LETTER WRITING SUNDAY AUGUST 23RD 7PM
Check the 350 Humboldt website for the Sunday night letter writing and other 350 Humboldt news, including recordings of our two recent speakers: https://world.350.org/humboldt/upcoming-events/
Join Zoom Meeting SUNDAY 7PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85643874306
Phone in: +1 669 900 9128
Call Dan if you have problems: 707 67 3359
LETTERS
Sign up and get your letters ahead of time: Anyone can sign up to write letters at Vote Forward(https://votefwd.org) and/or Sierra Club (https://www.sierraclubindependentaction.org/writing-climate-voters-letters). Vote Forward gives them in packets of 20, Sierra Club in packets of 10. Vote Forward also has a postcard option (less expensive).
Two other organizations we heard about both support postcards. The Reclaim Our VoteCampaign (https://actionnetwork.org/forms/reclaim-our-vote-signup) contacts likely Democratic voters of color in voter-suppression states like AL, AZ, GA, MS, NC, & TX. And Postcards To Voters (https://postcardstovoters.org) sends postcards to targeted Democratic voters. If you are artistic this is the group for you!
Cheaper Option
There is a project locally working on Reclaim our Vote that makes getting materials cheaper and easier by buying in bulk and packaging into lots of 30 for $11 including postage. The printed labels are also provided. Rebecca Stauffer says: “Just makes it easier and less expensive for people. So if anyone’s interested, Frederica Aalto and I will take their orders [email protected].”
One other option is Postcards for Swing States at: [email protected]
Minimum order is 200 but their messages are scientifically tested.
350 Humboldt has put together a list of tips for effective letter writing gleaned from webinars put on by these organizations. They can be accessed at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qKnxoyyMLVxdKf7M6uqtautx3cZ8-EAI3tEmTgczXQU/edit?usp=sharing
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY
SIERRA CLUB
In line with our Stop the Money Pipeline campaign, Sierra Club is putting pressure on Liberty Mutual not to insure tar sands oil. The decision will be made August 30. Here is where you can send a letter:
Here is the URL: https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0281917&id=70131000001iOuIAAU
NRDC
Bank of America is the ONLY major U.S. bank that has not pledged to keep their money out of destructive oil and gas drilling projects in the Arctic, including Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Send them a letter today and demand they do the right thing.
NRDC
Protect the arctic wilderness
NRDC
Trump’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are proposing to add a new definition of “habitat” under the ESA that, if finalized, will make it much more difficult to protect habitat critical for the survival and recovery of endangered species.
But that’s not all: this latest assault on the ESA is a gift to big polluters, like oil and gas companies, mining companies, and other extractive industries that wish to exploit areas that might otherwise be protected as critical habitat for endangered wildlife.
Submit a comment on this proposed rule before September 4.
MINUTES 350 HUMBOLDT GENERAL MEETING AUGUST 20, 2020
Note: the agenda is shown in regular text; what happened in the meeting is shown in caps.
6:05-6:35 Ashley Audycki. Rogue Climate is fighting to stop the Jordan Cove pipeline — the biggest fossil fuel project ever proposed in Oregon. she is a field organizer for rogue climate. You can reach Ashley at [email protected].
MAKE DONATIONS AT: http://www.rogueclimate.org/donate
MARY SANGER INTRODUCED ASHLEY: SHE MET ROGUE CLIMATE MEMBERS THREE YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WENT TO TESTIFY AT A FERC MEETING REGARDING JORDAN COVE AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
ASHLEY: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION (PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE FROM ASHLEY[email protected])
1. PRESENTATION STARTS WITH A GREAT PICTURE OF A HUGE SALMON – PUBLIC ART PROJECT
2. LOOKING AT CLIMATE JUSTICE FOR SOUTHERN OREGON, 100% CLEAN ENERGY, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY, GOOD JOBS. STOPPING JORDAN COVE NATURAL GAS BUT ALSO FORMULATING AN OREGON GREEN NEW DEAL, RECRUITING YOUNG ACTIVIISTS. THEY ALSO GET PEOPLE REBATES FOR INSTALLING HEAT PUMPS, WHICH CREATES NEW JOBS. A LOT OF YOUTH 13 TO 35 ARE INVOLVED, MANY IN THE LATINX COMMUNITY.
4. ALSO BEEN DOING COVID 19 RESPONSE. INCLUDES GIVING SANITIZERS, LED LIGHTBULDS SO AS TO REDUCED UTILITY BILLS, SOME IN LATINX COMMUNITY DO TRANSLATIONS FOR OTHER AGENCIES. SO REALLY IS A BROADER MISSION THAN STOPPING JORDAN COVE.
5. JORDAN COVE
1. STARTED IN 2005 AS AN IMPORT TERMINAL. GROWTH OF FRACKING MEANT IT WAS REPURPOSED TO EXPORT. PROJECT WAS TURNED DOWN IN 2016. IS ONE OF ONLY TWO PROJECTS DENIED BY FERC.
2. BUT IN 2017 WHEN TRUMP CAME IN THEY REACTIVATED APPLICATION.
a. INCLUDES FRACKING TO GET GAS (BUT NOT IN OREGON)
b. 220 MILES OF PIPELINE: COLLECT GAS FROM COLORADO AND WYOMING GOES TO MALIN, WHICH IS A PLACE WITH TRIBAL HISTORY. JORDAN COVE PIPLINE IS FROM MALIN TO COAST. MALIN IS SITE OF A COMPRESSION STATION.
c. BUILD AN EXPORT TERMINAL. WILL BE JUST NORTH OF COOS BAY. RIGHT NEAR A CAMPGROUND. RIGHT NEXT TO A POPULATION OF 30,000. IT IS IN A TSUNAMI ZONE. WOULD BE THE LARGEST GREEN HOUSE GAS EMITTER IN OREGON; MAYBE EVEN ON THE ENTIRE WEST COAST. ALSO VERY CLOSE TO AN AIRPORT. ONE REASON THEY CAN DO IT IS THAT THERE ARE TWO CITIES, IE NORTH BEND AND COOS BAY SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO CONSIDER THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE. IT IS SKIRTING THE MEANING OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT. LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY HASN’T LOOKED FOR GREEN OPTIONS.
d. PLAN TO SHIP IN TANKERS. IF A TANKER WERE TO EXPLODE, THERE IS A 5 MILE BURN ZONE SO THAT WOULD AFFECT OVER 30,000. 150 FEET WIDE, 900 FEET LONG (3 FOOTBALL FIELDS). WOULD NEED TO DREDGE A LOT (9-12 FEET). WOULD HAVE TO CROSS THE BAR AT HIGH TIDE. 120 TRIPS PER YEAR. THERE IS A LOT OF ACQUACULTURE THERE. IT WOULD BE WIPED OUT. COAST GUARD MANDATES THAT WHILE THE TANKER IS MOVING THERE IS A BIG AREA OF SPACE WHERE NO ONE CAN BE, INCLUDING ON RESERVATION LAND AND CAMPGROUND AND FISHING INDUSTRY.
e. JOBS: ESTIMATE 1 -4000 JOBS, MOST OF IT IN SERVICE WORKERS TO SERVE WORKERS. IS ONLY 1% VACANCY RATE IN HOUSING, SO WHERE WOULD THEY LIVE. WILL BE TAX REVENUES BUT ONLY FOR TEN YEARS.
f. CLIMATE: COMPANY ARGUES THEY WILL BE REPLACING COAL IN CHINA WITH GAS.
3. 630 LANDOWNERS IMPACTED. ROGUE CLIMATE WORKS WITH ABOUT 100 WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED AGREEMENTS. THEY PLAN TO CROSS MANY WATERWAYS BY HORIZONTAL DRILLING UNDERNEATH (IS A 6 FOOT PIPE).
4. TIMELINE: GOAL WAS START CONSTRUCTION IN 2019; START IN SERVICE IN 2024. IN FACT, NOT CLOSE TO GETTING A STATE PERMIT. 3 AGENCIES HAVE TURNED DOWN OR WITHDRAWN APPROVAL. 40,000 DEMONSTRATORS. AND THE MARKET WOULD THREATEN THE TIME LINE. RECENTLY, DUE TO COVID, COMPANY COULD NOT PAY INVESTORS. COMPANY STILL PUSHING EVEN THOUGH OTHER PIPELINES GETTING CANCELLED. FERC DID APPROVE IN MARCH 2020, BUT THE PERMIT WAS CONDITIONAL ON GETTING PERMITS FROM THREE STATE AGENCY. CANNOT BUILD OR CLEAR CUT ETC. BUT THEY CAN USE EMINENT DOMAIN IN THE MEANTIME. BUT IS BEING LITIGATED. LANDOWNERS REPRESENTED BY MUGANO? CENTER. ALSO A COUPLE OF TRIBES ARE SUING. THEY ALSO NEED LOCAL LAND USE PERMITS (9) WHICH WERE GRANTED, BUT ONE WAS REVERSED. 400 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO GET THE REVERSAL. A LONG STANDING COOS BAY MANAGEMENT LAW ESTABLISHES CONSERVATION ZONES. BUT THE COMPANY IS PUTTING THE FACILTIES IN CONSERVATION ZONES. BUT RIGHT NOW ROGUE CLIMATE AND OTHERS ARE APPEALING TO LAND USE COMMISSION. ROGUE CLIMATE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF ORGANIZING AT LOCAL GATHERINGS WITH FLYERS ETC. WRITING LETTERS TO EDITOR, MAKING COMMENTS TO LOCAL BOARDS. SURFRIDERS IS AN ALLY. FISH AND WILDLIFE ARE STANDING UP BECAUSE ROUTE WAS CHANGED RECENTLY TO AFFECT ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WATERWAYS. IS IN COURT.
5. WHAT WE IN HUMBOLDT CAN DO
a. WRITE LETTERS TO EDITOR
b. THANK GOVERNOR KATE BROWN FOR PROTECTING. (STATE FILED ITS OWN LAWSUIT.)
c. TAKE AN OFFICIAL POSITION.
d. WYDEN AND MERCKLEY HAVE JUST INTRODUCED BILLS TO PREVENT EMINENT DOMAIN FOR FRACKED GAS. WYDEN HAS JUST MOVED OVER TO OPPONENT SIDE. (LEGISLATION PROBABLY WON’T PASS.) THANK THEM.
e. ROGUE CLIMATE IS MAIN HUB FOR GETTING DONATIONS, FOR OTHER GROUPS ALLIED WITH ROGUE CLIMATE. THE LONG AND TWISTED TALE OF JORDAN COVE LNG IS A PODCAST, AND VERY EFFECTIVE. THIS STRUGGLES IS NOW 15 YEARS OLD. THE COMPANIES BOARD HAS NOT FULLY VOTED TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS BOARD. COST WILL BE 10 BILLION, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME UP WITH ABOUT HALF THAT.
6. ALLIES: TRIBES, INDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS (ONE USED TO RUN THE ESTUARY). OPPOSITION: IS THE OLD TIME BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SAME ONES WHO USED TO SUPPORT OLD GROWTH LOGGING. THERE IS VERY LITTLE SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY; CO HAS BUSSED IN PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES. 350.ORG BEEN A HUGE SUPPORTER, ALSO SIERRA CLUB IS FUNDING A LAW SUIT. AND THERE IS A COALITION OF GROUPS IN THE STATE AND OTHERS THEY ARE PART OF. LOOKING TO DO INTERNSHIPS AND AN ART AND ACTIVISM PROJECT.
6:45-6:55 Committee reports
Speaker series: RESEARCHER/CONGRESSIONAL AIDE/ORGANIZER CIARA EMERY IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT HER STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS OF OFFSHORE WIND. SHE WILL PRESENT IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER, MONDAY THE 5TH AT 7PM. WE WOULD LIKE HELP WITH PUBLICIZING.
Book club: DEBORAH SUGGESTS THE IMPOSSIBLE WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER BY PAUL ROGAT LOEB, AND HOPE JAHREN THE STORY OF MORE. CONTACT HER IF INTERESTED: [email protected]
Art committee: Hayley “Hayley Connors-Keith >” [email protected]
THE ART COMMITTEE HAS CREATED A FEW SIGNS AND POSTERS FOR A JUST
RECOVERY. WE ARE NOW HOPING TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GROUPS IN
HUMBOLDT COUNTY TO PLAN A JUST RECOVERY DEMONSTRATION EVENT (WHETHER
THAT WOULD BE IN-PERSON AND/OR VIRTUALLY). WE WILL SHORTLY BE SENDING
OUT AN EMAIL TO LOCAL GROUPS ASKING IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR
PLANNING MEETING TO DISCUSS WHAT A JUST RECOVERY MEANS AND FEELS
LIKE/PLAN A COLLECTIVE EVENT. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER
1ST AT 6PM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT
[email protected].
ON A SIDE NOTE, IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN 2040 (A CLIMATE-RELATED
DOCUMENTARY) I RECOMMEND WATCHING IT. IT LOOKS AT THE EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS AND DISCUSSES WHAT TECHNOLOGIES
EXISTS TODAY THAT CAN HELP REVERSE THE EFFECTS. IT IS PLAYING ONLINE
THIS MONTH AT THE MINIPLEX (RICHARD’S GOAT).
Local committee: Katy. LOOKING TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICES. SHOW THEM A PLATFORM, AND SEE IF THEY WANT OUR ENDORSEMENT. CONTACT KATY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THIS: [email protected]
ALSO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SENT A LETTER TO OUR LEGISLATORS OUTLINING FEDERAL STIMULUS PRIORITIES (THINGS KATY, TOM WHEELER, COLIN FISKE WORKED ON WITH THE BOARD). ASK KATY FOR A COPY OF THE LETTER.
National and legislative committee and training on working with legislators: DAN
MEETING WITH JARED HUFFMAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, AND MIKE MCGUIRE ON SEPT 4. CONTACT DAN IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND. [email protected]