We are crossing the finish line strong with our Healthy Through Heat and Smoke campaign this month and celebrating our community with a new celebration and shout out section. And launching our sustainer drive! Let’s dive in.
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN
Our major campaign this summer is Healthy Through Heat and Smoke, and we are ramping up pressure towards a final vote on the Park’s levy on September 19th. Why? Because we need Green New Deal solutions in Seattle’s community centers.
And y’all made the Town Hall at Northgate Community Center on September 7th a night to remember! Hearing everybody give powerful testimony while we took over that meeting room with beautiful art and overwhelming numbers was electrifying.
We expect the council will vote on the final package on September 19th. Between now and then we’ll continue to lobby for an expansion of the levy to include as much funding as possible for climate resilience hubs. The organizing we all did together got our proposals into the Mayor’s plan for the Parks levy: a win! Now it is in the City Council’s hands and we are pushing on them to go farther.
Watch our press conference video of the Healthy Through Heat & Smoke campaign event here.
Healthy Through Heat and Smoke: Public Comment & Final Vote
Monday, September 19, 2:00pm
Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave, Seattle 98104
In person and virtual
RSVP here.
Healthy Through Heat and Smoke Campaign Celebration
Sunday, September 25, 3:00–5:00pm
Jefferson Park, 3801 Beacon Ave S, Seattle 98108
RSVP here.
ARTFUL ACTIVISM TEAM
Join the Artful Team
Sign up here! (Scroll all the way down that page to sign up.) Skills welcomed, not required. Join us! We’ll teach you as you go! Collaborative team tasks like tracing, cutting, twisting ties, painting in between the lines, etc. are always a welcoming and fun way to be a part of the action. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you want to try a little something more in a supportive, learning, fun, and connecting atmosphere with other people who care enough to show up, and who accept you as you are. Maybe you’re experienced in performance arts (theater, spoken word, music, dance, and beyond), visual arts (graphic design, painting, drawing, screen printing, building props, 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. Whatever calls you to the Artful Team, this team is for you! Contact Lisa.
Join the Art Deployment Team
The Deployment Team has lots to organize this summer. We’re bringing collaborative, powerful, and beautiful art to a ton of upcoming events for our campaigns—and volunteers play an important role in all the logistics that make the magic happen! Learn how to set up, position, and animate art at events, and how to recruit and guide other volunteers to do the same! Please sign up here!
We have multiple Art Builds coming up! Please join us masked and outdoors! It would be great to see you (and friends and family) for beautiful, powerful art and good conversation in a gorgeous setting.
Art Builds for Stop The Money Pipeline, Youth Climate Strike, and more
Tuesday, September 13 and Friday, September 16; 5:00pm
Look for us outside, just west of the Green Lake Aqua Theater, West Green Lake Way N, Seattle 98103
RSVP to Lisa.
Art Build for Youth Climate Strike
Wednesday, Sept 21, 4:00pm to dark or done!
Location TBD closer to the date
RSVP to Eric.
Bring your mask, smiling eyes, clothes for painting, snacks, and water!
Covid safety: Wearing masks is the default. Please, if you have even mild symptoms or possible exposures, definitely sit this one out! If you have needs or concerns, please let Lisa know in your reply. Everyone’s safety, thinking, and comfort is important, and we will prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable and concerned.
FEDERAL TEAM
Climate Peace Clause
Trade Redux: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) needs a Climate Peace Clause. Remember when we fought against the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) and Trump’s new NAFTA? Trade agreements almost always have terms that can negatively affect climate, such as provisions allowing countries to attack green jobs initiatives and other climate policies in the U.S. and across the globe.
The most recent example of a trade agreement threatening our climate comes from the European Union—they’re threatening a trade challenge against the electric vehicle tax credits in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act. Please urge trade negotiators to adopt a “Climate Peace Clause” that ends trade attacks on climate policies.
Resisting Manchin
As they passed the Inflation Reduction Act, top Democrats made a handshake deal with Joe Manchin to pass another bill in September. This “permitting reform” bill would give fossil fuels a lifeline into the future.
It must not pass. Why? The goal of this bill is to lock-in and fast track fossil fuel development at the expense of frontline communities. This legislation would also weaken the only environmental laws we have to stop future projects. This bill would truncate public comment, tribal consultation, and overall make it harder for already overlooked communities to have a voice. But denying it will be a resounding message to the fossil fuel industry: we’re done with you. This is very much an endgame run for the industry.
We need everyone to call their representatives and urge them to publicly deny this deal in its entirety. From what we’ve heard so far, some Progressive Democrats are starting to move in opposition to this deal. Some have even signed on to a public letter of opposition being circulated by Representative Grijalva. But we won’t stop this deal without more. We need to clearly tell our representatives that there is no room to negotiate this bill (as some say they might want to do). If we want a livable future on this planet, the simple and only answer is no.
Take action:
- Call your federal representative (and tell 5 friends to do the same) at 917-791-2257.
- Join a phone banking session to help mobilize others
CLIMATE GRIEF AND EMPOWERMENT
Finding motivation for action can be tough sometimes, especially when the weight of climate grief is feeling heavy. Processing those feelings in connection with others could open up space for inspiration and empowerment. You are invited to join the next Climate Grief and Empowerment gathering, where we gather to feel, digest, and move through grief together.
Climate Grief and Empowerment Gathering
Saturday, October 8, 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here.
THE PEOPLE’S ECHO
At our last People’s Echo songcatchers gathering, we caught a sweet song just for you!! It felt so good to finally catch a song together again, and we would love to share this interwoven earthly melody with you. We are going to first release this track to folks who fill out our community survey by the end of September. We are excited to shape our way forward as a collective with your perspectives to guide us!
We are also excited to announce that we will be back to hosting Community Song Circles starting this fall, and returning every season! Stay tuned for details on an Autumn Song Circle, likely in late October.
Remember that you can now use our linktree to easily refer your friends to sign up for our newsletter, listen to our music, or fill out our survey.
STORY CIRCLE
We (co-leads Amanda and Emily H.) are excited about year two of the Story Circle community!
Over the summer, we collected feedback from members about our meeting schedule and future direction for the group. Based on responses, we will continue to meet on Final Fridays, alternating between in-person and online formats (largely dependent on the season and weather). In addition, we will offer opportunities to gather on other days of the week—whether that’s something hosted by Story Circle or a preexisting community event that Story Circle members can attend together. We also plan to make another zine in early 2023!
We’re here to build relationships, tell stories, and challenge dominant narratives. We hope you’ll join us. You can email us directly at storycircle@350seattle.org with any questions. Or sign up for our email list to get notifications about new events and projects! All are welcome. We start at 6pm when meeting online and 6:30pm when meeting in person.
September Story Circle
Friday, September 30, 6:00pm
Online, register here.
PHOTOS WANTED!
We want your photos! 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? 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.
There’s always a lot happening in the climate justice movement, which is why we need folks like you who are there to capture it! Thank you for helping us tell (and show) our story.
VIDEOS
Our 350 Seattle Instagram has a great new video from when Executive Director Nicole Grant and Campaigns Director Renaissance visited City Hall to talk about our Northgate Community Center take over event! The fabulous Healthy Through Heat & Smoke crew have been ramping up a groundswell of community energy. You can check out a video from our press conference from that event here.
And check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for our library of content including DIY Art how-to videos, recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and trainings.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Do you have a skill or service you would like to offer to the 350 Seattle activist community? Please fill out this form!
The climate movement requires many skills and talents. You don’t have to be an organizer, protest-goer, phone-banker, or someone who’s ready for civil disobedience to get involved in climate justice. We need you: teachers, carpenters, gardeners, personal trainers, mechanics, therapists, accountants, lawyers, nutritionists, hairdressers, herbalists, storytellers, knitters, comedians, acupuncturists, midwives, bakers, chefs, child and pet care providers, care-givers, doctors, dentists, massage therapists, healers, nutritionists, farmers, and MORE!
MONTHLY SUSTAINER DRIVE LAUNCHED
Hello Beautiful People!! On Thursday we launched our 2022 monthly sustainer drive! These next few weeks we’ll continue to share stories from volunteers of how and why they are involved with 350 Seattle.
We’ve set ourselves a goal of 75 new monthly donors signed up by the end of September. We couldn’t do all of the work you’re reading about in this newsletter without your support. Only a small amount of our funding comes from big donors and exactly zero from corporate sponsors—and most foundations are wary of confrontational work like ours. We are powered by the community and by people like you.
Can you help us stay community-powered? Become a monthly sustainer today!
SAVE THE DATE: INTERTWINED!
Mark your calendar and get ready to party—Intertwined is back! On Saturday, November 19th, join the 350 Seattle community to share a meal together and celebrate our roots and resolve. Hear about our accomplishments, and where we’re going in our work to respond to the climate crisis. Find joy and inspiration in this community of resistance and resilience. With special guest speakers (to be announced), food, music and more!
Intertwined: Annual Fundraiser Event
Saturday, November 19, 6:00pm
Metropolist, 2931 First Ave. S, Seattle 98134, + livestream
Sponsorship packet here, or email our Deputy Director, Shemona Moreno
We are looking forward to seeing you in November! Joining together in community is the best.
350 SEATTLE SHOUTOUTS & APPRECIATIONS
This month we are kicking off a new tradition—celebrating our amazing community members with shoutouts and appreciations. This month’s shoutout is for volunteer Junie Lee, from staff member Renaissance. Junie is also featured in a profile story for our monthly sustainer drive—Junie rocks!
Junie came to 350 Seattle early 2022 because of a deep desire to do something about the climate crisis. Newer to organizing, Junie agreed to work alongside Renaissance through a mentorship style onboarding. Since then, Junie has shined and grown not only on the Aviation Team, but also with Healthy Through Heat and Smoke. In this short time, Junie has exercised some serious organizer muscles and is not only helping to guide teams through lobbying meetings with public officials, helping to hold down comms, and showing up and recruiting for events, but is also helping to steer the campaign.
Junie has a deep and profound sense of morality and connection to our 350 Seattle Values. Junie analyzes what we do and what we plan to do by measuring them by our Mission and Values. When things don’t make sense, questions are asked and answers sought. When things are understood, Junie helps others to also understand. One of the freshest traits Junie possesses is the willingness to lean into fear and try new things out, even as just an experiment to learn whether or not the thing is for her.
Junie is simultaneously, both a leader and a follower. She is trustworthy, dedicated, honorable, committed, clear when communicating, and kind. Thank you Junie. – Renaissance
Have an appreciation or gratitude for a 350 Seattle volunteer or staff member that you’re bursting to share? Let us know and we’ll share your shoutout!
350 PNW SEPTEMBER GATHERING
It’s time to gather back up together with other 350 organizers across the PNW as we continue to build connections and relationships within the 350 community.
350 PNW Call: Gathering, Connecting, & Building Regional Power
Monday, September 12, 6:30pm
Online, register here.
Join climate organizers across the region for our first gathering in several months. This will be an engaging evening of connecting over our stories, sharing updates and what’s happening in our 350 local groups, and having an awesome time with each other.
Solidarity Action and Education
YOUTH-LED CLIMATE STRIKE SEPTEMBER 23rd
Join the strike for climate justice organized by Fridays For Future Seattle and youth around the world this September 23rd.
Since our last climate strike, our climate movement has successfully pressured Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act, and right now, legislation with the largest federal investments ever in renewable energy is on the verge of passing. But fossil fuel companies made record-breaking profits this spring and they’re using them to undermine necessary climate actions and the transformation at the scale and urgency we need.
Global Climate Strike
Friday, September 23, 5:00pm
Federal Building, 915 2nd Ave, Seattle 98104
RSVP here.
ANTI-WAR EFFORTS
Here it comes—the first annual March for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons! With a keynote address David Swanson of World Beyond War and a speech from Rachel Hoffman, survivor of nuclear testing at the Marshall Islands.
March for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
Saturday, September 24, 12:00pm
Location: March from Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave, Seattle 98122, to the Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd Ave, Seattle 98104
Contact Mary to get connected.
This first-annual event is organized by Citizens for the Universal Abolition of Nuclear War, including Ground Zero for Nonviolence. This comes at a critical juncture, where climate change and ongoing wars with profoundly destructive and destabilizing impacts have forced us into crisis. Will we choose to do the hard work of negotiation and peace, so that we can direct human energy and resources to the climate crisis and create a livable world where life can thrive?
Please participate September 24 to make this event the best possible event. Help shape it with your presence—this year and for the years ahead!
PUGET SOUND ENERGY: ACTION OPPORTUNITY
From our neighbors at 350 Tacoma, here’s an update on PSE and ways to take action. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is requesting another rate increase for residential customers, and the Utilities and Transportation Commission needs to hear from you that this request should be denied. Over the next three years, electric rates could increase by more than 20% and gas rates by almost 17% to give shareholders returns on the controversial Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility and other unwise investments.
This is unacceptable when PSE is already Washington’s most expensive utility and many customers are struggling or unable to pay their bills. Residential customers should not have to reimburse PSE for the the LNG facility: The Puyallup Tribe and Earthjustice are still appealing the permits in court; the main function of the facility is to sell maritime fuel, not heat homes; PSE continues to build gas infrastructure while ignoring customer preference for renewable energy, declining demand forecasts, and the impacts of methane on the climate crisis.
The Attorney General’s office and the WA Clean Energy Coalition both oppose this rate increase. You can add your name to the list of opposition here.
PSE: Rate Increase Public Hearing
Wednesday, September 28, 6:00pm
RSVP on Facebook. Click here to join by Zoom.
By phone: dial 253-215-8782 and use Conference ID 834 6224 4485 and Passcode 772950
Send official written comments to comment@utc.wa.gov.
Talking points here. Send a letter to lawmakers.
FOREST CARBON COALITION: WEBINAR
Join the Forest Carbon Coalition and their special webinar panelists Drs. Bev Law, Chad Handson, and Monica Bond for a presentation on carbon capture and storage, the role of forests, and the real steps needed to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. They’ll also cover the importance of wildfire and how best to protect communities and an overview of post-fire habitat and biodiversity.
Distinguishing Science from Falsehoods: The Truth about Carbon, Wildfire, and Biodiversity
Wednesday, September 21, 11:30am
Online, register here.
HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS IS ON THE BALLOT!
House Our Neighbors Initiative 135 has enough signatures to go to Seattle voters next February! It creates a public developer to help finance green, publicly owned, green building, renter-controlled, social housing. If you helped gather signatures, THANK YOU! And if you have no idea what House Our Neighbors is about, check out this Emerald article.
HELP ELECT CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
Policy in the next critical years depends on how many climate champions win, and young voters are overwhelmingly climate voters. Do you have time to help get out the youth and climate vote? Check out these online, nonpartisan, GOTV opportunities with NextGen America and Environmental Voting Project.
GET INVOLVED!
Do you care about climate justice? 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 and our event calendar. 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?
Weekly Volunteer Welcome Call
Tuesdays through summer, 6:30pm
Online, register here
And you can also schedule a time to connect with staff member Grace Hope for a phone or video chat.
No time for all that? Well, never fear—you can support the work we do at 350 Seattle by becoming a monthly donor! Sign up here!
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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