Are you concerned about the November 2020 elections? If so, please consider joining an East Shore planning group to brainstorm ways to engage people to register and to vote in the upcoming elections. Members of the Earth and Climate Action Ministry team (ECAM), and anyone who would like to join this planning group, will discuss how to bring efforts by various organizations engaged in voting issues to ESUC members. These organizations will provide educational events related to voting rights, voting suppression tactics, and ways to increase voter participation across the country. Phone banking and texting and postcards to potential voters are among the effective methods for increasing voter that will be discussed. We will host an evening Zoom meeting July 22 at 7 pm to begin the planning process. If you want to learn more or are interested in helping, please contact Amanda Strombom or Marilyn Mayers.
by Kristi Weir, chair Earth and Climate Action Ministry Team
In early April of this year, a group of First Nations from British Columbia, the Suquamish, Tsleil Waututh, Ts’elxweyeqw tribes and Coldwater band, sought to appeal a decision by the Canadian government to approve the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX) project by bringing their case to Canada’s Supreme Court. The TMX project expands an oil pipeline system extending from the Alberta tar sands to Burnaby, BC, which runs through indigenous territories. If completed, the project will have a substantial environmental impact: tripling the amount of oil carried through the pipelines, increasing tanker traffic seven fold through the Burrard Inlet and heightening the potential for oil spills. All these risk the entire ecosystem of the Salish Sea including the preservation of orcas and salmon among other marine life.
A key legal argument the Indigenous groups set forth challenges the adequacy of indigenous consultation required by law. This action follows an initial claims court review that determined the Canadian government had failed to adequately assess the potential environmental impact. Moreover, while the case is pending and the coronavirus spreads, construction of the pipeline continues to move forward. Indigenous groups throughout Canada fear a decision upholding approval of the project will set a legal precedent undermining Indigenous rights. On the other hand, a decision in their favor will strengthen Indigenous communities’ control over their lands and waters and environmental protections.
In response to a renewed Pull Together Campaign, East Shore’s Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team (ECAM) is donating $300 to Raven Trust which provides funds to the First Nations pursuing these legal challenges. By doing so, we want to express our solidarity with and support for indigenous communities both in Canada and the United States who lead the fight not only against the TMX but also against other environmentally destructive fossil fuel projects throughout North America. We acknowledge the importance of this Campaign and its special role in protecting the Salish Sea and Pacific Northwest waterways and indigenous cultures.
Together we can be supportive allies to our indigenous friends and neighbors. Please consider donating directly online fundraise.raventrust.com/team/245912
Alternatively, considering sending a check directly to: Raven (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs), #509, 620 View St., Victoria, BC V8W1J6CA, Canada
East Shore’s Earth and Climate Action Ministry held four fun, short Zoom workshops on “How to Save the Earth From Your Couch” on Sunday, April 19. Each workshop is available on ESUC Tube:
Reuse and Recyle – Tips and Tricks (Ann Fletcher)
https://youtu.be/VWN-agju5B4
Food – Our Choices Matter (Amanda Strombom)
https://youtu.be/TVWc6Zw0Z1w
Amplify Your Impact Through Community Action (Marilyn Mayers)
https://youtu.be/AgyqDcdxbzo
Let’s Make the Climate – and Climate Action – Cool Again (John Chmaj)
https://youtu.be/gtdMmhtSvvg
Presentations and additional resources for each session available at esuc.org/justice/ecam/
See the “Additional Resources” section at bottom of page.
On February 1, the Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team (ECAM) hosted the Bellevue Kickoff for a grass roots campaign to replace Puget Sound Electric (PSE) with an East King County Public Utility District (EKC-PUD). Public Utility Districts (PUD) are not-for-profit community owned public utilities. The 60 who attended learned how a PUD would operate and were encouraged to sign up as signature gatherers. We need 35,000 signatures on a petition to put the EKC-PUD on the November ballot. As the website (ekc-pud.org) states, “PUDs exist to serve the people, not make money. With a mandate to provide clean, safe, and reliable power, our PUD can partner with the 28 other PUDs in Washington to lead a green energy revolution.”
ECAM has also been in the foyer collecting signatures. Be sure to sign if you live in the East King County PUD district. Even better, ask Marilyn Mayers (co-chair of the Bellevue campaign) or Gregg Selby (chair of the Mercer Island campaign) for a petition and ask your neighbors to sign.
Want to learn more about what you can do to address climate change? Consider coming to monthly meetings of 350/Eastside hosted by ECAM at East Shore. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm with the program at 7:00 pm. The next one is March 18! Come join us to get inspired and connect with others concerned about the future of our planet
This year is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental
issues and occurs on April 22 each year. ECAM is in the process of planning
Earth Day activities for East Shore on Earth Day Sunday, April 19, as well as
other activities throughout the year.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. No need to wait until
Earth Day to take action to help the planet. For example, REI has a helpful
website suggesting weekly challenges to reduce your impact, get active, and
leave the world a better place. You can sign up for weekly calendar
notification or download a printable version. https://www.rei.com/blog/stewardship/the-opt-to-act-plan
ECAM is supporting an initiative effort to form an
East King County Public Utility
District.
The East King County Public Utility District would replace
Puget Sound Energy, a foreign-owned, for-profit utility, as the area’s
electricity provider. PSE is the dirtiest electrical utility in the state. It
emits more greenhouse gases than all other utilities in the state combined. It
is also among the most expensive and least reliable. 35,000 signatures are
being gathered on a petition to put the
PUD on the 2020 ballot. A public utility district would provide cleaner, more
reliable electricity to customers in east King County.
ECAM gathered signatures at its January 26th Tabling event. ECAM hosted a February 1 Bellevue Kickoff Event at Spring Hall from 10 to noon. This was an information meeting and also a chance to sign the petition or volunteer to work on the initiative. For more information see EKC-PUD.org.
The Earth and Climate Action Ministry team in concert with 350/Eastside and East Shore’s Lifelong Learning program sponsored an introductory training to bring anti-racism, climate and other justice activists together. On December 7th, about 60 community members including twelve East Shore members were introduced to two speakers from the People’s Institute Northwest which aims to dismantle institutionalized racism. Brother Gary Kinte Perry spoke about the history of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. He and Victoria Red Star shared basic principles for a covenant necessary for community organizing. They believe that understanding another’s history, building trust and relationship are foundational for any transformation to occur. This introductory session allows for the possibility of undertaking future workshops to connect anti-racism and environmental/climate activists.
