October 2022 Newsletter
Hello Friends,
Let’s get right to it. The most important climate action we can take this week is to vote for candidates who will do everything in their power to protect a livable climate for children everywhere.
There is no "moderate" position on climate. There is only massive change ahead, and we need leaders who can make the necessary choices, guided by science and grounded in justice, to bring about the healthiest future possible.
If you are an Oregon voter wondering where the candidates for governor stand on climate change, the Oregonian and OPB have articles laying out their starkly divergent opinions. For even more context, Inside Climate News and Vox recently published pieces on the very high climate stakes of the Oregon governor's race.
If climate action delayers or deniers are voted into positions of power, it will effectively undo the hard-won progress made by thousands of climate justice organizers and concerned citizens over the past years. Oregon’s Climate Protection Program will be nullified and Oregon’s state boards and commissions will stop prioritizing climate action. The outcome of the governor's race could set Oregon's climate progress back a decade—or keep us forging ahead to a cleaner future.
So, reach out to your friends and family who may not be plugged into climate activism and let them know how much it matters. And vote like it's 2050, and your grandkids are asking who you voted for back in the early '20s.
CLIMATE ACTION PLEDGE
Take the pledge to vote early, and ask your friends to share their voting plan!
Do your research. In Oregon, if you didn't get a paper copy of the Voters' Guide, the Secretary of State publishes an online edition in multiple languages.
Vote early! This way, your name will be removed from call lists, conserving campaign resources.
Encourage your friends to vote for climate champions. Since you’ve done your research, consider sending a personal list of endorsements to friends or host a voting party, to make it easier for someone else to mail their ballot earlier, too.
In Oregon, ballots must be received by 8pm on November 8.
If you’re too late to put it in the mail, find a ballot drop box near you.
If someone you know has not received their ballot, they should contact their local election office.
Oregonians can check the status of their ballots here.
EVENTS
Stop by our table at Portland's Arbor Day Celebration this Saturday October 29, from 10am—1pm at Glenwood Park in SE Portland. Wait a minute, you might be thinking—isn't Arbor Day in April? Well, due to our changing climate, Portland’s hot dry summers have made it more difficult for trees planted in April to succeed. By moving Arbor Day to October, the city can plant new trees and take advantage of our nice wet winter months to help them get established.
Families for Climate has been deeply engaged in advocating for shade equity in Portland, and we have some good news: this week, Portland City Council approved a $40M strategic investment in tree planting and maintenance pilot projects in east Portland. Additionally, the IRA has earmarked $1.5B for urban and community forestry programs across the U.S.
We’d also love to see you on Monday October 31, at 10—11:30am for a "Fang-Tastic" costume parade concert with Jessa Campbell and The Saplings at the Alberta Abbey in NE Portland. Jessa Campbell is part of our Families for Climate community, and she explores the wonders of nature with familiar folk songs and original tunes about what it’s like to grow up in the Pacific Northwest. Come flap your wings, stomp your hooves and show off your fang-tastic critter costumes!
We’ll have a table there where you can enroll in our new program, ElectrifyPDX, and take a yard sign home. Start electrifying your home, saving our climate, and cleaning up indoor air quality for your family's health!
Save the date: November 12 at noon, for a rally at Pioneer Square for the International Day of Action during COP27. Naomi Klein has a recent Guardian article about what’s at stake for the UN climate negotiations in Egypt, November 6-18.
RESOURCES
A Matter of Degrees podcast asks “What can I do? Part 3 — The Political” and lays out “a four-step guide to getting pro-climate candidates elected, supporting them in office, and keeping them accountable.”
ICYMI: NBC nightly news came to NE Portland to cover the now-famous Alameda Bike Bus, and made a wonderful short video celebrating “kids floating to school on an ocean of joy.” We also hear that Rep. Khanh Pham is planning to propose a bill that would help schools across Oregon fund walking and biking school buses. Stay tuned!
“The thing that we want to people to realize is, just owning a gas appliance comes with this inherent, rather unavoidable risk of having pollution being leaked into your home even when the appliance is off,” said Eric Lebel, a senior scientist with PSE. “The only sure way to eliminate that is to phase out your gas appliances.” For more about the invisible health dangers of gas stoves, check out the October 27th edition of the LA Times' Boiling Point newsletter.
We were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons on Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption, by Dharma teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo, a student of Thich Nhat Hanh. This book has guided meditation practices and journaling exercises to help readers navigate major life transitions in relation to personal changes of direction and climate, racial, and social justice. You can also find meditations available through the free Plum Village app.
JOIN US!
Forward this newsletter to climate-concerned friends and encourage them to join our mailing list.
Join our family of sustaining donors and help put an organizer to work creating hope and building climate-friendly communities. A monthly contribution, however big or small, helps us bring climate news and engagement opportunities to families in the Portland Metro Area and share resources throughout Oregon as we prepare for Oregon’s 2023 legislative session.
Your contributions are fully tax-deductible and your support is deeply appreciated. Create Plenty (d/b/a Families for Climate) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.