Source: The Hub Community Bike Shop

Description: Visit the Hub, follow them on Facebook, sign up for their email newsletter, provide space ideas, donate, build a bike

Background:The Hub Bike Shop is soon to be displaced by a new apartment development. The Hub will need to close and ideally relocate by October of 2018. Spectrum Development Solutions (developer of the apartment building) has generously invited the Hub back into their fold upon completion of the building that is being built. Unfortunately, the offered space is limited to 500 square feet which is not enough to operate at full capacity, not to mention that the development is projected to be completed in mid-2020.

Source: The RC

Description: Attend an event, donate, volunteer  (knock on doors or send text messages or whatever the campaign asks)

Background: The election of 2018 is going to be HUGE.  Right now, candidates are filing to run.  Good people are stepping up to serve our community, and the current system of high-dollar campaigns means they need all of us to support their work.  Here’s a list of offices open for the November 2018 election.  Remember that primary elections are held in August, and there will be MANY primaries this year.

We’re working on a list of all known candidates.  Who did we miss?  Email us!

Source: The RC

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

Source:  Yes on I-1631

Description:  I-1631 will invest in clean energy, natural carbon storage, low-income energy assistance, healthy forests, and clean water, funded by a fee on large corporate polluters.  We have only 11 weeks to gather 260,000 valid signatures from Washington voters.  Attend the 4/19 launch event to learn more and then help us gather signatures!

Background: No jurisdiction in the world has done what Washington will do in 2018. I-1631 is a real, meaningful, equity-oriented climate change policy proposal that would invest billions of dollars in the clean energy transition we need by pricing the carbon pollution dumped into our atmosphere by big corporations.  A broad-base, diverse coalition developed the policy with a united front of organized labor, environmental advocates, faith communities, health professionals, sovereign tribes, and many others.

I-1631 is only one piece of the fierce and broad effort we need to undertake to address the climate crisis – but it’s an important one.  We hope you can join us to help make sure it gets on the ballot!

Take Action:

• Attend the I-1631: Bellingham Launch.  4/19, 6:30-8:30pm, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St., Bellingham.  Learn more about the initiative and the tools you need to help collect signatures!
• Sign up to receive petitions through our I-1631 Petition Request Form.
• Sign up for an organizer-led signature gathering shift already listed on the YES On 1631 map.

Additional Information:

• Cascadia Weekly Op-Ed: Yes on I-1631
• Yes on I-1631 Campaign Website
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Additional Questions?  Email or call the Campaign 206-535-6617.

Source:  Whatcom County

Description: Apply (or encourage a friend or colleague!) to serve on key County advisory committees, including the Planning Commission, Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Advisory Committee and the Wildlife Advisory Committee.  Applications for the Lake Whatcom and Wildlife Committees are due by April 25 and April 17.

Background:  Apply (or encourage a friend or colleague!) to serve on key County advisory committees, including the Planning Commission, Lake Whatcom Stormwater Utility Advisory Committee and the Wildlife Advisory Committee.  Applications for the Lake Whatcom and Wildlife Committees are due by April 25 and April 17.

Contact Information: Click here for current vacancies, and information about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Source: Community to Community Development

Description: Tuesday April 17th at noon, demonstrate in front of the Department of Licensing at 4180 Cordata Parkway.  Call Governor Inslee to demand Kohler’s resignation or removal.

Background: Under Kohler, the DOL released residents’ private information to ICE and put thousands at risk of targeting, detention an deportation – including Bellingham-based community organizer Maruo Mora Villalpando.  Join us in calling for new leadership for this agency that will comply with the governor’s Executive Order and protect the rights and data of all Washington residents!

Source:  Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition including RE Sources and 350 Bellingham

Description: 

The Bellingham City Council recently adopted a detailed plan outlining steps the city can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 85% below 2000 levels by 2050.  Residents, including a number of Riveters, have also been pushing the Council to aim higher by setting a goal of 100% renewable energy. The City Council plans to vote on a resolution that could include this goal on April 23. We have until them to convince them that it’s worthwhile!

Background: Our communities can be free from fossil fuel dependence in the 2030’s — but only if our city’s planning policies and building codes are compatible with that future. The Council is considering a resolution that creates a task force to study and report on how to accelerate goals aiming for 100% renewable energy used in:

• City-owned facilities (electricity, heating and transportation) by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s electricity supply by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s heating and transportation by 2035.

After severe backlash from fossil fuel industry proponents, the Council withdrew the resolution and plan to reintroduce a new version on April 23rd. Now more than ever, they need to hear from Bellingham residents!

Contact Information: Please send a brief message NOW to the City Council urging them to pass the resolution for 100% renewable energy to ccmail@cob.org. Share with the Council why this matters to you and what commitments you’re making to lower your carbon footprint (biking, weatherizing your home, installing solar panels, etc.).

Source: MoveOn.org

Description: Register to be notified of our local rapid response demonstration, triggered in the event that Rosenstein or Mueller is fired. In addition to demonstrations in the streets, we will ask our members of congress to “hold up, vote down”.  They can deny consent requests and vote down all nominations until Trump is held accountable.  #HoldUpVoteDown

Background:

Additional Information: On Twitter, Seth Abramson provides useful commentary from the perspective of a criminal defense attorney. Here is a primer on firing Rosenstein from the NYT.

Source: Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy

Description: 

No jurisdiction in the world has done what Washington will do in 2018. After four years of careful and smart planning, the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is launching a signature-gathering effort on Saturday, April 7, to put a real, meaningful, equity-oriented climate change policy proposal (I-1631) on the 2018 Washington State ballot. This proposal would invest billions of dollars in the clean energy transition we need by pricing the carbon pollution dumped into our atmosphere by big corporations.

Background: 

Contact Information:

We only have 12 weeks to gather 260,000 valid signatures from Washington voters. We’re going to hit the pavement starting this Saturday, April 7, 2018, across Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan counties.

Join us.

1. Sign up on the Alliance’s website, and their Northwest Washington Regional Field Organizer will reach out to you asap to get you involved!
2. Or, sign up directly for any one of the 170+ signature-gathering shifts already listed on the YES On 1631 map.

Lastly, Riveters Collective wants to get petitions out to anyone and everyone who wants them! We will send you petitions to your home or workplace, and can even send along self-addressed, stamped envelopes for when you’ve got some signatures to submit! Click here for our I-1631 Petition Request Form.

Source: Open Neighbors Bellingham

Description:

On Monday, April 9, 2018, the Bellingham City Council be holding a public hearing on the Planning Commission’s recommendations regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). They recommend that these small, affordable housing forms be allowed to be built citywide; currently they’re banned from being built in 70% of our city.

This is a small but critical part of our housing solution. Please consider signing the petition below in support of affordable homes, ADUs, and inclusive neighborhoods. Details about the recommendations, rally, and hearing are in the comments below!

Contact Information: 

Sign the petition here.

To attend the Rally and Public Hearing on Monday 4/9/18, check out the Facebook Event.

More Information:

Click here for information about ADUs, including the size restrictions recommended by Planning Commission.

Source: wholewashington.org

Description: Read the AMA with Sara Erickson So of Whole Washington.  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.

Contact Information: 

Request petitions here.

Additional Information:

For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org

Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition including RE Sources and 350 Bellingham

Description: 

On Monday, the Bellingham City Council adopted a detailed plan outlining steps the city can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 85% below 2000 levels by 2050.

Residents, including a number of Riveters, have also been pushing the Council to aim higher by setting a goal of 100% renewable energy. The City Council plans to vote on a resolution that could include this goal on April 23. We have until them to convince them that it’s worthwhile!

Background: 

Our communities can be free from fossil fuel dependence in the 2030’s — but only if our city’s planning policies and building codes are compatible with that future. The Council is considering a resolution that creates a task force to study and report on how to accelerate goals aiming for 100% renewable energy used in:

• City-owned facilities (electricity, heating and transportation) by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s electricity supply by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s heating and transportation by 2035.

After severe backlash from fossil fuel industry proponents, the Council withdrew the resolution and plan to reintroduce a new version on April 23rd. Now more than ever, they need to hear from Bellingham residents!

Contact Information:

Please send a brief message NOW to the City Council urging them to pass the resolution for 100% renewable energy to ccmail@cob.org. Share with the Council why this matters to you and what commitments you’re making to lower your carbon footprint (biking, weatherizing your home, installing solar panels, etc.)
Thank you for speaking out!

Source: RC

Description: Donate to fund ASL interpretation for our 2018 candidate endorsement interviews.

Background:  “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”, so we’ve done our best to recruit people for our endorsement committee who have been on the menu for too long!  One of these people is deaf, and since many of us don’t sign, we need an interpreter!  Interviews are scheduled for early June.

Source: Stand.earth

Description: 

California regulators can avoid devastating oil tanker disasters from happening along the Pacific coastline by rejecting Phillips 66’s proposal to double the amount of oil tankers coming into its San Francisco Bay refinery.

Help pile on the pressure and tell California regulators to reject Phillips 66’s proposal to double the number of tar sands oil tankers traveling up and down the Pacific coast to its San Francisco Bay refinery.

Contact Information: Sign the petition here.

Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition including RE Sources and 350 Bellingham

Description: 

On Monday, the Bellingham City Council adopted a detailed plan outlining steps the city can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 85% below 2000 levels by 2050.

Residents, including a number of Riveters, have also been pushing the Council to aim higher by setting a goal of 100% renewable energy. The City Council plans to vote on a resolution that could include this goal on April 23. We have until them to convince them that it’s worthwhile!

Background: 

Our communities can be free from fossil fuel dependence in the 2030’s — but only if our city’s planning policies and building codes are compatible with that future. The Council is considering a resolution that creates a task force to study and report on how to accelerate goals aiming for 100% renewable energy used in:

• City-owned facilities (electricity, heating and transportation) by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s electricity supply by 2030;
• The Bellingham community’s heating and transportation by 2035.

After severe backlash from fossil fuel industry proponents, the Council withdrew the resolution on Monday, and plan to reintroduce a new version on April 23rd. Now more than ever, they need to hear from Bellingham residents!

Contact Information:

Please send a brief message NOW to the City Council urging them to pass the resolution for 100% renewable energy to ccmail@cob.org. Share with the Council why this matters to you and what commitments you’re making to lower your carbon footprint (biking, weatherizing your home, installing solar panels, etc.)
Thank you for speaking out!

Source: wholewashington.org

Description: Read the AMA with Sara Erickson So of Whole Washington.  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.

Contact Information: 

Request petitions here 

Additional Information:

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:

1. Find out where NatuRipe Berries are being sold in your local area.
2. 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
3. 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).
4. 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:

Article in the Stranger: Northern Washington Farmworker’s Complaints of Headaches Went Ignored Before His Death, Colleague Claims

Source: RC

Description: What campaign info can I post to the RC group if I am a candidate/fan of a candidate/terrified of a candidate?

Background:  Please read our posting policy for details!  In general, candidates can post a campaign announcement and host an AMA in the group.  Non-candidates can discuss candidates, but please refrain from using the group as a candidate promotion tool.

Source: Stand.earth

Description: 

California regulators can avoid devastating oil tanker disasters from happening along the Pacific coastline by rejecting Phillips 66’s proposal to double the amount of oil tankers coming into its San Francisco Bay refinery.

Help pile on the pressure and tell California regulators to reject Phillips 66’s proposal to double the number of tar sands oil tankers traveling up and down the Pacific coast to its San Francisco Bay refinery.

Contact Information: Sign the petition here.

Source: Washington Wild

Description: Over the past year, it has become clear that our roadless areas are going to be attacked on a national and local scale. In response to mounting threats to the 2001 Roadless Rule and our Roadless Areas here in Washington State, Washington Wild coordinated a joint comment letter signed by 152 conservation, recreation and wildlife groups, faith leaders, hunting and fishing organizations, faith leaders, local businesses, and elected officials. Now they’re asking you to write your members of Congress and ask them to stand up for the roadless rule and our roadless areas.

Contact Information:

Click here to access their submission form!

Suggested Script:

“Continuing to allow roadbuilding in Inventoried Roadless Areas and allowing statewide exemptions sets a dangerous precedent for the future management of the Forest and in Roadless Areas. This puts healthy forests, clean water, outstanding recreation opportunities, and wildlife habitat at risk. Stand up for our Roadless Areas today!”

Additional Information:

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:

1. Find out where NatuRipe Berries are being sold in your local area.
2. 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
3. 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).
4. 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:

Article in the Stranger: Northern Washington Farmworker’s Complaints of Headaches Went Ignored Before His Death, Colleague Claims

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.

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

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!!
  • Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Facebook page
  • Twitter
  • Website

Additional Information:  

• Ballot filing statement
• Initiative Measure 1631
• US News and World Report: Washington State Groups Push Carbon-Pricing Ballot Measure

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: 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: 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:

1. Find out where NatuRipe Berries are being sold in your local area.
2. 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
3. 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).
4. 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:

Article in the Stranger: Northern Washington Farmworker’s Complaints of Headaches Went Ignored Before His Death, Colleague Claims

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.

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!!
  • Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Facebook page
  • Twitter
  • Website

Additional Information:

• Ballot filing statement
• Initiative Measure 1631
• US News and World Report: Washington State Groups Push Carbon-Pricing Ballot Measure

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:

For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org

Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition

Source: Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition

Description: Show up in support of a major vote by the Bellingham City Council that will firmly establish our city as a leader in the transition to renewable energy! While the resolution is likely to pass in its current form, we hope allies will attend to support the Members in their votes, to show that we plan to hold our elected officials accountable to their commitments, and to claim this victory for the citizens of Bellingham!

Background:

The Council will be voting at their general meeting on Monday 3/12 on a resolution that does three things: 1) sets new, updated climate action targets for the City of Bellingham, including a goal for 100% Clean Energy 2) establishes a Climate Advisory Task Force comprised of citizens and city staffers and 3) adopts the Bellingham 2017 Climate Protection Action Plan Update.

This resolution was 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. The resolution is likely to pass in its current form, as all Councilmembers and the Mayor have expressed support.

Contact Information:

If you can’t 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: 

As you adopt and direct staff to implement the update to the City’s Climate Action Plan, I urge you to both adopt goals of 100% renewable energy by 2030 and commit to determining actions necessary to 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.  Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.

Questions? Email Michael Peñuelas at michaelpenuelas@gmail.com

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.

Contact Information: 

Request petitions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxKPHbgfVMzRWbh4qjqaqlD82PjUg4c8zEDWzwLuBrFZvjtg/viewform?c=0&w=1&includes_info_params=true

Additional Information:

For more info, contact Paula Smith or visit wholewashington.org (edited)

Source: ENOUGH: National School Walkout

Description: 

Women’s March Youth EMPOWER is calling for students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10 am across every time zone on March 14, 2018 to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.

So far, WWU, WCC, and several regional high schools are participating. More here: https://riveterscollective.org/2018/02/gun-reform-actions/

Background:

Organized by Women’s March Youth Empower:

https://www.womensmarch.com/empower/
https://www.womensmarch.com/enough

Source: Riveters Collective

Description: The Whatcom County Health Department is planning to outsource the Health Department WIC program that serves 1350 pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children in our community.

Background: 

In the past 10 years the Health Department has eliminated most direct services–from most immunizations to the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program to Maternity Support Services that provided nurse visits to pregnant and parenting women. Now the WIC Program is on the chopping block. The Health Department has become a policy-making organization that is losing touch with the community it wants to serve. How can the Health Department improve the public health of our community if they don’t see the community?

ACTION: 1) Email the Whatcom County Council and tell them to keep WIC services in the County Health Department and to provide enough funding to do that. You can leave a message for all County Council members: council@co.whatcom.wa.us.

ACTION 2) Come to the Council meeting on Tuesday, March 13 at 7 pm and sign up for the Public Comment period to tell Council why WIC is important to you. Be there before 7 pm to sign up. Wear BLUE to show your support!

Source: Whatcom Conservation District

Description: Complete and mail your ballot by 3/13 for the election to fill one open seat on the Whatcom Conservation District Board!  Riveters Collective has officially endorsed Alan Chapman.

If you did not request a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the District’s office at 6975 Hannegan Road, Lynden. Polls will be open between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.   All registered voters residing within Whatcom County may vote in person at that date, place, and time or by mail.

Responses to RC questionnaire:  Our R&R! committee sent questions to the candidates. Two candidates responded. Their responses are linked below.

1. Alan B. Chapman
   Responses to RC Questions
2. Larry Helm
3. David M. Kroontje
   Responses to RC Questions

For more information, see the WCD Elections Website.

Source: Protect The Inlet, Stand.earth

Description: Building in the courts and halls of Canadian government for years, conflict over the mammoth Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline expansion is expected to spill into the streets of British Columbia Saturday with massive civil disobedience demonstrations. The march will meet in Burnaby by the Lake City Way Skytrain Station and march together in the thousands to our final location. If you can’t attend in person, support on social media or in whatever way makes sense for you!

Background: Indigenous leaders from along the pipeline route and the U.S. are planning a march and rally beginning Saturday in metro Vancouver. Nearly 7,000 Coast Salish Water Protectors — as the pipeline opponents call themselves — have signed up to participate, said Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, spokesman for the Protect the Inlet movement.

Additional Information: 

Sign up on the Facebook page, which will also be a great place to find updates throughout the day.

For more information from the organizers, see: Protect The Inlet

Or see a recent article in the Seattle Times: ‘Like Standing Rock’: Trans Mountain pipeline-expansion opponents plan B.C. protest

Source: WA Wild/Surfrider Foundation

Description: Submit comments by March 9 to oppose the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Background: Last month, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke proposed a sweeping plan to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including a major new lease sale off Oregon and Washington proposed for 2021. The proposal aims to expand offshore drilling on over 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf along America’s coastline, which includes Washington’s own wild and rugged coast. In northern Washington, the proposal includes much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, where the regulations currently prohibit “exploring for, developing or producing oil.”  In addition, the coast of the Olympic Peninsula is home to the coastal strip of Olympic National Park, most of which is protected as Wilderness. Areas like Second Beach, Ruby Beach and Lake Ozette are a major source of tourism and economic benefit for local economies. Other conservation lands on the Washington coast include San Juan Islands National Monument, Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge, Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling just offshore of these national treasures is unacceptable and irresponsible.

Contact Information: Click here to submit comment online.

Suggested Script:

I am strongly opposed to offshore oil drilling in new areas, especially off the Washington coast.  From the dramatic headlands and lush forest of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to the sandy beaches of Ocean Shores, Washington’s Pacific coastal and offshore marine ecosystems are vital recreational, economic, and ecological resources.  

I am very concerned about the substantial environmental impacts of offshore drilling to these resources.  Seismic surveys associated with oil exploration damage or kill marine life and can disrupt migration patterns of marine mammals.  Drilling and processing oil releases contaminants that pollute marine waters and sediments.  Catastrophic oil spills devastate marine ecosystems and recreation- and fishing-based coastal economies and can take years to clean up.  Massive onshore infrastructure associated with offshore drilling destroys coastal habitats and increases air, water, and land pollution to coastal communities.  Finally, continued exploitation of fossil fuel reserves will only exacerbate the climate crisis.

Offshore oil drilling and oil spills have the potential to critically impact our vital marine resources and lead to the industrialization of our coastlines. Ultimately, America cannot drill our way out of an oil consumption problem. Rather than drill for fossil fuels off our coasts, we must instead invest in a sustainable “energy portfolio” that includes renewable sources and conservation.

Additional Information:

• Regulations.gov: Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program
• Surfrider Foundation Fact Sheet: Stop New Offshore Drilling
• Seattle Times: Surprise Oil Fight May be Part of the Method to Trump’s Madness

Description: Sign this petition

Background: Maru Mora is a local activist and mother who is being targeted for deportation by ICE in retaliation for her activism.  From the petition:

“The Seattle office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has served a “Notice to Appear,” otherwise known as a deportation notice, to Washington-based community activist and mother, Maru Mora-Villalpando.

Maru leads Northwest Detention Center Resistance (NWDCR), an organization that was co-founded when immigrants held at the Northwest Detention Center began a series of hunger strikes in 2014 protesting their inhumane treatment. Mora-Villalpando’s efforts have transformed the NWDC from an ignored facility in an out-of-the-way location to a key site of local resistance, with weekly rallies and vigils outside its gates.

Now, in an unprecedented and arbitrary act of retaliation ICE has chosen to target Mora-Villalpando directly. ICE is now purposely targeting people such as Mora-Villalpando who are organizing against the agency and the Trump administration’s racially-motivated deportation agenda.

“ICE only knows about me because of my political work,” explains Mora-Villalpando. “I have spoken out to defend immigrants in detention and shared my story as an undocumented mother. I have sat in meetings with immigration officials and challenged their practices. They are an agency whose actions have already been devastating to my community. But with the letter they delivered to my house, they are showing themselves to be an agency that silences any opposition to their practices,” she concluded.”

Source: Whatcom Conservation District

Description: Complete and mail your ballot by 3/13 for the election to fill one open seat on the Whatcom Conservation District Board!  Riveters Collective has officially endorsed Alan Chapman.

If you did not request a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the District’s office at 6975 Hannegan Road, Lynden. Polls will be open between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.   All registered voters residing within Whatcom County may vote in person at that date, place, and time or by mail.

Responses to RC questionnaire:  Our R&R! committee sent questions to the candidates. Two candidates responded. Their responses are linked below.

1. Alan B. Chapman
   Responses to RC Questions
2. Larry Helm
3. David M. Kroontje
   Responses to RC Questions

For more information, see the WCD Elections Website.

Source: 350 Bellingham/Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition

Description: By 3/11, ask the City Council to pass a resolution that includes strong 100% renewable energy goals.

Background:  The City Council is looking to pass a resolution to adopt the 2017 Update to the Climate Protection Action Plan, and members of the Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition have been working to incorporate both stronger 100% renewable energy targets and the commitment to determine actions necessary to achieve those goals. The Committee of the Whole is scheduled to discuss the ordinance on 3/12, and Council may vote on it as early as that evening.  We need to make sure they know that this is a priority for our community!

Contact Information:  ccmail@cob.org

Suggested Script: As you adopt and direct staff to implement the update to the City’s Climate Action Plan, I urge you to both adopt goals of 100% renewable energy by 2030 and commit to determining actions necessary to 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.  Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.

Additional Information:

Climate Protection Action Plan

Source: Washington’s Paramount Duty

Description: Call/Email your legislators and ask them to fully fund education and include new progressive revenue, such as a capital gains tax.

Background: 

here is still a lot of work to do in order to fully and amply fund our public schools, as you well know. Right now legislators are about to vote on a budget that will help get us toward that goal, and they need to hear from you before they vote!

The Supreme Court was clear: legislators must add an extra $1 billion for our schools this year, in 2018. Saying ‘no’ to the Court is not an option.

The State House and State Senate both propose to deliver that funding, thanks in part to your calls and emails! But their remaining budgets still aren’t aligned.

Their plans are like two pieces of bread — one with peanut butter and one with jelly. Legislators should simply put them together and pass a capital gains tax that raises enough revenue to provide the additional $1 billion in funding for our schools ordered by the Supreme Court. If we don’t find new, progressive revenue, then we risk seeing the new funding vanish if there’s a recession.

The two budgets are going to be voted on by the House and Senate in the next few days! Washington’s Paramount Duty is asking you to please email or call call your legislators, and  spread the word to others.

Call Information:

42nd District

Senator Doug Ericksen (360) 786-7682

Representative Luanne Van Werven (360) 786 – 7980

Representative Vincent Buys (360) 786 – 7854

40th District

Senator Kevin Ranker (360) 786-7678

Representative Kristine Lytton (360) 786 – 7800

Representative Jeff R. Morris (360) 786 – 7970

Script:

“The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.

I am calling to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.”

Try the legislative hotline!  You get to talk with a friendly staffer and they pass your message to ALL THREE legislators.  800-562-6000

Email Information:

42nd district:
Doug.Ericksen@leg.wa.gov Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov

40th District:
Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov  Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov  Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov

WA State House and Senate Democratic caucus and budget leads emails:
frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov  pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov  June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov  sharon.nelson@leg.wa.gov  Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov

Script:
Subject:  $1 Billion Needed in Education Funding; New & Fair Revenue from Capital Gains Now!

The Supreme Court of Washington ruled in November that legislators needed to come up with an extra $1 billion in funding for educator salaries in our public schools. Our students desperately need the teachers, programs, and materials that this funding will make possible.

I am emailing to ask you to support legislation that uses new and progressive revenue, including a capital gains tax, to raise that $1 billion to amply fund all public schools for every child. Thank you for your service to our district and state.

Sincerely,

{Your name and address}

Source:  Re Sources

Description:  The legislative session is due to end March 8, and March 2nd is the deadline to vote bills out of the opposite chamber unless the bill is necessary to implement the budget.  Call your legislators ASAP to ask them to support important legislation on climate and oil transportation safety.

Background:  

The following bills are still in play this session:

• HB2995: Concerning Washington’s clean, affordable, and reliable energy future.
• SB6081: Concerning distributed generation (Net metering for solar power)
• SB6203: Reducing carbon pollution by moving to a clean energy economy.
• SB6269: Strengthening oil transportation safety

Contact Information:

42nd District

Senator Doug Ericksen

(360) 786 – 7682, Doug.Ericksen@leg.wa.gov

Representative Luanne Van Werven

(360) 786 – 7980, Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov

Representative Vincent Buys

(360) 786 – 7854, Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov

40th District

Senator Kevin Ranker

(360) 786 – 7678, Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kristine Lytton

(360) 786 – 7800, Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jeff R. Morris

(360) 786 – 7970, Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov

Suggested Script:  Hi, my name is [first and last name] and I live in [town name] in the [42nd or 40th] district.  I’m calling to voice my support for legislation that supports oil spill prevention, phases out Atlantic salmon farming, stabilizes funding for toxic cleanup, and bold climate action.  I respectfully urge [legislator] to vote yes on HB 2995, SB 6081, SB 6203, and SB 6269.  Thank you for listening to my concern.

Additional Information:

Re Sources: Legislative session: what we’re watching, what you can do

Environmental Priorities Coalition: 2018 Environmental Priorities

Join the Whole Washington Volunteers’ Facebook group to learn how to gather signatures
Attend meeting this Tuesday the 6th, 3:00 at Terra. Contact Paula Smith on Facebook for more info about the meeting, or for general info about Whole Washington.

Source: Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

Description: Send legislators a message asking them to support eight housing bills.  WLIHA has a handy form!  Enter your address here.

This action is in support of the following bills:

• House Bill 2578 to ban discrimination based on a renter’s source of income;

• House Bill 2667 to remove barriers to housing assistance for people with disabilities and seniors;

• House Bill 1570 to increase and protect a significant portion of funding for programs that prevent and end homelessness;

• House Bill 2437 to increase local resources to invest in affordable homes (see more below about how it works);

• House Bill 2444 to clarify tax requirements for affordable housing nonprofits;

• House Bill 1831 to update asset limits for applicants of public assistance;

• House Bill 1239 to access free medical records when appealing SSI or SSDI denials; and

• House Bill 2382 to allow surplus public lands to be used for affordable housing.

Description: We’re reading Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race, and chatting about it in this facebook event within our group.  Join us!

Need a copy of the book?  Village Books is stocking them on the book club shelf.

Source: WA Wild/Surfrider Foundation

Description: Submit comments by March 9 to oppose the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Background: Last month, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke proposed a sweeping plan to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including a major new lease sale off Oregon and Washington proposed for 2021. The proposal aims to expand offshore drilling on over 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf along America’s coastline, which includes Washington’s own wild and rugged coast. In northern Washington, the proposal includes much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, where the regulations currently prohibit “exploring for, developing or producing oil.”  In addition, the coast of the Olympic Peninsula is home to the coastal strip of Olympic National Park, most of which is protected as Wilderness. Areas like Second Beach, Ruby Beach and Lake Ozette are a major source of tourism and economic benefit for local economies. Other conservation lands on the Washington coast include San Juan Islands National Monument, Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge, Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling just offshore of these national treasures is unacceptable and irresponsible.

Contact Information: Click here to submit comment online.

Suggested Script: 

I am strongly opposed to offshore oil drilling in new areas, especially off the Washington coast.  From the dramatic headlands and lush forest of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to the sandy beaches of Ocean Shores, Washington’s Pacific coastal and offshore marine ecosystems are vital recreational, economic, and ecological resources.  

I am very concerned about the substantial environmental impacts of offshore drilling to these resources.  Seismic surveys associated with oil exploration damage or kill marine life and can disrupt migration patterns of marine mammals.  Drilling and processing oil releases contaminants that pollute marine waters and sediments.  Catastrophic oil spills devastate marine ecosystems and recreation- and fishing-based coastal economies and can take years to clean up.  Massive onshore infrastructure associated with offshore drilling destroys coastal habitats and increases air, water, and land pollution to coastal communities.  Finally, continued exploitation of fossil fuel reserves will only exacerbate the climate crisis.

Offshore oil drilling and oil spills have the potential to critically impact our vital marine resources and lead to the industrialization of our coastlines. Ultimately, America cannot drill our way out of an oil consumption problem. Rather than drill for fossil fuels off our coasts, we must instead invest in a sustainable “energy portfolio” that includes renewable sources and conservation.

Additional Information:

• Regulations.gov: Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program
• Surfrider Foundation Fact Sheet: Stop New Offshore Drilling
• Seattle Times: Surprise Oil Fight May be Part of the Method to Trump’s Madness

Source: Alliance for Gun Responsibility

Description: 

Enough is enough. February 14 marks the 17th school shooting of 2018. Closer to home, in Everett, it appears tragedy was narrowly avoided when a grandmother alerted the police after learning of her grandson’s frighteningly detailed plans to carry out a similar massacre.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected in the Parkland, Florida school shooting. BUT thoughts and prayers are not enough.

Enhanced Assault Weapon Background Checks – (HB 1387,SB 5444) can go a long way toward keeping these weapons of war out of the hands of people seeing to use them in mass shootings

Contact Information:

Try the legislative hotline!  You get to talk with a friendly staffer and they pass your message to ALL THREE legislators.  800-562-6000

42nd District

Representative Luanne Van Werven

(360) 786 – 7980

Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov

Representative Vincent Buys

(360) 786 – 7854

Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov

40th District

Representative Kristine Lytton

(360) 786 – 7800

Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jeff R. Morris

(360) 786 – 7970

Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov

Suggested Script:

“Enough is enough. February 14 marks the 18th school shooting of 2018. Closer to home, in Everett, it appears tragedy was narrowly avoided when a grandmother alerted the police after learning of her grandson’s frighteningly detailed plans to carry out a similar massacre.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected in the Parkland, Florida school shooting. BUT thoughts and prayers are not enough. Your constituents deserve action.

Enhanced Assault Weapon Background Checks – (HB 1387,SB 5444) can go a long way toward keeping these weapons of war out of the hands of people seeing to use them in mass shootings.”

Additional Information:

Riveters Collective is maintaining a regularly-updated post on our website detailing other gun control actions that you can take in this critical moment. Please check it out if you are able to do more.

Source: 350 Bellingham/Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition

Description: 

The City Council has been working with members of the Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition to draft new 100% renewable energy targets that will dovetail with an update to the 2007 Climate Protection Action Plan. The Council is on track to pass them both by the end of March, but we need to make sure they know that this is a priority for our community!

Ask the City Council to pass a resolution by the end of March that includes a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Background: 

The City has been working on a 2017 update to the original 2007 Climate Protection Action Plan.  Late last year, 350 Bellingham formed a coalition of community partners to support a City Council resolution that commits the City to be 100% Fossil Free by 2030.  Initially planned as a public campaign that would launch in March, there appears to be sufficient interest within the City Council to take action on a resolution soon to adopt and direct staff to implement the Climate Action Plan, perhaps as early as 2/26.  Now is the time to ask them to take bold action commensurate with the scale of the climate crisis, and include 100% renewable energy goals in the plan.

Contact Information: ccmail@cob.org

Suggested Script: 

As you adopt and direct staff to implement the update to the City’s Climate Action Plan, I urge you to also adopt a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.  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.  Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.

Additional Information:

Climate Protection Action Plan

Source: Riveters Collective

Riveters Collective is proud to endorse I-1600, the universal healthcare initiative spearheaded by Whole Washington.

Description: 

Our platform states “We believe that healthcare is a human right, and support single-payer healthcare efforts at a state, regional or national level” and that is exactly what this initiative is all about.

Additional Information:

Learn more here: http://www.wholewashington.org/

To get involved, look up Whole Washington Volunteers on Facebook

Source: RE Sources for Sustainable Communities

Description: 

Write to County Council and plan on attending the Public Hearing February 27, 2018 on extending the moratorium on new or expanded export of unrefined fossil fuels out of Cherry Point.

Background:

The study that was included in the approved Cherry Point Amendments to Whatcom County’s Comprehensive Plan just came out last week. Now the Council needs time to review the findings to see what ways will be the most effective at limiting the negative impacts related to the export of unrefined fossil fuels at Cherry Point. In the meantime, it remains vital to extend the moratorium on any new or expanded export of those dangerous fuels to prevent the issuing of permits that do not have to abide by any subsequent regulations the Council may vote to enact. Please write your County Council Members or show up next Tuesday for the Public Hearing to urge the new and continuing Council Members to extend the interim moratorium.

Public Hearing time and location:
Show up at 5:30 p.m. to sign up to speak for the 6:00 p.m. County Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 27, at 311 Grand Ave., Bellingham. This meeting is an hour earlier than their usual meeting time!

Contact Information:

council@co.whatcom.wa.us
bbrenner@co.whatcom.wa.us
rbrowne@co.whatcom.wa.us
bbuchana@co.whatcom.wa.us
tballew@co.whatcom.wa.us
tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us
ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us
tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us

Suggested Script:

Subject: Extend the moratorium on permits for unrefined fossil fuel export projects
To: council@co.whatcom.wa.us

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.

Now that the legal advisory study has been completed, I hope you will take comprehensive steps to institute conditions for county permits that disallow new or upgraded facilities to export unrefined fossil fuels.

Lifting the moratorium now would allow companies like BP, Kinder Morgan, Williams, SSA Marine 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 crude oil, tar sands bitumen, fracked gas, propane or coal through Cherry Point.

Thank you for serving our communities.

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

Additional Information:

Link to the study: “Reducing Impacts from Fossil Fuel Projects Report to the Whatcom County Council February 12, 2018.”

Link to related post on RE Sources’ Clean Energy blog.

Link to RE Sources’ FB event for the hearing.

Source: WCD

Description: Ballots have arrived for the election to fill one open seat on the Whatcom Conservation District Board! Vote by 3/13/18.

If you did not request a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the District’s office at 6975 Hannegan Road, Lynden. Polls will be open between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.   All registered voters residing within Whatcom County may vote in person at that date, place, and time or by mail.

Responses to RC questionnaire:  Our R&R! committee send questions to the candidates. Two candidates responded. Their responses are linked below.

1. Alan B. Chapman
   Responses to RC Questions
2. Larry Helm
3. David M. Kroontje
   Responses to RC Questions

For more information, see the WCD Elections Website.

Source: WA Wild/Surfrider Foundation

Description: Submit comments by March 9 to oppose the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Background: Last month, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke proposed a sweeping plan to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including a major new lease sale off Oregon and Washington proposed for 2021. The proposal aims to expand offshore drilling on over 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf along America’s coastline, which includes Washington’s own wild and rugged coast. In northern Washington, the proposal includes much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, where the regulations currently prohibit “exploring for, developing or producing oil.”  In addition, the coast of the Olympic Peninsula is home to the coastal strip of Olympic National Park, most of which is protected as Wilderness. Areas like Second Beach, Ruby Beach and Lake Ozette are a major source of tourism and economic benefit for local economies. Other conservation lands on the Washington coast include San Juan Islands National Monument, Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge, Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling just offshore of these national treasures is unacceptable and irresponsible.

Contact Information: Click here to submit comment online.

Suggested Script: I am strongly opposed to offshore oil drilling in new areas, especially off the Washington coast.  From the dramatic headlands and lush forest of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to the sandy beaches of Ocean Shores, Washington’s Pacific coastal and offshore marine ecosystems are vital recreational, economic, and ecological resources.  

I am very concerned about the substantial environmental impacts of offshore drilling to these resources.  Seismic surveys associated with oil exploration damage or kill marine life and can disrupt migration patterns of marine mammals.  Drilling and processing oil releases contaminants that pollute marine waters and sediments.  Catstrophic oil spills devastate marine ecosystems and recreation- and fishing-based coastal economies and can take years to clean up.  Massive onshore infrastructure associated with offshore drilling destroys coastal habitats and increases air, water, and land pollution to coastal communities.  Finally, continued exploitation of fossil fuel reserves will only exacerbate the climate crisis.

Offshore oil drilling and oil spills have the potential to critically impact our vital marine resources and lead to the industrialization of our coastlines. Ultimately, America cannot drill our way out of an oil consumption problem. Rather than drill for fossil fuels off our coasts, we must instead invest in a sustainable “energy portfolio” that includes renewable sources and conservation.

Additional Information:

• Regulations.gov: Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program
• Surfrider Foundation Fact Sheet: Stop New Offshore Drilling
• Seattle Times: Surprise Oil Fight May be Part of the Method to Trump’s Madness

Source: 350 Bellingham/Fossil Free Bellingham Coalition

Description: Ask the City Council to pass a resolution that includes a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Background:  The City has been working on a 2017 update to the original 2007 Climate Protection Action Plan.  Late last year, 350 Bellingham formed a coalition of community partners to support a City Council resolution that commits the City to be 100% Fossil Free by 2030.  Initially planned as a public campaign that would launch in March, there appears to be sufficient interest within the City Council to take action on a resolution soon to adopt and direct staff to implement the Climate Action Plan, perhaps as early as 2/26.  Now is the time to ask them to include 100% renewable energy goals in the plan.

Contact Information:  ccmail@cob.org

Suggested Script:  As you adopt and direct staff to implement the update to the City’s Climate Action Plan, I urge you to also adopt a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.  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.  Thank you for taking bold action to protect the climate.

Additional Information:

Climate Protection Action Plan

Source:  Washington Environmental Council

Description: Contact your legislators to ask them to support and strengthen SB 6203 to make it more effective and equitable and serve as a model for other states.

Background:  SB 6203 (Reducing carbon pollution by moving to a clean energy economy) would price climate pollution and invest in solutions; it passed its first major hurdle, moving out of the Senate Environment Committee with bipartisan support, and had a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee on February 15th.  An effective and equitable pollution pricing bill is a top priority this Legislative Session.  WEC is working with legislative allies and community partners to strengthen SB 6203 to make it the most effective at reducing harmful pollution, creating clean energy jobs, and investing in communities most impacted by pollution. This bill would be groundbreaking not just for Washington State, but nationally, your help is needed to strengthen it. Specifically, an effective and equitable climatepollution policy should:

•        Target 35% of overall investments to pollution reduction and climate resilience in the most impacted communities, rural and urban, around the state.
•        Ensure we are incentivizing more sustainable, carbon-friendly forestry. The current forestry language misses the opportunity to capture the true potential of Washington’s working forests for carbon sequestration and benefit rural communities.
•        Only exempt industries that require high-energy use and compete on the international market, so we can avoid off-shoring climate pollution and jobs.

Contact Information:

42nd District

Senator Doug Ericksen, (360) 786 – 7682, Doug.Ericksen@leg.wa.gov

Representative Luanne Van Werven, (360) 786 – 7980, Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov

Representative Vincent Buys, (360) 786 – 7854, Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov

40th District

Senator Kevin Ranker, (360) 786 – 7678, Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kristine Lytton, (360) 786 – 7800, Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jeff R. Morris, (360) 786 – 7970, Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov

Suggested Script:

With the lack of leadership at the federal level, our state can’t wait any longer for action on climate change.  I’m writing today to urge you to support Senate Bill 6203 and work to strengthen it. By making corporate polluters finally pay their fair share, we can create a future that protects our families’ health, community safety, and economic security.

Specifically, an equitable and comprehensive climate policy should:

•       Target 35% of overall investments to pollution reduction and climate resilience in the most impacted communities, rural and urban, around the state.  10% of investments should be made directly in the most-affected communities and another 25% should benefit them, ensuring that communities grappling with pollution and economic challenges are lifted up as we transition to clean energy.
•       Ensure we are incentivizing more sustainable, carbon-friendly forestry.  The current forestry language misses the opportunity to capture the true potential of Washington’s working forests for carbon sequestration and benefit rural communities. The working forest conservation funding program should be a grant program administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office that funds conservation easements and acquisitions that result in increased carbon sequestration through improved forestry.
•       Limit exemptions for industries to those that require high-energy use and compete on the international market.  Those businesses should be exempted, to avoid off-shoring climate emissions and jobs, but the current bill exempts many others who should be paying their fair share.

By building on SB 6203, we can pass an equitable and effective climate policy that reduces dirty climate pollution, attracts dynamic new investments in clean energy, forest, and clean water infrastructure, and centers the solutions to those hardest hit by pollution.

Our state can’t wait any longer for action on climate change. With your leadership, we can make progress towards a cleaner, safer, just, and vibrant Washington.  I urge you to support SB 6203 with the above improvements.

Source:  Indivisible Vashon

Description: Comment on Puget Sound Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan by February 22.  If you can, attend the February 21 meeting of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to discuss the plan.

Background:  59% of PSE’s fuel sources come from fossil fuels, including coal and liquid natural gas.  PSE has a one-third ownership in Colstrip, Montana, a power-generating facility that is one of the largest CO2, SO@ and mercury-emitting coal plants in the US.  Although PSE has committed to retiring its two most toxic boilers at Colstrip, their 20-year plan has only minimal commitment to conservation and renewables, while continuing a reliance on fossil fuels.  Write a letter to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and let them know that you want a carbon-free future!  Urge the UTC to ask PSE to retire the remaining two plants in Colstrip by 2025 and replace them with 100% renewable energy.  If you can, attend the hearing on February 21 in Renton.

Contact Information: records@utc.wa.gov (Subject: Docket #UE-160918, #UG-160919)

Suggested Script (see below for additional talking points):  I am concerned about climate change and the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.  Please ask PSE to close all Colstrip plants by 2025 and replace them with 100% renewable energy.

Additional Information:

•    Puget Sound Energy: 2017 PSE Integrated Resource Plan
•    Indivisible Vashon: Carbon Free Campaign Resource Messaging Guide

NATIONAL

Protect Washington’s Coast from Offshore Oil Drilling

Source: WA Wild/Surfrider Foundation

Description: Submit comment by March 9 to oppose the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Background:  Last month, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke proposed a sweeping plan to open nearly all waters off the nation’s coastlines to oil and gas drilling, including a major new lease sale off Oregon and Washington proposed for 2021. The proposal aims to expand offshore drilling on over 90% of the Outer Continental Shelf along America’s coastline, which includes Washington’s own wild and rugged coast. In northern Washington, the proposal includes much of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, where the regulations currently prohibit “exploring for, developing or producing oil.”  In addition, the coast of the Olympic Peninsula is home to the coastal strip of Olympic National Park, most of which is protected as Wilderness. Areas like Second Beach, Ruby Beach and Lake Ozette are a major source of tourism and economic benefit for local economies. Other conservation lands on the Washington coast include San Juan Islands National Monument, Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge, Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling just offshore of these national treasures is unacceptable and irresponsible.  

Contact Information:  Click here to submit comment online.

Suggested Script: I am strongly opposed to offshore oil drilling in new areas, especially off the Washington coast.  From the dramatic headlands and lush forest of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to the sandy beaches of Ocean Shores, Washington’s Pacific coastal and offshore marine ecosystems are vital recreational, economic, and ecological resources.  

I am very concerned about the substantial environmental impacts of offshore drilling to these resources.  Seismic surveys associated with oil exploration damage or kill marine life and can disrupt migration patterns of marine mammals.  Drilling and processing oil releases contaminants that pollute marine waters and sediments.  Catstrophic oil spills devastate marine ecosystems and recreation- and fishing-based coastal economies and can take years to clean up.  Massive onshore infrastructure associated with offshore drilling destroys coastal habitats and increases air, water, and land pollution to coastal communities.  Finally, continued exploitation of fossil fuel reserves will only exacerbate the climate crisis.

Offshore oil drilling and oil spills have the potential to critically impact our vital marine resources and lead to the industrialization of our coastlines. Ultimately, America cannot drill our way out of an oil consumption problem. Rather than drill for fossil fuels off our coasts, we must instead invest in a sustainable “energy portfolio” that includes renewable sources and conservation.

Additional Information:

·       Regulations.gov: Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program

•    Surfrider Foundation Fact Sheet: Stop New Offshore Drilling
•    Seattle Times: Surprise Oil Fight May be Part of the Method to Trump’s Madness