Recommended Actions for the Week of 20170724

Source:  Stand Up to Oil, Power Past Coal, Re Sources for Sustainable Communities

Description:   The Washington Department of Ecology is accepting public comments in advance of their decision on granting a 401 water quality certification to Millennium Bulk Terminals for their Longview Coal Terminal.  Comment deadline is Thursday, 7/27/17!

Background:  The Pacific Northwest stands between fossil fuel reserves in Alberta, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming and voracious energy markets in Asia.  A number of fossil fuel export projects have been proposed since 2010, but local communities have defeated almost every one.  Watch this short video about the importance of our region standing up against dirty energy projects.  The Longview Coal Terminal is the last standing of six coal terminal proposals on the West Coast.  Millennium Bulk Terminals’ proposal would be the largest coal export terminal in North America, moving 44 million tons of dirty coal annually by train along the Columbia River.  

Contact Information:  Submit comment online.

Suggested Script:  I urge Ecology to protect water quality in the Columbia River and countless streams and rivers that would be harmed by Millennium’s coal trains. Ecology has received unprecedented expert testimony from Tribes, state and federal agencies, impacted communities, and the people of the Pacific Northwest to deny Millennium’s proposal. Based on this record, we urge Ecology to deny the 401 certification.

Ecology must deny the 401 certification because Millennium’s project would violate Washington State’s water quality standards, harm designated uses and drinking water, and contravene the state’s Antidegradation Policy.

The project also flies in the face of our region’s commitment to combat the devastating impacts of climate change. Millennium’s oversized ambitions to rebrand the Pacific Northwest the coal export capital of the United States conflict with the public interest in thriving local economies, clean water, clean energy, and healthy communities.

Additional Information:

• Ecology’s Public Notice Soliciting Comments
• Seattle Times Opinion: Longview coal terminal is a road to nowhere

Source:  Sierra Club Washington Chapter

Description:  Governor Inslee makes the final decision on the Vancouver oil terminal, and carries significant influence over the Kalama methanol refinery. Ask him to back up his commitment to climate action, and keep fossil fuel infrastructure projects out of our state!

Background:  Two large fossil fuel terminals along the Columbia River would threaten our state’s water and air quality and public health and worsen the climate crisis.  The Tesoro-Savage oil export terminal in Vancouver would be the largest in North America.  The Kalama methanol refinery would be the largest in the world.

Contact Information:  Governor Jay Inslee, 360-902-4111, TTY/TDD call 711 or 1-800-833-6388; Click here to email.

Suggested Script:  Dear Governor Inslee, I would like to thank you for your bold climate leadership in committing Washington to the Paris Accord. Now, more than ever, we need climate leaders like you to safeguard our planet from catastrophic climate change. Right now, two giant fossil fuel terminals along the Columbia River are threatening our state. I urge you to do whatever is in your power to stop both the Tesoro-Savage oil export terminal in Vancouver, and the Northwest Innovation Works fracked gas refinery and methanol export terminal in Kalama. The Vancouver oil terminal proposed by Tesoro-Savage would be the largest in North America, bringing up to 5 more oil trains through the Columbia River Gorge, and committing our state to decades of fossil fuels. Please stand up for the health and safety of communities along the rail line by rejecting this proposal. The Kalama methanol refinery would be the largest in the World, consuming more fracked gas than any sector in our state’s economy, and opening the floodgates for fracked gas usage in Washington. Not only would this refinery greatly increase our state’s contribution to global warming, it would also rationalize pipeline expansions which will bring more fracked gas refining, burning and usage. This refinery will lock us into decades of fossil fuel use, at a time when we need to keep all fossil fuels in the ground. Please stand with climate activists across the state, and take a public position against this refinery.

Additional Information:

• Oregon Public Broadcasting: Opponents Call Vancouver Oil Terminal ‘Bad Plan’ While Supporters Tout Jobs
• Oregon Public Broadcasting: Washington Pushes Deadline On Vancouver Oil Terminal Decision
• Sightline Institute: Kalama’s Methanol Refinery, by the Numbers

Source: Dena Jensen

Description: Dena Jensen has submitted a letter the Whatcom County Council with input for the public hearing on the resolution for an advisory ballot seeking citizen input regarding the use of eminent domain by oil pipeline companies. Click here to read the letter.

Background: The Public Hearing for the resolution is Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 7:00p.m at the County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham, WA.

Additional Information: Here is the press release and a copy of the resolution.

Source: RC Member

Description: Join the workers at Bornstein Seafood for an Informational Picket on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 from 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. outside of Bornstein Processing Plant, 1001 Hilton Rd., Bellingham, WA. Informational flyering with be held from 4:00-5:30p.m. at Mill Ave. & 10th St., Bellingham, WA.

Background: Bornstein seafood processing workers, members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, have been negotiating their contract for nearly two months. Last year the company suddenly and unexpectedly stopped paying into the workers’ pension fund. On top of that, the company is also asking workers to pay more for medical insurance. The workers are asking Bornstein to pay up on the back pension payments and to hold the line on health care costs. Many of the workers have worked for Bornstein for over 10 years, are low-wage workers in dangerous jobs and are asking for a just contract.

From UFCW, Kristen Beifus:
“In negotiations, Bornstein actually said that they would be forced to close, if they were compelled to pay the back pension payments owed to their workers. If that is true—their business model is not sustainable. If that is not true—they seem to not care that their profits are literally taken from the wages of their workers.

“So our members are inviting you to join them for a day of action, Wednesday, July 26th, the day after their next bargaining session.

“Knowing community will be by their side no matter what happens at the bargaining table will help them be strong.

“We will be providing lunch for the mid-day action, so please let me know if you can join so we have enough food!”

Contact Information: Kristen Beifus, Community Organizer: kbeifus@ufcw21.org, (206) 436.6595 (office), (206) 992.7913 (cell)

Additional Information: UFCW21.org

Source: The RC

Description: Several local races have primary elections (county council districts 2 and 3, city council at-large, and port districts 1 and 2), top two candidates move to the general. The RC held a thorough, transparent, and as-fair-as-possible process for endorsing candidates. Want to know what we asked and how candidates responded? We posted our written questions, and all candidate responses unless the candidate requested otherwise. Happy Voting!

Source: The RC

Description: Help us reach our goal of 200 team members on Amplify!

Source: Jen Hoffman’s Action List

Description: Student Loan Refinancing Act H.R. 1614 will allow nearly 44 million Americans to refinance their student loans.

Background: Americans owe over $1.4 trillion in student loan debt, spread out among about 44 million borrowers. That’s about $620 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt. In fact, the average Class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loan debt, up six percent from last year. Source: StudentLoanHero.com

Contact Information: Contact one representative at a local office (lookup or leave message).

Suggested Script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] and want to express my support of the Student Loan Refinancing Act H.R. 1614. It will allow nearly 44 million Americans to refinance their student loans and bring down the long-term cost of a college degree. Can I count on his/her support?  Thank you.

Source: Jen Hoffman’s Action List

Description: Site preparations have begun for the first state of Trump’s wall across the Mexican border.

Background: Read the article in the Texas Observer: Trump Administration Preparing Texas Wildlife Refuge for First Border Wall Segment

Contact Information: Call or Or write all 3 MoCs (lookup or leave message).

Suggested Script:Hi. I’m calling from [ZIP] and oppose the 2018 budget funding a $2.1 billion border wall. Please don’t let threats of a government shutdown force a compromise on this bad idea. Can I count on [name] not to approve budget funding on this wall?

Source: Jen Hoffman’s Action List

Description: Thank three Republican senators for putting their foot down on outright repeal of ACA. Thank you for listening and your compassion for the needs of Americans.

Background: Read the article in The Washington Post: Senate Republicans’ hard lesson: No women, no health-care bill

Contact Information:  

• Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: 172 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
• Sen. Susan Collins: 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski: 522 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Suggested Script: Write them a note and mail it, expressing your gratitude to them for voting against the Republican healthcare bill.

Source: Jen Hoffman’s Action List

Description: Advocate for a path to citizenship and oppose corporate detention profits.

Background: See links in the script for facts and articles.

Contact Information: Contact your three MoCs (or write) (lookup or leave message).

Suggested Script: I am calling about corporate involvement in deportation. A recent report showed some contracted companies run detention centers that violate basic human rights and fail to meet federal standards. ICE’s aggressive tactics are increasing numbers which worsens conditions. Also, deportation charter flights are a cash cow for airlines, and are rife with abuse. I am outraged that my tax dollar is funding corporations that violate human rights, waste money, and are linked with the Trump campaign. I know immigration is a complex issue, but I look to [name] to speak up against unnecessary deportations and hold corporate contractors to the highest standards. What is [name] doing to address aggressive deportation and create a path to citizenship?