!
Want to get more involved in the campaign? In addition to Ramps to Nowhere hosts, we need folks to post on social media, engage in policy research, and help research political donors. More info here.
FEDERAL POLICY TEAM
The Federal Policy Team is gearing up for 2022: we’re studying a proposed rule at EPA regarding methane emissions, pushing legislation on plastics pollution, and feeling alarmed by the obvious fact that a failing democracy limits our ability to pass meaningful climate legislation. For that reason, 350 Seattle has joined 350 Silicon Valley in a letter to Congress addressing both voting rights and Build Back Better. Take a moment to write to your senators here!
And for an update on what’s happening in Congress, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) has sponsored a webinar with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, leader of the Progressive Caucus:
Have We Started Building Back Better?
Tuesday, January 25, 5:00pm
Online, register here.
The ability to fight climate change hinges not just on a functioning democracy, but on the world’s ability to fight Covid. Please write to your Congressional representatives asking them to co-sponsor the End the Pandemic Now Resolution, which lays out a clear roadmap for how to increase global production of COVID vaccines, test kits, and treatments.
Did you know that the U.S. plastics industry’s contribution to climate change is on track to exceed that of coal-fired power in this country by 2030? If this alarms you as much as it does us, here are several actions you can take, including a petition to the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to reject new and expanded petrochemical permits. There’s even a petition to urge Amazon to stop sending packages in single use plastic packaging.
Want to get involved in our federal work? Join the Federal Policy Team here!
SHORT SESSION IN OLYMPIA
Yep, it’s that time of year again! The state legislative session starts this week and it’s going to be a short, fast sprint to the session’s end in mid-March. In play are measures to remove fossil gas from buildings, add climate elements to the Growth Management Act, improve police accountability, and pass a transportation package that reduces emissions and serves the quarter of Washingtonians who don’t drive.
Want to add your voice to the session? The 350 Washington Civic Action Team has got you covered, with a strong set of legislative priorities and curated actions delivered to your inbox twice a week–sign up here!
COMMUNITY RESOURCE LIST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Do you have a skill or service you’d like to offer to the 350 Seattle activist community? Do you want to volunteer to help us grow our list of resources available to the 350 Seattle activist community?
We’re looking for volunteers who can research and contact local businesses, practitioners, and creatives to ask if they can provide support through discounts, trades, free services, and more. It’s not hard! All you need are basic outreach and/or research skills, and it’s an easy time commitment, one hour a week. Interested in helping? Contact Hillary.
CLIMATE GRIEF AND EMPOWERMENT
We are coming into the New Year with renewed energy. But we’re also nonplussed by the commercial machine that seems to encourage us to “get productive again.” In changing times and seasons, we continue to center that it is okay to slow down as needed (even in January). Our path forward requires us to connect with community and take space for our emotions. That work is slow and tender and careful.
Climate Grief and Empowerment
Saturday, January 8, 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here.
We invite you to join us for the next gathering of Climate Grief and Empowerment for this ongoing community care as we face global challenges together.
STORY CIRCLE
The Story Circle community is making a zine, to be published in Spring 2022. We are putting together submission guidelines to share soon! To learn more, contact Amanda or Emily H. The zine sections will be guided by the elements: earth, air, wind, and fire. We welcome stories, essays, art, comics, poems, and songs from YOU!
Story Circle
January 28, 6:00pm
Online, the final Friday of every month: register here.
Our next Story Circle will dive into alternative publishing methods with time for learning new tools, hearing a story, and sharing creative time together. All are welcome!
THE PEOPLE’S ECHO
Join us to share songs with each other that feel relevant to the times we are living in. Please bring a song that is easy and teachable, that we can all sing together, preferably 4-6 lines. This is for community singing. We don’t believe in good/bad binaries – there are no good or bad singers. We lift up all voices and find our power is in singing together. Masks and distancing required.
In-person Song Teach In
Saturday, January 23, 1:00–3:00pm
Seward Park, Seattle
Shareable event page here with more directions.
Online Song Teach In with Special Guest/Song Leader Karly Loveling
Thursday, January 27, 6:00pm
Online, join here at event time.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive reminders, updates and Zoom links.
ARTFUL ACTIVISM
Artful Activism makes our gorgeous banners, powerful and fun props, engaging music, theater, graphics, videos, photos, and more for 350 Seattle campaigns and in collaboration and solidarity with other groups. We brainstorm creative ways to use art to its fullest potential, produce inspiring visuals, projects and song, and hold community outdoor art builds and do at-home projects to manifest our work.
Building art together
Join us for social creative time—drop ins welcome, bring family and friends! No skills needed, just smiling eyes and clothes for mess, your own mask, water, and snack.
Art Build for the MLK March, and more!
Saturday, January 15, Noon–4:00pm
Gasworks Park Play Barn, 2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle 98103
Join us in painting and coloring in outlines to create a powerful banner for the upcoming January 17th MLK March! We’ll be making at least one banner and painting beautiful screen prints.
To find us, pass the bathrooms and the building with the red machinery in front of it, then walk through the Play Barn building to the southeast end—we’ll be there! RSVP to Lisa please!
Covid Safety: Wearing masks is the default. Please, if you have even mild symptoms or possible exposures, just sit this one out! If you have needs or concerns, please email Lisa. We will prioritize the concerns of the most vulnerable.
Skilled art from home
If you already have some art or sewing skills and you want to get on our short list of people who get contacted last minute for smaller art builds, please contact Lisa.
Deployment of our powerful and beautiful art!
For other deployment opportunities, and trainings to be able to guide last minute volunteers at events, we need YOU! Please contact Eric.
Join the Artful Workgroup
We’re looking for people with skills in any area of art including performance arts, visual arts like graphics, painting, drawing, screen printing, building props, etc. and people at any skill level with creative strategic humor and energy who like to brainstorm. Contact Lisa.
Not skilled? No worries, join us! We’ll teach you how! We all love to see the work we’ve helped create make a difference in the world! No skills tasks like tracing, cutting, twisting ties, painting in between the lines, etc. are always needing people in a supportive, learning, fun and connecting atmosphere with other people who care enough to show up like you are. Sign up here.
PHOTOS WANTED!
Did you take photos at a recent 350 Seattle event, art build, or action? Are you willing to share what you captured with our community? We invite you to submit your best images to our Photo Library, where they’ll be saved for future use in our organization’s storytelling, including our outreach, communications, and fundraising efforts. Here are our guidelines for submitting photos to our library editors.
Thank you for helping us tell (and show) our story!
VIDEOS
Check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for awesome and growing content including DIY Art how-to videos and recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and trainings.
GET INVOLVED!
Do you care about climate justice? Are you looking for a way to volunteer, and hang out with some awesome folks in the process? Come join our 350 Seattle New Volunteer Orientation Training!
New Volunteer Orientation Training
Monday, January 17th, 6:00–7:00pm
Online, register here.
Want more general information about 350 Seattle? Then check out this handy new volunteer welcome guide.
Here are some really great ways to start on that path of engagement! Check out our updated Volunteer Opportunities List. Opportunities range from low commitment to high, introductory to skilled. All you have to do is find something you’re excited about and reach out! Unless otherwise noted, all opportunities can be done from home.
Unsure what you want to do? Still have questions about who we are and what we do? Schedule a time to chat with Shemona either by phone or video chat.
No time? Well, never fear—you can support the work we do at 350 Seattle by becoming a monthly donor! Sign up here!
See you in February, friends!
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350 Seattle is an independent local affiliate of the global 350.org. We are not legally or financially connected to 350.org. We’re funded by supporters like you! Click here to make a donation today.
350 Seattle
5031 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
United States