***CLICK ON THE TOPIC HEADER TO EXPAND THE DETAILS***
Local Level Actions
H2A: Boycott and Phone Calls
Source: Community to Community Development
Description: Boycott NatuRipe Berries AND make phone calls to state leaders asking for a task force investigation of the H2A program and a state-level policy to protect guest workers in Washington
Background:
“We want to first say thank you for the work you did in solidarity with Familias Unidas por la Justicia’s struggle for a historic union contract. Without the actions that you all took victory would not have been possible.
From this experience you are already educated and committed consumer activists who understand the fundamental reasons for fighting for justice for farmworkers. You are now the leaders who have power to help us continue to move towards economic justice for farmworkers in Washington state.
We are reaching out to you now to again ask you to use your powers as active consumers and activists to right another great wrong.
Those of us who have already worked to support farmworkers in WA state are now facing another challenge to farmworker families in Whatcom and Skagit County.
As many of you know Honesto Silva Ibarra died this summer after being denied medical treatment while working under the smoky conditions of wildfires at Sarabanand Farms as an H2A guest worker in Sumas WA. When about 100 of his co workers stopped work to protest the conditions on the farm and ensure Silva got proper care they were all summarily fired and told they had one hour to move out of company housing. 78 of these brave workers stayed and established Campo Zapata in the yard of a local Mexican couple living near the farm. For a month the workers lived at Campo Zapata. They organized protest marches on the farm, spoke to the media and government agencies, and won back pay from the company.
All of this happened after a California based agri-corporation, Munger farms (parent of Sarbanand), bought up 1,500 acres of land in Whatcom County 6 years ago and became the first farm here to bring in H2A guestworkers to harvest their berries. Because the H2A program makes it so that workers can only legally work for a specific employer they are routinely treated as indentured servants. Last year Sarbanand’s exploitation caused the death of Honesto Silva Ibarra. This year we say BASTA!
We are launching a campaign to block the expansion of the H2A guestworker program in Whatcom and Skagit county, and to ensure that any guestworkers that are brought in do not suffer the exploitation we witnessed at Sarbanand last summer.
Community to Community is now asking you to stop purchasing berries under the NatuRipe label under which Sarbanand and their parent company Munger sell their berries!
This could be a long fought campaign. Right now we ask you to take some very important actions to get this off the ground.
Thank you for taking action for farmworker justice! We will be in touch again soon as we expect this to be a big fight!
En Solidaridad,
Community to Community Development”
ACTIONS:
- Find out where NatuRipe Berries are being sold in your local area.
- Call Governor Inslee and tell him he needs to set up a task force to do an in depth investigation of the H2A guestworker program in WA, and develop policy to shield our state from the negative impacts of the federal guestworker program. Governor Inslee’s office: 360.902.4111
- Call Labor and Industries director Joel Sacks and demand that he re-open the investigation in to Honesto Silva Ibarra’s death. Joel Sacks: 360 902 5584 (this number is for the employment standards specialist, try to get transferred to Joel Sacks or his assistant if you can).
- Call the WA Employment Securities Department and the WA department of Agriculture and tell them they need to stop following the leadership of corrupt farm labor contractors like Dan Fazio and the Washington Farm Labor Association and tell them they need to ask the Governor to set up a task force on the H2A program.
- Alberto Isiordia 509 630 8599 ESD Central Regional Director
- Dale Peineke Commisioner of Employment Securities Department: dpeinecke@esd.wa.gov
- Derek Sandison Director of WA Dept of Ag: 360 902 1887
Additional Information:
RC 2018 Endorsements! Review our Process
Source: RC
Description: In the next week we will begin recruiting for our 2018 endorsement committee. Do you have questions or comments on the process below? If so, email us, or comment on this post on facebook.
Overview of the Riveters Collective Endorsement Process and 2018 Elections
Riveters Collective envisions a diverse community of informed and empowered citizens engaged in progressive political activism to improve the lives of all.
We support primary elections. We encourage robust and civil debate over issues and direction of our community. We specifically:
- Believe that a healthy democracy relies on a healthy debate of issues
- Believe that discussion of our community’s direction is NOT a ‘waste of resources’
- Support the candidate who will best advance our platform, rather than the first candidate who files to run for office
- Disagree that new candidates should get out of the way because ‘it’s not their turn’
- Believe that no individual is entitled to a clear field in a campaign and we will encourage campaigns to focus on the issues important to our community.
We work to achieve our bigger progressive goals as expressed in our Platform. As a result, there will be times when we encourage recruitment of good people to run in primary elections. We will endorse in primary elections and will lean in and work to help our endorsed candidate(s) win.
March
We prepare to support our endorsed candidates by holding AMAs and posting information on issues and campaigns in advance of elections.
Endorsement Committee forms itself. Consider applying! This is a way to learn about the issues of local and state government and to influence the outcome of elections. It’s a brief but intense burst of work.
April
Endorsement Committee crafts the candidate questionnaires based on the RC 2018 Platform and on which races are up this year. We will work with and seek input from allied organizations on the final questionnaire.
May
By May 4th: Questionnaire is emailed to all known candidates. Those who file later will have 1 week to send their questions back to the Endorsement Committee.
May 18th: Last day to file for office in 2018.
May 25th: RC questionnaire due back.
May 29th: Candidate interviews begin
June 13th: Candidate endorsements announced and RC gets to work helping them WIN.
July
RC holds doorbell event in the primary election. We train and then we knock on doors.
Key Election Dates
July 18th: Ballots mailed in the 2018 Primary Election
August 7th: Primary Election
October 8th: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (and not in person at the office)
October 17th: Ballots mailed
October 29th: Last day to register to vote at the Auditor’s office
November 6th: Election Day
Exceptions: We reserve the right to exclude a candidate from our process if that candidate has been openly hostile to our vision or is known to be unsafe for our committee. In 2017 we excluded Eric Bostrom from our process and we will exclude him in all future endorsement processes. Donald Trump is also not eligible to participate.
Attend 3/26 City Council Meeting to Show Support for Clean Energy Resolution
Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition
Description: Bellingham City Council meets Monday 3/26 to vote on a resolution to adopt and implement the 2017 Climate Action Plan update and create a Climate Action Plan Task Force to develop 100% renewable energy targets for Bellingham. Attend and wear GREEN to show that our community strongly supports 100% clean energy. If you cannot attend, please email your support.
Background: The City of Bellingham adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan in 2007 and City staff have created a 2017 update to that Plan, including revised targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution adopts the revised Climate Action Protection Plan, including the updated carbon reduction targets. The resolution also identifies accelerated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and creates a Climate Action Plan Task Force to identify actions and resources to achieve those goals. This resolution was originally authored and brought forward by the Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition, of which the Riveters Collective is a member, and championed by Pinky Vargas and Michael Lilliquist.
City Council Meeting: March 26, 2018. 7:00pm. City Hall Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA. Show up at 6:45pm for a brief rally out front before the meeting starts.
Contact Information: If you cannot attend, please email your support to ccmail@cob.org, or the individual councilmembers:
tbornemann@cob.org;
dchammill@cob.org;
ptmvargas@cob.org;
mlilliquist@cob.org;
abarker@cob.org;
gknutson@cob.org;
rjmurphy@cob.org
Suggested Script: I would like to express my strong support for both adopting goals of 100% renewable energy for our community by 2030 and committing to actions necessary to equitably achieve those goals. In addition to contributing to helping meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, taking climate action at the local level will create jobs, cut waste and pollution, improve health, save money, and enrich the community. Please vote for the Climate Action Resolution. Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.
Additional Information:
- City of Bellingham Climate Protection Resolution
- City of Bellingham 2017 Climate Protection Action Plan
Sign up: Join the movement to support Initiative 1631 for Jobs and Clean Energy
Source: Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy/Riveters Collective
Description: On March 2, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy filed a bold climate action initiative, but to get the initiative on the ballot in November, we need to collect 260,000 signatures in 12 short weeks. Petitions should be distributed by April 7th. Sign up to get involved, and then share information with friends and family!!
Background: The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is a broad-based coalition of health professionals, businesses, labor unions, faith communities, environmental advocates, and communities of color—plus thousands of volunteers from all over the state—committed to building our state’s economy, improving the health of our residents, and leading on the fight against climate change. The Alliance has been working to build a strongly-supported climate policy that will price pollution to fund the solutions – investing in clean energy infrastructure like wind and solar, healthy forests, and clean water and creating thousands of good paying jobs across the state while cutting pollution.
Initially planning to file early this year, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy delayed, in large part to allow time to engage in meaningful discussion with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and individual Washington tribes. The final initiative language was supported by 29 tribes with the ATNI. Petitions should hit the streets around April 7th.
Contact Information:
- Sign up to stay informed, be notified of upcoming events, and to volunteer.
- Stay tuned for news of a local launch event and training in the coming weeks.
- Help spread the word and grow the movement by liking and sharing with friends and family!!
Additional Information:
- Ballot filing statement
- Initiative Measure 1631
- US News and World Report: Washington State Groups Push Carbon-Pricing Ballot Measure
Request Your Own Petition(s) for Whole Washington I-1600
Source: wholewashington.org
Description: Request petitions for universal healthcare I-1600 and get your friends to sign!
Background: Whole Washington needs to gather 300,000 signatures by early July in order to get I-1600 on the ballot in November. You can help by ordering a petition or two and getting everyone you know to sign. Carry it around in your bag and bring it out when you run into people you know. You only need 20 signatures to complete one petition! You can do that at one kid’s sports match.
When you are ready to turn in your petition, make sure you sign the back. You can either mail your petition back to Whole Washington, or get in touch with Paula Smith to return it for you.
Contact Information:
Request petitions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxKPHbgfVMzRWbh4qjqaqlD82PjUg4c8zEDWzwLuBrFZvjtg/viewform?c=0&w=1&includes_info_params=true
Additional Information:
Useful article about how it works.
For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org
Source: Community to Community Development
Description: Boycott NatuRipe Berries AND make phone calls to state leaders asking for a task force investigation of the H2A program and a state-level policy to protect guest workers in Washington
Background:
“We want to first say thank you for the work you did in solidarity with Familias Unidas por la Justicia’s struggle for a historic union contract. Without the actions that you all took victory would not have been possible.
From this experience you are already educated and committed consumer activists who understand the fundamental reasons for fighting for justice for farmworkers. You are now the leaders who have power to help us continue to move towards economic justice for farmworkers in Washington state.
We are reaching out to you now to again ask you to use your powers as active consumers and activists to right another great wrong.
Those of us who have already worked to support farmworkers in WA state are now facing another challenge to farmworker families in Whatcom and Skagit County.
As many of you know Honesto Silva Ibarra died this summer after being denied medical treatment while working under the smoky conditions of wildfires at Sarabanand Farms as an H2A guest worker in Sumas WA. When about 100 of his co workers stopped work to protest the conditions on the farm and ensure Silva got proper care they were all summarily fired and told they had one hour to move out of company housing. 78 of these brave workers stayed and established Campo Zapata in the yard of a local Mexican couple living near the farm. For a month the workers lived at Campo Zapata. They organized protest marches on the farm, spoke to the media and government agencies, and won back pay from the company.
All of this happened after a California based agri-corporation, Munger farms (parent of Sarbanand), bought up 1,500 acres of land in Whatcom County 6 years ago and became the first farm here to bring in H2A guestworkers to harvest their berries. Because the H2A program makes it so that workers can only legally work for a specific employer they are routinely treated as indentured servants. Last year Sarbanand’s exploitation caused the death of Honesto Silva Ibarra. This year we say BASTA!
We are launching a campaign to block the expansion of the H2A guestworker program in Whatcom and Skagit county, and to ensure that any guestworkers that are brought in do not suffer the exploitation we witnessed at Sarbanand last summer.
Community to Community is now asking you to stop purchasing berries under the NatuRipe label under which Sarbanand and their parent company Munger sell their berries!
This could be a long fought campaign. Right now we ask you to take some very important actions to get this off the ground.
Thank you for taking action for farmworker justice! We will be in touch again soon as we expect this to be a big fight!
En Solidaridad,
Community to Community Development”
ACTIONS:
- Find out where NatuRipe Berries are being sold in your local area.
- Call Governor Inslee and tell him he needs to set up a task force to do an in depth investigation of the H2A guestworker program in WA, and develop policy to shield our state from the negative impacts of the federal guestworker program. Governor Inslee’s office: 360.902.4111
- Call Labor and Industries director Joel Sacks and demand that he re-open the investigation in to Honesto Silva Ibarra’s death. Joel Sacks: 360 902 5584 (this number is for the employment standards specialist, try to get transferred to Joel Sacks or his assistant if you can).
- Call the WA Employment Securities Department and the WA department of Agriculture and tell them they need to stop following the leadership of corrupt farm labor contractors like Dan Fazio and the Washington Farm Labor Association and tell them they need to ask the Governor to set up a task force on the H2A program.
- Alberto Isiordia 509 630 8599 ESD Central Regional Director
- Dale Peineke Commisioner of Employment Securities Department: dpeinecke@esd.wa.gov
- Derek Sandison Director of WA Dept of Ag: 360 902 1887
Additional Information:
RC 2018 Endorsements! Review our Process
Source: RC
Description: In the next week we will begin recruiting for our 2018 endorsement committee. Do you have questions or comments on the process below? If so, email us, or comment on this post on facebook.
Overview of the Riveters Collective Endorsement Process and 2018 Elections
Riveters Collective envisions a diverse community of informed and empowered citizens engaged in progressive political activism to improve the lives of all.
We support primary elections. We encourage robust and civil debate over issues and direction of our community. We specifically:
- Believe that a healthy democracy relies on a healthy debate of issues
- Believe that discussion of our community’s direction is NOT a ‘waste of resources’
- Support the candidate who will best advance our platform, rather than the first candidate who files to run for office
- Disagree that new candidates should get out of the way because ‘it’s not their turn’
- Believe that no individual is entitled to a clear field in a campaign and we will encourage campaigns to focus on the issues important to our community.
We work to achieve our bigger progressive goals as expressed in our Platform. As a result, there will be times when we encourage recruitment of good people to run in primary elections. We will endorse in primary elections and will lean in and work to help our endorsed candidate(s) win.
March
We prepare to support our endorsed candidates by holding AMAs and posting information on issues and campaigns in advance of elections.
Endorsement Committee forms itself. Consider applying! This is a way to learn about the issues of local and state government and to influence the outcome of elections. It’s a brief but intense burst of work.
April
Endorsement Committee crafts the candidate questionnaires based on the RC 2018 Platform and on which races are up this year. We will work with and seek input from allied organizations on the final questionnaire.
May
By May 4th: Questionnaire is emailed to all known candidates. Those who file later will have 1 week to send their questions back to the Endorsement Committee.
May 18th: Last day to file for office in 2018.
May 25th: RC questionnaire due back.
May 29th: Candidate interviews begin
June 13th: Candidate endorsements announced and RC gets to work helping them WIN.
July
RC holds doorbell event in the primary election. We train and then we knock on doors.
Key Election Dates
July 18th: Ballots mailed in the 2018 Primary Election
August 7th: Primary Election
October 8th: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (and not in person at the office)
October 17th: Ballots mailed
October 29th: Last day to register to vote at the Auditor’s office
November 6th: Election Day
Exceptions: We reserve the right to exclude a candidate from our process if that candidate has been openly hostile to our vision or is known to be unsafe for our committee. In 2017 we excluded Eric Bostrom from our process and we will exclude him in all future endorsement processes. Donald Trump is also not eligible to participate.
Attend 3/26 City Council Meeting to Show Support for Clean Energy Resolution
Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition
Description: Bellingham City Council meets Monday 3/26 to vote on a resolution to adopt and implement the 2017 Climate Action Plan update and create a Climate Action Plan Task Force to develop 100% renewable energy targets for Bellingham. Attend and wear GREEN to show that our community strongly supports 100% clean energy. If you cannot attend, please email your support.
Background: The City of Bellingham adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan in 2007 and City staff have created a 2017 update to that Plan, including revised targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution adopts the revised Climate Action Protection Plan, including the updated carbon reduction targets. The resolution also identifies accelerated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and creates a Climate Action Plan Task Force to identify actions and resources to achieve those goals. This resolution was originally authored and brought forward by the Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition, of which the Riveters Collective is a member, and championed by Pinky Vargas and Michael Lilliquist.
City Council Meeting: March 26, 2018. 7:00pm. City Hall Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA. Show up at 6:45pm for a brief rally out front before the meeting starts.
Contact Information: If you cannot attend, please email your support to ccmail@cob.org, or the individual councilmembers:
tbornemann@cob.org;
dchammill@cob.org;
ptmvargas@cob.org;
mlilliquist@cob.org;
abarker@cob.org;
gknutson@cob.org;
rjmurphy@cob.org
Suggested Script: I would like to express my strong support for both adopting goals of 100% renewable energy for our community by 2030 and committing to actions necessary to equitably achieve those goals. In addition to contributing to helping meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, taking climate action at the local level will create jobs, cut waste and pollution, improve health, save money, and enrich the community. Please vote for the Climate Action Resolution. Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.
Additional Information:
- City of Bellingham Climate Protection Resolution
- City of Bellingham 2017 Climate Protection Action Plan
Sign up: Join the movement to support Initiative 1631 for Jobs and Clean Energy
Source: Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy/Riveters Collective
Description: On March 2, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy filed a bold climate action initiative, but to get the initiative on the ballot in November, we need to collect 260,000 signatures in 12 short weeks. Petitions should be distributed by April 7th. Sign up to get involved, and then share information with friends and family!!
Background: The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is a broad-based coalition of health professionals, businesses, labor unions, faith communities, environmental advocates, and communities of color—plus thousands of volunteers from all over the state—committed to building our state’s economy, improving the health of our residents, and leading on the fight against climate change. The Alliance has been working to build a strongly-supported climate policy that will price pollution to fund the solutions – investing in clean energy infrastructure like wind and solar, healthy forests, and clean water and creating thousands of good paying jobs across the state while cutting pollution.
Initially planning to file early this year, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy delayed, in large part to allow time to engage in meaningful discussion with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and individual Washington tribes. The final initiative language was supported by 29 tribes with the ATNI. Petitions should hit the streets around April 7th.
Contact Information:
- Sign up to stay informed, be notified of upcoming events, and to volunteer.
- Stay tuned for news of a local launch event and training in the coming weeks.
- Help spread the word and grow the movement by liking and sharing with friends and family!!
Additional Information:
- Ballot filing statement
- Initiative Measure 1631
- US News and World Report: Washington State Groups Push Carbon-Pricing Ballot Measure
Request Your Own Petition(s) for Whole Washington I-1600
Source: wholewashington.org
Description: Request petitions for universal healthcare I-1600 and get your friends to sign!
Background: Whole Washington needs to gather 300,000 signatures by early July in order to get I-1600 on the ballot in November. You can help by ordering a petition or two and getting everyone you know to sign. Carry it around in your bag and bring it out when you run into people you know. You only need 20 signatures to complete one petition! You can do that at one kid’s sports match.
When you are ready to turn in your petition, make sure you sign the back. You can either mail your petition back to Whole Washington, or get in touch with Paula Smith to return it for you.
Contact Information:
Request petitions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxKPHbgfVMzRWbh4qjqaqlD82PjUg4c8zEDWzwLuBrFZvjtg/viewform?c=0&w=1&includes_info_params=true
Additional Information:
Useful article about how it works.
For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org
Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition
Description: Bellingham City Council meets Monday 3/26 to vote on a resolution to adopt and implement the 2017 Climate Action Plan update and create a Climate Action Plan Task Force to develop 100% renewable energy targets for Bellingham. Attend and wear GREEN to show that our community strongly supports 100% clean energy. If you cannot attend, please email your support.
Background: The City of Bellingham adopted a Climate Protection Action Plan in 2007 and City staff have created a 2017 update to that Plan, including revised targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution adopts the revised Climate Action Protection Plan, including the updated carbon reduction targets. The resolution also identifies accelerated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and creates a Climate Action Plan Task Force to identify actions and resources to achieve those goals. This resolution was originally authored and brought forward by the Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition, of which the Riveters Collective is a member, and championed by Pinky Vargas and Michael Lilliquist.
City Council Meeting: March 26, 2018. 7:00pm. City Hall Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA. Show up at 6:45pm for a brief rally out front before the meeting starts.
Contact Information: If you cannot attend, please email your support to ccmail@cob.org, or the individual councilmembers:
tbornemann@cob.org;
dchammill@cob.org;
ptmvargas@cob.org;
mlilliquist@cob.org;
abarker@cob.org;
gknutson@cob.org;
rjmurphy@cob.org
Suggested Script: I would like to express my strong support for both adopting goals of 100% renewable energy for our community by 2030 and committing to actions necessary to equitably achieve those goals. In addition to contributing to helping meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, taking climate action at the local level will create jobs, cut waste and pollution, improve health, save money, and enrich the community. Please vote for the Climate Action Resolution. Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.
Additional Information:
- City of Bellingham Climate Protection Resolution
- City of Bellingham 2017 Climate Protection Action Plan
Sign up: Join the movement to support Initiative 1631 for Jobs and Clean Energy
Source: Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy/Riveters Collective
Description: On March 2, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy filed a bold climate action initiative, but to get the initiative on the ballot in November, we need to collect 260,000 signatures in 12 short weeks. Petitions should be distributed by April 7th. Sign up to get involved, and then share information with friends and family!!
Background: The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is a broad-based coalition of health professionals, businesses, labor unions, faith communities, environmental advocates, and communities of color—plus thousands of volunteers from all over the state—committed to building our state’s economy, improving the health of our residents, and leading on the fight against climate change. The Alliance has been working to build a strongly-supported climate policy that will price pollution to fund the solutions – investing in clean energy infrastructure like wind and solar, healthy forests, and clean water and creating thousands of good paying jobs across the state while cutting pollution.
Initially planning to file early this year, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy delayed, in large part to allow time to engage in meaningful discussion with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and individual Washington tribes. The final initiative language was supported by 29 tribes with the ATNI. Petitions should hit the streets around April 7th.
Contact Information:
- Sign up to stay informed, be notified of upcoming events, and to volunteer.
- Stay tuned for news of a local launch event and training in the coming weeks.
- Help spread the word and grow the movement by liking and sharing with friends and family!!
Additional Information:
- Ballot filing statement
- Initiative Measure 1631
- US News and World Report: Washington State Groups Push Carbon-Pricing Ballot Measure
Request Your Own Petition(s) for Whole Washington I-1600
Source: wholewashington.org
Description: Request petitions for universal healthcare I-1600 and get your friends to sign!
Background: Whole Washington needs to gather 300,000 signatures by early July in order to get I-1600 on the ballot in November. You can help by ordering a petition or two and getting everyone you know to sign. Carry it around in your bag and bring it out when you run into people you know. You only need 20 signatures to complete one petition! You can do that at one kid’s sports match.
When you are ready to turn in your petition, make sure you sign the back. You can either mail your petition back to Whole Washington, or get in touch with Paula Smith to return it for you.
Contact Information:
Request petitions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxKPHbgfVMzRWbh4qjqaqlD82PjUg4c8zEDWzwLuBrFZvjtg/viewform?c=0&w=1&includes_info_params=true
Additional Information:
Useful article about how it works.
For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org
Source: wholewashington.org
Description: Request petitions for universal healthcare I-1600 and get your friends to sign!
Background: Whole Washington needs to gather 300,000 signatures by early July in order to get I-1600 on the ballot in November. You can help by ordering a petition or two and getting everyone you know to sign. Carry it around in your bag and bring it out when you run into people you know. You only need 20 signatures to complete one petition! You can do that at one kid’s sports match.
When you are ready to turn in your petition, make sure you sign the back. You can either mail your petition back to Whole Washington, or get in touch with Paula Smith to return it for you.
Contact Information:
Request petitions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxKPHbgfVMzRWbh4qjqaqlD82PjUg4c8zEDWzwLuBrFZvjtg/viewform?c=0&w=1&includes_info_params=true
Additional Information:
Useful article about how it works.
For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org
National Level Actions / Other
Comment to Oppose Repeal of the BLM Methane and Waste Prevention Rule
Source: Save EPA
Description: The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments through April 23, 2018, on proposed rollback of a 2016 rule designed to reduce waste from oil and gas production on public and tribal lands.
Background: Methane, the dominant component of natural gas, is 25 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide – about a third of methane emissions come from oil and gas operations. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a rule in November 2016 to reduce waste of natural gas from flaring, venting, and leaks from oil and gas production on public and tribal lands. Although designed to limit waste of federal natural gas resources and avoid loss of royalty payments, the rule has the additional benefit of reducing air pollutant emissions that drive smog and climate change. The Methane and Waste Prevention Rule sets flaring limits that over several years would gradually phase down flaring of natural gas and increase its capture and productive use. It requires oil and gas producers to inspect their operations for gas leaks using effective modern detection instruments, such as infrared cameras. It also requires operators to use affordable technologies and practices to minimize gas venting.
On December 8, 2017, the BLM delayed implementation of almost every substantive provision of the Waste Prevention Rule for 18 months, until January 17, 2019. Now the Trump Administration is proposing to remove almost all the substantive requirements of the Waste Prevention Rule. In their place, BLM would reestablish, but weaken, the almost 40-year-old minimal requirements that had been in place before the Waste Prevention Rule.
Contact Information: Click here to submit comments online.
Suggested Script: I am writing to urge you not to roll back the 2016 Final Rule, Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation.
Large quantities of natural gas are wasted during oil and gas production. Between 2009 and 2015 oil and gas producers on federal and Indian land vented, flared or leaked about 462 billion feet of natural gas. That is enough to supply about 6.2 million households for a year. This constitutes a waste of valuable energy resources that could otherwise be productively used. This waste also harms our health and the environment. Although BLM’s rule is designed to protect against resource waste and royalty loss, it has the additional benefit of reducing methane emissions as natural gas is largely made up of methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and smog. To slow dangerous climate change, it is critical to control methane. Natural gas contains other harmful gases as well, including benzene, a human carcinogen and other volatile organic compounds that have been associated with neurologic, reproductive and other health effects.
There are reasonable, readily available, and affordable ways to capture and sell natural gas instead of flaring, venting, or leaking it. Fixing natural gas leaks is not expensive, and efforts to cut methane waste create jobs. American entrepreneurs are creating innovative, cutting-edge technologies which make it economically feasible for the oil and gas companies capture methane emissions. Rescinding the 2016 rule, as the Administration proposes to do, would cost taxpayers, states and tribes millions of dollars every year, squander energy resources, pollute our air, and harm our communities. Instead, we should implement the Waste Prevention Rule and put to use the natural gas that we save – that’s a win-win for taxpayers, states and tribes, households and industry, and our health and climate.
Additional Information:
- Regulations.gov Docket Folder
- NY Times: Trump Administration Targets Obama-Era Effort to Limit Methane
- Save EPA: Defending the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule Against Repeal
Source: Save EPA
Description: The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments through April 23, 2018, on proposed rollback of a 2016 rule designed to reduce waste from oil and gas production on public and tribal lands.
Background: Methane, the dominant component of natural gas, is 25 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide – about a third of methane emissions come from oil and gas operations. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a rule in November 2016 to reduce waste of natural gas from flaring, venting, and leaks from oil and gas production on public and tribal lands. Although designed to limit waste of federal natural gas resources and avoid loss of royalty payments, the rule has the additional benefit of reducing air pollutant emissions that drive smog and climate change. The Methane and Waste Prevention Rule sets flaring limits that over several years would gradually phase down flaring of natural gas and increase its capture and productive use. It requires oil and gas producers to inspect their operations for gas leaks using effective modern detection instruments, such as infrared cameras. It also requires operators to use affordable technologies and practices to minimize gas venting.
On December 8, 2017, the BLM delayed implementation of almost every substantive provision of the Waste Prevention Rule for 18 months, until January 17, 2019. Now the Trump Administration is proposing to remove almost all the substantive requirements of the Waste Prevention Rule. In their place, BLM would reestablish, but weaken, the almost 40-year-old minimal requirements that had been in place before the Waste Prevention Rule.
Contact Information: Click here to submit comments online.
Suggested Script: I am writing to urge you not to roll back the 2016 Final Rule, Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation.
Large quantities of natural gas are wasted during oil and gas production. Between 2009 and 2015 oil and gas producers on federal and Indian land vented, flared or leaked about 462 billion feet of natural gas. That is enough to supply about 6.2 million households for a year. This constitutes a waste of valuable energy resources that could otherwise be productively used. This waste also harms our health and the environment. Although BLM’s rule is designed to protect against resource waste and royalty loss, it has the additional benefit of reducing methane emissions as natural gas is largely made up of methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and smog. To slow dangerous climate change, it is critical to control methane. Natural gas contains other harmful gases as well, including benzene, a human carcinogen and other volatile organic compounds that have been associated with neurologic, reproductive and other health effects.
There are reasonable, readily available, and affordable ways to capture and sell natural gas instead of flaring, venting, or leaking it. Fixing natural gas leaks is not expensive, and efforts to cut methane waste create jobs. American entrepreneurs are creating innovative, cutting-edge technologies which make it economically feasible for the oil and gas companies capture methane emissions. Rescinding the 2016 rule, as the Administration proposes to do, would cost taxpayers, states and tribes millions of dollars every year, squander energy resources, pollute our air, and harm our communities. Instead, we should implement the Waste Prevention Rule and put to use the natural gas that we save – that’s a win-win for taxpayers, states and tribes, households and industry, and our health and climate.
Additional Information:
- Regulations.gov Docket Folder
- NY Times: Trump Administration Targets Obama-Era Effort to Limit Methane
- Save EPA: Defending the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule Against Repeal
From the Calendar
Link to the Riveters Collective Calendar
Every Monday: Attend a vigil hosted by Racial Justice Coalition and Keep Bellingham Families Working. A vigil will be held from 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m. in front of the Whatcom County Courthouse . Support undocumented and immigrant families to live in safety and dignity in our community. Bring your friends and co-workers!
March 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018: Join the Let’s Talk: RC Online Book Club on the Riveters Collective Facebook page. Read Ijeoma Oluo’s book So You Want to Talk About Race and discuss how this book fits into your journey to racial understanding, but as Ijeoma herself requests, please don’t direct those stories at people oppressed for their race. Read more from Ijeoma Oluo’s Facebook post. Visit the RC Facebook page to join the discussion. **This discussion will last all of March.**
Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 10:00a.m.–1:00p.m.: March For Our Lives will take to the streets to end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools. The march will begin at Bellingham City Hall, 210 Lottie St, Bellingham, WA 98225. Exact time and place will be determined according to permit and scheduling. The hope is to do it alongside the nationwide movement, so stay tuned. Visit Facebook for more information.
Thursday, March 29, 2018 from 8:30-9:30p.m.: Join an Ask Me Anything! about the I-1600 Universal Healthcare Initiative. Riveters Collective will be hosting Sara So from Whole Washington for an online Q&A about the universal healthcare initiative (I-1600) in WA state. Organizers need to gather 300,000 signatures by July in order to get this on the ballot in November. The event will be held on the the RC Facebook page.