In this issue:
- CALENDAR: Upcoming Meetings
- UPCOMING EVENTS: September 15, 17, 22
- REPORT BACK: Senators, Stop the Dirty Deal!
- UPDATE: ANCE Campaign
- UPDATE: SCRUB THE HUB Campaign
- NEW ON THE BLOG: Stop The Dirty Deal Skit Script
- COALITION/MOVEMENT BUILDING: Climate Anxiety Support Group
- New to Extinction Rebellion? Sign Up for an Intro Presentation
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XRPDX Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday, September 13, 6 pm, Full Chapter meeting
Thursday, September 15, 7 pm, Coordinating Team meeting
Tuesday, September 20, 6 pm, Action & Media working group meeting
Tuesday, September 27, 6 pm, Action & Media working group meeting
Thursday, September 29, 7 pm, Coordinating Team meeting
Every Wednesday, 2:30 pm, Regenerative Culture working group meetings
Please RSVP with your name and email by an hour prior to whichever meeting you want to attend, to receive zoom info. If you have not yet joined a working group, you may wish to start with a full chapter meeting, but you can also attend Action & Media or Coordinating Team meetings. All are welcome!
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Act Now on Climate Emergency - love to see it on the World on Fire Truck!
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Upcoming Events
Sept. 15, 9 – 10 am: City of Portland "open house" (on zoom) for public comment on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard amendment. More info in ANCE Campaign article.
Sept. 17, 3 – 5 pm: Climate Justice & the Fight for Our Communities Event with @KhanhPhamForOR under the trees, Mt. Tabor, 7100 SE Harrison Ct. Portland, OR 97215. Organized by our Sunrise PDX allies.
Sept. 22, 2022, 6 – 7 pm: City of Portland "open house" (on zoom) for public comment on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard amendment. More info in ANCE Campaign article.
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Concerned citizens from several groups, led by XRPDX, gathered at Senator Wyden's office on September 9. Time is running out for climate action - stop the dirty deal!
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Report Back: Senators, Stop The Dirty Deal!
By Syl Knauss
"The science is irrefutable,” were the words of an XRPDX member last Friday (Sept 9), in a conversation with Senator Wyden’s staffer during our action outside his NE Portland office. (Several requests for an in-office letter delivery were denied, and the office building was locked when we arrived, chanting, "Hey, Ron - do your job!") This conversation was part of a rally with over 20 attendees from various climate justice organizations, all calling on Senator Wyden to strongly oppose Manchin and Schumer’s dirty side deal to the Inflation Reduction Act.
This dirty side deal includes plans to fast-track Manchin’s investment, the destructive Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia, and to nationally limit opportunities for grassroots input and legal challenges. To top it off, the side deal would break treaties with Indigenous tribes, the fruit of an imperialist legacy we must confront and destroy.
Portlanders, like many across the globe, are finding there has been no better time to advocate for climate justice. Less than twenty-four hours after our actions outside of Wyden’s office, wildfires spread plumes of smoke across the state, particularly impacting the living unhoused, as well as folks in working class and low income communities. Manchin’s deal, if passed into law as an amendment to the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through 2022, will only exacerbate the issues felt by our local communities. We need action, not corruption.
Activists outside of Senator Wyden’s office on Sept 9, and Senator Merkley's office on Sept 11, congregated for street theater, chants, and speeches. Not a single rebel hesitated in calling Merkley and Wyden’s offices with our demands:
- We DEMAND that our Congresspeople stand with climate justice activists and tell Majority leader Chuck Schumer NOT to add the Manchin side deal as an amendment to ANY bill.
- We DEMAND that our Congresspeople vote NO on the side deal if it is brought to the floor in ANY form.
- We DEMAND that our Congresspeople use their power to ask for a roll call vote if the side deal is brought to a vote as an amendment so that all votes are on the record.
Manchin’s side deal is a corrupt and egregious act against the rights to environmental protection of the American people. Despite our actions at both Wyden and Merkley’s offices resulting in a visit from a local staffer representing their respective offices, and our many phone calls to both DC and Portland offices, our Senators have thus far refused to publicly pledge to vote NO on this side deal.
On both dates, XR members teamed up with other local activists to educate our community through empowering conversations and motivating our neighbors to stand up. On Tuesday, Sept 13, a special musical performance by Lewis & Clark Professor Bruce Podobnik with XRPDX orchestrated a powerful moment for us in front of Merkley's office, for a planet worth saving (photo below - credit: Susan Evans). Still, we’re left wondering, will Wyden and Merkley back the people? Or will they abet Manchin and Schumer’s push for climate destruction?
But our words will not be censored. Our voices will not be silenced. Keep calling: 202-224-3121, the Congressional Switchboard number works for your Congress Rep (Blumenauer or Bonamici) and for both Senators. Note: Senator Merkley serves on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, where the API draft of this legislation is being worked on., according to a phone visit with a staffer in his DC office. Merkley also chairs the Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, #EnvironmentalJustice, & Regulatory Oversight. He should have been the first Senator to publicly oppose #Manchin's dirty deal, with self-identified "Climate Champion" Ron Wyden solidly behind him.
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August 24: XR rebels and allies showed up at City Hall!
Deeds Not Words for real Climate Action.
( Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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ANCE Campaign Had a Busy August!
By Diana Meisenhelter
Building and Indoor Air Quality Standards
The ANCE (Act Now on Climate Emergency) campaign tracks and puts pressure on local governments to reduce climate emissions. Recently we took action at City Hall about the inadequacy of their three-year climate workplan, with two XR rebels from Eugene joining us and holding the "Deeds Not Words" banner. Rather than kicking us climate activists from XRPDX and allied groups out of the in-person City Council meeting, Mayor Wheeler read our signs and the slogan on the banner so that the livestream audience could know we were there. Again, it is far more important what the Mayor, the Commissioners and the City Staff DO rather than just acknowledging our words. We remain concerned about tree canopy/shade equity, freeway widening, and other crucial climate justice struggles in the Portland area; for more, please read our testimony to the City Council: https://xrpdx.org/testimony-re-city-of-portland-climate-emergency-workplan/
A representative of ANCE served on the Build/Shift process this spring and summer; we are concerned that both the timeline and potential actions being discussed are far from what is needed. This report by climate scientists in the World Meterological Organization and others says we are just .3 degrees Celsius away from potentially triggering four significant “tipping points” that will have long-term consequences for life on Earth.
During days of horrific air quality from wildfires choking the state, City staff proposed very weak options for indoor air quality standards (https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/15008595). They delayed presenting final language until after January 2023, but seem to be focusing on warnings for tenants on the health implications of methane stoves along with possible outdoor venting and indoor filtration strategies, rather than taking actions as other cities and states are doing to limit methane stoves altogether. If you’d like to track the progress of the Build/Shift efforts, sign up for more information: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1962740/1362558/.
Meanwhile, let's all support 350PDX's petition campaign to Multnomah County asking them to take action on the health hazards of methane. These petitions can be downloaded, circulated for signatures, and returned for delivery to the County later this month:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S9CPAmAMSLDv35alEQwl_uYzHxVQxhuvDIPPXyr6HhM/edit.
Renewable Fuels Standards
In August the City released a draft version of a code amendment on Renewable Fuel standards with public comments accepted until 5 pm, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Comment via the Map App-Review the draft.
The proposed code amendment suggests a four-step increase in the mix of renewable fuels replacing petroleum, concluding in 2026 with a requirement of 99% blend of renewable fuels. While on the surface this may seem positive, experts have pointed out that renewable fuels are complex, and in some cases can actually increase carbon footprints. Here is a draft talking points document for you to consider as you develop your ideas and feedback on this code amendment: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1js-ULsXohyS6xgDdf60JQPtKEWKbh14-ue9HS94MqaY/edit.
Portlanders are invited, by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, to review the proposed code amendment and comment via the Map App.
Review the draft
Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Comment via the Map App
Learn more at an online open house
Portlanders are also invited to join City of Portland staff via Zoom to ask questions and provide input on the City's proposed amendments to Portland City Code Chapter 16.60, the Renewable Fuel Standard. No registration required; just click on these links to join.
Sept. 15, 9 – 10 am: https://www.portland.gov/bps/climate-action/renewable-fuel-standard/rfs-code-update/events/2022/9/15/renewable-fuel-standard
Sept. 22, 6 – 7 pm: https://www.portland.gov/bps/climate-action/renewable-fuel-standard/rfs-code-update/events/2022/9/22/renewable-fuel-standard
In Other City of Portland News... from our allies in Sunrise PDX:
Sunrise has spent over a year coming up with ideas for the city charter, and here is one: Fossil Fuel Phase Out: a binding, overarching policy directive applicable to all city bureaus, future ordinances, budgets, and other decisions. It would block new fossil fuel infrastructure and require the city government to manage the decline of Portland's existing fossil fuel use. A timeline would be tied to climate science rather than a specific year. Learn more about the Fossil Fuel Phase Out, including why it makes sense as a charter amendment here. The Portland Charter team is working on Phase II. Listening session on climate and the environment on September 15: https://www.portland.gov/omf/charter-review-commission/climatelisteningsession.
If you can't attend the listening session this Thursday, please take this survey; express support for the Sunrise PDX Fossil Fuel Phase Out proposal:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TRC8PuYZWkxsn5yQfJqSTlpYPnpV-n78CrwnXVVPY4c/edit.
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CEI Hub needs a good scrub (of fossil fuels, that is!) and maybe some fresh paint!
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Scrub the Hub Campaign Coalition
By Margaret Butler
As XRPDX started to prepare for our next action at Zenith Energy, plus tackling the extreme danger posed by the CEI (Critical Energy Infrastructure) Hub’s concentration of fossil fuel in an earthquake subduction zone, we invited allies into the conversation. We met twice to discuss possible actions and a campaign. What started as a chance to hear from others has morphed into an ongoing coalition space, working together on public education, strategy, and action focused on Zenith in the context of the CEI Hub. Many of the folks involved have years of experience as part of the Stop Zenith Collaborative.
The new coalition has created a working group for educational events. That group quickly put together a new leaflet which was distributed to music fans at the Oregon Symphony concert along the waterfront on September 3. A team from the educational group is working on a webinar scheduled for October 13.
Another team is preparing tours of Zenith and the CEI Hub, using the new map produced by the Stop Zenith Collaborative. Tours are scheduled for September 24 and October 8; for a guided tour on those dates, 11 am, people can email: zenithworkgroup@gmail.com. Here is the website for the self-guided tours of the CEI Hub: https://stopzenithoil.org/zenith-cei-hub-map/
A second working group is doing research into some legal possibilities that the City might be able to use to stop Zenith’s operations. As we do this work together, we are thinking about planning for action, involving more groups and more people. In the meantime, we continue to build more affinity groups so that we will be ready when the time comes. For more info and to attend the next meeting, email info@xrpdx.org.
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New On The XR Blog!
Stop the Dirty Deal! Skit Script
https://xrpdx.org/stop-the-dirty-deal-skit-script/
Evergreen:
How To: Write a Letter to the Editor!
https://xrpdx.org/write-a-letter-to-the-editor/
An action that's always needed: write letters to the editor, especially to the Oregonian, about the need for vigorous, sustained climate action. Please take 5 minutes and fire off a letter! If published, we'll post it to our blog (send to info@xrpdx.org with the link).
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We in PDX are part of a national network of Extinction Rebellion chapters.
(Image credit: XR US)
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Coalition/Movement-Building:
Climate Anxiety Support Group
By Lydia Koltai of Extinction Rebellion Phoenix (XR PHX)
There is a growing conversation on the rise of climate anxiety. Whether you’ve been aware of the risks of climate change for decades or have more recently become concerned, climate anxiety can negatively impact you - and all of us. Too often our anxiety about the future of our planet keeps us mired in a sense of hopelessness, alienated from community and immobilized to act.
Fortunately, we’re also noticing a growing body of resources for support as we deal with the turbulence of these times. XR PHX is starting a Climate Anxiety Support Group available to XR members of West Coast chapters, to begin trying out some tools and practices for cultivating emotional resilience, discovering inner strengths, and building our personal and collective power.
We'll be using Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone’s revised edition of Active Hope. Learn more about the authors and download the intro and first two chapters here: https://www.activehope.info/ You can also check out this free video course based on the book here: https://activehope.training/
We will be offering biweekly Zoom gatherings and will host a weekday and a weekend session. The first weekday session will be Thursday, September 15th at 6 pm, and the first weekend session will be Sunday, September 18th at 4:30 pm. Email princessjasmine05@gmail.com with Climate Anxiety Support Group as the subject and specify weekday or weekend to get registered and receive the Zoom link.
[Note: XR chapters in Western States are getting together every few weeks on zoom to share resources and support. Thanks to Extinction Rebellion in Phoenix for offering this free support group to us and other XR chapters. - Ed.]
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New to Extinction Rebellion? Get to Know Us!
New to Extinction Rebellion? Here's your form to request an introductory presentation and discussion. Hope to see you on Zoom soon!
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Senators Schumer and Manchin,
advertising their dirty side deal on the World on Fire Truck.
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Spread the word!
If someone forwarded you this email, please visit https://xrpdx.org/sign-up-form/ to sign up to receive XRPDX newsletters. If you're already signed up, please forward this to someone - help us spread the word. As a reminder, here are XR US's 4 Demands and XR's 10 principles. Also be sure to follow us on social media! - Janet Weil, Editor
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