In this issue:
- CALENDAR: XRPDX Meetings
- UPCOMING EVENTS: January 14, 17, 28; February 8
- EDITOR'S NOTE: Building Power, Getting Results
- TAKE ACTION: Call Commissioner Carmen Rubio
- REPORT BACK: ANCE Campaign
- UPDATE: Climate Issues and Charter Review Commission
- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT *new*
- NEW ON THE BLOG: New Governor, New Questions on Zenith, New Affinity Group - oh my!
- Who You Gonna Call? *new*
- COALITION/MOVEMENT BUILDING: XR US Online Gathering
- New to Extinction Rebellion? Sign Up for an Intro Presentation
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XRPDX Meetings
Thursday, January 12, 7 pm: Coordinating Team meeting
Tuesday, January 17, 6 pm: Forum #4; no XRPDX meeting
Tuesday, January 24, 6 pm: Action & Media meeting
Thursday, January 26, 7 pm: Coordinating Team meeting
Tuesday, January 31, 6 pm: Action & Media 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.
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Happy New Year!
Suggestions for XRPDX? Email info@xrpdx.org.
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, January 14, 11am - 2pm: XRPDX is tabling at PlanetCon Sustainability Event, PCC Rock Creek campus at 17705 NW Springville Rd, Portland. Free parking in lot E and building 9. If taking the bus, it is stop ID 4429. Shop the really, really, free table - drop-off and/or pickup items with a winter holiday décor theme. Repair Fair. Donate - bicycles, eyeglasses, hearing aids, warm winter clothing and hygiene items. Drop-off items for recycling and proper disposal.
Tuesday, January 17, Doors & Info Tables 6 pm; Panel 6:30 pm: Rumble on the River #4. Last in a series of free community forums: What's Up with Zenith Energy & the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub in Portland? At Havurah Shalom, 825 NW 18th Ave, Portland. Panelists include: Bob Sallinger (outgoing Conservation Director for Portland Audubon), Dr. Melanie Plaut (350PDX & Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility), Barbara Bernstein (Host of KBOO’s Locus Focus Program), Jay Wilson (Past Chair, Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission), Josie Moberg (Climate Justice Legal Fellow at Breach Collective), Michael Pouncil (Chair of Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group.)
Saturday, January 28, 11 am: All-Chapter Open House – XR US. An online event. New to the Extinction Rebellion movement? You are welcome to attend! More info under "Movement/Coalition Building" below.
Wednesday, February 8, 8:45 am: "Grab the Gavel" action at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave. Wear red. We will demand that Zenith's new LUCS be rescinded. A speaker will testify to the City Council. To rsvp and get more info, email info@xrpdx.org. See you at City Hall!
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We're here. And we'll rebel for life wherever we need to.
From November 16, 2022 protest/flashmob at Bureau of Development Services
(Photo credit: Lorene Scheer)
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Editor's Note: Building Power, Achieving Results
By Janet Weil
The Oregonian’s editorial board took a long, hard look at Portland and Oregon, and demanded vigorous responses to multiple crises:
https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2023/01/editorial-2023-must-be-a-year-of-courage-and-action.html
There’s a lot to agree with, including the title. However, I am stunned by the absence of anything about the environmental and climate crises we face. These include the vulnerability of the CEI Hub (and thus to our entire fuel supply, and the functioning of our city and region) to earthquakes and fires, and the daily menace that Zenith Energy presents to the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland neighborhoods, and Forest Park. These threats to public health and safety as well as to climate, which affect all of us, activists or not, have been erased off the official agenda. Could this be part of the reason why we in the climate justice movement (collectively, not just XRPDX) are treated with indifference or contempt by the City Council and the Mayor? Maybe someone would like to write a letter to the editor of the Oregonian as a reminder that the climate crisis is THE existential crisis threatening Oregon.
And wouldn’t it be savagely ironic if we lost a livable Planet Earth to climate breakdown and biodiversity loss shortly after the hole in the ozone layer finally healed? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/09/ozone-layer-healed-within-decades-un-report
But we're not crying in the famous Portland beer! Already this new year, XRPDX rebels have formed a new art affinity group, have written to Governor Tina Kotek, are reaching out to neighborhood associations, and are making plans to build power and achieve results. Later this month we will gather online with Extinction Rebellion activists from all over the United States to welcome new rebels, discuss plans, and share inspiration. More on that under “Movement/Coalition Building.”
The XRPDX newsletter has 2 new features for 2023: “In Case You Missed It” to highlight special news or resources we don’t want you to miss, and “Who You Gonna Call?” – a contact list for city electeds. Also, the final photo at the end of the newsletter is a fun or funny photo, and this year I am reaching out to YOU, Readers, to send in your photos of a humorous or whimsical nature. Jpgs only, spell out the photo credit as you wish it to appear, and email with “Photo for Newsletter” in the subject line to info@xrpdx. I look forward to publishing your pics!
Happy New Year, and Rebel for Life!
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Call City Commissioner Carmen Rubio
By Lynn Handlin and Margaret Butler
On December 14 activists gathered at City Hall to educate City Council members about the dangers of Zenith Energy, and the gross betrayal of trust by Commissioner Ryan when he granted Zenith a new LUCS (Land Use Compatibility Statement). We gathered outside, chanted and sang, then proceeded inside to listen to testimony. While Lynn Handlin was giving testimony, about 30 fellow activists stood silently with signs - including a lot of exploding train signs.
At the end of the testimony, the entire group began singing “We Have Got the Power” as we slowly filed out of the chambers to head to Ryan’s office to demand a meeting. When the singing began, Mayor Ted Wheeler in frustration and anger declared “you may have the power, but I have the gavel” and then proceeded to shut down the meeting for 5 minutes. The action was a partial success, as we got a meeting scheduled with Commissioner Ryan for January 17. (Update on that meeting in the next XRPDX newsletter.)
The Scrub the Hub Coalition, made up of activists from XRPDX, Cedar Action, Stop Zenith Collaborative, 350PDX, Braided River Campaign, Breach Collective, Columbia Riverkeeper, the Havurah Shalom Climate Action Team, and others, continues to meet and work together. A subgroup of the coalition is taking an educational presentation to neighborhood associations. With the City’s recent change of bureau assignments, City Commissioner Carmen Rubio is now in charge of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The coalition has reached out to her for a meeting but has yet to hear back.
Call to Action:
1. Call Commissioner Rubio at 503-823-3008 or email at comm.rubio@portlandoregon.gov. The tone of this call should be congratulatory on her new position, and lots of praise about being a climate champion, and how you know she will do the right thing and rescind the LUCS erroneously granted by Dan Ryan. Two additional asks for Rubio: meet with the coalition of climate activists, and set up a public forum about Zenith. Tell her this is very time sensitive. (Note: here is what is posted to Rubio's website about Climate Action: https://www.portland.gov/bps/climate-action)
2. Show up at City Hall on February 8, at 8:45 am, and wear red for our creative "Grab the Gavel" action! We will be bringing our demand to rescind the LUCS once more, with another speaker giving testimony.
Note: This campaign to call Commissioner Rubio is the first use of XRPDX's new phone tree. The phone tree will serve as a rapid action network. If you want to be involved or for more information, call Harlan at 971-227-0478 or email him at harlan_shober@msn.com.
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Time is a nonrenewable resource in the Climate Emergency.
(Image credit: annie)
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Act Now on Climate Emergency in 2023
By Diana Meisenhelter
The ANCE subgroup of XRPDX has been working alongside the Scrub the Hub coalition on Zenith issues, but also monitoring and following the City on other climate-related issues. We met in December to begin plans for 2023 and are in the process of reviewing the City’s revised two-year plan to determine one or two focus areas. We are also deciding which local coalitions we will reach out to in support of these climate goals: reducing carbon emissions and achieving a just transition.
We will also be discussing how the bureau assignments shake-up at the City Council may affect our strategic planning. We need the involvement of more folks interested in helping in various areas such as emission reductions in transportation, building sectors, and the like. Our next meeting will be online, on Wednesday, January 18 at 4 pm. Please contact Diana at meissun@hotmail.com for the zoom link.
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Portland's new charter must include climate justice.
(Image credit: Sunrise PDX)
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Climate Issues and the Charter Review Commission
By Ben Stevenson, Sunrise PDX
The Charter Review Commission voted on December 3, 2022 to recommend the climate commitment amendments—including a fossil fuel phase out—to Portland City Council, but with "only" 13 Yea votes by 16 Commissioners, the fossil fuel phase out amendment was not recommended. We will continue to pressure City Council to amend substantive climate commitment amendments.
On January 19, Charter Commissioners will present their recommendations to voters. This hearing has public testimony—in-person, virtual, and written. Sunrise and 350 PDX are pushing for community members to show up en masse to demonstrate support for a strengthened fossil fuel phase out. This is the first time Council will learn about these amendments and strong public support on day 1 will cement their impression of the fossil fuel phase out. Check out our testimony guide for background, talking points, and to sign up for testimony when the link opens Friday, January 13. For more info, email meissun@hotmail.com.
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Who You Gonna Call?
Commissioner Rene Gonzalez: 503-823-4151
Commissioner Mingus Mapps: 503-823-4682
Commissioner Carmen Rubio: 503-823-3008
Commissioner Dan Ryan: 503-823-3589
Mayor Wheeler's Comment Line: 503-823-4127
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In Case You Missed It!
Please watch this amazing slideshow of Extinction Rebellion US actions - including some in Portland, Oregon. You'll be glad you did!
https://cloud.unitedrebellion.com/index.php/s/AXRZkyoxZoTyA3Y
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Some folks raise their voices on a megaphone, some on a webpage.
(Photo credit: Janet Weil)
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Movement/Coalition-Building: Extinction Rebellion Is Local, National, and Global
From XRUS Chapter Support and Engagement Working Group
We hope you have had a regenerative mid-winter holiday and are ready to take on 2023!
Many people around the world have expressed hope that 2023 will be a turning point for the climate, but that will only happen if we take collective action together. This year is a crucial window between elections in the US when we need to ensure the government and the entire country are focused on climate action.
All-Chapter Open House – Saturday, January 28, 11 am. Save the date! Zoom link coming soon! As you may know, in 2022 XRUS held a Members Assembly in March and a Chapter Gathering in November, both of which were well-attended and successful. In the new year, we are experimenting with a different kind of gathering: an Open House to which all chapter members and all interested new XR rebels will be invited. This gathering will have three goals:
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Share information and answer questions about XRUS initiatives
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Provide a forum for chapters to network about campaigns, actions, and chapter-building
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Welcome and engage prospective XR rebels who have not yet found a local chapter
Spring Events and Actions. Here are some dates to put in your calendar:
Together, let’s make Spring 2023 a time of powerful regeneration for XRUS chapters and the U.S. climate movement in general. XRUS Chapter Support and Engagement is here to help in any way we can.
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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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Let's not gamble on a livable Mother Earth - let's protect her.
From the December 8 Forest Defense rally.
(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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