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Protecting the Forests in our Own Backyard In addition to putting massive pressure on our federal land managers to protect mature & old growth forests during their rule-making process going on right now… (There’s still time to send in a quick comment on the Climate Forests website here!)... Communities across the Pacific Northwest are coming together on the second anniversary of the 2021 Heat Dome for a Week of Action for Forests & Climate to raise awareness about the crucial role our forests can play in mitigating climate change and call for greater protections for our forests.  On Monday, activists dropped 15 banners over major highways in Washington and Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance published an open letter signed by 30+ orgs to our leaders, including @POTUS, @SecDebHaaland & @SecVilsack to demand durable forest protections. Here are more photos by Robert Scherle of Eugene’s action. Thanks, everyone who turned out. We loved hearing all the honks of support! On Tuesday, activists occupied Washington’s Department of Natural Resources to demand they stop logging their legacy forests. Here's taste of their action. Nice work! Take Local Action!Extractive, industrial logging that maximizes corporate profits is the largest source of climate pollution in Oregon. Our amazing carbon-storing forests are a vital climate solution, but we have to protect them. That’s why we’re part of this Friday & Saturday’s local mini-Forest Climate Action Camp 40 minutes west of Eugene. Register with the url in this rad poster for more details. Build relationships and organize now to save our forests!  Wednesday, July 5th - Demonstration In Eugene to Stop Logging Mature & Old Growth Forests The time (probably morning) & location are as yet undisclosed. Email Deb at [email protected] for more information. We need folks to hold signs & banners with our allies for a spirited convivial rally, as we escalate & publicly make our demands known. It’s time to call attention to the biggest climate solution under our noses - our forests. The more, the merrier! Let’s be fierce! Save The Dates!Beat the Heat and Smoke Summer Workshop Has Been Rescheduled! This event is for renters, BIPOC, and low-income community members and is hosted by Beyond Toxics, NAACP, and Fossil Free Eugene. Participants will be provided with information on air pollution, both from wildfire smoke and indoor air pollution from gas appliances to make sure that folks have the tools they need to stay healthy and cool this summer. The event includes a DIY workshop to create an air purifier to take home thanks to our local partners BRING Recycling. They will also have the latest information to connect eligible people to the Oregon Health Authority's AC Deployment Program to receive a free air conditioner. Woot Woot!
March to End Fossil Fuels in NYC on September 17th - Train Trip, anyone? National organizers have launched plans for a HUGE MARCH this fall in connection with the UN Climate Talks. We’re going to fill the streets and demand the US take bold action and lead on climate starting NOW. There will likely be a local contingent traveling to NYC and distributed marches in specific locations. Stay tuned for updates.  “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” ― Assata Shakur
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It’s Summer Solstice, the day with the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year, when the Sun is at its highest position in the sky. It is a time of awakening and enlightenment and it is a symbol of the light’s triumph over darkness. This is a time of fertility, new beginnings, and positive energy. The potential for transformation has never been greater. With less than five years to put the brakes on GHG emissions to avert terrible tipping points, campaigns worldwide are escalating. In the US, the People vs Fossil Fuels Coalition, formed when Pres. Biden was elected, launched its “End the Era of Fossil Fuels” campaign and announced a massive mobilization, including a HUGE MARCH in NYC on Sunday, September 17th. On the forest protection front, federal land managers are getting an earful from the grassroots to enact truly durable policies to shield mature and old growth forests from logging. So locally, here’s how you can jump in…  Monday, June 26th - 10 to 11:00 am - Banner Drop over I-5 for Forest Protection! Join us, along with lots of our Pacific Northwest Forest Climate allies up and down the I-5 corridor, to tell President Biden we want permanent and durable protections for our mature and old growth forests! Meet at 9:45 at the Kaiser Permanente-Chase Gardens Medical Office parking lot (SE corner) at the intersection of S Garden Way and MLK Blvd. It’s a short walk uphill to the overpass. Everything is provided. Just show up. Did you love the Deep Roots Camp, or wish you could have made it?Big thanks to the fantastic organizers of Deep Roots Forest Climate Action Camp #2! (Group photo by one of the three amazing Camp Coordinators, Rachael Hogan.)  Take a look at the numerous follow-up actions planned for the PNW by orgs and individuals at camp. Kudos to the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance organizers for all their great work! You Were There!Launch of the “End the Era of Fossil Fuels” campaign in Portland, June 11th Land & Water Event at Cathedral Park on the Willamette River. (Photo below courtesy of Tomoko Sekiguchi).  Thanks to all of you who turned out for the in-person US Forest Service & BLM Field Hearing at UO Law School to make comments last week, including our Climate Mayor, Lucy Vinis. (Photo below courtesy of Robert Scherle.)  CampaignsElectrify Eugene - What about our electrification ordinance? Good news: The gas industry is on the ropes and our local city leadership is firmly committed to advancing our Climate Action Plan goals despite recent setbacks. Listen to KLCC’s recent podcast from an on-line, recorded community survey about the so-called “gas ban.” You’ll recognize that our community and its leaders strongly endorse a clean energy future. You might even hear YOUR voice! Listen here and stay tuned for updates. Eugene is leading the way on electrification in Oregon! Case in point: on June 7th Ashland became the 3rd Oregon city, after Eugene & Milwaukie, to commit to developing a policy to ensure all new homes are built climate-friendly w/out fossil fuels. This is a huge victory for a local youth-led climate movement advocating for all-electric new construction! Listen to this short program on JPR here and read the Oregonian article here. Plus OPB’s coverage: NW Natural plan to reduce emissions deemed insufficient by Oregon utility regulators. Yes, we know! State Policy The senate republicans who walked out and delayed legislative action have finally returned to work. The two bills that we have been most interested in supporting are now in theory able to move forward. The House passed HB 3630 with strong bipartisan support. This bill supports the development of clean energy in Oregon. The most important bill HB 3409, was due to have a floor vote yesterday, June 20th. This bill was created to incorporate the many single bills below in an effort to get them all passed as a package before the legislature must adjourn on June 25th. As of this writing, there is no update on this bill package. You can go to Oregon Legislative Information System website and put in HB 3409 for updates. That means that NOW is the time to ramp up our advocacy efforts in support of HB 3409. Please use this toolkit to amplify support for this priority package through social media posts, action alerts, and direct legislator outreach. TOP PRIORITY Bills included in HB 3409:
Other Good News!Our Children's Trust case is happening now in Montana… We’re finally at trial! Now we’re talking! More Youth Voices: Check out our latest Eugene Weekly “It Must Be the Climate” column by MIlla Vogelezang-Liu from South Eugene High School!  Join In!Are you a member of AARP? They have joined the climate fight. Sign their petition and if you’d like to join others in Oregon working on their campaign, contact [email protected] directly. HAVE A GAS STOVE? This July the Airbusters at Beyond Toxics are looking for folks willing to join them in their groundbreaking new study. They’ll provide the ingredients, prepare and leave you a delicious meal (and a gift card) in appreciation for your participation. Fill out this form if you're interested, or send it to someone you know who might be. BLM COMMENT PERIOD IS EXTENDED! We need a massive number of comments to our federal forest managers to snap them out of their “business as usual = logging” mindset! Last Saturday, our very own 350.org put out a call to action and this easy form to make comments. We NEED MANY MORE COMMENTS to reach our goal of 500,000! The climate movement is going to bat for forest defense! Let’s do this. (You can make multiple comments.) June 27th - Pint Night at Falling Sky Pour House on Blair from 3 to 9:00 pm. Celebrate protecting federal forests with your forest climate buddies and send them a tidal wave of comments they can’t ignore! Save the Date - There's a National Climate March Coming! September 17th in NYCFollowing the “End the Era of Fossil Fuels” Zoom launch last week with hundreds of people on the call, we heard from some amazing speakers about why this march is so important and how you can get involved. There will be a march, rally, and protest to demand that President Biden take bold climate action. Biden must reject new fossil fuel projects, phase out fossil fuel production, and declare a climate emergency. More info here. If you missed the call, you can watch a recording here.  WHO KILLED JORDAN COVE? WE DID! Here’s a feature from May 31st in PDX Monthly, explaining how an unlikely band of activists vanquished an energy megaproject in Southern Oregon: Who Killed Jordan Cove. People still can’t believe we did it. But WE DID.
Time is running out. Let’s make a new beginning. Fossil Free! |