Cracks in the Fossil-Fueled Facade - April 2025

[1]Caption. Photo credit: xxxSanDiego350, an independent 350 affiliate,
and allies hosted a "Hands Off Earth Day" action as EPA Administrator Lee
Zeldin visited the city.

Hi John,

Today marks 100 days since Donald Trump took office for his second term.
In that time, the administration has worked to gut climate agencies,
revive a dying coal industry, prevent U.S. states from enacting their own
climate laws, and more.

Despite it all, we continue to see key signs of hope that our movement is
strong and still able to push for justice, and the renewable energy
industry continues to grow. The administration’s actions have been all
over the news, making it easy to miss the seeds that give us hope for
climate justice over the past month — so we highlight and celebrate those,
and encourage you to hold strong and support these efforts however you’re
able.

We hope you enjoy this second edition of our new monthly newsletter,
bringing you news of hope in our climate movement's ability to make
progress in challenging times.

In solidarity

- Team 350

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Cities and States Taking the Lead

SPOTLIGHT: Portland, Oregon. Last month, we shouted out 350PDX’s role in
helping secure a city council full of climate champions for this year.
This month, we have an exciting update showing the fruits of that labor!
Check it out:

“Last month was an exciting one for our team! The City Council voted 11-1
to pass the Zenith Accountability Resolution we’ve been fighting for! Many
of our team stayed up until 11:00 pm cheering on the results of the final
vote. This was a big moment for our new form of government: It was the
first resolution to come out of a committee to then be voted on and passed
by the full council.

This resolution passing means that there will be an investigation into
Zenith Energy’s franchise agreement with the City of Portland, as well as
an investigation into the City’s prior handlings of Zenith’s permits over
the years. It’s time for the public to get some answers and for
accountability to be taken. Thank you to all who’ve lobbied your
councilors for this resolution, who submitted written testimony, who
showed up in person or watched virtually, and to the original co-sponsors
of this resolution!”

— 350PDX

* Why this matters for us and should give us hope: For nearly seven
years, 350PDX and community members across the city and region have
been opposing Zenith Energy, a Houston-based oil company that’s been
transporting 300 million barrels of crude oil annually through the
Portland community. This resolution marks a key step toward holding
Zenith Energy accountable and protecting Portland from the harms of
the fossil fuel industry. It is also a key reminder of what is
possible with climate champions in local office.
* [ [link removed] ]Take action on 350PDX’s campaign to Stop Zenith (350PDX) 

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Protecting What We Love Across Movements

SPOTLIGHT: Trans Day of Visibility on March 31. Across the U.S. and world,
people rallied in support of trans people despite the ongoing dangers they
face. [ [link removed] ]See highlights from across the country here (Newsweek).

This year’s demonstrations were particularly poignant given the current
administration’s targeting and scapegoating of trans people, endangering
countless lives. The trans community and their allies have continued to
stand up and assert that they are here to stay, and cannot be silenced or
erased.

“Today is Trans Day of Visibility. In this fraught time in our world, just
publicly being a member of the Trans community is an act of defiance and
protest. We cannot be legislated out of existence. We have been here
throughout human history and we will continue to be here no matter what
anyone says. 

WE are the resistance and we will never stop! #TDOV today, tomorrow,
forever.”

— JL Andrepont, U.S. Senior Policy Analyst, 350.org

* What does this have to do with climate change: Like other marginalized
communities, LGBTQ+ people face a disproportionate burden of pollution
compared with cisgender heterosexual people. This is due to many
overlapping factors, including discriminatory housing conditions,
difficulty seeking safe shelter, and higher rates of chronic disease
and poor medical treatment.
* [ [link removed] ]Read more about how environmental and climate injustice affects
LGBTQI+ communities (American Progress)

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Standing Up to the Wealthy Elite

SPOTLIGHT: Hands Off! On April 5, we at 350 were among the millions who
joined the first wave of Hands Off! protests to defend our democracy, our
communities, and our climate. Some Hands Off attendees said it was their
first time joining a protest, and our movement welcomed them in, while
urging all to remember that for many — especially Black, Brown, and
Indigenous communities — this fear is not new.

By popular demand, Hands Off! has continued to grow, including in
intersectionality, with a second wave of protests across the country on
Saturday, April 19. This included the biggest combined migrant & climate
justice march in the history of the United States: a powerful NYC action
hosted by many of the same climate partners who organized last year’s
“Summer of Heat on Wall Street.” The April 19 march was endorsed by
350.org, 350 Brooklyn, 350 NYC, and dozens of other organizations.

350 affiliates and partners organized their own “Hands Off” protests
across the country. SanDiego350 and allies quickly organized a “Hands Off
Earth Day” when EPA director Lee Zeldin made a last-minute visit to the
city.

* In the San Diego area? [ [link removed] ]Join SanDiego350 this Saturday, May 3, for
their Unite for Climate March!

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One Thing You Can Do RIGHT NOW

Trump is threatening to auction off public lands to Big Oil for drilling
and mining, which would destroy our natural wonders and harm the planet.
These lands are critical for wildlife and climate action, and they hold
deep cultural significance for Indigenous communities.

Throughout Earth Month, we gave our supporters opportunities to fight
Trump’s attacks on public lands — and it’s not too late to get involved!
Close out Earth Month by sending a letter to Congress demanding they
protect our national landmarks from drilling today.

[ [link removed] ]Send a letter to Congress »

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350.org is a global movement that fights for a just and equitable world by stopping the fossil fuel industry from continuing to destroy our climate.