September brought a wave of climate-focused events alongside intense political developments, both locally and globally.
On September 21, 350PDX and several other climate organizations participated in Sun Day, a national day of action to celebrate clean energy and share strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Before our incredible puppets took to the streets and dazzled onlookers, several speakers—including Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Khanh Pham—addressed the crowd. They spoke about clean energy, climate change, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, ICE activity, and recent government cuts to healthcare and food assistance. As the connections between these issues grow clearer, we hope more people will be inspired to take collective action—for justice, for the planet, and for one another.
Team News
Fossil Fuel Resistance Team
The Fossil Fuel Resistance team is hard at work on several new campaigns. We’re in the thick of pushing the City of Portland to transform the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, and we’re laying the groundwork for campaigns focused on “Make Polluters Pay” and keeping data centers fueling AI from destroying our energy and water infrastructure.
It’s a great time to join the Fossil Fuel Resistance team and make an immediate impact in our ongoing work or help strategize for these future campaigns! Take the actions below, then join us at our next online meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 5:30pm, or our next in-person meeting on October 28 at the 350PDX office. Please reach out to Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com.
You can also sign up to volunteer and receive updates on the CEI Hub campaign using this form: https://350pdx.app.neoncrm.
“Make Polluters Pay” National Petition
350PDX is part of a national campaign organizing to pass “Make Polluters Pay” bills in as many states as possible. At the state level, we’re bringing back a bill from last session. Sign this Make Polluters Pay national petition to show that people all over the country want to see big oil companies held accountable for the damage they’ve caused. Send a message to our members of Congress and other elected officials. This will help support our state level work and show a groundswell of support.
Comment on the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft, Webinar 10/12
Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has released a “discussion draft” with suggested alternatives for the future of the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, the 6-mile stretch of toxic fuel tanks lining the west side of the Willamette in North Portland (where Zenith Energy stores its fuels). This is a crucial moment in which Portland gets to decide: will we continue putting our community in grave danger by “business as usual” alternatives that maintain or increase toxic fuels at the CEI Hub, causing a major disaster in the event of the inevitable Cascadia earthquake? Or will we begin drawing down the fuels stored at this site and transitioning our region away from toxic and climate-harming fuels?
Join us this Sunday, October 12, from 1:00-2:00pm for a CEI Hub comment writing workshop in partnership with Oregon Sierra Club. You’ll learn about the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft, have an opportunity to ask questions, and begin writing your public comment.
Not available to attend the webinar? Submit your own comment here by October 17. Use these talking points if you’d like, or modify this one-click email
Forest Defense Team
The Portland Urban Forest Plan (PUFP)
The PUFP is heading to the full City Council for a vote on October 15. This is a long-term cooling plan for our city — and more. You can participate by sending a letter to encourage your City Councilors to vote “yes.”
To help ensure the plan is actionable, 350PDX and allied organizations worked with Councilor Kanal and bureau staff to introduce amendments (incorporated by the Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee) that establish timelines for plans to shift responsibility for public street tree care, and street tree-related sidewalk repair, from the adjacent property owner to the City. (These are two root causes of Portland’s heat/tree canopy disparity.)
See the Executive Summary to explore habitat, health, and other aspects of this plan. Retrofitting our neighborhoods for a warmer future may be a challenge, but 50 years from now Portlanders will thank us for it!
Shade Equity Social
Join Thrive East PDX and 350PDX for an evening of laying down connections and building pathways toward tree canopy infrastructure retrofits, green jobs, and a more resilient East Portland.
Thursday, October 23, from 6:00-8:00pm at The Center Powered by Y.O.U.T.H 16126 SE Stark Street, Portland OR 97233
Middle Big Noise Walk
Join the Forest Defense team on Saturday, October 25 for an adventure out to the “Middle Big Noise” timber units in the Clatsop State Forest.
We will walk through this legacy forest full of western hemlock and Douglas fir, talk about state forestry management, and share ways to get involved with our state forests. More information and RSVP here.
Photo: Zoe Foxe
Arts Team
At our many September Artbuilds, we created two identical, massive, panoramic murals that turned Extinction Rebellion’s firetruck into a float for the Sun Day celebration in downtown Portland. Thank you to the many people who showed up to create a reminder of the climate justice world we want to live in, and to the puppeteers who gave life to our puppets, danced with Inca dancers, and made the downtown parade so memorable.
SW Team
The 350PDX Southwest Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We meet monthly on Zoom to plan for in-person actions, presentations, and discussions in our communities. Our next online planning meeting is Monday, October 13 at 6:30pm. Or you can join our weekly street corner demonstrations. Reach out to Pat at patk5@msn.com to learn more.
Team members will be waving signs at SW Multnomah and SW 35th on Fridays at 4:00pm thru October. In November, we will be at SW Terwilliger and SW Taylors Ferry. Come join us, we have extra climate action signs to share!
Volunteer Spotlight
Ben Platt
Ben is a writer and educator who grew up in the Mountain West and has come to call Portland his permanent home. Between the food and fermentation scene, the abundant opportunities to get outside and connect with the more than human world and, most importantly, the wonderful community of people wanting to make the world a better place, Ben is happy to have found a place in Portland.
When looking for a place to get involved in long-term organizing in Portland, Ben started by helping with mutual aid and meal distribution projects before hearing about 350PDX from a friend who happened to be a volunteer. After attending a month-long youth climate organizing workshop put on by 350PDX and coalition partners, he joined the Fossil Fuel Resistance team and hasn’t looked back. He now calls 350PDX his organizing home.
Ben has now spent two years volunteering with 350PDX and has become one of the core volunteers on the Fossil Fuel Resistance team. He appreciates how much 350PDX is able to connect people and organizations throughout our Portland communities and bring them together to advocate for an environmentally just future for all, no matter their background or interests.
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Before we say close this newsletter, a reminder that this Friday, Rumble on the River and Public Grids present Portland’s Future: It’s in Our Hands, an evening of music and ideas for building a Portland that provides and cares for everyone with new public investment in public goods. We hope to see you there!
Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica
PS Much thanks to 350PDX volunteer Joaquin Moore who created the beautiful puppet logo at the top of this email!
