The 350 WA Civic Action Team (CAT) has awoken from our summer cat-nap to fight back against a state-wide initiative coming up on the November ballot that would be catastrophic for climate action across our state: I-2117.

And for all you Seattle people, we will be launching our local Get Out the Vote for Climate Justice Campaign on August 22nd. RSVP to join us here.

BUT WHAT IS INITIATIVE 2117 YOU ASK?

I-2117 is an initiative backed by moneybags Brian Haywood that would both repeal the Climate Commitment Act and prevent future legislation to tax fossil fuel pollution.  If passed, this initiative would allow more pollution and cut investments in clean air and water, forests and farmlands, jobs and transportation. It would strip away investments in every county in Washington, get the whole scoop on it here.

AND WHOM IS FIGHTING AGAINST THIS INITIATIVE?

An unprecedented coalition of over 200 organizations across the state are opposing I-2117. Everyone from Tribal Nations to unions to small businesses and leading companies to energy companies and environmental groups to farmers are coming out against it. They don’t always agree on everything, but they all want to keep Washington a beautiful place to live, work, and do business.  You can find a list of everyone coming together to fight this initiative here.

HOW MAY I JOIN THIS BATTLE?

The campaign is ramping up and is looking for volunteers. They need people across the state to connect with their community and make sure this initiative doesn’t pass.  Even if you have never done this type of work, they have a place for you and ways you can help! Like help coordinate and lead volunteers in your area. Or table at events, knock on doors, write letters or postcards, text bank, get yard signs to people and more.

AND ARE THERE NOT SEVERAL OTHER DESPICABLE BALLOT INITIATIVES?

Indeed they are. While it’s worth looking into all of the Haywood-funded ballot initiatives (or just take or word and Vote No), I-2066 is of particular depravity. It would roll back existing laws designed to protect consumers in Washington’s transition to clean energy, and would harm public health while blocking residents’ access to money-saving, state-of-the-art heating and cooling equipment needed for resilience during heat and smoke.

Mark your calendar and get ready to party—Intertwined is back again and at a time where we really want to be in community. On Saturday, November 16th we’re gonna come together to uplift the hard work we’ve done this year and how we plan to level up and grow! 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 want to grow to tackle the challenges ahead of us.

Interested in helping out with event coordination? Email Shemona.

SAVE THE DATE: Intertwined 2024
Saturday, November 16, 6:00 PM
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave, Seattle, + livestream

And speaking of Shemona, this is her favorite Red Lentil & Spinach Tikka Masala.

We are hosting an installation at the Seattle Design Festival this August 16th-18th. The theme for the festival is “What if?” and we are asking “What if Seattle eliminates city climate pollution by 2030 and becomes carbon neutral by 2050? What if Seattle is powered by clean energy, with thriving, healthy, inclusive, and regenerative communities? What would a climate-resilient Seattle look and feel like?”🍃

The Artful team is preparing an interactive installation to highlight GND and climate resilience in communities and what that future can look like. Visitors will be able to use stamps to build a vibrant community together, as well as take a few prints home for themselves.

To help inspire our visitors, we would like to amplify the actions of our community partners and YOU. We would be honored and excited to share your climate community resilience stories at the festival. Here is a mock up for the type of 2-sided posters we want to have on display:

We want to inspire our visitors with real-world climate resilience wins, examples of community action, and the change makers who get it done. If you have a story you think fits, or know someone who does, please fill out this form.

OR If you would like to join us at the Seattle Design Festival on August 16-18th, please fill out the volunteer form.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Meghan Oesterle, our coordinator for the Seattle Design Fest exhibit.

Join the Anti-War x Climate Collective (AWxCC) and many other local organizations during this summer of protests. To receive announcements of actions and educational events, email Mary who can put you on the Action Network mailing list of the Seattle Anti-War Coalition (SAWC), of which 350 Seattle is a member. We’re beginning a monthly meeting over Zoom or Jitsi: third Wednesdays, 5-6pm. Get in touch with Mary to join.

It’s Seafair Week and we are busy! On July 30, a peace flotilla met the Navy Warships. And yesterday we held a picnic protest at Genesee park, handing out earplugs and talking about why it’s time to ReImagine Seafair. We will be out again today: 11-2PM at Genesee Park. Join us!

The Aviation Team is happy to announce the new website for the Fix the Harm campaign, a project of the SeaTac Community Coalition for Justice, which the Aviation Team is part of. Check it out, and sign our Letter of Concern!

Our next team meeting is August 6th, 7-8PM. Contact Laura to see how you can get involved in this or our other many activities.

And consider eating Ryan’s favorite Lemon Artichoke Quinoa Salad while attending.

Back on Earth Day 2022 President Biden issued Executive Order 14072, committing to identify, inventory, and protect mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. Federal agencies were charged to develop a meaningful and durable protection policy, and implement those protections in the field. Yay!

Last December the Forest Service proposed a nationwide amendment to all 128 national forest plans — but now that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is out we’ve learned that it just doesn’t cut it — in fact, it allows too much cutting! 

The proposed plan allows old-growth trees to be sent to the mill and allows agency staff to manage old-growth out of existence in pursuit of “proactive stewardship” goals. The draft also contains ambiguous language that could be used to justify continued commercial logging of old growth in the Tongass National Forest. Unacceptable!

Tell the Forest Service to prohibit logging of old growth on public lands and give mature forests explicit protection!

Threatened mature forests provide the majority of climate benefits in federal forests and should be allowed to become our nation’s future old growth. Take action now to help create our future old growth!

The Federal Policy Team has had many pots on simmer all summer!

We’ve continued lobbying our U.S. Senate and House members on the Farm Bill, the suite of Green New Deal Bills, and the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

Now, we are moving a couple of pans to the front burner as they threaten to boil over.

First, we’re super excited to join Aki’s effort in GOTV for Climate Justice beginning mid-August to defeat the state initiatives that would repeal our climate commitment act, bankrupt long term care, and repeal the capital gains tax funding education.

Secondly, (and outrageously) Senator Manchin has pushed his “Dirty Deal” out of the frying pan and into the fire once again. This time it is under the name of the “Energy Permitting Reform Act”. Among many negative provisions, this bill, which uses language taken directly from Project 2025, reverses the Biden-Harris administration’s pause on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals. In response, we’re gathering up every utensil we have to stop it. If you missed the dedicated email from 350 Seattle on Monday, July 29th, read this article from Bill McKibben to learn more: Manchin’s Last Gasp.

Senator Cantwell, who serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was one of the senators who voted the bill out of committee on Wednesday, despite our many calls. The fight is not over, however, and we will not rest until we make sure this cake is never fully baked. We will continue lobbying Senator Cantwell on this issue through the end of this session of Congress and will update you when we have additional actions to take.

We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 5pm. Our next meeting is August 7th,  5PM. To get the Zoom link, sign up for our listserv or contact Beth or Linnea.

Spending some well-intentioned federal dollars, the Washington Deptartment of Commerce would like to know, what are your climate priorities? 

We hope you’ll tell them that any state-wide climate action plan should: transition buildings off fossil fuels, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and include biogenic carbon emissions from timber harvests in statewide GHG inventories.

In the do-not-want category, please let them know that: Industrial wood pellet export facilities are a false climate solution that contradict our state climate goals.

And one more thing — How the heck did that Hoquiam pellet plant qualify for a Clean Energy Manufacturing Grant last year? Doesn’t anyone at Commerce realize that the project will kill carbon-sequestering trees and send them to be burned overseas?? How is that “clean”???

And, er, speaking of burning, be careful to not overdo the jalapeno in Ben’s fav watermelon feta salad.

Our friends at Seattle Solidarity Budget tell us that many aspects of Seattle’s proposed mid-year supplemental budget are neither humane nor equitable– check out their call to action here.

Join Climate Action Families, Seattle Cruise Control, and Paw Cast Kids!
Tuesday, August 13, 11:30am – 2pm
The cruise industry pollutes the air and water, endangers public health, jeopardizes the climate, exploits onboard workers, and overwhelms destination communities! We will amplify the voices of youth & adult allies, calling attention to these harms and urging the Port to annually reduce cruise sailings until they no longer pollute the air, water, and climate.

There are three ways to comment!
1. In-person: Meetup at 11:30am at the fountain on the corner of Broad Street & Alaskan Way. We’ll head into the Port Commission Meeting together, just a block away at 2711 Alaskan Way, at 12pm. Afterward, we’ll have a picnic by the water nearby!
2. Virtually: Sign up to comment by emailing before Tuesday, 9am on 8/13. You’ll receive a response with a phone number or Skype link to participate in the 12pm meeting.
3. In writing: Send a written comment by 9am on Tuesday, 8/13.

Here are some talking points for public comments.

Climate Action Families August Monthly Meeting
Friday, August 16th, 6-8PM
Picnic in Cal Anderson Park
More info

Soak up some sun and visit with your CAF friends over a Picnic Potluck. We’ll have a simple dinner as a base, so don’t be afraid to come empty-handed — we know that families are busy! Meet by the playground.

Monthly meetings are for adults and youth of all ages. We play games, make art, and share in short presentations by young activists. Meetings are held in Seattle locations that are easy to reach using public transportation.
Covid protocol: Indoor masking is encouraged; if you feel sick, stay home.

The Book Club is excited to announce our reading list for the rest of 2024!

In August, we will be reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.  This speculative fiction book examines a near-future where climate change and social inequality lead to instability and political collapse, which apropos of nothing, is set in 2024. The story follows Lauren Olamina, a young woman who can feel the pain of others and becomes displaced from her home. Several characters from various walks of life join her on her journey north and learn of a religion she has envisioned and titled Earthseed.  We will discuss this book on August 11, August 25, and September 8 from 2:30-4:30.  You can join us either in-person at the 350 office or using this Zoom link.

We also wanted to highlight our September 22nd meeting which will include a presentation and discussion focused on conservation psychology and how we can use the biases of the neurotypical brain to most effectively engage and shift behaviors in our community.

If you are interested in staying connected with the Book Club, you can sign up through this form. and we will get you looped in to our emails and signal channel!

We are a part of nature, and as we weather this season of smoke and heat, we feel her imbalance. Paying attention to our emotional as well as physical reactions is an important part of honoring our connection to nature, and it’s essential to sustaining climate work.

So consider joining us for the next Climate Grief and Empowerment Group, which meets monthly on every second Saturday! Together, we’ll engage in collective practices that deepen our capacity for dwelling with difficult emotions and strengthen strategies for coping in uncertain times.

Our upcoming Climate Grief and Empowerment Group Monthly Gatherings are:
Saturday, August 10th, from 10:00AM to 11:45AM
Saturday, September 7th, from 10:00AM to 11:45AM
Online, register here separately for each one you’ll attend.

We welcome adults (18+) for as many or as few meetings as you would like! The Climate Grief and Empowerment Group is co-sponsored by 350 Seattle and Climate Action Families, out of the recognition that ongoing emotional support plays a critical role in building community resilience and robust social movements.

Song Circle with Kira Seto

Wednesday, August 14
Seward Park, 6:30-9PM

Join The People’s Echo for a soul-nourishing community song circle with Oregon-based songleader Kira Seto!

Revel and delight in rich harmonies, groovy rhythms, and words to feed your aliveness. Jump in for an evening and be instantly part of a community of voices resonating together as you learn and savor an intentionally curated collection of rounds, layered part songs, and harmonies in an engaging and accessible form. Kira brings a feast of potent songs to share, from soulful to silly, from simple pocket songs to polyphonic pieces.

All voices welcome! Songs taught by ear. Singing for the joy of it! Connection over perfection. Even if you think you can’t sing, you belong here!

Join the Artful Team and Alerts list:

Sign up here to get on the Artful email list for monthly info on upcoming community art opportunities and to let us know your still sets! (Scroll all the way down that web page to sign up.) 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! We haven’t scheduled August’s builds yet but we are planning them! Please use the form to be notified when we have the details set.

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 to get involved.

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!

D-R-U-M-m-i-n-g to enliven our actions – WHAT?! 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! 

Sound Equipment at events/actions needs operators!
(including PAs, a sound board, power stations, mics, and bluetooth) 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 to get involved.

Photos needed for our photo library: Are you willing to share any great shots that you captured at a 350 Seattle event, art build, or action? Please submit your best images to our Photo Library to share them with our community for use in our organization’s storytelling, including our outreach, communications, and fundraising efforts.
Videos! Check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for events content and DIY Art how-to videos, recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and awesome trainings.Here are our guidelines and the email address for submitting photos to our library editors.

Videos! Check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for events content and DIY Art how-to videos, recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and awesome trainings.

In addition to coming out for an art build or making the world a more beautiful place, I am sure it would also make Lisa happy if you tried her recipe for guacamole on veggie strips:

“Mash 2 ripe avocados, stir in 2 TSP of lemon juice, half TSP of salt, 3 cloves of finely grated garlic, a quarter of a finely chopped red onion, 1.5 TSP cumin, and half a bunch of finely chopped fresh cilantro. Dip into it with veggies sliced into strips like celery, carrots, orange peppers, cucumber, snap peas!” YUM.

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’re able to offer tax prep help, or a free acupuncture session, or pet sitting. All skills are welcome! Please fill out this form with your own offerings, and we’ll reach out to confirm details. We’re excited to hear from you!

Consider patronizing local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) -owned businesses! Here is a list of some local community BIPOC businesses to support, with additional lists linked at the bottom. Can you pick one new BIPOC-owned business to support this month??

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

“Huge shout out to Annie for stepping into the role of both LT and Climate Community Night convener! It has been so great to have your energy and ideas as we figure out how to keep all our teams on the same page and welcome new people into our space. I am looking forward to seeing how both of these spaces grow with your support!”
– Ryan

“The GND team and Pam Ng – great energy and wonderful work!”
– Shemona

“Aedan! for all your beautiful images for Reimagine Seafair and for being such a pleasant person to collaborate with!”
– Ben

““Huge shout out to Meghan Oesterle for taking the lead on organizing 350 Seattle’s installation at the Seattle Design Festival called “Community of Dreams.” Meghan has done a fantastic job bottom lining this project, and thanks to this effort we have the opportunity to talk to a whole new community about the Green New Deal and ushering in a more just, green Seattle altogether.”
– Aki

If you are still looking for ways to get involved with your 350 Seattle community, head to our website or just reply to this newsletter.

Have a lovely summer!
Ben