Local Action to Protect the Global Climate

"From April 22 to April 24, the livestream will include trainings, performances, and appearances to keep people engaged, informed, and inspired. Speakers will include celebrities, politicians, musicians, activists, scientists, and youth leaders on the frontlines of climate justice.

'Our goal is to recreate the feeling of attending an in person mass mobilization, but in the virtual world,' said Naina Agrawal-Hardin, Organizer at Sunrise Movement. ....'Social distancing doesn’t mean that we can’t still engage in collective action.'

Each of the three days has a theme:

April 22 is “Strike,” a chance to hear from and support people of color, Indigenous leaders and frontline activists who are fighting for climate action, confronting the fossil fuel industry, and building the solutions needed to address the crisis. As a day centered on storytelling and community, we are leaning into healing and togetherness to provide comfort and inspiration during this time of unknowns.

April 23 is “Divest,” a day led by the Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, focused on ending the financing of fossil fuels and building a new economic system that works for people and the planet, especially given the current economic state. During these 24 hours, organizers will support thousands of people to switch out of dirty banks, cut up credit cards that help fund fossil fuels, and apply direct pressure on the institutions funding the climate crisis.

April 24 is “Vote,” a nationwide political action and youth voter registration day. We need leaders who will address this existential threat, and for this to happen, we need people to show up at the polls this year. We will be holding a digital, relational voter registration challenge — seeing which region of the country can register the most voters. We’ll also be calling on elected officials to support our demands through a variety of tactics. As the 24th is the first day of Ramadan, organizers will be working with the Muslim community to make sure events are accessible for those who are observing and use it as an opportunity to educate people on the holiday."

Sign up to connect with Earth Day Live 72-hour livestream:  https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/
 

Sign up here to be updated on Salem-area programs for Earth Day 4/22
 

Thursday April 23: Divest - Stop the Money Pipeline 
Sign up here  Chase Bank is the worst bank by far for financing the fossil fuel industry. A small group here in Salem has had several demonstrations at Chase Bank branches and related activities as part of a nationwide effort.  
Our friends at 350PDX have really exciting plans to take this national campaign online on April 23, flooding each Chase branch with reviews that tell the truth about Chase Bank's role in climate chaos.
Here in Salem there are four Chase branches plus mini-branches in Fred Meyer's stores.  Let's tell them what we think!  Sign up to get information from 350PDX about Chase and about the logistics of the April 23 action online.  (This is going to be so much easier than standing out in the hard cold rain.)

Sign up here to be updated on Salem-area programs for 4/24. The presidential nominations may be a done deal, but there are critical state and local primary races with clear choices for candidates who will stand up for climate action and other policies that put people before profit. 

 

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2020 ELECTIONS
We all know how consequential this election year is. Many of our members, supporters and friends are campaigning hard for candidates we know will work to protect our climate and our communities. Since candidate events and door-to-door campaigning are off limits now, it's important to do what we can to ensure that good candidates get the attention they deserve. We can help by educating ourselves on candidate positions, making phone calls, sending texts, displaying yard signs and communicating with friends and neighbors.

For the first time 350 Salem OR endorsed a candidate for public office (we can do this because we do not have any restrictive non-profit status): 
Mark Gamba for the US House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th District. As Mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon, Gamba made climate action a core achievement of his administration, along with other goals that benefit people rather than corporate interests. 
https://www.markgamba.com/

Then we also endorsed:
Vanesss Nordyke for Salem City Council in Ward 7. Nordyke was appointed to fill the Ward 7 Council seat when Sally Cook resigned. She has proven herself to be a strong champion for climate action and for other issues that concern the well-being of Salem residents. 
https://www.electvanessanordyke.com/

Deb Patterson for Oregon State Senate District 10. 
After two sessions worth of Republican walkouts from the legislature to deny a quorum for voting on statewide climate action, we know how important it is to have climate champions like Deb in the legislature.  https://www.debpattersonor.org/

These endorsements were requested by the candidates and approved based on our knowledge of their commitment to climate action. There are many other candidates who deserve and need our support. 

Be sure to vote in the May primary as well as the November election. Oregon's  primary is too late to affect the presidential nominations, but there are critical choices to be made for many other offices.
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IN IT TOGETHER

"As COVID-19 continues to ravage low-wage employees, we continue to see a high level of unemployment in our communities. Many contributing immigrant Oregonians have lost their jobs because of the pandemic and have no access to any wage replacement program such as Oregon's Unemployment Insurance program. This has immediate harsh impacts such as housing and food insecurity.

That is why it's critical that your legislators support the Oregon Worker Relief Fund Proposal to provide financial relief to Oregonians that cannot access public benefits. We ask our state government to set up an emergency fund to support restaurant workers, care-givers, immigrants, refugees, day laborers, farmworkers, and people of color, all of whom contribute to the collective prosperity of Oregon and will be disproportionately impacted by the wage loss caused by COVID-19. 

The Oregon Worker Relief Fund would provide temporary financial support for those that are falling through the cracks during our current global pandemic. Take Action to ensure that ALL of Oregon's workers can take care of themselves and their families.  Contact your legislator to adopt the Oregon Worker Relief Fund!"
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Climate Crisis Bill McKibben's occasional column in the New Yorker online. "The name of this newsletter is The Climate Crisis, but for the moment the emphasis is going to be on the last of those words. We need to understand how crises work, and, since I’ve been thinking about them for many years, I have a few thoughts to offer."
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Stay Informed - Stay Well
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/

Oregon Coronavirus Information and Resources from Governor Kate Brown:  https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19

Mainstream publications offering free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic include Salem Statesman Journal, Salem Reporter, New York Times and Washington Post .

Progressive organizations and media sources are making connections between the coronavirus pandemic and the climate and economic crises, and pointing to a comprehensive recovery that will benefit people and the planet. Free to read but they welcome subscriptions and donations. Here are a few: Common Dreams, Labor Network for Sustainability, The Intercept, Sightline, Yes Magazine, Mother Jones, Grist.

What did I miss, what sources do you like? ---Laurie Dougherty, 350 Salem OR Communications Team
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We're on the Radio!

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