We hope you are all finding some time for R&R, and taking care of yourself, even during these times of unsettling news. We here at 350 Eastside will be taking this month off from our 350 Eastside General meeting on Wednesday, August 18th, but continue our work with great earnest.
Enjoy your summer, stay cool and stay engaged. Please look at the several opportunities below.
King County Policy hearing -
King County is currently looking at a policy that would eliminate most uses of fossil fuels like gas in commercial and large multifamily (over 5 stories) buildings in unincorporated King County. This policy is being modelled after what recently passed in Seattle in February 2021.
We need to hold the elected King County Council leaders accountable by urging them to support this policy when it is discussed by King County Council on either August 24th or 25th.
We are looking for community members to give testimony either in the committee hearing on August 24th or 25th - or in the full council hearing later in September or October (we’ll know specific dates and times soon). Ideally, we’re looking for community members who live or work in unincorporated King County but that’s not a requirement. This would entail giving a 2-minute testimony, and we will provide talking points and an optional training for those who would be interested.
Emissions from buildings are growing at a faster rate than any other source of carbon pollution in Washington, so we believe this is a policy that should pass! The increase in carbon emissions from buildings is largely due to our use of fossil gas in homes and buildings (called "natural" gas by utilities). Burning fossil gas not only contributes to climate change, but also poses significant health risks for our communities, including children, communities of color, low-income communities, and other historically underserved communities.
If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this form, or feel free to contact Joëlle Robinson directly at [email protected].
Katherine Leggett
Deadline Glasgow: Defund Climate Chaos.
On November 1st, the most important international climate talks since Paris will begin in Glasgow, Scotland. National leaders from around the world will gather and make new climate commitments; many corporations will release their latest climate plans.
That’s why today we’re joining with others at the Stop the Money Pipeline coalition to launch Deadline Glasgow: Defund Climate Chaos.
The Glasgow Climate Talks at COP26 are a historic opportunity for the world to act on climate. When the Paris Agreement was signed five years ago, every nation on earth agreed to meet five years later and “ratchet up” their climate ambition. We’re now at that moment ― and it is vital that we hold the world’s leaders to their promises.
Between now and the start of COP26, we’re going to build a massive people-powered campaign that forces the funders of climate chaos, and the Biden Administration to act. We aim to coordinate 500 actions on our targets by the start of the Glasgow climate talks on November 1st.
Sign the Deadline Glasgow Petition at tinyurl.com/defundff
Our goal is to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures on the petition & to deliver it to hundreds of insurance offices, bank branches, asset manager and pension fund offices & federal targets in September. Sign the petition today.
In the coming days, we’re going to share many more ways for you to get involved in the campaign, but take the first two steps with us today: Sign the petition.
It’s just about 100 days until the start of the Glasgow Climate Talks. Let’s make this matter.
Yes to East King County Public Utility District.
The Yes to East King County Public Utility District campaign (EKC PUD) is working to empower over 250,000 PSE electricity customers to transition faster to renewable energy and we need your help!
Please look at the opportunities below and let us know where you want to get involved:
We are looking for contacts at local businesses that may be interested in supporting or learning more about the Yes to EKC PUD campaign. If you or someone you know is a sustainability manager, works in maintenance/property management, owns a small business, holds a leadership position in a larger business, or works in a clean energy-related field, please email us at [email protected]. We are especially interested in connecting with northeastern King County businesses but would welcome support from organizations outside the PUD area.
We are looking for someone with experience in Wordpress to help webmaster our site. The time commitment would be 1-3 hours per week, needed now and into the Fall, as we update and build out the site content. For more information, contact [email protected].
Have experience creating a toolkit that will help us expand our coalition? This job would be well suited to someone w/ graphic design experience, messaging/political messaging strategy. The leadership team is happy to help with basic content and support the process along the way.
Have some time to do some research? We are looking for contact information for businesses and organizations that we can reach out to and invite to join our campaign.
Don't have the time to be deeply involved in the campaign but still want to help out? Great! We welcome your perspective on energy equality for our region. The EKC PUD campaign is deeply committed to creating a PUD that is equitable, reliable, affordable, and clean!
Getting free from PSE's dirty electricity will cut northeastern King County's greenhouse gas emissions 25-30% and give us a fighting chance to meet the goal of a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The latest IPCC report is clear, we need to act NOW! The warmer temperatures are already “baked” in, and along with that our extreme weather events. The longer we wait, the worse it gets. Let’s join together and build an energy provider we can be proud of!
You can learn more about the campaign at Yes to East King County PUD.
And thanks in advance for helping us build an energy provider we can be proud of!
For more information about any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Fossil Free Federal Reserve campaign
Ahead of August 26-28 Economic Policy Symposium, communities demand Federal Reserve codify climate responsibility, urge Biden appoint a climate champion as Fed Chair
350.org – WATCH: New ‘Fossil Free Federal Reserve’ campaign launches
USA — As part of a global movement demanding banks, insurers, and financial institutions stop the money pipeline to fossil fuels, 350.org is launching the Fossil Free Federal Reserve campaign.
Personal reflection – Patrick Mazza
Patrick Mazza has worked with 350 Seattle since it started, you may find what he wrote relatable and take solace in his words:
Everyday climate catastrophe - Living in a schizoid world - by Patrick Mazza - The Raven (substack.com)
Take good care, we’ll see you in September!
Emily, Marilyn, Phil, Lin, Lynn and Sara
350 Eastside
