Sno-Isle News October 2020

 

Please Vote! Only our democracy and the health of the planet for human civilization is at stake!
October 2020 
In this issue...
2 Sno-Isle led events for you and your friends:
The Power and Influence of Youth for Climate Action and Racial Justice
Thurs. Oct. 15 from 6 to 7 pm
Online monthly Zoom Social
5:45 pm join to visit before the program
 
Meet the remarkable Whidbey Island high school students who are transforming their school's curriculum and urging local banks to divest from the fossil fuel industry. We guarantee that you will be educated, inspired, and heartened by what they are doing. We will also provide campaign updates and action steps. Hope to see you!

Optional RSVP to let us know you're coming.
On Oct. 15th Join Our Social
Equity and Justice Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 22nd from 7 pm to 8 pm
Online Zoom Meeting
6:45 pm Visit with us before the program

Discussion this month will be based on reading the article What is White Privilege, Really?
Optional RSVP to let us know you're coming.
Elections
Help Elect Environmental Candidates

What can you do?
  • Support candidates with proven environmental justice records.  See our Endorsements. 
  • Remind others to vote: one idea is to post photos of you and your ballot on social media.
  • Join the Sierra Club Plan to Win contacting voters and getting them to the polls -- or the mailbox.
Be Sure Your Vote Gets Counted

The Washington Secretary of State provides a website where you can verify your voter registration and your correct address, or update it. After voting you can verify that your ballot was received.
  • Today: Confirm that your voter registration is correct: VoteWA.gov.
  • Soon: Watch for your ballot to arrive around October 16. It's critical that ballots are returned ASAP to ensure efficient processing.  Please don't delay voting. Return your ballot promptly.
 
  • After voting: Verify that your ballot was received: VoteWA.gov.
Events
Forum: Climate Change Emergency: Health and One Million Trees
Wed. Oct. 21st from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Free Videoconference:  Register

Dr. Richard Gammon outlines the emergency, Dr Jon Witte addresses health. Elby Jones of Forterra describes the Million Trees project. Join the discussion on the state of the environment and learn what you can do to help.
Birds as Dinosaurs Amongst Us

Fri. Oct. 9th at 6 pm
Presented by Pilchuck Audubon Society
Register - It's Free!

Kim Adelson, a professor of Evolutionary Biology, will speak on the topic of bird evolution and their relationship to dinosaurs.
photo by Bill Anderson
Salmon in the City Seattle: Urban Design, Stormwater Science, and the Recovery of Puget Sound
Thur. Oct. 29th from 2  to 4 pm
Online -- Register another free event

This event highlights innovations in ecologically sustainable urban design and development that protect water quality and our urban watershed.
Take Action
PSE sale of Colstrip Mine comments due Friday Oct. 8th
Puget Sound Energy is the largest electric utility in the Northwest and one of the biggest climate polluters in the state. PSE wants to sell its share of the Montana Colstrip Mine, which will allow another energy company to keep the mine spewing greenhouse gases after energy from coal is no longer allowed in the State. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is reviewing the plan. 

Read about the issue
Submit comments to the UTC
Or call and register to speak: 888-333-9882
  Colstrip Mine
Just A Few More Days to Stop the
World's Largest  Methanol Refinery
 
The Kalama Methanol Refinery comment period has been extended to October 9. If you haven't already commented, give the Washington State Dept. of Ecology a piece of your mind. Act! and Tweet
Read More
 A chemical plant similar to the methanol refinery proposed in Kalama
Last Chance to protect 5,000 acres along Wallace Falls State Park
 
We've been pushing this issue pretty hard.  We want the Snohomish County Council to vote to create a park instead of allowing it to be clear cut. This is public land owned by Snohomish County. It's a crucial hub that connects four key wild areas - Wallace Falls State Park, the Wild Sky Wilderness, the Morning Star Natural Resource Conservation Area, and Forks of the Sky State Park.

Negotiations are ongoing. Lots of public support is critical!

See what skyvalleyfuture.org reports. Then sign their petition.  Thank you if you've done this already!
Local Environmental Journalism 
 
The Everett Daily Herald is hiring a journalist to help the public become aware of environmental issues in our area.  To make this happen, the Community Foundation of Snohomish County has set up the Environmental and Climate Change Reporting Fund. You can support the environmental education.  Please Donate. 
Resources - Interesting and Informative:
 
Good News
Courageous Whidbey Island Students

The United Students of Whidbey are pressing the South Whidbey School Board for accurate education on environmental, health and racial issues.

These are the students featured in our monthly social on Thursday Oct. 15th. See them at our Social, on Facebook and on YouTube.
 
photo by Linda LaMar
Urban Sprawl Discouraged
 
A proposed increase in the rural growth target for Snohomish County has been voted down. Instead of allowing 6 percent growth, the goal was held to 3 percent. This is an important win for the Growth Management Act and our environment.

The Sierra Club is working together with Futurewise, League of Women Voters, and the Washington Environmental Council to hold the line on urban sprawl.
Volunteer Opportunity
 
Are you a whiz with Social Media who would like to support environmental and social justice causes?
Your expertise would be very welcome!
Contact Marjie Fields Marjie.Fields@Washington.SierraClub.org
 

Fight for the things you care about,
but do it in a way that will
lead others to join you.

~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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