Recommended Actions for the Week of 20170925

Source: RE Sources and Stand Up To Oil

Description: Whatcom is a national leader in terms of county-level fossil fuel infrastructure policy, but our hard-won moratorium is set to expire soon. With elections approaching simultaneously, fossil fuel companies are chomping at the bit. Companies like BP, Williams, Petrogas, Kinder Morgan, and SSA Marine are actively preparing or have already submitted proposals for permits, hoping that this election turns the tides in their favor. They want to see pipeline, rail, and pier expansions across the county.

The County Council needs to hear now more than ever that the community supports them in maintaining this moratorium. Please show up and bring all your friends on Tuesday, September 26th. WEAR RED to show your support.

The Council meeting starts at 7pm, but the hall will be packed, so arrive by 6 pm sign-up to speak in the hearing or 6:30 to save a seat. Comments are limited to three minutes each.

Location: Whatcom Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham

Background: 

Right now, the county government is studying how to protect public health and safety from increases in rail, pipeline, and tanker shipments. In the meantime, with the moratorium in place, companies like BP, Williams, Petrogas, Kinder Morgan, and SSA Marine are barred from applying for permits for pipeline, rail, and pier expansions. This moratorium is critical to maintain during the study process!

In South Asia, monsoon flooding last week has killed 1,200 people and displaced 40 million in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Simultaneously, Hurricane Harvey devastated the gulf coast of Texas, with at least 38 confirmed deaths and thousands still in need of rescue and shelter. The injustice of these violent storms will continue to hit hardest the same frontline communities that have endured chronic exposure to toxic pollutants in their air and water from oil refining & petrochemical industries.

Hurricane Harvey shut-down Big Oil’s global epicenter, and in the process, caused untold destruction. Spills, explosions, and emergency flaring from eight oil refineries and other chemical plants reportedly released more than one million pounds of toxic pollutants; we’ve yet to uncover the full extent of the damage and long-term health impacts.

In the Northwest, what do we do in the face of such clear and present danger from our changing climate and fossil fuel dependency? We hold the line in our ongoing struggle to stop destructive industries and transition to resilient energy systems.

Contact Information: 

In the meantime, email them at council@co.whatcom.wa.us to share your support for extending the moratorium. Click here for talking points, or see the sample script below.

Suggested Script: 

Honorable council members,

As a voting citizen of Whatcom County, I urge you to extend the moratorium on permits for unrefined fossil fuel export projects by September 26th.

Lifting the moratorium now would allow companies like Williams, BP, SSA Marine, Kinder Morgan and Petrogas to apply for permits and obtain vested rights, exempting them from new development regulations.

I support action to the greatest extent of your power to protect the people and natural resources of Whatcom County from risky expansions to export fracked gas, tar sands, crude oil, propane or coal through Cherry Point.

I hope you will take further action following completion of the legal study underway. Thank you for serving our communities.

[Your full name]
[Your city, voting address optional]

Source:  Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy

Description:  Two weeks ago, the Riveters Collective Board voted to join the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, a broad-based coalition of Washington labor unions, health professionals, environmental advocates, businesses, faith communities, and communities of color committed to building a clean energy future, improving the health of our communities, and leading the fight against climate change.  The Alliance is putting forth a policy that will price the pollution to fund the solutions: investing in clean energy, healthy forests and water infrastructure. Ensuring a just transition is central to the effort, and measures to bolster economic stability and equity include significant investment in communities hardest hit by pollution and climate change, financial assistance to low-income families, support to workers, and flexibility for energy intensive and trade-exposed industries in state.  The campaign is ramping up this fall in anticipation of going to the ballot in 2018, and we need your help!!

Take Action:

• Sign up to join the movement and/or stay updated on progress. If you are passionate about equitable climate action and ready to take on more leadership, be sure to indicate your interest in signing up as a Climate Justice Steward.  Climate Justice Stewards recruit volunteers, give presentations, ask community leaders for endorsements, and help organize and lead events.   Sign up to volunteer.
• Save the date for a Climate Justice Steward training on 10/15/17, likely 10am to 4pm. Details and RSVP information to follow.
• Stay tuned to Riveters Collective for additional opportunities to engage and learn more.

Additional Information:

• Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Policy Proposal
• Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Policy Brief (5-page)

Source: RC and 40th District Democrats

Description: The bus Kevin Ranker promised at Hope and Action is here!  Free to ride, and meals are included.  Spend the day with Senator Ranker and other locals, knocking on doors for Manka Dhingra.

RSVP: Facebook or Sign-up Genius

Background: Do you remember the #1 thing Senator Ranker said we could do to facilitate progressive change in Washington? (If you forgot, see the video @ 30:00 minutes for Manka and 31:00 for THE BUS).
DOORBELL FOR MANKA. Doorbell, phone call, donate, and volunteer for Manka Dhingra. It’s our best chance to flip the state senate and see real progress. AND TO DEMOTE DOUG ERICKSEN FROM HIS COMMITTEE CHAIR POSITION!
And we were stoked! We’ll be there! Just tell us the date!
September 30th is the date, and the Riveters Collective is joining Whatcom Democrats in filling the busses to doorbell for Manka. Lunch and dinner are provided! Doorbelling might seem scary; we can all think of 36 things we’d rather do. But research shows that doorbelling works to turn out voters. And this is where the rubber meets the road.
Can you join us? If not, can you donate? Let’s show the 45th district that the 40 and the 42 play to win!

Contact Information:  riveterscollective@gmail.com 40thDems@gmail.com or call 360-224-3810.

Additional Information:
Donate to Manka

AMA with Manka

Hope and Action video (see 30:00 for talk about the bus to doorbell for Manka.

Source: RC

Description: Only 7 weeks to make a difference in this election!  We’re all busy, but we need to make space for this work through election day.  Come doorbelling (it’s not that hard!) and phone calling!  Bookmark this post and check back for updates!

Source:  Washington Environmental Council, American Rivers, Save EPA

Description: Headwater streams and wetlands are vital parts of our water infrastructure, contributing to drinking water supply, filtering pollutants, absorbing floodwaters, and providing habitat for wildlife across the nation.  However, the EPA wants to get rid of protections for small streams and wetlands.  Tell EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt not to roll back clean water protections!  Note: Save EPA indicates comment deadline has been extended to 9/27/17, but EPA docket indicates 8/28/17 deadline.

Contact Information: Click here to submit comments online.

Suggested Script: 

I am absolutely opposed to the proposed repeal of the Clean Water Rule. Repealing this vital safeguard will put our health and communities throughout the nation at risk. I strongly urge you to reconsider your position and drop the repeal of the Clean Water Rule.

The federal government needs to do more, not less, to protect clean water and safeguard our communities. Repealing the Clean Water Rule is shortsighted and flies in the face of public opinion. More than 800,000 Americans supported the Clean Water Rule when it was proposed. It is grounded in science and the law. It is an essential tool to help us to get to goal of ensuring all of our waters are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable.

In Washington State, wetlands and ephemeral streams need Clean Water Act protections to protect communities. In eastern Washington, wetlands provide important groundwater recharge zones to aquifers that provide drinking water as well as habitat for resident and migrating birds. On the Olympic Peninsula, the 2015 drought caused several streams to go dry before reaching the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In the Puget Sound region, small headwater streams are critical to downstream salmon habitat, and wetlands provide flood protection for downstream communities. Throughout Washington State, recreation and wildlife are strong economic drivers. Without protections for wetlands and small streams, our communities would suffer.

Please listen to the majority of Americans who expect EPA to protect clean water, not polluter profits, and stop this dangerous repeal process.

Thank you for considering my comments. 

Sincerely,

[insert name]

Additional Information:

Docket Folder: “Waters of the United States” – Reinstatement of Preexisting Rules

Defending Our Waters: Background and talking points from former EPA staffers

Source: Indivisible Guide

Background: Lots of information from Indivisible Guide.

Contact Information:

Senator Patty Murray, WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

Senator Maria Cantwell, WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form

Suggested Script:

Hi my name is {your name} and I am a constituent from {your town}. I am {calling/writing} to ask the senator to withhold consent on TrumpCare, now known as Graham-Cassidy.  I’m afraid it’s going to take more than talk and tweet storms to stop this terrible bill. We have to slow this process way down and call attention to the terrible bill Republicans are trying to jam through in total darkness. We have to use every tool available. Does [Senator] intend to withhold her consent on all Senate business until this bill dead?

I’m not just talking about refusing to agree on shortening debate time on TrumpCare or other bills. I’m talking about withholding consent on amendments, placing holds on nominations, and objecting to all unanimous consent requests until the reconciliation instructions expire?. Will the [Senator] do that?