Evergreen July 2021: A crucial moment for our democracy

August 6, 2021

From Protecting the Spokane River to Voting Rights, this month's Evergreen brings you campaign updates and ways to get involved!

We Are in a Crucial Moment for Our Democracy. By Victoria Leistman, Dirty Fuels Organizer • 686 words / 5 min   Right now, Republican leaders are blocking the For the People Act and backing legislation that suppresses the vote. They are not interested in bipartisanship, and will do whatever it takes to maintain their grip on power, including silencing the voices of people who oppose them, which so often means people of color. Here are a few ways you can take action to protect voting rights: Protect Our Voting Rights! Northwest Tribes Lead on Salmon Recovery – Salmon and Orca Summit, and More By Bill Arthur, Snake/Columbia River Salmon Campaign Chair • 688  words / 5 min   On the heels of the Salmon Orca Summit, EarthJustice has filed a motion for injunctive relief to challenge the latest federal agency salmon recovery plan as unlawful and unable to recover Snake River salmon. Here's what this motion means for our campaign: Learn How You Can Get Involved Deep Dive: Redlining, Racism and Urban Planning By Emi Okikawa, WA State Chapter & Tim Frank, Sierra Club's Infill Development Policy Guide Committee • 895 words / 7 min   Many people view environmental issues as occurring in non-urban areas, far outside the city limits. But hiking trails, city parks, and public transit are all part of our environment. Protecting the urban environment and safeguarding the health of urban communities is every bit as important as protecting our national parks and wilderness areas. Learn how urban planning, racism, and the environment all intersect: Learn Why Urban Planning is an Environmental Issue A Big Victory for Water Quality By Jean Mendoza, Sierra Club’s Water & Salmon Group and the Sierra Club’s Toxics Group  • 866 words / 7 min   Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are farming operations that sequester hundreds to thousands of animals in small, unsanitary enclosures. In addition to the cruelty of forcing animals to walk, eat and sleep in their own feces, there are also major environmental and public health problems associated with CAFOs. Read to learn more about a recent win against these operations: Learn About this Victory for Water Federal Judge Asked to Compel Cleanup of Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Spokane River By John Osborn, Upper Columbia River Group • 483 words / 4 min   The Spokane River is sublimely beautiful. Once spawning grounds for huge runs of returning salmon, this river remains a home for fish, osprey, and other wildlife. Unfortunately, the beauty of the Spokane River is marred by rampant pollution. The main culprit being Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), highly toxic, man-made chemicals. Learn how we're fighting to protect the Spokane River: Learn About the Spokane River WA for Black Lives   Organizing together to demand economic, political, and social justice in our state. Washington for Black Lives is a unified Black-led coalition of organizations across the state building on the innate power of our communities. Donate The Northwest Community Bail Fund The Northwest Community Bail Fund (NCBF) works to ensure that people accused of low-level crimes have an equal opportunity to defend themselves from a position of freedom. Donate The Climate Crisis Is A Public Health Crisis A recent study published in Nature found that 37 percent of heat-related deaths are due to climate change. Dr. Renee Salas is seeing this in the emergency room of Massachusetts General Hospital. In this episode, she gives us a view into her work at the intersection of human health and climate change; plus, she envisions a new health care system that takes climate change into account. Listen here   Our Reading List: Seattle Times: Hybrid Approach Salvaging Timelines for Sound Transit 3 Projects Could Solve Realignment Woes A hybrid approach that could partially or fully salvage Sound Transit 3 (ST3) project delivery timelines may become the preferred realignment plan   Seattle Times: Trans Mountain Pipeline: It too should be nixed Canada’s National Energy Board conceded that the project will have serious negative impacts on southern resident orcas and on salmon. It also acknowledged the increased possibility of oil spills and the negative effects on the lives of Indigenous people. However, the board refused to consider the significant climate impacts of greenhouse gases   Sierra Magazine: A Postcard From the Red Road to DC: Traditionally carved totem pole brings attention to Indigenous sovereignty struggles across the United States “We’ve witnessed this over 19 years, that coming together in unity and prayer can move mountains. It can stop coal trains. It can stop pipelines,” said Douglas, who also goes by Sit-Ki-Kadem. “The intention is just sparking inspiration, because they’re trying to take the last pieces of sacred land that we have, and they want to strip it and harvest everything in it.”        Earthjustice: How the Courts Are Keeping Salmon Alive With endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers staring down the barrel of extinction, Earthjustice went to court in July 2021 on behalf of 11 fishing and conservation groups seeking an order to afford these fish a better chance of survival.   The Hill: Investing in public transit is a climate imperative Public transit systems offer a sustainable and efficient transportation option in highly populated areas (where emissions levels are highest), and reliable transit is also important to rural residents. And there is broad support for public transit.   Sierra Club Washington Chapter

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